Well day 5 found me heading over to Blackburn first thing. Nice easy drop. One pallet and they took it off with an FLT.
The second one was over in Preston. Found the company easy enough thanks to the sat nav (yes, I checked the map book against it before setting off). Only problem I had was they wanted me to reverse into the yard but that would have been blind side, never done that before and didn’t really fancy doing it in front of a yard full of blokes. I explained to the bloke that I was a sparkly new driver and would much prefer to drive into the yard then have him watch me back out when we were done. He was happy with that and in I go. Another two pallets lifted off with FLT and I’m ready to reverse out. No dramas and I’m on my way to drop number three.
Third drop is also in Preston with an address ending in ‘Farm’. Now from previous jobs I know farms can be awkward to find and get to. Map book checked and route programed into Tom and his mate Tom, away we go again. ‘Ahead, turn right.’ says Kathy (Irish voice, very nice on TomTom). Yeah right! Now I know I’m going to a farm but does that mean I’ve got to go down a dirt track to get to it? I think not. So, map book out again to make sure I’m not going mad. Nope, the track is shown as a road in the mapbook. I ain’t taking my truck down there. I have another look and find I can go all the way around and come in from the other side. Off I go again and find this is a single track road but at least it’s tarmac. I get to the farm, nowhere to get off the road so I have to block it. Another too pallets off by FLT and then its time to turn around. Erm, WHERE? Nowhere, thats where! 
I ask the bloke if there is anywhere and he just smiled at me. I take that as a no! Great. Nothing more I can do, in the truck, select ‘R’, handbrake off, beep beep beep for about half a ■■■■ mile! Just to add to the pressure, there’s a lovely ditch to my nearside shouting for me to fall in it. I’m sure this road wasn’t this long when I drove down it. Anyhow, I get to the end of the road and ease out and I’m away to drop four.
Fourth drop is in Knowsley Industrial Est. No issues at all and another delivery done. My last drop was in Huddersfield and this went without any issues too. I’m on a roll now. 
I put a call into the office to see what they had next for me. I’ve to go over to Penistone and load there. No problem. I get to the site and try swinging into the yard but no. Someone had left a trailer in just the wrong spot and I couldn’t get round. I’m blocking the road with my trailer and the cars are stacking up already. Nothing more to do but reverse out and head down to a roundabout further up the road and come back which will allow me to drive straight into the yard. I’m in and they start to load me as I was expected. Load secured, paperwork signed and I’m on my way to our storage unit in Barnsley.
When I get to the unit I found 3 other of our wagons waiting for me. It appears that I’ve just picked up some of their load for tommorow. So its a mad rush to get me un-loaded and them loaded. Then it’s my turn to get my days work for tommorow. I’ve got steel plates, concrete blocks and a wooden crate for Stoke on Trent, Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton and then to our depot in Lichfield.
Lessons learnt from today.
No matter how much you cross check sat nav and map books, your little Irish lady on the TomTom is not always right. If you find yourself down a dead end, use the reversing as pressured practice (I’m rather good now, That ditch had me concentrating hard). And one from my last post, SLOW DOWN! I’m still finding myself going into corners too fast. I’ve not had anything move today but I think that was more down to what I’ve been carrying. Really got to sort that one out.
So, all in all I’m rather pleased with how it’s going and I know my confidence is growing. I’m finding it easier to work out how I’m going to do stuff, like getting round that tight corner or into that small space. I know i still have a LONG way to go before I’d say I was a fully compitent driver but I’m doing ok, even if I say so myself.
Gloria.
