Frankeh:
So I got offered the job even though I have no experience. So my next question is this, not being Charles Atlas what is the best way to move those huge pallets about ? Any tips would be welcome please. I have never done this type of work before so enlighten me. My first thought is how I would get one of those pallets up a kerb for instance or even a small incline if it can weigh up to 300KG.
Many thanks.
I take it it is Bidvest Logistics? While it’s more likely to be full pallets for each drop, there will still be some handballing of products. It might be pulling the pallet as near as possible and carrying it through a doorway, or you might have to leave the pallet on the tail-lift and barrow it the whole way. As someone else said you can adjust the suspension on the rear axle so the floor is nearer to level so you aren’t dragging it uphill or have the pallet roll down on top of you.
Muckaway:
[ZB] right mate. Paid to drive not labour. Just because stuff was handballed in the days of starting handles and steam rollers doesn’t mean we all should do it now.
Since they haven’t yet invented the device to teleport the load from the truck into the customers premises it still needs to be taken there by hand, wether in cages, on a barrow, or carried.
And I’m paid to do what my contract says, which is driving the truck and delivering the goods to where the customers want it (within reason) since they are the ones paying the bills.
Winseer:
I don’t like the sound of that.
No wonder Bidvest has got a reputation for wanting strapping lads rather than your avererage “Dixon” type hundred pounder…
I was meaning smuggling contraband in with the goods. It would be ridiculously easy to do, but I don’t fancy joining them in there if caught, for a few quid from a screw’s mate.
We used to do 1.2 tonne pallets of water to certain drops…lowering the suspension was always the best thing, as it pretty much moved itself…the trick was turning the pallet in one smooth movement on the tail lift ( if room in the back of wagon, spin it in there…easier to hold it back as you can see wher your going!) and keeping it on there and pulling that handle on pallet truck before it went over board! Don’t worry about gym membership…after a month or so, you’ll be fit as a flea! As said though…don’t go without a sack barrow…8t of handball everyday is a killer…but we managed it with 25-30 drops daily…I lo at myself some days and could do with a few months back on it! Good luck anyway
Reading this thread, I think I’ll stick with tippers and industrial deliveries… Yep I get muddy, wade through mud, lash down awkward loads in pouring rain, manouvre in dangerous places, but I truly wouldn’t entertain some of the things I’ve read on this thread.
LIBERTY_GUY:
Reading this thread, I think I’ll stick with tippers and industrial deliveries… Yep I get muddy, wade through mud, lash down awkward loads in pouring rain, manouvre in dangerous places, but I truly wouldn’t entertain some of the things I’ve read on this thread.
+1. What is to deliver within reason? I’d say as the palletways lads do, off the side with a forklift (I know you can’t with a fridge wagon) or off the taillift. Within reason is not upstairs or down into cellars, and not having to be a free shelf stacker.
Palletways did some of the flour deliveries where I worked and they got all the best drops, many nicked off our runs so we could do the crap jobs.
Frankeh:
Thanks for the reply dude. Mind if I ask if your agency or perm ? As I said earlier I am only getting £9 an hour on agency £10 if I use nova.
Also what shift pattern your doing ? Even which depot lol I don’t ask much do I
Thanks.
On agency at £9 ph weekdays £12 ph saturdays. paid through GoUmbrella. Doing earlies so 4-5 am starts, some shifts have ended up as a 15hr ballbreaker and be prepared to meet some bloody awkward kfc managers. Working out of Royton at moment. As Actrosman said, spin it on the tail-lift but be bloody quick with the release handle or that pump truck & pallet are going bye-byes Doesn’t half make the kfc staff shift when they see THAT coming at em One of the worst parts is trying to drag a 2 tonne pallet to the back door across the ■■■■ cobbles that kfc etc insist on paving their drive throughs with.
