I’ll be out today and tomorrow pulling deckers, destination anywhere.
One of the guys decided to avoid it all and put in a couple of days holiday and is off out with the caravan
peirre:
I’ll be out today and tomorrow pulling deckers, destination anywhere.
One of the guys decided to avoid it all and put in a couple of days holiday and is off out with the caravan
That’s because they know ‘You can do it’, last I heard Kingfisher were still deciding what to do, won’t be a great advert if there is another incident with one of theirs. Wouldn’t be surprised if they get you to hang on for a few hours and then send you out later when the winds have ‘died down’, at least to 60mph!
peirre:
I’ll be out today and tomorrow pulling deckers, destination anywhere.
One of the guys decided to avoid it all and put in a couple of days holiday and is off out with the caravan
I`m not sure that towing a caravan is the best way to avoid any dangers from high winds? 
That was interesting! Came onto the M6 at Stoke heading to St Helens so I had the wind coming completely sideways from my left. 26 pallets of chips on, middle axle of unit lifted (I love that about MAN’s) and still my ASR light was flickering as any particularly strong gust caught me and lifted my drive axle. Gonna be fun going back down empty.
tallyman:
That’s because they know ‘You can do it’, last I heard Kingfisher were still deciding what to do, won’t be a great advert if there is another incident with one of theirs. Wouldn’t be surprised if they get you to hang on for a few hours and then send you out later when the winds have ‘died down’, at least to 60mph!
I had a trip down the A17/A47 to Yarmouth and back today, pretty straightforward run getting there, especially when I weighed 32 tonnes so it stuck to the road. Getting back was a little bit more hairy. The wind had picked up and the truck was lighter, the wind on Accle straight was vicious, but east of Kings Lynn there was enough roadside trees to provide some shelter. But once I got to Kings Lynn, the river at Kings Lynn had 2ft high waves after that it’s open flat lands. I survived but I passed a couple of trucks who’s curtains had been shredding by the wind, and the drivers where trying to tie up the remnants. Tomorrow should be a trip over the M62 to Manchester and back
Was told to leave my last 2 drops Minehead and Holsworthy at a carrier., which I was pleased about, so ran back up M5 to Bwater empty.,.which was interesting. 
and one went over there an hour later, a milk tanker.
I Loaded with about 12 ton of steel fabs,. ■■■■ evil running back up M5,.I thought I’ll take A38 past Bristol airport more sheltered, but road blocked at Cheddar turn off,.so had to turn back to M5 
It usually takes a lot for me to park up for shelter, but man it was bad, thought ‘■■■■ this,.I’ll be going over at this rate’’ , so I pulled into MSA after all of 5 mins on Mway, at WSM for an hour, wind dropped,.set off again,.there was a truck over at Tewkesbury, sat in that for an hour.
Came over Thelwall doubled up with a Gist truck, parked up at Carnforth just in time for a pint. 
■■■■ day all round.
loaded last night in Perth - 27 and a half ton of spuds - keeps them from bouncing about lol got down to prestwick and took 9 hours before driving on to Cairnryan this morning for the 08.00 P+O to Larne . Arrived at 07.15 to be told the 08.00 is cancelled we “might” sail at 14.00 wich got cancelled at 1200 finally got on the boat at 17.00 and I’m just home now .
Stussy:
We run Launceston to Midlands every night with 5-6 trucks, one member of office staff wants us to go but transport manager doesn’t, and nor do we! Anyone else hitting the M5 later?
once again we are hitting the them and us scenario. Back in the day, lots of transport company’s where owned by managing directors who where brought up within the industry, Lots where former drivers ,who had experienced strong winds .One thing that my old gaffer years ago would ever do …was put us in any danger regarding adverse weather …We where told to park up and that was end of story…some snotty little creep in a central heated transport office needs to learn a lesson or two about the dangers of high winds …
My first drop Avonmouth at 8am, I thought whats the fuss about, finished pumping at 10.30, wind started to get worse then going down the M5 to Cheddar got quite hairy, then on the A roads there was lots of debris and fallen trees to avoid, got to Cheddar to be told its too dangerous do your next drop in Frome and bring last 2 back.
When I got to my Frome drop was told both severn bridges were shut and my last 2 drops were Newport and Cardiff!!!
Conor:
I saw the weather forecast on Tuesday dinnertime, got on the phone and booked 3 days holiday for the rest of the week - one of the perks of agency. Whilst the trunk up to Scotland won’t have the wind the South is going to have it’ll have a foot of snow and 60+MPH gusts causing blizzard conditions. It’s also Friday at the beginning of half term so there’ll be all the car driving mongs going on holiday up to the lakes/Scotland who can’t drive on a sunny summer’s day, let alone 60-70MPH winds and horizontal snow over Shap. After coming as close as I ever want to get to getting stuck in it in November I’m not interested. Highways Agency are pre-emptively shutting the A66 from midnight to all vehicles.
I have to give 2 weeks notice to book holiday with my agency. I didn’t think that was reasonable.
robroy:
Was told to leave my last 2 drops Minehead and Holsworthy at a carrier., which I was pleased about, so ran back up M5 to Bwater empty.,.which was interesting.
