Been doing containers for a while now and can’t really grumble. You have good days and bad days like any job. I work mainly out of Southampton which is an old style port, and sometimes out of London Gateway which is fully automated. Get to know your trailer, especially if its a slider, make sure the slider rollers are greased up regularly, makes it it easier when stretching or shrinking the trailer. Do not travel with the trailer shrunk down with a loaded 20’ box on. If you need to shrink it down to back on a loading bay make sure you line it up on the bay and then shrink it, otherwise you will have serious problems maneuvering as all the weight lifts off your drive axle.
If your not sure just ask another driver. You will soon get the hang of it. Like the other posters have said, take a book or dvd player as some drops or collections can take a while.
Thanks for all the tips guys. Nothing is going to stop me from moving to the coast but out of curiosity is it just as easy to find work in the middle of the country a it is by the coast (i’m assuming it’s easy by the coast)?
I need to research the ports in England and take a look at accommodation costs to find the best place. Quite like the idea of Suffolk. Would that open up plenty of opportunities? I’m also guessing that there is a difference between a container port and somewhere like Dover?
Felixstowe is the busiest container port in the country. If you want to move to a coastal town in search of box work, then head for a radius of Felixstowe. You’ll find a job around there easily
Thanks OVLOV JAY. Would prefer southcoast but prices in Brighton put me off. Don’t know if its like that along most of south coast. But yeah best to head there if you think that’s the best option. I suppose I would still be in and out of plenty of other ports as well? Or would the company I work for tend to specialise in just one or a copule of ports. Looks like a lot of rigmorale in getting to grips with one port let alone many. Cheers.
There’s nothing on the south coast except Southampton, and that’s not as busy as it once was. As for the work, it all depends on the firm. If you go for a bigger firm like Maritime, Wincanton or Goldstar, you’ll end up going all over and doing all the ports. But you’ll have to put up with a lot of the crap that blue chips bring, h&s, poor wages in quiet times and being no more than a reg number. You can try your luck with a smaller firm, although this may be harder due to insurance. You might end up only working out of Felixstowe and possibly London Gateway. But you’ll find consistent wages all year around, and a more laid back personal attitude in the workplace
in felixstowe along the dock roads are always signs/numbers to call for jobs going. but rather than driving up to see them id think itd be better to google for the local firms and then ring every single one up during the week
with your patter practice it making sure you dont get brushed off before you get to speak to the right person
Geography of the area seems to place limits on best place to live due to the three rivers. Live in Harwich you can see the port but have got over an hour by car to get to it (if company is based in Felixstowe). Foot crossing takes an hour apparently. Not ideal. Could swim in less than that 
. Might be good exercise due to the nature of job 
.
Southwold too far anyway and pricey.
Just wonder any of you guys who work out of Felixstowe how far out of felixstowe would you live. Are there plenty of companies throughout the whole region?
EDIT
Just googled it. Bulk of hauliers are either in Felixstowe or spread along the north of the River Orwell between Felixstowe and Ipswich.
ANOTHER EDIT
Might have exaggerated the hour for the crossing bit.
Drivers come from all over Suffolk and Norfolk to Felixstowe, due to the lack of jobs and decent money, but they benefit from cheap property. If I was a single bloke looking to relocate, I’d be looking around Yarmouth, where you can still buy a one bed flat for around £50k, but not before I’ve found a tramping job in Felixstowe
ContainerBoy:
Thanks OVLOV JAY. Would prefer southcoast but prices in Brighton put me off. Don’t know if its like that along most of south coast. But yeah best to head there if you think that’s the best option. I suppose I would still be in and out of plenty of other ports as well? Or would the company I work for tend to specialise in just one or a copule of ports. Looks like a lot of rigmorale in getting to grips with one port let alone many. Cheers.
Ah theres no rigmarole. Go there once you’ve an idea, do it twice and you’re there. Do it thrice and you’re mostly expert . For finishing school just ask one of the illuminous figures with a plastic hat. Ports people don’t tend to speak to you like a complete dog log unlike rdcs (ugghhhh shudder)
The sliding skeles squash to midget version of themselves for unloading the little boxes. Always fun playing with them. Thats just a little rubber button or two, and just dont try any wheelies around the bends, hedges are like magnets for containers . Not much else apart from that.
I worked for a small firm tramping in and out of one port. All long distance one hit a day stuff. No dicking around.
I think you’ll like it 
Thanks Freight Dog. I’m liking it already .
Had thought about Yarmouth. Brings back memories as a kid with all those holidays. Don’t know if they still have that massive one armed bandit?
I’ll probably want to get a bit closer to the port. Felixstowe and Harwich both look ideal.
Just wondering what the best ADR options would be. Obviously core. Which of tanks or packages would be best (or would both be good). And would all classes be the best option or are some dangerous goods never going to be transported via conatiners?
Thanks.
ContainerBoy:
Just wondering what the best ADR options would be. Obviously core. Which of tanks or packages would be best (or would both be good). And would all classes be the best option or are some dangerous goods never going to be transported via conatiners?Thanks.
The best option would be to not waste your money.
On ADR you mean or getting into LGV in general?
ContainerBoy:
On ADR you mean or getting into LGV in general?
ADR if you’re set on doing containers.
An ADR in packages gives you a huge advantage on containers
The thing with adr, you get regular lorry checks by von vosa, red rag to a bull are them stickers
malcolmgbell:
The thing with adr, you get regular lorry checks by von vosa, red rag to a bull are them stickers
Urban myth
ContainerBoy:
On ADR you mean or getting into LGV in general?
Both 
ContainerBoy wrote:
On ADR you mean or getting into LGV in general?Both
I’m on a bit of a high at the moment with anticipation getting into the work and moving to Felixstowe that I havn’t really thought about all of the negatives that many drivers complain about. I’m sure your right though eagerbeaver sometimes a lot of drivers might be at their wits end with the job.
ContainerBoy:
Just wondering what the best ADR options would be.
Answered in your other topic. 