Express Pete:
FFS the guy is asking a few legitimate questions - the answers of which may be of interest to several other drivers who’ve never done containers. It’s a forum, get a life.
My post was equally legitimate. The issue is that it is better to have practical, rather than text book training. As has been stated many times before, the driver is responsible for his vehicle and load. I hope all goes well and that suitable advice is forthcoming if required.
The other point is that the days of drivers helping each other out are rapidly diminishing.
it looks like they are diminishing due to people like you … he asked a question thats all .
i liked the one where the box falls off , quality content in your post that …
you are one of those forum chaps that seem to think if they have nothing constructive to say you can let rip …
The point I was making was that drivers are expected to do work they have not been properly trained for. I was not having a go at the OP, I wouldn’t like to be put in that position. As I stated we, the drivers are responsible, not the agency,employer or anyone else. They are quite happy to let us get on with it and wash their hands when it goes wrong.
Surely you don’t think it is right to send someone out on a type of vehicle they have never used before. We bang on about H&S being over the top but quite happily ignore the rules that are there to protect us all.
joedwyer1:
Does any one put the trailer in the 20ft running position or do you leave it in the 40ft position like I do?
What would vosa say about it if I got stopped?
If it’s a fully loaded 20’, then there’s a chance you’d be over-weight on your axel, to see how much difference a small difference on the back makes, try driving up a hill with it shrunk down.
OllieNotts:
Yes it is shall I ring in sick now?
I’m actually not sure I want to go now sounds a bit dangerous going in blind. As I said I thought I’d be on steal which I’d of been ok with, don’t want to cause any accidents.
If you don’t mind sitting around for a few hours, and as long as you’re paid start to finish not working hours, go give it a go, you’ll find it 1 of the easiest jobs in trucking.
However, all yards are different, even same firm, Freighliner is a prime example, yards all over the country, all work different.
If in doubt, on approach, you’ll always see a skiver, stop and ask them what the crack is, if they know, they’ll tell you.
Easy to get lynched if you don’t know and you inadvertantly jump a queue.
Waddy, your sentiment is exactly right - of course we don’t want to send people out with kit they are not trained to use, the consequences could be horrific and, as you rightly point out, the driver would be responsible!
However, this site is/should be all about swapping advice and experience as well as keeping people up to date with law changes or new practises (surely it’s better to proffer advice than chastise him for asking? Sadly in the current economic situation, employers have a plethora of willing drivers who will take Ollie’s position at the drop of a hat (without knowing what to do - at least he asked) - perhaps if you had worded it differently I wouldn’t have snapped at the bait.
I look forward to ‘chewing the fat’ with you on other threads
After reading the comments on here I decided to ring the agency and the woman who looks after my work said it wont be a problem as they send drivers in regular having not done containers before. Put my mind at rest as now if they refuse to show me how to use em I can refuse to do the work until they do and the agency should be on my side having just assured me they will train me. I wont be taking any containers out and trying to wing it, that wasnt the point of the thread. Then again she will say that, its bank holiday and she doesnt want to be messing around swapping drivers around this late on guess I will find out in the morning
I’m just glad I’m one of those drivers who was born with a hundred years experience on every type of work driving has to offer. I’ve never been caught for speeding, rolled over or had any accident at all. I can just sit back and take the ■■■■ out of some newbie who hasn’t even done every type of work yet. I should change my username to Number 1 driver, as I am the best in the world
OVLOV JAY:
I’m just glad I’m one of those drivers who was born with a hundred years experience on every type of work driving has to offer. I’ve never been caught for speeding, rolled over or had any accident at all. I can just sit back and take the ■■■■ out of some newbie who hasn’t even done every type of work yet. I should change my username to Number 1 driver, as I am the best in the world
its an honour to meet you sir number one , an honour i tell ya…
OVLOV JAY:
I’m just glad I’m one of those drivers who was born with a hundred years experience on every type of work driving has to offer. I’ve never been caught for speeding, rolled over or had any accident at all. I can just sit back and take the ■■■■ out of some newbie who hasn’t even done every type of work yet. I should change my username to Number 1 driver, as I am the best in the world
its an honour to meet you sir number one , an honour i tell ya…
OVLOV JAY:
I’m just glad I’m one of those drivers who was born with a hundred years experience on every type of work driving has to offer. I’ve never been caught for speeding, rolled over or had any accident at all. I can just sit back and take the ■■■■ out of some newbie who hasn’t even done every type of work yet. I should change my username to Number 1 driver, as I am the best in the world
its an honour to meet you sir number one , an honour i tell ya…
Surely this is your employers responsibilty to train you in the use of the equipment you are using. If you are self-employed then you should aquaint yourself with the equipment before you accept the work.
