Just been having a good chat with a van driver at a garage near me, he drives a 12 plate merc sprinter with a box body and one of them sleeper pods on top. Works for a York based fireplace manufacturer and is away all week delivering to shops all across the country, from Inverness to Penzance. Gotta say it sounded quite an adventure, his motor was pretty neat as well! Been there 12 years. He gets on the doorstep of his first delivery each evening, then drops as soon as they open, and travels around getting as many drops off until they close.
no tacho, master of his own ship and no doubt time for some extra curricular activities.
be a good job if the pay was right.
you would get to see plenty.
i would have it to see my driving days out.
A week would be to much but 1 or 2 would be fine. I loved to do distance van work, no tacho, limiter, aslong as your not overweight theres not much they can get you for.
Kevwall:
Them pods look tiny though did you have a little look in
I did yeah, it’s bigger than it looks actually! Granted, not standing room, but it had curtains on the cab, plus a night heater. He said he’s really comfortable in it
A Sprinter with a box body carrying (heavy) fire places? Does it have twin rear wheels?
If so it will likely be over 3.5t and therefor will have a tacho.
Nice job but not sure I’d want to sleep in a pod on a regular basis.
Sounds a pretty sweet gig no rdc deliverys guessing houses and specialist shops. No tacho etc less hassle with weight restrictions much more parking up options. If the money was ok I’d have no qualms doing it. Might have to go on a diet first though for the pod. Probably fairly easy going if its an own account firm
JLS Driver SOS:
How many fireplaces can he get in the thing to enable him to be away all week, or does he go backwards and forwards to the depot to fill up
He said he runs out sunday night up to Scotland and the North East, gets back tuesday or weds morning, reload again then head down South East, and theres another van does the west apparently.
kr79:
Sounds a pretty sweet gig no rdc deliverys guessing houses and specialist shops. No tacho etc less hassle with weight restrictions much more parking up options. If the money was ok I’d have no qualms doing it. Might have to go on a diet first though for the pod. Probably fairly easy going if its an own account firm
Yes thats pretty much what he said! I dont understand how they make it pay though, I would have thought it be easier to just send them out with an overnight carrier.
kr79:
Sounds a pretty sweet gig no rdc deliverys guessing houses and specialist shops. No tacho etc less hassle with weight restrictions much more parking up options. If the money was ok I’d have no qualms doing it. Might have to go on a diet first though for the pod. Probably fairly easy going if its an own account firm
Yes thats pretty much what he said! I dont understand how they make it pay though, I would have thought it be easier to just send them out with an overnight carrier.
Have you seen the damage carriers do to fire places and shower trays.
If product is fragile e.g. marble/glass it is possibly more viable to use own transport/dedicated haulier vehicle to reduce cost of damage, either by transhipment (pallet networks) or drivers unfamiliar with product (general haulage). Also you get to know who opens early and who closes late, before 09:00 and after 16:00.
First driving job was a 7.5t sleeping across seats (no sleeper cab) up to 4 nights a week delivering refrigerated shop equipment across the UK. Wasn’t unusual to start in Manchester, travel to Norwich for first drop Monday and last drop might be Plymouth going via London.
