Having obtained my Class 2 in Dec 2011 and my Class 1 in Fed 2012 I followed on with a HIAB course and then signed on with 3 local agencies.
I am only available for weekend work at the moment so I was really excited and I should say, felt really fortunate when one of the agencies offered me a Class 1 night trunking job on Friday.
I was told to be at site for a 5pm start so of course arrived at 4.30pm, complete with map book, PPE, Licence, DIGI card and anything else I thought I would need.
Security directed me to the TM’s office where I located Steve who was a very pleasant chap, and nothing like some of the stories on this forum would have you believe all TM’s are like ☺
Steve handed me a sheet with details of 6 runs to/from Heysham ferry terminal. It had trailer numbers, details of my 12 plate MAN tractor unit and his emergency telephone number.
Having found the unit outside and located my first trailer, still in the warehouse being loaded I made my first schoolboy error moving the unit 500 mts into the warehouse without inserting my nice new previously unused DIGI card. Upon realising my mistake I inserted my card and got a message about the vehicle having been driven without a digi card inserted. Having no idea how to deal with it and there being no drivers about to ask I just pressed OK a couple of times to clear it and start recording correctly. I am sure I must have some infringement registered on my card now ☹
Learning point (1)
Always insert DIGI card first.
Learning Point (2)
Read up on what to do with such an error in the future.
I did my first run to Heysham, the whole checking and signing in process was new to me but went fine and I even found my way to the weighbridge and office without a problem.
I booked in my trailer for the IOM Ferry and got a release sheet for the trailer I was taking back. At this point I remembered what Steve the TM had told me, “Get the release note for your final trailer when you get the one for your first trailer as there may be nobody in the weighbridge office on your last run”. So I asked and got a flat “NO”, you can have that release note when you’re ready to take that trailer.
So I dropped my first trailer in the IOM loading area and was amazed there is no filing system for trailers on site. So after driving up and down rows of trailers I eventually found my return load, coupled up and headed back to base with no issues.
Back at base the one-way system in the yard meant I was left with a blind side reverse, which is where my inexperience showed. Thankfully, after faffing about for 5 minutes, Brian, the great security man and ex-driver took pity on me and suggested a simple solution. Drive out of the main gate, around the roundabout, come back in and go the wrong way around the site one-way system. The simple solutions are often the most overlooked?? After all there was only me and Brian on site so going the wrong way around the site one-way system wasn’t an issue.
My third trailer was in the warehouse but had been put in using a shunter, so was off to one side rather than in front of the door. It had a fork truck parked in front of it with no keys and some groupage stuff on the floor to the front right. The warehouse was pitch black and only had a work light on the unit to give any illumination. But I feel I redeemed myself a little on this one because despite the extremely tight obstacle course, I got under the trailer and manoeuvred it out with apparent ease 
Learning Point (3)
Always carry a torch, because finding the parking brake on a trailer in a pitch-black warehouse is very difficult using only the screen illumination on your mobile phone 
Trailer 3 was delivered to Heysham without incident and learning from my first run, I came into the IOM drop of point from a different angle allowing me to drive in forwards and drop the trailer rather than reverse it in from the other side.
I was now on 4Hrs 16mins so too a 45min break before heading back to base, empty as planned. I parked up within the limits of the trailer area at Heysham, I was out of the way and nobody said anything, but it later occurred to me that taking breaks on site might be against Heysham Ferry Terminal policy or rules. Does anyone know?
Back at base, trailer 4 was located in yet another tight space, close up to another trailer, on a bend in the site road, with another trailer opposite making just getting under my trailer difficult. Not to be put off, I got under it but despite the fact this and the neighbouring trailers were angled to the right I would have to turn left to get out of the yard due to the trailers parked opposite.
Not wanting to be remembered as the guy who let the overhang rip the side out of the neighbouring box trailer, I walked over to ask Brian and asked him to watch me out as I made the manoeuvre. There was another driver now in the security cabin who obliged and I got it out without causing damage. It left me wondering if I the conversation back in the security hut after was one of “soft lad, you could have got a tank out of there” but I have broad shoulders and would rather play safe and suffer a red face than get it wrong.
On arriving at Heysham with my 4th trailer I was feeling quite good. Ok there had been moments where my inexperience had shown but I had learned an awful lot and there wasn’t anything that made me think the TM wouldn’t be happy to have me back in the future. Pride comes before a fall!!!
On passing through security at Heysham, I made my way to the weighbridge only to find it in darkness and locked up. I went down to the IOM loading area knowing full well the boat had sailed at 2.15 and it was like a ghost town. Nobody but nobody was about in what had been a very active area only a couple of hours earlier. I returned to the security house to be told there is nobody in now until 10am. It is now about 3.45am, I have a trailer to book in and nobody to book it in with and worse still a trailer on site I cant get a release note for. After some discussion the security man said I could drop the trailer and leave details on a note through the door at the weighbridge but there is no way I could have my last trailer until I get a release note (at 10am).
So feeling totally deflated I returned back to base, finishing 12 hrs after I started, having done 8hrs driving and moved 4 of my 5 trailers. I was gutted! If I had been more assertive with the guy in the weighbridge office on my first run I am sure I would have been issued with the release note for my final trailer but I wasn’t and for me that is where I let myself down and the TM.
Being pragmatic, I have had a great first opportunity, I learned an awful lot and I will go into my next agency job with better prepared. Sadly I feel Steve, the TM of that particular company who had been brave enough to give a newly qualified driver an opportunity may well view it differently 
well done .
