Hi guys, for the last 9 years I’ve been working for a builders/civils merchant.
To be honest I’m getting fed u with it , the whole awkward loads for awkward customers into awkward places whilst ankle deep in mud routine.
The one thing I do enjoy however is using the crane and quite fancy doing a different job using one.
I understand that using a heavier type crane is completely different to unloading packs of bricks and bulk bags with my current one, however I am willing to learn.
Has anyone ever moved from builders merchants to maybe cabin moving?
I live in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire if anyone can suggest any jobs or companies.
I’ve had a class 1 since 94 although haven’t used it much.
Doing portacabins will be same.kind thing delivering to building sites usually like mud baths . Then have to set them up make sure there level etc.
Then once done have then navigate way out past all the houses parked cars etc and stuff that’s just been built around the cabins
If you’re doing cabin moving with a lorry very very few companies have cranes on, they’re craned off on site by people working on the building site ankle deep in mud.
It’ll still be dealing with awkward customers wanting things in awkward places but this time it’ll be in a vehicle 53ft long and up to 14ft wide, often down roads barely wide enough to get down. You also have to deal with things like movement orders, restrictions on various parts of the road network as to what time you’re allowed to use them, being sat there sometimes for days waiting to offload due to the wind. And then once at the delivery point you’ll be ankle deep in mud.
The only real way out of that is to get on with those big mobile cranes, the ones that usually have a lorry following them with all the ballast weights on crawling up the motorway at 40MPH. Only downside is that’s specialist and only a few companies do it so finding one is going to be hard.
In the south east there are tons of cabin movers with Hiabs, principles are the same and experience of working cranes should help. It’s a good start having understanding and feeling for controls.
Can’t help with who to try other than just door knocking.
Yep I went from Jewsons into cabins. To be honest it’s worlds apart. Whereas with Jewsons I would be doing 3 loads a day with sometimes 10 drops, with cabins it’s usually 1 delivery then a collection on way home. However if you are the HIAB operator installing the setup then usually it’s just the setup and come home.
You still get the mud and tight entrances with a wide load (think primary schools in East London) but you soon get the hang of it, you just can’t rush it though or it ends in tears.
I would consider those temporary road/trakway firms. Don’t know the ins and outs of the job or whether they night out, but worked on a few jobs that had roads laid, and thought it would be an ok job.
Bit of variety between utilities, sporting events ,railways and festivals.
Some mud is inevitable, but normally working from the mat you have just laid.
Plenty of crane use and at least a couple of firms in the central belt.
Thanks guys, some great replies as always. Definitely food for thought.
Should have added in opening post as well as what I mentioned in on £25k a year which seems about average wage for what I do in central Scotland and been told definitely no wage rises this year.
Thanks again Duncan
Dunky123:
and been told definitely no wage rises this year.
That is taking the ■■■■. With inflation at 10% and no wage rise then you are 10% poorer than last year! Id certainly be voting with my feet.
Yip I get what you are saying buddy unfortunately the building/construction sector had taken a major downturn.
We’ve already lost 3 bodies from our branch and they’re not getting replaced , time for some serious thinking on my part.
isaac hunt:
I would consider those temporary road/trakway firms. Don’t know the ins and outs of the job or whether they night out, but worked on a few jobs that had roads laid, and thought it would be an ok job.
Bit of variety between utilities, sporting events ,railways and festivals.
Some mud is inevitable, but normally working from the mat you have just laid.
Plenty of crane use and at least a couple of firms in the central belt.
Got a couple local to me down south, always seem to be advertising even though the wages look decent. Big thing that puts me off is its advertised as driver and a mate, nights out in double sleeper cab. Wouldnt want to share a cab with my missus let alone some other geezer all week.
90% of lorry drivers can’t or won’t do this job. You are up to your ankles in mud up and down ladders bolting cabins together in the pouring rain.
Lorry drivers today just want to pull open a curtain then play candy crush whilst waiting.
msgyorkie:
90% of lorry drivers can’t or won’t do this job. You are up to your ankles in mud up and down ladders bolting cabins together in the pouring rain.
Lorry drivers today just want to pull open a curtain then play candy crush whilst waiting.
msgyorkie:
90% of lorry drivers can’t or won’t do this job. You are up to your ankles in mud up and down ladders bolting cabins together in the pouring rain.
Lorry drivers today just want to pull open a curtain then play candy crush whilst waiting.
And given the option, do you really blame them?
But the pay can far exceed what general haulage offers. For example we are on time and half after 40 hours. £76 for night out and £250 a month bonus.