Doing builders merchant grab deliveries

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

… like Jewsons, B&Q, whatever.

I’ve had bit’s here and there on agency, so I’ve always turned up for work and got straight to it, without any formal training other than how to use a hiab.
With a fair of experience I feel quite competent at using the hiab, but wanted to open up a thread tips from anyone with experience. I’ve not had any major accidents, apart from damage a few items I was delivering, and getting in tight spots after falling for the “we usually get wagons that size in here…”.

Do you strap everything loaded on a drop side vehicle?
Do you grab bags or hook them on?
What requirements do you have for wrapping and banding of pallets and bundles?

discuss.

2

I strap everything that comes above the sides of my wagon.

I only grab bulk bags of type 1 ■■■■■■■■ and hook everything else.

All big bundles of timber banded each end, small bundles of timber gets wrapped each end.

As for pallets, our order picker uses what seems to be half a roll of shrinkwrap per pallet!

Hope this helps!

3

Ton bags you simply loop over the ends of the grabber bars, nice and easy :slight_smile:

4

Phantom Mark:
Ton bags you simply loop over the ends of the grabber bars, nice and easy :slight_smile:

Then you can flick em off . . do bulk bags hold a ton? . . thought it was more like 850 kgs.

5

I guess they are called ton bags for a reason lol :slight_smile:

6

ton bags hold 1 sq yard of material which works out to about 900kg
when i used to do the hiab work i used to just grab all the bags unless they where soaking as the water added more weight and they slipped very easily :blush: as for the strapping if it came above the sides it was strapped

7

Phantom Mark:
I guess they are called ton bags for a reason lol :slight_smile:

They are called bulk bags LOL :wink:

8

Try not to do it like this muppet.

youtube.com/watch?v=tCaZ7kmEHX4

9

Suedehead:

Phantom Mark:
I guess they are called ton bags for a reason lol :slight_smile:

They are called bulk bags LOL :wink:

Dumpy bags are what we called them. I used to just grab the bags about halfway and nip untill the load starts to peak out the top. Never had one fall yet.
Bricks I used to grab just above where the forklift holes are. Dont nip the strap side though cos they can break lol
Timber you use strops and if the timber is all different sizes then i used to shrink wrap both ends to help keep it together.
Get some plywood and cut into 2ft square then screw 2/3 together to make one. Do that twice and use them as pads under the hydraulic legs so you dont put a nice hole in the tarmac.

10

I used to drive for Jewsons its a great job averaging about 40/45 hours a week £18 to £20k home every night, working every second Saturday, sick pay, 30 ++ days holiday a year, pension staff discount etc etc.

Jewsons WONT let you drive without the training you need the company uses something called Abiltity To Operate if you dont have that you wont be driving the truck no matter what you have done in the past.

Some of the drivers come from Manpower but the company has unusually that employing area drivers I.E. someone that can multi task drive a fork lift and drive to other depots to drive the lorry, or work in the yard serving customers etc etc is a better option than the rip off agencies if only other companies realised that too !!

As for strapping the load I didnt strap some clinker blocks (3.5N) once and after restacking them I soon learned my lesson, as for the big blue bags they are usually called bulk bags company policy dictates that you should always use the clevis grab hooks welded on to the grab NEVER squeeze the bags, im sure we have all done it but with tight buttocks as we did it.

The bags are NEVER called tonne bags as they dont have a tonne in them they are generally loaded as close to 850kg as possible this is to allow for rain etc and them getting heavier, the reason you shouldnt call them a tonne bag is the sale of goods act pure and simple because they arent guaranteed to have a tonne in them.

Its not unusual to have 5 packs of bricks 5 packs of blocks and some timber over the top of the load so strapping it is usually common sense, although throwing them between the crane and the load is usually a pain in the bottom.

All the new lorries are now remote control LMC’s (Lorry Mounted Crane,s) having used them and having used the old manual ones im still not sure which is better but moving from the back to the front hooking things on and adjusting the height of the crane is a thing of the past as nowadays you can adjust the height from withing the loaded part of the vehicle.

