BuzzardBoy:
He reckoned he could do it in 18/19 hours each way, he was on good money for it IIRC, in the region of £300 a trip which in the mid/late 90’s went alot further than it did now…
It can’t be right for anyone to have to work 18/19 hours a day for six days on the trot. Not right for other road users and not right for the driver. Even sheep and cattle have to have longer rest periods than this.
Van driving seems to be the last unregulated area of professional driving, and it’s time van drivers were given better legal protection.
I couldnt agree more Harry, the hours some van drivers work, even on domestic work is crazy.Someone said they are still bound by driving laws but they have no way of keeping records of it accurately
dazcapri:
Good luck with the run mate but I thought the foreign plod were putting a stop to sleeping across the seats. I was talking to a young lad at Barnard Castle truck show a bit back with a bed built into the bulkhead of his Sprinter van and he reckoned it was a no no in some places now.
See quite a few with them roof pod things on too. woulnt want to be tall or a bit or a bloater with one id imagine.
His was like a coffin nailed onto the bulkhead of his van, he said someone bigger than him (about 5"4 and skinny as a rake) would struggle to get comfortable.There was a lad there with a roof pod reckoned if you need a pee in the middle of the night it’s a nightmare cos your lying on top of the hatch you have to climb through. Wouldn’t want to be in one if there’s a fire.
dazcapri:
Good luck with the run mate but I thought the foreign plod were putting a stop to sleeping across the seats. I was talking to a young lad at Barnard Castle truck show a bit back with a bed built into the bulkhead of his Sprinter van and he reckoned it was a no no in some places now.
See quite a few with them roof pod things on too. woulnt want to be tall or a bit or a bloater with one id imagine.
His was like a coffin nailed onto the bulkhead of his van, he said someone bigger than him (about 5"4 and skinny as a rake) would struggle to get comfortable.There was a lad there with a roof pod reckoned if you need a pee in the middle of the night it’s a nightmare cos your lying on top of the hatch you have to climb through. Wouldn’t want to be in one if there’s a fire.
They do have a window that kicks out in emergency’s but like you say they are small inside. I had one on top of a 7.5 ton merc 814 years ago, took my then GF with me down cornwall, there was enough room for the two of us once the hatch was down, but a bit clostrophobic. We forgot to leave the window slightly open and after a couple of hours we were sweating and gasping for air
Place i used to work had a MAN 7.5 tonner with the pod on top. One saturday afternoon the fitter brought some old tart in to the yard and she got wedged in the hatch there was a few of us in the pub oppisite who came out to witness him trying to drag her back through the hatch
kr79:
Place i used to work had a MAN 7.5 tonner with the pod on top. One saturday afternoon the fitter brought some old tart in to the yard and she got wedged in the hatch there was a few of us in the pub oppisite who came out to witness him trying to drag her back through the hatch
I have some reservations about the job, I wouldnt take it personally, looking at the size of the vans that are being used they are not full length therefore using a crew cab to provide a sleeping area or an under slung fridge and adding a pod doesnt seem to be that difficult, the money may be right but with a little thought perhaps looking after the welfare of the drivers maybe in order.
Many lads have lost out from the rented van, no office, and cash in hand scenerio in the past, not saying this is one of those cases but personally I wouldnt take it
Ref sleeping in vans know of couple been nicked in germany and taken to hotel
fine and hotel bill and one in slovakia
Was parked in Germany 3 years ago to english vans parked next to me one had bunk and night heather fitted
bulkhead was put back in sprinter other across the seats
one across seats got woken up fined and escorted to hotel
Rikki-UK:
I have some reservations about the job, I wouldnt take it personally, looking at the size of the vans that are being used they are not full length therefore using a crew cab to provide a sleeping area or an under slung fridge and adding a pod doesnt seem to be that difficult, the money may be right but with a little thought perhaps looking after the welfare of the drivers maybe in order.
Many lads have lost out from the rented van, no office, and cash in hand scenerio in the past, not saying this is one of those cases but personally I wouldnt take it
Vans were always gonna be temporary, gaffer needed box fridges in a hurry and though not really fit for purpose they are doing the job for the time being. We have new vans being built at the min with lighter bodys on and from what I been told Pods. a couple will have light weight tail lifts as well.
gettin-on:
Know the germans wanted log book kept for driving aswell
Not once have I ever been asked for a log book in the last 7 years I been driving in Germany think its an urban myth
No Glen not an urban myth I was stopped in Germany & asked for my log book I did have a time sheet which they were happy with as also was daily check sheet
The Germans did once stop my dad he was double manning they find them both for speeding in Austria the day before
Sorry but this firm seem shadier every day. Vans breaking down ? Runs being cancelled last minute ? Getting drivers to use their own credit cards ? Not paying drivers? Not equipping drivers with the right vans or equipment to do the job ? Getting rid of a driver for the so called loss of 2 pallets that weren’t even picked up ? And expecting drivers to work stupid hours for a pittance of a pay ? Boy am I glad I didn’t go for it
