I allways thought European drivers were chilled out regarding deliveries, but it seems to me they are constantly on the rush,trying to queue jump, allways standing over your shoulder as if to say hurry up, I had a guy this morning when I was standing at a transport office hatch,any closer and he would have been breathing in my bloody ear, not a nice thought, they have no idea of time slots,everytime I turn up on my regular slot they allways try to jump in front until the receiving guy tells them they have to wait,then they throw a strop at having to wait,
In Europe it’s mainly a ‘First-come, first-serve’ policy that companys have…
Very rare to see/have book in times…
Truckman is right, I get them jumping the queue at at the goods in hatch, they then shove their paperwork and grunt in no attempt to be polite or speak any English at all.
Then get upset if not unloaded or loaded quickly .
Most UK drivers in Europe make an effort to learn the language for the country they are in.
Everyday phrases are not difficult to pick up.
I was dropping a trailer at Riverside in Immingham and the bay I had been given was already taken (regular occurrence at Riverside). Standard practise is to drop your trailer in a free bay and make a note of the lane number, bay number and the code painted on the floor to put in the computer on exit.
Just as I was pulling the pin a 4x2 Scania from A2B Online pulled across my front end and the EE driver jumped out and spoke perfect English, “this is my bay” he said…I apologised and tried to explain that my allocated bay was taken and that all he needed to do was drop the trailer in the next available slot and write the details down…“You are a big problem” he shouted in my face “f***ing english are big problem”, at which point my helpful attitude turned to me telling him to go forth and multiply. He then wrote my reg down and wheel spun away whilst I was laughing at him. I went home to my comfy bed and he parked up for the weekend on a bit of wasteland and crapped in a carrier bag.
I appreciate dock procedures are a bit of a nightmare if it’s an unfamiliar quay and he probably didn’t understand the process and was maybe short on driving time and god knows what else is going on in his life but I was trying to help and explain and was initially being polite. He just seemed to be overly stressed…no need for it!!
In my very limited experience of the ‘Europeans’ (rule Britannia) - many just don’t get queueing; and especially don’t get why Brits love to Queue. It’s nothing personal. Just generally cultural.
NewbieNeil:
I was dropping a trailer at Riverside in Immingham and the bay I had been given was already taken (regular occurrence at Riverside). Standard practise is to drop your trailer in a free bay and make a note of the lane number, bay number and the code painted on the floor to put in the computer on exit.Just as I was pulling the pin a 4x2 Scania from A2B Online pulled across my front end and the EE driver jumped out and spoke perfect English, “this is my bay” he said…I apologised and tried to explain that my allocated bay was taken and that all he needed to do was drop the trailer in the next available slot and write the details down…“You are a big problem” he shouted in my face “f***ing english are big problem”, at which point my helpful attitude turned to me telling him to go forth and multiply. He then wrote my reg down and wheel spun away whilst I was laughing at him. I went home to my comfy bed and he parked up for the weekend on a bit of wasteland and crapped in a carrier bag.
I appreciate dock procedures are a bit of a nightmare if it’s an unfamiliar quay and he probably didn’t understand the process and was maybe short on driving time and god knows what else is going on in his life but I was trying to help and explain and was initially being polite. He just seemed to be overly stressed…no need for it!!
Yep you’re right Neil. Put them anywhere you want as long as you take a note of the bay number. Also for anyone who doesn’t know, you don’t have to drive to the gate number that is flashed up as you come down the bridge. Just use one that’s empty are has a shorter queue but this doesn’t apply if your’e carrying ADR or temperature controlled fridge.
theres no excuse for rudeness…but euro work in general is all about rushing, the forwarders are putting drivers under pressure to tip, and get onto the next reload and or to get the next ferry back, me…i generally chill and if im late..then im late…but forwarders dont take kindly to the words Not tipped yet…or i`m still in a queue… 
tezza:
NewbieNeil:
I was dropping a trailer at Riverside in Immingham and the bay I had been given was already taken (regular occurrence at Riverside). Standard practise is to drop your trailer in a free bay and make a note of the lane number, bay number and the code painted on the floor to put in the computer on exit.Just as I was pulling the pin a 4x2 Scania from A2B Online pulled across my front end and the EE driver jumped out and spoke perfect English, “this is my bay” he said…I apologised and tried to explain that my allocated bay was taken and that all he needed to do was drop the trailer in the next available slot and write the details down…“You are a big problem” he shouted in my face “f***ing english are big problem”, at which point my helpful attitude turned to me telling him to go forth and multiply. He then wrote my reg down and wheel spun away whilst I was laughing at him. I went home to my comfy bed and he parked up for the weekend on a bit of wasteland and crapped in a carrier bag.
