Did my second Asda Chepstow run last night (I didn’t write my first one up as it was such a complete [zb]-up 
)
Arrived 1800, got the usual “have a seat until we’ve got some work for you”. At 1900 I got given a run to Caerphilly. They gave me a 2+tag axle ERF unit, which I think is a hired one. After completing the circle checks I jumped in the cab and marvelled in the fake walnut panelling goodness 
, and went off and found my trailer.
A quick trip over the weighbridge put me at just over 32 tonnes, so off I went westwards down the M4.
Onto the A470(N), and through the roadworks 
I hate those going down those really narrow lanes in an artic…
Off the A470 onto the A468, and this was where the fun started. On the M4 and A470, I’d been able to sustain at least 45 mph (usually 50+ on the M4), but there’s a vaguely steep hill (I’d guess about 1:20) up from the A470, and roadworks have reduced it down to one lane.
I realised that I’d have to drop a gear or two, but 12 mph in high 4th was a bit silly… [zb] me that thing was gutless.
On approach to Caerphilly was where I made the big mistake - I followed Asda’s map and turned right onto the A469. It appears that a Caerphilly bypass has been built since their map was done, and the A469 on their map isn’t the same as the A469 now.
In making the turning, I had to go past a 7.5t limit “in 1 mile” sign, but I figured that the store must be before the 1 mile point.
Well, the road got rather hilly (back down to low range again), and I passed a road which was suitable for reversing into (big apron and not too much furniture), so I pulled over to check the map. I realised that I had to turn round.
So, there I was, stopped on a steep uphill (probably about 1:15) gentle(ish) right curve, trying to reverse back into a side road. Now, being a newbie, I’m not exactly the world’s best reverser 
, so I had to keep on stopping when the trailer ran away in the wrong direction. At one point, I went to pull forwards to straighten up (I’d got too close to the kerb as that side was blind due to the curve), and it just wouldn’t move. I tried a few times, thinking I’d got the wrong range or done something stupid, then realised that I only had 4 bar of air - I’d run out of air pressure. So, I sat there for a while with the engine revving to build up some more air, then had another go.
At one point, I’d let the trailer wander to the right a bit, just enough room for a car to nip up the inside (there was a right-turn lane for the side road I was aiming for, so the road was actually quite wide, and I was conscious of staying away from the nearside kerb as I lost sight of it whenever I was less than about 3 ft away), and of course, a car did nip up the inside. They then realised that I had the unit bent to the left (to try to get the trailer back to the left), and that the exit was blocked. So, I had to sit there for a couple of minutes with the handbrake on while this [zb] idiot decides how (s)he’s going to get themselves out of the situation they got themselves into. Eventually, they reversed out and went round the right way, so off I was again. Once I got to the corner, it wasn’t too bad getting round, although when I got to the point where I was blocking both sides of the road (because the unit had to swing out to the other side of the road to get into the turning), guess what happened? I ran out of air again 
so I had to stop for a minute or so to build up air…
Once I was in the side road, I stopped, gave big waves and smiles to everyone going past that I’d held up 
. A car driver stopped and asked if I needed help, but I said thanks but I was OK, and that I knew where I’d gone wrong. Nice chap.
The whole reversing manouevre took about 20 minutes, and I ran out of air 4 times.
I sat in the side road for a few more minutes (as I wasn’t blocking anyone) to build up some more air, and then pulled out to go down the hill. Since my air was still a bit low, I went down the hill at 10mph (not far off the right speed anyway) in 3rd, with the rev counter just below the red band - both for good engine braking and to build up lots of air.
Got to the store, reversed in reasonably easily (about 5 shunts), and set about unloading. They didn’t have a loading dock , so I had to pump-truck the pallets to the back where a forkie took them.
I’d unloaded about 1/3 of the pallets when I decided that it was becoming rather hard work, so I jumped out and raised the unit suspension 
, which made it much easier - thanks TruckNet for that one 
Eventually, all the (loaded) pallets were off, and I’d reloaded with (empty) pallets, and set off back for Chepstow. The return journey was uneventful - partly because I actually had some pulling power for the hills this time
There was a truck stopped at the lights at the A470/M4 junction with his hazards on; I stopped to ask if he wanted help, but he said that his truck was just jumping out of gear. I couldn’t really help, but was about to offer him my mobile to call for help when he managed to get a gear, and so off we went.
Got back to Chepstow, and made a complete pig’s ear of reversing onto a bay - took 20+ shunts, and someone asked me whether I was OK when I jumped out to check how far I was away from the trailers either side - I just explained that I was new to this artic lark and just wanted to make sure I didn’t hit anything, and he understood immediately 
I got in between the two trailers OK, but I just couldn’t get the trailer wheels between the bay side barriers - there’s only a few inches room either side, so you have to be quite accurate to get it in. Anyway, I eventually managed it, dropped the trailer (realised I’d left the number plate on after I’d disconnected the suzies and lowered the legs, so I crawled underneath the back of the trailer instead of moving it ) fuelled up, and handed in my notes. 6 hrs work, 1 hr PoA, 127 km travelled.
Come on, spill the beans. 
