I’ve been on 8 wheelers for some years now and have landed a job driving lorry and trailer or possibly artics delivering bricks and blocks, could be doing a lot of London work aswell delivering to building sites.
All advice will be appreciated.
If delivering to London with a wagon and drag, you may have to find a place to drop the drag trailer.
Then deliver the lorry part, then go back to where you parked the drag, to crane or hiab off the load, then go back to the site with the lorry again.
The reason is that the access for a wagon and drag is too small or reversing in is a problem.
Most building sites have trained banksmen that will assist you in to sites.
There are subsidized canteens on building sites, mug of tea 50p, full fry up for £1.75.
There are timed bans for trucks in London, normaly side streets have night bans, they are clearly signed.
If you have a truck sat nav it refuses to calculate London within the ban times.
To over ride this, turn it off, set to car mode, turn on again, but reset to truck mode when close to London.
Ask your employer who pays parking fines and tickets,sometimes the customers pay or they cone off the road reserved for deliveries only.
Watch for steel bollards on tight corners and junctions, they will blow up the tyres if you hit them too close.
Motorbikes and bikes will pass you both sides in congestion or waiting at traffic lights.
Keep out of bus lanes and yellow box junctions.
Buses have Cctv to fine you.
Let them pull out.
Take a 45 minute tacho break before going in to town as once in, there is no places to park, as double red lines is no stopping.
Don’t get distracted with the posh hot totty walking around.
Keep the cab locked at all times.
Ratchet strap down the end of the grab crane or Hiab when it is sat on the load or the empty trailer,Dvsa can fine you if not secured.
The doors on the side of some flat bed trailers need to be ratchet strapped.
Thanks for advice,much appreciated.
Once on site and maneuvering around to get
in and out,or reversing, get out of the cab to make sure the lorry won’t get stuck in mud or soft ground.
Watch for sharp objects on site that can puncture tyres or damage the truck.
In the dark is a problem, never rely on anyone helping you on site.
Some places may let you stay over night if out of hours, but that is rare.