It’s been a quiet period for the artics at our company, so I’ve been demoted for a week or two to the class 2 trucks on electrical store deliveries and collections. Oh, the shame of it
Actually, it’s been a nice change going down to a smaller truck, though your steering goes to pot when you reverse and you forget you don’t have a trailer any more. Also, it’s bloody hard graft.
I’ve had to navigate my way into various Dutch towns with very tight streets, and then manhandle pallet trucks with pallets of heavy washing machines and widescreen tv’s over brick paving and onto sloping tail lifts, and then trying not to lose the lot over the side while the lift goes up. I broke a nail the other day. I’m used to opening trailer doors and then sitting in the cab while being loaded. Not all this heavy energetic stuff.
So, I take my hat off to the lads and lasses that do this class 2 store type work every day. I’ll be glad when things pick up a bit and I get back to my own truck.
By the way, it’s true what they say. If the shop staff make conversation and say something like ‘I’ve not seen you on this run before’, you find yourself immediately saying something like “yeah, well I normally drive artics but I’m on this just for a week to help out”, as if you feel the need to explain why you’re in a small truck. Like the staff actually care what you drive.
In other news, a big change is coming to the Dutch motorways on the 16th of this month. From that date, there is going to be a blanket speed limit of 100kph throughout the day for all cars and light vehicles. The purpose of this new law is to cut down on emissions. The speed limit will go back up to 130kph between the hours of 7pm and 6am. So, I’m really curious to see how all the Merc, BMW and Audi drivers that normally go flying down the highway, are going to cope with going just 10kph faster than trucks, and I wonder how trucks like mine doing 90kph are going to be able to overtake other trucks doing 85 or 80 with all these slowed down cars in a constant convoy in the next lane? I’m just glad that most of my shift takes place between the late afternoon and early hours of the morning.
The police have also warned there will be zero tolerance from day one on anybody caught speeding, and fines will be high !
The motorway/dual carriageways will be similar to here in UK.
Traffic tauled back for miles in rush hour times and lorries overtaking for 3 miles stretches. Not to worry though. Saving the planet is more important.
cgscott:
The motorway/dual carriageways will be similar to here in UK.
Traffic tauled back for miles in rush hour times and lorries overtaking for 3 miles stretches. Not to worry though. Saving the planet is more important.
They’ll just extend the time of the no overtaking bans that already exist
cgscott:
The motorway/dual carriageways will be similar to here in UK.
Traffic tauled back for miles in rush hour times and lorries overtaking for 3 miles stretches. Not to worry though. Saving the planet is more important.
They’ll just extend the time of the no overtaking bans that already exist
Not all the motorways have no overtaking restrictions, but I get your point.
How can it be less environmentally friendly to do the normal speeds in the dark? Is there a place for Ozone in all of this?
So many questions and not enough cameras to create ill gotten gains for the cloggie govt.
cgscott:
The motorway/dual carriageways will be similar to here in UK.
Traffic tauled back for miles in rush hour times and lorries overtaking for 3 miles stretches. Not to worry though. Saving the planet is more important.
They’ll just extend the time of the no overtaking bans that already exist
Which won’t work because there will still be ‘drivers’ that are either brain dead or couldn’t give a ■■■■ still overtaking [emoji849]
Lack of enforcement makes these no HGV overtaking rules pointless.
Are you sure that’s a class 2? it’s little shopping trolley sized wheels makes me think it’s a 7.5 tonner therefore a C1 or affectionately known as a puddle jumper or a wannabe’s chariot.
Wheels still look a little small to me for a 12 tonner but you may be right, I did consider this when I looked at the pics but wasn’t sure hence why I asked.
Wheels still look a little small to me for a 12 tonner but you may be right, I did consider this when I looked at the pics but wasn’t sure hence why I asked.
You’ve got me thinking now, and I drove the ruddy thing. I think it was indeed a 12 tonner and with a sleeper cab. A full size bunk behind me though not obvious in the photo.
Wheels still look a little small to me for a 12 tonner but you may be right, I did consider this when I looked at the pics but wasn’t sure hence why I asked.
You’ve got me thinking now, and I drove the ruddy thing. I think it was indeed a 12 tonner and with a sleeper cab. A full size bunk behind me though not obvious in the photo.
Wouldn’t have a clue what’s on the data plate, but I’ll go with the “12.220” on the door.
Wheels still look a little small to me for a 12 tonner but you may be right, I did consider this when I looked at the pics but wasn’t sure hence why I asked.
You’ve got me thinking now, and I drove the ruddy thing. I think it was indeed a 12 tonner and with a sleeper cab. A full size bunk behind me though not obvious in the photo.
Wouldn’t have a clue what’s on the data plate, but I’ll go with the “12.220” on the door.
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I’m used to opening trailer doors and then sitting in the cab while being loaded. Not all this heavy energetic stuff.