Went to Pizza Express in Manchester last week and they had a wooden chute attached to the stairs, old delivery thing. Asked the manager kid if he could help me slide the stuff down only to be told "I haven’t been trained to do that"v All being said though, it keeps you fit, it teaches you how to get a wagon through some VERY tight car parks, and it will teach you how to keep a sense of humour when dealing with knobheads…actually, I’m lying about the last bit, you’ll want to park the truck on their heads after a week
LIBERTY_GUY:
but I truly wouldn’t entertain some of the things I’ve read on this thread.
Like what, carrying boxes? The POWs in Burma obviously had it easy!
Despite the mental scars Muckaway seems to suffer from from memories of carrying flour upstairs, it isn’t really as bad as a concentration camp.
Oh I don’t know. I often see lone drivers on high streets looking like they bordering into heart attack country mauling with ridiculously heavy pallets and cages. Compare that to my world (this week). Volvo FHX with i-shift autobox. Loaded up by 360 machines and loading shovels, self calibrating onboard weighers to ensure I stay legal. Even the tailgate is air powered so don’t even have to get out the cab to tip. Next week may be industrial, steel, machinery or whatever, but definitely no shops or home deliveries, as agency got that message loud and clear now.
I do bidvest, and for class 2, for a newbie it’s good money and experience, they also run a couple of class 1s out of the yard, so could get experience on those too!!
Unload by carrying it off the wagon and carrying it, stacking it neatly, all date rotated and sweating your arse off.
Or for the same money, turn up at a customers, push a lever and dump the lot on the floor.
Muckaway:
Unload by carrying it off the wagon and carrying it, stacking it neatly, all date rotated and sweating your arse off.
Or for the same money, turn up at a customers, push a lever and dump the lot on the floor.
Sod that for a laugh, break down the pallet, onto the sack truck and dump it next to the freezer. If they want it date rotated & stacked, they can do it themselves.
Muckaway:
Unload by carrying it off the wagon and carrying it, stacking it neatly, all date rotated and sweating your arse off.
Or for the same money, turn up at a customers, push a lever and dump the lot on the floor.
Sod that for a laugh, break down the pallet, onto the sack truck and dump it next to the freezer. If they want it date rotated & stacked, they can do it themselves.
Sack trucks don’t go up or down stairs too well though.
Muckaway:
Unload by carrying it off the wagon and carrying it, stacking it neatly, all date rotated and sweating your arse off.
Or for the same money, turn up at a customers, push a lever and dump the lot on the floor.
Muckaway:
Unload by carrying it off the wagon and carrying it, stacking it neatly, all date rotated and sweating your arse off.
Or for the same money, turn up at a customers, push a lever and dump the lot on the floor.
Last time we let you deliver crystal ware…
Don’t worry, I’ll mix the big bits in with the ■■■■■■■■ and the small fragments with the topsoil. Anything to avoid paying £90/load tip charges.
Muckaway:
Unload by carrying it off the wagon and carrying it, stacking it neatly, all date rotated and sweating your arse off.
Or for the same money, turn up at a customers, push a lever and dump the lot on the floor.
Sod that for a laugh, break down the pallet, onto the sack truck and dump it next to the freezer. If they want it date rotated & stacked, they can do it themselves.
Sack trucks don’t go up or down stairs too well though.
No you’re right there Muckaway, so neither does the load. “alright here for you pal? no?? Tough”
Yep I get muddy, wade through mud, lash down awkward loads in pouring rain, manouvre in dangerous places, but I truly wouldn’t entertain some of the things I’ve read on this thread.
On agency 
at £9 ph weekdays £12 ph saturdays. paid through GoUmbrella. Doing earlies so 4-5 am starts, some shifts have ended up as a 15hr ballbreaker 
All being said though, it keeps you fit, it teaches you how to get a wagon through some VERY tight car parks, and it will teach you how to keep a sense of humour when dealing with knobheads…actually, I’m lying about the last bit, you’ll want to park the truck on their heads after a week 