I appreciate dock procedures are a bit of a nightmare if it’s an unfamiliar quay and he probably didn’t understand the process and was maybe short on driving time and god knows what else is going on in his life but I was trying to help and explain and was initially being polite. He just seemed to be overly stressed…no need for it!!
Yep you’re right Neil. Put them anywhere you want as long as you take a note of the bay number. Also for anyone who doesn’t know, you don’t have to drive to the gate number that is flashed up as you come down the bridge. Just use one that’s empty are has a shorter queue but this doesn’t apply if your’e carrying ADR or temperature controlled fridge.
Not strictly true…
You are supposed to put it in the nearest bay to the one allocated, as when you alter the details at the out gate, this doesn’t update the shunters info. True story.
toby1234abc:
Most UK drivers in Europe make an effort to learn the language for the country they are in.
Everyday phrases are not difficult to pick up.
You sure about that Tobes as I found in Europe many of them foreigners could understand some English whereas I can herdly spoke oor rite or own lanquage let alone a different one 
Most UK drivers in Europe make an effort to learn the language for the country they are in.
Complete balls… I spent a good few years running Euro- the competent hands would try to get the minimum of langauges in each country- but the majority would think that talking louder and slower would aid comprehension… the vast majority of Brits I met while running abroad seemed to think that every one else should understand English, even in their own country
The 1st thing I do at any Foreign delivery, is ask the receiver if they speak English? I do this very calmly and quietly. 99/100, they will answer yes. I think it has to do with bad attitude and ignorance if you get knocked back at this stage. A smile goes a hell of a long way too!
Being polite to the foreign police ,went a long way to not being fined.
You could miss the ferry if the French Douanes took you in the mobile X ray scanner to see what’s inside the trailer .
They could take the cab apart, sniffer dog as
well.
truckman020:
I allways thought European drivers were chilled out regarding deliveries, but it seems to me they are constantly on the rush,trying to queue jump, allways standing over your shoulder as if to say hurry up, I had a guy this morning when I was standing at a transport office hatch,any closer and he would have been breathing in my bloody ear, not a nice thought, they have no idea of time slots,everytime I turn up on my regular slot they allways try to jump in front until the receiving guy tells them they have to wait,then they throw a strop at having to wait,
some had no Woman for 3 Week 
Immigrant, that is not true, there are brothels all over Europe and ladies of the day working by main roads, if you go to La Jonquria, it is a mini skirt convention .
Spain is the best with " Clubs" everywhere, the ladies are stunning from all over the world .
Rikki-UK:
Most UK drivers in Europe make an effort to learn the language for the country they are in.
Complete balls… I spent a good few years running Euro- the competent hands would try to get the minimum of langauges in each country- but the majority would think that talking louder and slower would aid comprehension… the vast majority of Brits I met while running abroad seemed to think that every one else should understand English, even in their own country
+1000…
I have an English friend (also a truck driver) that’s lived over here (Belgium) for nearly 30 years & he still can’t speak Flemish…
He just talks louder when people don’t understand him. He also compains when they can’t understand him…( He’s from Yorkshire).
toby1234abc:
Immigrant, that is not true, there are brothels all over Europe and ladies of the day working by main roads, if you go to La Jonquria, it is a mini skirt convention .
Spain is the best with " Clubs" everywhere, the ladies are stunning from all over the world .
The place called the Texas Bar about 5km south of La Jonquira cost me 500 Euro of me one afternoon and evening, but she was rather nice
It’s on the left going down and with a huge carpark and a hole in the wall beside the entrance door which has been handy. Anyone remember it?
Raymundo, I remember the Texas, as you know in the club’s you pay for company by buying beer that costed about a quid from a cash and carry, they sell it for a tenner or more.
Champagne can be a hundred quid before you have got your leg over upstairs .
Some ladies would meet you on their day off, I rented a car and took one from Badajoz to the Lisbon Expo.
An alcoholic Columbian who would beat me up for no reason