hi downtons do a lot of news paper work print sites could be that all curtainsiders ,all forklift loaded now ,not like the old days each bundle put on by hand , 
Javiatrix:
tell the office to go [zb] themselves if they try to rush me. Think I got it
Didn’t exactly say do it that directly, but you have got the basic idea.
You only do that after a few more years experience, they listen to you then. 
And if you’re putting the trailer on a bay don’t forget to open the back doors, unlike me first time out also don’t forget to take your number plate off when dropping the trailer, preferably before you back it up to the fence/wall, yes I did that aswell
BillyHunt:
And if you’re putting the trailer on a bay don’t forget to open the back doors, unlike me first time out
I once pulled a trailer off a bay and replaced it with mine (they had no shunter or units) Set off and got about an hour away, got a call off the boss, can you go back you have backed on the bay and left it with doors shut 
not when I was a newbie either. 
He didn’t give me a bollocking as he knew I would feel a big enough ■■■■ as it was.
robroy:
BillyHunt:
And if you’re putting the trailer on a bay don’t forget to open the back doors, unlike me first time outI once pulled a trailer off a bay and replaced it with mine (they had no shunter or units) Set off and got about an hour away, got a call off the boss, can you go back you have backed on the bay and left it with doors shut
He didn’t give me a bollocking as he knew I would feel a big enough [zb] as it was.
I did both on the same shift, then to put the icing on the cake I went home, with the unit keys in my pocket! 
it’s a wonder I still had a job to go back to. Luckily I only lived 14 miles away from the yard!
BillyHunt:
robroy:
BillyHunt:
And if you’re putting the trailer on a bay don’t forget to open the back doors, unlike me first time outI once pulled a trailer off a bay and replaced it with mine (they had no shunter or units) Set off and got about an hour away, got a call off the boss, can you go back you have backed on the bay and left it with doors shut
He didn’t give me a bollocking as he knew I would feel a big enough [zb] as it was.I did both on the same shift, then to put the icing on the cake I went home, with the unit keys in my pocket!
Its all part of the learning curve, it could have gone a lot worse, good drivers learn from their mistakes and those of others.
You will soon develop you’re own little system, booking in/off, coupling up, route planning, the gear you to carry and so on you can’t force anything in transport rushing and tearing rarely saves time and mistakes will be made, these mistakes could have serious consequences.
Think about what you’re doing and don’t be afraid to ask questions, not opening doors and going off home with the keys is nothing you did well, onwards and upwards.
So I managed to get around without damaging anything, and even managed a couple of blind side reverses, once round a corner and another back at the yard to drop the trailer in the only space I could find! Both times I must have jumped out the cab five times to run back and check where the back corners were. It’s so weird looking in the mirror and seeing a fence 15-20 foot behind you and convincing yourself you’re in an artic and the trailer’s at a 70 degree angle so all is ok lol.
Was bricking it for the first 15 mins but soon settled in and starting enjoying myself. Obviously I’ve only driven these things when training and on the test, and I’m already amazed what you can do with them when you’re not shy with getting the lock on!
Overall a reassuring start, and looking forward to the next one.
BillyHunt, I owe you. When I read your post I realised I’d done exactly that (left the numberplate on… Still in rigid mode!), managed to get through to somebody though so all’s good. I think if that was my worst offence of the night, I’ve not done too bad 
Sounds like you had a good shift so well done there. Everyone does the number plate thing at some time, though I’ve not done it since. It’s just a case of getting your routine sorted so that you don’t forget anything.
And tell the truth, your todger is at least 2 inches bigger today now you’re a “proper” driver isn’t it.
I think you may have missed the mark with the todger comment Bill!! I think J is a lady driver lol.
Don’t worry about the number plate on the trailer. After around 2 weeks of doing it, and driving back to get it, you will get so ■■■■■■ off, you wont do it again. I may erm…be speaking from experience.
Javiatrix:
So I managed to get around without damaging anything, and even managed a couple of blind side reverses, once round a corner and another back at the yard to drop the trailer in the only space I could find! Both times I must have jumped out the cab five times to run back and check where the back corners were. It’s so weird looking in the mirror and seeing a fence 15-20 foot behind you and convincing yourself you’re in an artic and the trailer’s at a 70 degree angle so all is ok lol.Was bricking it for the first 15 mins but soon settled in and starting enjoying myself. Obviously I’ve only driven these things when training and on the test, and I’m already amazed what you can do with them when you’re not shy with getting the lock on!
