Change of Scene

[dar1976]

Last Thursday was my last day with Walkers Transport. Just wasn’t right for me… And that’s all I will say publicly.

So I got the weekend out the way and went job hunting. Threw a few CVs out there and signed up with some Bristol Agencies.

Had a promising chat with one agent. Wasn’t holding my breath. But it came through.

I was given a Class 1 assignment for today as an overnight. Then out all next week tramping.

So I turned up at the yard this morning in Moreton Valence to find a whole line of tractor units with no trailers and trailers with no tractor units. As it happens my unit was just finished being serviced in the workshop (didn’t find that out till I’d done a complete loop of the yard - twice… Grrr).

Given paperwork with trailer number so I’d already scouted out the trailer and just needed to hitch the two up. Fortunately was already au fait with this so no problems there.

Trailer was sealed so had to take their word they had correctly loaded it.

Took it down to Marsh Barton Estate in Exeter. Brings back memories of my Class 2 test with SRTS.

Unloading took a while as some was on pallets and some was strapped in but not palletised.

Then rang the office to find out my next job. A run empty up to Avonmouth to swap trailers with a fully loaded one.

Currently off to Southampton with the loaded trailer and Nighting Out.

Don’t know if I’m just running in tomorrow or have a days work planned.

Here’s a pic of the lorry for those that haven’t guessed who I’m working for…

A lovely 59 plate Manual DAF XF. I’m in heaven

[own_account_driver]

Not a bad idea to try out different sorts of work on artics anyway as there’s a much greater variation than rigids really.

The majority of blokes will love general haulage tramping but it’s usually the missus that casts the deciding vote.

[dar1976]

Own Account Driver:
Not a bad idea to try out different sorts of work on artics anyway as there’s a much greater variation than rigids really.

The majority of blokes will love general haulage tramping but it’s usually the missus that casts the deciding vote.

Luckily I don’t have to worry about being under the thumb

[tazbug]

Nice one Dean, shall certainly be looking out for you when up and down M5

Hope this one works out well for you

Tazbug

[loopyjuice]

nice one dan, 2 things
firstly what was walkers like as i popped in there on wed and filled an application form in, should i take it if offered ■■?
secondly watch out for abstrakt on chester street in brum if you ever get it that is, you need to reverse in to their yard off the road.

[dar1976]

Just had a nasty reverse in off the street into One Stop depot in Southampton.

My only public comments on walkers will stretch to…

I’m glad they gave me the break and built my confidence. But glad to be out of there.

Take it if you looking for your first break.

Best of luck.

Dean

[loopyjuice]

ok thanks for the advice, still gonna try a few other places out aswell

[jennie]

Nice one dean I hope this works out better for you , and glad you wernt out of work for long ,

onwards and upwards

jenx

[dar1976]

Definitely onwards and upwards.

Did another trailer swap at Avonmouth then back to the yard. So finished by lunch time.

Booked in for a weeks tramping next week. Looking forward to it

[phantom309]

if ya see someone taking pictures between 16/17 of the M5 in a few weeks time its me

[dar1976]

phantom309:
if ya see someone taking pictures between 16/17 of the M5 in a few weeks time its me

I have no objection so long as royalties are passed on appropriately

[phantom309]

dar1976:

phantom309:
if ya see someone taking pictures between 16/17 of the M5 in a few weeks time its me

I have no objection so long as royalties are passed on appropriately

see plenty of downtons lol im only there for 2 weeks at the DAF apprentice college there, tis a bit of a holiday from the workshop lol

[jackg]

dar1976:
Definitely onwards and upwards.

Did another trailer swap at Avonmouth then back to the yard. So finished by lunch time.

Booked in for a weeks tramping next week. Looking forward to it

All the best for next week Dean

[dar1976]

jackg:
All the best for next week Dean

Thanks

[dryliner]

what agencies did you use in bristol

[dar1976]

Unique recruitment at Avon Lodge have come through for me.

No joy from the others yet although to be fair they said they’d struggle because of not having categories for 2 years.

[bald_bloke]

dar1976:
Unique recruitment at Avon Lodge have come through for me.

No joy from the others yet although to be fair they said they’d struggle because of not having categories for 2 years.

Try Oakwood Staff Solutions if you get stuck, I can recommend them.

[dryliner]

seem like a decent outfit , havnt driven since 80s said theyd put me in with another driver for a couple of runs then of i go

[saratoga]

dar1976:

phantom309:
if ya see someone taking pictures between 16/17 of the M5 in a few weeks time its me

I have no objection so long as royalties are passed on appropriately

If it’s for personal use then the commission is owned by the person taking the photographs, and as you’re on public ground there isn’t any come back there. If you were a professional model and a commercial shoot then it would be different…

[harry_monk]

dar1976:
My only public comments on walkers will stretch to…

I’m glad they gave me the break and built my confidence. But glad to be out of there.

I think that’s known as “being damned by faint praise”

It was the same for me when I started though, I gained experience but did it by working for people who took the ■■■■. While doing that I scouted around, made contacts, and moved on. Onwards and upwards.

When all is said and done Dean, you have been working and earning, and you continue to work and earn. There was a time not so long ago when you despaired of ever paying back the cost of the HGV course.

Maybe Downton’s will work out, maybe it won’t, but at least you are continuing around the Learning Curve.