If the container falls off the skeletal do you then blame someone else?
waddy640
SENIOR MEMBER
Chewyboy:
Surely this is your employers responsibilty to train you in the use of the equipment you are using. If you are self-employed then you should aquaint yourself with the equipment before you accept the work.
If the container falls off the skeletal do you then blame someone else?
waddy640
SENIOR MEMBER
OllieNotts:
I am off to do my first day on a container tomorrow, two local tips so should be a doddle. However I have only ever shunted one not driven one, I know I will have a 20 and a 40 foot box so for the 20 I seem to remember them being driving somewhere in the middle and then being moved back on the skeleton so they can be tipped from the back and then I will have to move it back to the middle again, is this right?
So how do I move them on the skeleton? I know there is another hole for the red airline for moving it but cant remember how exactly they work.
I started on containers 2 weeks ago and it’s a doddle, just make sure you take a good book as there’s loads of sitting around and waiting . . . Freightliners Trafford Park ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Also a lot of items are not palletised and a 3-4 hour handball to unload is quite common.
hi some other important things to remember
twist locks - open when loading or unloading the box - locked on the road - most have red handles and turn to the outside and you can see them from the cab in the mirrors
sliders - make sure the rear 40ft swinging arms are folded down before sliding the 20 ft to the rear - does bugger the trailer a bit if they aren’t lol
have fun
also very important to follow the instructions of the ■■■■■■ driver as if you arn’t in the right place they’ll either ignore you or put the box on the floor infront of you - and maybe come back later lol
cheers
Steve
joedwyer1:
Does any one put the trailer in the 20ft running position or do you leave it in the 40ft position like I do?
What would vosa say about it if I got stopped?
I’ve started recently to always put in the 20’ position. But then again I sometimes forget or can’t be arsed if it’s an empty.
Vosa might have fishing expedition somewhere along the lines of “not using it in it’s intended configuration/position” - maybe. But if you loo at the labels most seem to suggest that the 20’ pin holes are for “laden” and sometimes for “heavy” boxes.
We actually had a chassis split in two on the North York Moors because it had been used with a heavy 20ft in the wrong holes. It also bends the subframe and is the cause of all those people stuck with trailers that won’t slide without a lot of hassle. Modern skellies are now so lightweight they are only braced for strength in the marked positions. If it has a 20ft position, use it, it takes 2 minutes and could save thousands of pounds worth of damage.
joedwyer1:
Does any one put the trailer in the 20ft running position or do you leave it in the 40ft position like I do?
What would vosa say about it if I got stopped?
You can’t run a trailer in the 20ft position if it’s a tri-axle. If there is a lift-axle on the front axle (and you lift the axle) then you run the trailer in the 20ft position.
Nice easy day after all that. Asked for a bit og guidance in the morning and the lads were spot on
Tipped at sports direct and had a much needed snooze Then drop trailer at yard and rn solo to burton to collect next full one and drop at julian bowen in kirkby. Drop the lot there and run back to yard for a flat and take it to a farm where I spent 20 mins getting in the garage cause of how tight it was
Fueled up the motor and done for half 2 eeeeaassyyyy. Thanks for the tips on this thread it helped things making sense this morning especially when they were loading my container on the skeletal and it was a nice change to driving a curtain sider all day Back on royal mail tomorrow so no doubt will spend about 7 hours sitting about out of 9 hours at work
OllieNotts:
Nice easy day after all that. Asked for a bit og guidance in the morning and the lads were spot on
Tipped at sports direct and had a much needed snooze Then drop trailer at yard and rn solo to burton to collect next full one and drop at julian bowen in kirkby. Drop the lot there and run back to yard for a flat and take it to a farm where I spent 20 mins getting in the garage cause of how tight it was
Fueled up the motor and done for half 2 eeeeaassyyyy. Thanks for the tips on this thread it helped things making sense this morning especially when they were loading my container on the skeletal and it was a nice change to driving a curtain sider all day Back on royal mail tomorrow so no doubt will spend about 7 hours sitting about out of 9 hours at work
Home & posting on here at 4.20pm! Bloody 'ell that is an easy day! What time did you start?
Also a lot of items are not palletised and a 3-4 hour handball to unload is quite common. 
Then drop trailer at yard and rn solo to burton to collect next full one and drop at julian bowen in kirkby. Drop the lot there and run back to yard for a flat and take it to a farm where I spent 20 mins getting in the garage cause of how tight it was