Had a delivery in Central London yesterday. Saffron Hill near Hatton Garden. I’m driving a 26 tonnner that won’t bend around corners with metal bollards on them, but labourers at building site couldn’t understand how I can’t “just get it down that alleyway mate”. Probably because it’s only 11 foot high (i’m 13ft 5in, and it doesn’t bend around corners with back wheels down)
Park on the road & use taillift to offload for 45 mins. Traffic wardens hovering like wasps. Was advised to cover the number plate so they can’t record number. Is that correct?
Also how many cyclists must get killed in London.? I had them around the back of me, down the side, around the front all at the same time. No signalling at junctions or waiting at lights. Talk about stress.
About the only good thing about London is listening to LBC while I’m there.
I take my hat off to all drivers that do it on a daily basis.
I know what u mean mate,spent the first few weeks after passing my c on agency work driving 7.5 - 18 tonners all over the place in london,what amazes me is the bloody pedestrians who just step off the kerb at junctions/lights etc when yr turning left or right,they just have no idea or a death wish,i do like it in there tho cos its a great way to see the sights.
Totally agree with that. Couldn’t believe the number of plonkers walking out in front of me on mobiles or with those ipod headphones on. Not a care in the world The ‘cleavage mirror’ (above front windscreen) saved a few of them when they disappeared from view by walking across the front of me. Talk about a steep learning curve.
Funnily enough I’ve been doing London drops all week this week. Fully freighted at 44t. Doesn’t bother me in the slightest though. Just remeber to be as arrogant and sellfish as all other drivers in the city and you’ll be fine.
its a good way to cut your teeth in ths job as well.
my second ever job on c class was delivering steel to some building site in hammersmith.
i was very careful for the first 5 minutes then got so fed up with people taking the ■■■■ and pushing in i just drove like them and didnt care if i bumped anything (i was in a battered old W reg Daf CF) in the end if you drive carefully people will exploit you, if you drive like them they tend to avoid you like the plague!
a bit of an arrogant way to do it but in london during the day i think its the only way!
Took a wrong turning and ended up right next to London Zoo…in an artic…
Cue jumped up new copper asking me what I was doing…
In hindsight I guess it wasn’t correct of me to state that I was visiting his mum but I’d been stressed by the traffic and THOUSANDS of roads signs!!!
Thankfully his more senior partner saw the funny side and helped me out…
In London you must take no prisoners especially in the city centre
Did central London for 4 years in rigid and artic and it is easier in the artic as the roads are generally narrower so drive down the middle and block the Fools from undertaking
hitch:
take your time dont block entrances exits to roads
keep eyes open for kamikaze bike riders and enjoy the totty
The totty radar was going off for fun. Must admit while I was unloading on back of the wagon, saw some absolute beautys wiggle past, while I’m stood on the tailift.
keano1:
Totally agree with that. Couldn’t believe the number of plonkers walking out in front of me on mobiles or with those ipod headphones on. Not a care in the world The ‘cleavage mirror’ (above front windscreen) saved a few of them when they disappeared from view by walking across the front of me. Talk about a steep learning curve.
if digy cameras had been out years ago i could have started a “specialist” website with all the downblose,■■■■■■■ ,arsewiggling sights i,ve seen down there over the years not that i look at such sights now you understand
DT@Leightonhaul:
oh yeah FFS dont go into the hatched boxes!!!
Sometimes you just have too,eg: sitting in traffic on edgeware road moved about 10 mtrs in half an hour got to a set of traffic lights with a hatched area in front of them,light went green traffic coming from right blocking box,light went red,traffic in box moves then traffic from right fills the box again,lights go green can’t move due to box being full,lights go red and so on,in the end had to move into the box or i would have been there all day.
General LAST week was ok. Reported to JH on Monday to be told, go back to your end, nowt down here for you!!! Had another crap week. May be departing sooner rather than later.
Probably because it’s only 11 foot high (i’m 13ft 5in, and it doesn’t bend around corners with back wheels down)