From someone who has worked for hauliers that pay a pittance and expect maximum hours every day, who scrimp and save every penny from their drivers ,who IF you go to them with a strap that has wear will blame you for it , working for most merchants they will replace the strap without the blink of an eyelid, they will INSIST you have a one hour break daily ! within that 9.5 hour day you work.

11

jammymutt:
I used to drive for Jewsons its a great job averaging about 40/45 hours a week £18 to £20k home every night, working every second Saturday, sick pay, 30 ++ days holiday a year, pension staff discount etc etc.

Jewsons WONT let you drive without the training you need the company uses something called Abiltity To Operate if you dont have that you wont be driving the truck no matter what you have done in the past.

Some of the drivers come from Manpower but the company has unusually that employing area drivers I.E. someone that can multi task drive a fork lift and drive to other depots to drive the lorry, or work in the yard serving customers etc etc is a better option than the rip off agencies if only other companies realised that too !!

As for strapping the load I didnt strap some clinker blocks (3.5N) once and after restacking them I soon learned my lesson, as for the big blue bags they are usually called bulk bags company policy dictates that you should always use the clevis grab hooks welded on to the grab NEVER squeeze the bags, im sure we have all done it but with tight buttocks as we did it.

The bags are NEVER called tonne bags as they dont have a tonne in them they are generally loaded as close to 850kg as possible this is to allow for rain etc and them getting heavier, the reason you shouldnt call them a tonne bag is the sale of goods act pure and simple because they arent guaranteed to have a tonne in them.

Its not unusual to have 5 packs of bricks 5 packs of blocks and some timber over the top of the load so strapping it is usually common sense, although throwing them between the crane and the load is usually a pain in the bottom.

All the new lorries are now remote control LMC’s (Lorry Mounted Crane,s) having used them and having used the old manual ones im still not sure which is better but moving from the back to the front hooking things on and adjusting the height of the crane is a thing of the past as nowadays you can adjust the height from withing the loaded part of the vehicle.

From someone who has worked for hauliers that pay a pittance and expect maximum hours every day, who scrimp and save every penny from their drivers ,who IF you go to them with a strap that has wear will blame you for it , working for most merchants they will replace the strap without the blink of an eyelid, they will INSIST you have a one hour break daily ! within that 9.5 hour day you work.

.

12

For 45 hours? REALLY

Do you know many hauliers that pay full sick pay (after 3 days) pension, staff discount etc etc its pretty close to £9 an hour for an 07:30 start every day and home every night, I dont know if its changed much but I remember driving lorries for £6 an hour and doing close to 15 hours almost every day.

Maybe your all on £9 an hour plus nowadays ?

13

phantom309:

jammymutt:
I used to drive for Jewsons its a great job averaging about 40/45 hours a week £18 to £20k home every night, working every second Saturday, sick pay, 30 ++ days holiday a year, pension staff discount etc etc.

Jewsons WONT let you drive without the training you need the company uses something called Abiltity To Operate if you dont have that you wont be driving the truck no matter what you have done in the past.

Some of the drivers come from Manpower but the company has unusually that employing area drivers I.E. someone that can multi task drive a fork lift and drive to other depots to drive the lorry, or work in the yard serving customers etc etc is a better option than the rip off agencies if only other companies realised that too !!

As for strapping the load I didnt strap some clinker blocks (3.5N) once and after restacking them I soon learned my lesson, as for the big blue bags they are usually called bulk bags company policy dictates that you should always use the clevis grab hooks welded on to the grab NEVER squeeze the bags, im sure we have all done it but with tight buttocks as we did it.

The bags are NEVER called tonne bags as they dont have a tonne in them they are generally loaded as close to 850kg as possible this is to allow for rain etc and them getting heavier, the reason you shouldnt call them a tonne bag is the sale of goods act pure and simple because they arent guaranteed to have a tonne in them.

Its not unusual to have 5 packs of bricks 5 packs of blocks and some timber over the top of the load so strapping it is usually common sense, although throwing them between the crane and the load is usually a pain in the bottom.

