Bless 'em. I know they mean well on the whole but I suspect that most here do as I do and ignore them apart from to give them a cheery wave and thanks at the end of the manouvre (sp), but one today really did make me laugh; all was going according to plan as he flapped his arms around and I did my own thing, but then I noticed some really frantic arm movement and general leaping about. Thinking I’d squashed something I stopped and got out only to be passed by him running flat out! Turns out he’s allergic to wasp stings and two of them had decided they really liked his hi vis!
In my opinion a good banksman would be far better than any hi vis/painted lines/h&s ■■■■■■■■ in the world.
You wait to be called forward - he watches for obstacles and that you dont hit anything. newbies learn quicker and become better. less vehicle damage - less yard damage and less personal injuries. its a no brainer in my view
Similar thing happened to me today.
Was driving with the window down going round a roundabout when I felt a slight pain on my arm, first I thought a hair was caught on the arm rest on the door but then suddenly I got a shooting pain and saw that I had a Bee hanging off of me… Dead now of course.
Not long after I first started, I was sent to load steel from a small fabricators just up the road. I was advised to reverse in from the road, up a narrow lane, and round to the right into their yard. When they were loading, they wanted me to turn round - the only way was to reverse blindside through a gateway, all the way round in a 360, and back through the gate and round on the good side this time - all the while avoiding some low trees and deep ruts in the ground.
The guy who did the banking for me was absolutely brilliant - he got me round in one hit, without any dramas, tree strikes, grounding out, just by talking me slowly through it. Talking to him afterwards he told me that he used to drive an artic, but had to stop on medical grounds - possibly explains why he did such a good job in keeping my stress levels down as much as anything
The ones on the Portsmouth-Caen boat are superb.They point out where you have to reverse into,then pull your mirrors in.All you have to do is watch the hand signals,and you’ve just achieved a double blind side reverse.
I’d rather have a good banksman if it meant I didn’t hit anything unfortunately some of them wave you back and check the phone or hold a conversation with a mate at the same time. A second set of eyes can save a lot of embarrassment
Unrelated to Banksmen and more to wasps and bees,
Theres a guy who lives near me who has a nervous twitch, he kinda runs his hand over his head through his hair kinda thing, I was driving down the road with the missis and he’s walking up with his paper when he starts hitting his head with the paper, missus cries out ‘Loooook, hes being attacked by a wasp’ and I burst out laughing, its alright, Its only Georgie Bell getting a twitch on
Some are ok if they actually stand where they can be seen. I’ve been backed off bulk roads, lost numerous mud flaps, arches on rocks and machine buckets. Reversed into excavators, over reinforcing rods, bollards, sign posts and cars. I’ve asked them if the ground’s solid, they reply yes and a few feet later only half the front bumper is visible above the ground. On the Kingsway project in Rochdale the truck sank that far I didn’t need the steps to get out the cab!I pretty much ignore all of them these days and go look what’s down there first so I got an idea as to what they’re try to reverse me into next. We’ve even had one truck reversed into an open manhole!
Turns out he’s allergic to wasp stings and two of them had decided they really liked his hi vis!
I was collecting some Heras fencing the other day that was stacked on a bank, there was a bunch of hornets nesting in of the feet and I decided that my hi vis might attract them so took it off. Obviously I paid the price and got stung right on the end of my nose by one of the nasty little buzzy ■■■■■■■■■
Reading previous talk here about banksmen it would seem most are useless.
A good one, like the ex driver Scaniason came across, is very useful.
I would say the mark of a good banksman is knowing where to stand so he can always be seen by the driver. Had one one day kept disappearing behind the trailer. Every time he did, I stopped and wouldn’t move. Had to get out and go and find him - several times. He wanted me to keep reversing even when I couldn’t see him. Told him sorry, not on. “well all the others drivers do”! He got that wound up with himself i thought his head was going to explode.
Got stung on the forehead by a bee when i was a teenager in the late 70’s. It swelled up badly and left pock marks when it went down. Other people don’t notice but i’m very conscious of them.
Most the ones I come into contact with on building sites are ex airfield marshals I think. Lots of hand movements/mouth moving for even the simplest manoeuvre.
About 1994 IIRC went to a little timber yard in WOOTON BASSETT ( now ROYAL, as it should be for repatriations ) with me left ■■■■■■, and a brand new TIP 13.6 metre sliding trailer! quite tight, turning in fence on one side and a telegraph pole on the other! " ALRIGHT DRIVE, tip you in a minute boy, top driving that! " so I replies " CHEERS FORKS, just passed me test last Wednesday! " well he’s off his forks and he’s like scrappy do " put 'em up! " I said " you started it, you oxygen thief " well all the yard was in stitches! Gets tipped and yes you’ve guessed it, this comedian was my " BANKSMEN, first aider and [zb] in one " anyway I reversed out in one and nearly flattened him as he wouldn’t move out of the road,[zb] !
Doesn’t matter what topic truckers all know better, never need any help, know the cause of every accident. Nothings their fault. Bosses are all wonkers. Could all drive just after the cord was cut. Tiresome
as it should be for repatriations 
quite tight, turning in fence on one side and a telegraph pole on the other! " ALRIGHT DRIVE, tip you in a minute boy, top driving that! 
I said " you started it, you oxygen thief