I originally posted this on the new driver/wannabee page and it was suggested I put it here
I have the Phillips and AA truckers map but with the prospect of a job delivering to some small farms I want a map with the same level of detail as the O/S explorers.
Someone at a job I went to told me they used an atlas that was called an explorer “I think” but I have not been able to find one.
On the other forum someone suggested google maps on a smart phone as a great help. Does anyone use anything other than the Phillips or AA truckers atlas and if so could you post up some details please.
The level of detail on O/S maps is what I need and I don’t want to buy 60 + different maps to cart around with me
The best thing you can have is the phone number of the farm. Having spent many a time looking for farms with obscure entrances and with the use of a detailed map. Quite often if you ring them they will drive down to the end of the lane to meet you, or give you a nice landmark to look out for
Yep - I did fencing materials for a while round the West Country. Even an OS map is not necessarily enough. Many times the farmer wants the stuff in a barn miles away by road from the farm; a lot of farmers are one-man-bands these days and may not be there when you arrive.
It is essential, unless there is a prior arrangement, to phone first. Then you can ask for directions.
I have a bunch of Phillips A-Z’s that contain most farms , water treatment works and reservoirs. If you cover a very wide area you could always park up near a filling station and find an A-Z for the local area in their, i also asked the local posties on a few occasions also.
Yep, I agree with others on this thread, you’ve got to have the farmers phone number, preferably his mobile. When I did a short stint delivering bags of fertilizer, they often wanted it out in a barn, and that was just as often not near the farmhouse or given address! I rarely used a map, but I did use a satnav, common sense and a little local knowledge…
I have Phillips os maps for the counties around Oxfordshire a.d I’d suggest once you’ve found the place, draw it on the os map along with any weak bridges, weight limits you see. Landmarks such as old railway trackbeds and bridges I mark on aswell: I’ve noticed these aren’t marked anymore as “dismantled rway” like they used to be.
As already said, get a phone number and ring first, preferably the night before. They get well ■■■■■■ off if you ring when your just down the road and he’s two hours away on a tractor
I’ll just repeat what’s already been said and make dam sure you have the phone number . I went to one the other day that was clearly on the map but the road I wanted to go down was marked private and was real narrow , it turned out to be the one I needed after I’d phoned and asked , I would never have gone down it otherwise
Ordinance survey maps. Phillips and a sat nav will normally do, you`d be surprised how often a phone numbers no good out in the sticks.
Remember looking for a house near a farm and after a bit of trouble finding it I phoned and asked a nice lady if she could give me directions., no was the reply, general area, no, Landmarks, no, do you know which county your in, not sure.
Big Joe:
As already said, get a phone number and ring first, preferably the night before. They get well ■■■■■■ off if you ring when your just down the road and he’s two hours away on a tractor
Anything else you can do for them? I think I’d last about an hour doing that job.
Many thanks to all who replied, I will be getting the phone numbers and have the phillips and AA map as well as a truck sat nav. Any errors after that will be down to me. Hope I don’t end up reading about myself in the paper.
I do a lot of farm deliveries (animal feed) and collections (oats,wheat,etc) and I use a Phillips Navigator. not all farms are on it though so unless you have ben there before its always best to ring.
Give at least an hours notice, and get directions and most importantly, write those directions down.
I use my own style of shorthand so I can write as the farmer is talking, because you can guarantee an hour (or even 5minutes) later you have forgot whether he said 3rd on left or 2nd on right.
My pad looks something like this…
3R/B 4th
^BDG
2L
7.5t R
3rd fm L red gate
Which translates as…3rd Roundabout 4th exit
over bridge 2nd Left
7.5t weight limit next right
3rd farm on left with red gate.
Try not to rely on SatNav they cant tell you if a bridge is too narrow , a bends too tight or the council have dug up the obvious way in
Oh and another bit of advice…Never ever pat/stroke or acknowledge the farm dog, chances are it wont bite but it will be the only affection its been shown for months and will promptly hump your leg covering you in crap from all over the yard.
Rew:
Ordinance survey maps. I used to collect milk and couldn’t live with out them, very detailed.
What he said. I do farms all day every day, OS maps are essential.
Few hints about farm deliveries;
Satnavs don’t work. Well they do, but the postcode will take you to the farmhouse,not the yard, which can often be up a different lane, or down here in Wales, in the next bloody valley!
Never trust a farmer’s word that your lorry will fit. If in doubt, stop and walk up the lane before you drive up. And beware of old milk steps (the platforms they used to put churns on) and other crap hidden in the hedges, they’ll rip your bumper off. Ask me how I know.
Keep a look out for suitable places to turn round or pull in if needed. Bear in mind that whilst most farmers can reverse better than you can, many car drivers can’t and you’ll need to be patient.
And now you’ve got to the farm… meet the dog(s). Most farmers have them, most are harmless; but just in case, keep a couple of those chew sticks handy in case you have to bribe your way out of a chewed trouser leg.
(That is genuine advice from our company’s drivers handbook!)
Many dogs will also ■■■■■■ you from the premises, running very close to your wheels and occasionally snapping at the tyres. This can be unnerving if you’re not used to it, but if it does happen just proceed slowly and steadily; you’ll soon spot the dogs who didn’t read the rule book for this game, they’re the ones with only three legs!
And NEVER get dragged into the “throw me a stick” game, you’ll be there all day and have a friend for life!
Oh, and one other thing; ALWAYS leave a gate as you found it. If it’s shut, close it after you, and don’t be tempted to leave it open till you come back out; the payoff for failing to observe this is a crash course in shepherding without the benefit of a trained sheepdog, and it’s a lot less fun than you might think.