All the new lorries are now remote control LMC’s (Lorry Mounted Crane,s) having used them and having used the old manual ones im still not sure which is better but moving from the back to the front hooking things on and adjusting the height of the crane is a thing of the past as nowadays you can adjust the height from withing the loaded part of the vehicle.

From someone who has worked for hauliers that pay a pittance and expect maximum hours every day, who scrimp and save every penny from their drivers ,who IF you go to them with a strap that has wear will blame you for it , working for most merchants they will replace the strap without the blink of an eyelid, they will INSIST you have a one hour break daily ! within that 9.5 hour day you work.

missread :blush:

14

Get in with the right merchant and it’s a great job. Many stay there for years as it’s a relatively late start with a finish time thats usually guaranteed, and your home every night. I cut my teeth as a relief driver, then yard supervisor (dons tin hat)/driver for a independent but still quite large merchant based in the East of England. Maintenance and training are top notch and as the above poster says a worn strap/sling/landing pad is always replaced. CPC is held on a weekday and your paid for it.

Having been around lorries since I was a kid I thought I might try my hand at general haulage. It was the lure of going to work for a local fim that used HIAB wagons with a big hike in wages. Once the lack of a social life, long hours and short notice of nights away (its half 5 your loads changed, the TM says theres no time for you to eat or shower aka I don’t give a flyer about your welfare)were factored in there was no real gain. Then as the above poster says if anything breaks (a sling, a valve etc) then it’s always your fault. The firm I went to sent me out with loads that often required 6 lifts (normally pre-stropped requested by site H&S rules) but only one pair of slings. The question to the TM of how am I meant to pre strop was met with the not my problem type answer.

I can tell you stories of drivers with expired LOLER tickets or no tickets at all.

Merchants treat you as an equal, one of the team rather than a lorry driver that grows on trees and can be easily replaced.
You won’t work bank holidays, normally its good banter with the customers ( amazing how many builders are ex drivers) and on the private customers a bit of politeness can quite often bring a tip or two.

I don’t work for a builders merchant but am now an operations supervisor at a firm specialising in food distribution. The good thing about working for merchants is the chance to progress. I went from being a trainee yard lad, through sales, estimating and surveying to being in charge of the yard and warehouse. They even paid me through a degree course. Some drivers progressed through to being branch managers and directors. Some people may sniff at the wages and see it as not being proper haulage but everyone has their own particular sets of needs and wants.

It’s not for everyone as I get a bit more than merchant staff do but its a good job. I believe Saaamon worked for the same merchants as me and hopefully he will back it up.

With regards to load security it’s a case of it looks dodgy, do something about it. LBC bricks are always the worst packed and a bit of extra shrink wrap arpund them can be a good idea. Quite often some shrink wrap around the top of a block pack will be a good idea too. Be very careful with sheet materials. Never double stack chipboard! With sheet materials it’s often a good idea to band them to a pallet, they just slide around if they are on bearers and will break the bands.

15

i think that the likes of travis perkins etc pay very poorly considering the driver is quite skilled (hiab).

16

andrew.s:
i think that the likes of travis perkins etc pay very poorly considering the driver is quite skilled (hiab).

What do they pay?

17

Three peanuts and a Banana, I work for one of their competitors and I am only on two peanuts and half a banana :wink:

18

Jewsons must’ve upped their rates considerably then. Back in 2005/6 I did some agency work for their Frazers subsidiary, same sort of thing only bigger stuff mainly pipes and concrete chambers; there was a permanent vacancy coming up but it was only paying about £14 p.a. and that included every other Saturday. Even Owens were paying better than that.

It’s not bad work if you don’t mind a bit of graft, and it does have the advantage that you’re home every night around the same time, good if you’ve got young kids. But be prepared to be messed around left right and centre.

19

Nope, I dont work for Jewsons, I’m on for the red and white lot :wink: While agency drivers could possibly earn £14 PH, I can honestly assure you that as a full time driver I come nowhere near that amount!

But I am home every night with every other saturday morning working.

20

just watched the video , what the hell was that pillock doing putting 2x1.4 ton packs directly on to a scaffold ? if jewsons see that video he will be out of a job shortly .