What a day had today. My first day driving an Artic on my own without anyone sat at the side of me.
Got to work at 1200 as told, got there and was then told it wont be ready for another 2 hours, as per normal at this place. So instead of doing the usual and jumping in the cab and getting my head down I thought I would have a bit of a look around the cab, there is loads of room in there. I thought it would have been the same size as the rigid cab but how wrong was I?
There is loads of space, I guess not quite enough for a few weeks away but enough for a week. I was well surprised how similar it was to the rigid inside (apart from the storage space and extra bunk)
This is what I was driving
It was huge, bigger than what I trained in.
Oh well not to worry, no way to learn apart from in at the deep end.
So I have had a look around and settled down to read CM for a while. Then I get a knock on the door, were ready now. Those 2 hours just flew by.
Finally got loaded with 22 pallets of muffins and bread for Waitrose and off I go. First thing I had to do was navigate out of the car park, luckily I had been loading there a few times just as the artic was leaving and I had watched them do it so I thought I would have a go at it, it was a little bit tight but managed it without hitting anything. Next trick was to get to the motorway without killing and street furniture or cars.
I managed that and got on the M27 after about 20 minutes I got this
■■■■, that’s all I need on my first day. As it wasn’t a red warning I thought I would continue at a slower speed while I rang the office (on hands free in case plod are reading this.)
“Oh don’t worry about it, it seems to have done that daily this week, its in for a service on Monday anyway.” Nice one!
The road is clear for take off, so off we go back up to 56 until it gets busier
finally get to come off the M3 at Bracknell without anything else happening and I see someone who is totally breaking the law
That teddy should have had a helmet on. If he had crashed there would have been stuffing and beans all over the road, it doesn’t BEAR thinking about!
Finally arrive at Waitrose and ask where they want it
Go on the near side of fine lady that’s free
No chance, it’s my first day on this thing but I’ll give it a go. Get out to have a look and there is a small wall just (about 15 foot is ‘just’ isn’t it?) to the right of the picture. I aint gonna get this in there. As I’m walking back ‘fine lady’ is just going back to his cab.
“are you pulling out?” say I
“yep, give me 2 minutes!”
“I’ll give you half an hour if it makes getting this in easier!” I mutter!
He pulls out and I have a go at reversing, why can’t they make loading bays the same layout as the reversing part of the test? It would be so much easier. I finally get it in, with about 34 shunts and nearly taking out some stairs! When I walk in the depot I get a standing ovation, and it wasn’t for my singing! Then they tell me they are off for a cup of tea! Cheers fella’s. Luckily there is an older guy there that says he will tip me and get it started until they come back, as were working he explains he is an ex driver and remembers his first day. Thank god someone understands.
Anyway get unloaded and head back to Fareham for the next job which is just a local run in the 18 tonner.
As I was coming off the motorway for Fareham I saw this poor chap on the slip road as I was sat at the lights
That’s not what you need on a Sunday evening is it?
That is about my day really and I thoroughly enjoyed it but need a hell of a lot of practice on reversing.
Now for some random pics of other wagons I took while on the M3 (the camera was on the dash so don’t start nagging about driving while taking pics!
Cant wait for the next time. Maybe I will be able to park a bit better but I very much doubt it!
, thanks anyway mate. next time when i’m not so stressed or angrty with myself we could have a natter