Overall a reassuring start, and looking forward to the next one.
BillyHunt, I owe you. When I read your post I realised I’d done exactly that (left the numberplate on… Still in rigid mode!), managed to get through to somebody though so all’s good. I think if that was my worst offence of the night, I’ve not done too bad
A good start then mate. It will go a long way to building your confidence, and especially well done on the blindsides, I have seen many old hands struggle on those.
You sound confident and things will soon be less of a problem the more you do.
However I don’ t want to ■■■■ on your chips mate, but don’t let your successful shift make you blase’ and over confident, give it about 2 to 3 weeks before you ease off on the 101% attention paying and alertness.
After a couple of months it will be second nature to you and you will find yourself going on ‘autopilot’ for a lot of the time.
Good advice from robroy there, even some in French who’d have thought it
Seriously though, nothing wrong with jumping out and having a look, I still do it now if I’m not sure. It’s better to take a few seconds to have a look, than hours of form filling and investigation if you hit something
You will soon get a feeling of where the trailer is, even if you cant see the other side of it but even then don’t get blase’
Having said all that, you’re new and you will hit something, just don’t let it dent your confidence, “crack on drive”
Big Roy:
Good advice from robroy there, even some in FrenchYou will soon get a feeling of where the trailer is, even if you cant see the other side of it but even then don’t get blase’
Don’t take the ■■■■, we don’t want to get into une petite argumentation do we now.
Mon Dieu! European ■■■■ taking. TNUK is evolving.
robroy:
Big Roy:
Good advice from robroy there, even some in FrenchYou will soon get a feeling of where the trailer is, even if you cant see the other side of it but even then don’t get blase’
Don’t take the ■■■■, we don’t want to get into une petite argumentation do we now.
moi■■?
I would never take the ■■■■ out of you mate
BTW how are the fairy lights going
Big Roy:
robroy:
Big Roy:
Good advice from robroy there, even some in FrenchYou will soon get a feeling of where the trailer is, even if you cant see the other side of it but even then don’t get blase’
Don’t take the ■■■■, we don’t want to get into une petite argumentation do we now.
moi■■?
I would never take the ■■■■ out of you mate
BTW how are the fairy lights going
No, still struggling on the fairy light front , looking into colour coded scatter cushions instead, to match my frilly curtains,…going for the Belgian brothel look.
eagerbeaver:
I think you may have missed the mark with the todger comment Bill!! I think J is a lady driver lol.Don’t worry about the number plate on the trailer. After around 2 weeks of doing it, and driving back to get it, you will get so ■■■■■■ off, you wont do it again. I may erm…be speaking from experience.
Really not the first time I’ve been caught out though. One night in a bar in Hong Kong I got talking to this young lady, err I think I’ll leave that one for another thread 
Despite my links with early 20th century female aviators, I have a nice meaty todger. It pains me to break it to y’all!
While I was parked up on break last night, I passed the time by giving every rigid driver who drove past the coffee beans while shaking my licence around in the other hand. To confirm my masculinity further, I hung my orange hi vis from the window, on which I’d written “CLASS 1 DRIVER” in permanent marker. When I got back to the yard, I could sense everybody pointing and and talking about me behind my back, obviously in awe of a driver of the highest possible rank.
In all seriousness, when I first started driving rigids I had a couple of bangs and I really, really don’t want to repeat the experience again!! I know it’ll happen at some point, but for now I’ll follow robroy’s 101% method and spend a bit longer looking like the n00b I am. Happy to take that over tea and biscuits!
BillyHunt:
eagerbeaver:
I think you may have missed the mark with the todger comment Bill!! I think J is a lady driver lol.Don’t worry about the number plate on the trailer. After around 2 weeks of doing it, and driving back to get it, you will get so ■■■■■■ off, you wont do it again. I may erm…be speaking from experience.
Really
Ha, in your face beaver
Javiatrix:
I have a nice meaty todger.when I first started driving rigids I had a couple of bangs
Too much information mate, do we really need to know this.
Sorry pal, I’ve clearly frequented too many layby’s!