I Loaded with about 12 ton of steel fabs,. [zb] evil running back up M5,.I thought I’ll take A38 past Bristol airport more sheltered, but road blocked at Cheddar turn off,.so had to turn back to M5It usually takes a lot for me to park up for shelter, but man it was bad, thought ‘[zb] this,.I’ll be going over at this rate’’ , so I pulled into MSA after all of 5 mins on Mway, at WSM for an hour, wind dropped,.set off again,.there was a truck over at Tewkesbury, sat in that for an hour.
Came over Thelwall doubled up with a Gist truck, parked up at Carnforth just in time for a pint.
[zb] day all round.
What are the unwritten rules on doubling up? How do you agree how fast you go?
I guess you just stay middle of your lane no need to be closer?
Our lot keep sending text messages out saying make sure you open curtains and “secure roof” when empty. Seen alot of conflicting reports suggesting why this isn’t a Great idea but wouldn’t mind hearing what the more exp. Pros reckon?
Alfa1M:
Our lot keep sending text messages out saying make sure you open curtains and “secure roof” when empty. Seen alot of conflicting reports suggesting why this isn’t a Great idea but wouldn’t mind hearing what the more exp. Pros reckon?
Roads ( highway ) bloke was on tv fri morning saying they’d talked to firms asking them to instruct there drivers to tie back curtains on empty tauts after having so many blown over previously , this was south west by the sound of it
Alfa1M:
Our lot keep sending text messages out saying make sure you open curtains and “secure roof” when empty. Seen alot of conflicting reports suggesting why this isn’t a Great idea but wouldn’t mind hearing what the more exp. Pros reckon?
I wouldn’t be running with my curtains open, no matter how well I’d secured the roof. Modern curtainsiders are all about weight saving and thus are very flimsy in design. Issuing such instructions is fine when you’re sat in an office and the riskiest thing you’ll do that day is driving home in your company Insignia, but when it goes Pete Tong the buck stops with YOU the driver.
If the company are serious about a concern for your welfare they’ll let you the driver make the decision to pull in and seek shelter. Wind doesn’t last forever and will eventually die down to an acceptable level. Most companies are in reality more concerned about you delivering your tat than your welfare.
the maoster:
Alfa1M:
Our lot keep sending text messages out saying make sure you open curtains and “secure roof” when empty. Seen alot of conflicting reports suggesting why this isn’t a Great idea but wouldn’t mind hearing what the more exp. Pros reckon?I wouldn’t be running with my curtains open, no matter how well I’d secured the roof. Modern curtainsiders are all about weight saving and thus are very flimsy in design. Issuing such instructions is fine when you’re sat in an office and the riskiest thing you’ll do that day is driving home in your company Insignia, but when it goes Pete Tong the buck stops with YOU the driver.
If the company are serious about a concern for your welfare they’ll let you the driver make the decision to pull in and seek shelter. Wind doesn’t last forever and will eventually die down to an acceptable level. Most companies are in reality more concerned about you delivering your tat than your welfare.
Yep,.I’ve done it in the old days when trailers were made out of sturdy steel with fixed centre posts and the like, but they are made out of flimsy crap nowadays, a good gust would take the roof out of the fixings,.strapped or not…so deffo don’t do it today.
robroy:
Was told to leave my last 2 drops Minehead and Holsworthy at a carrier., which I was pleased about, so ran back up M5 to Bwater empty.,.which was interesting.
I Loaded with about 12 ton of steel fabs,. [zb] evil running back up M5,.I thought I’ll take A38 past Bristol airport more sheltered, but road blocked at Cheddar turn off,.so had to turn back to M5It usually takes a lot for me to park up for shelter, but man it was bad, thought ‘[zb] this,.I’ll be going over at this rate’’ , so I pulled into MSA after all of 5 mins on Mway, at WSM for an hour, wind dropped,.set off again,.there was a truck over at Tewkesbury, sat in that for an hour.
Came over Thelwall doubled up with a Gist truck, parked up at Carnforth just in time for a pint.
[zb] day all round.
It wasn’t a tanker, it was a box. Tankers don’t get blown over. They are easy to roll if you drive like a duck, but they don’t get blown over.
One company which runs with 15’+ trailers has been leaving them on site after delivery where possible and running solo to pick up a loaded trailer.
stu675:
robroy:
Was told to leave my last 2 drops Minehead and Holsworthy at a carrier., which I was pleased about, so ran back up M5 to Bwater empty.,.which was interesting.
I Loaded with about 12 ton of steel fabs,. [zb] evil running back up M5,.I thought I’ll take A38 past Bristol airport more sheltered, but road blocked at Cheddar turn off,.so had to turn back to M5It usually takes a lot for me to park up for shelter, but man it was bad, thought ‘[zb] this,.I’ll be going over at this rate’’ , so I pulled into MSA after all of 5 mins on Mway, at WSM for an hour, wind dropped,.set off again,.there was a truck over at Tewkesbury, sat in that for an hour.
Came over Thelwall doubled up with a Gist truck, parked up at Carnforth just in time for a pint.
[zb] day all round.What are the unwritten rules on doubling up? How do you agree how fast you go?
I guess you just stay middle of your lane no need to be closer?
When I had CB as everybody else did in the old days (cba with them now) you’d just give the other truck a shout.
I reckon the Gist lad must have sussed what I was doing as I backed off alongside him whilst overtaking.
Just saw an option and went for it, right place right time and all that.
(Cue some plank telling me it’s illegal under HC rule 275 paragraph 21.or summet. ):lol: