I know you have to help with throwing the recycling into the back of the lorry - does this wear you down (having to constantly throw bags throughout the day)?
Just wondering if it would be easier on my back than my current job of delivering glass and window frames (the larger glass panes can be surprisingly heavy, esp for my small build) in a van (about 5 drops/day).
Do you need a bit of a brazen attitude to potentially have to block traffic for a few minutes & not mind the impatience of some car drivers?
You will need thick skin, because when you stop and block the road, and make the mummy’s late for dropping their brats off, you will hear some words and threats, that you haven’t heard.
The wheelie bins are not too bad, but some garden waste bins can be quite heavy. The idea is to get the back end of the truck very close to avoid too much wheeling.
Glass and food waste boxes can be hard work as it is a lot of lifting and chucking, as well as the walking.
In my experience it ends up being a case of the older loaders gravitating towards doing the wheelie bins and the younger loaders doing the glass and food. It is just natural selection in that regard.
Having said this, you would probably just be getting out to appease the loaders in certain situations like a cul-de-sac or a single bin.
Regarding the second part, people are usually quite understanding and if your loaders direct them they seem to accept it more readily.
biggriffin:
You will need thick skin, because when you stop and block the road, and make the mummy’s late for dropping their brats off, you will hear some words and threats, that you haven’t heard.
I hear those words every day from the wife and I don’t get paid for it either!
biggriffin:
You will need thick skin, because when you stop and block the road, and make the mummy’s late for dropping their brats off, you will hear some words and threats, that you haven’t heard.
I hear those words every day from the wife and I don’t get paid for it either!
Our company won’t allow us to throw bags on, everything must be in a wheelie bin (except extra cardboard on recycling) which makes it a lot easier for us. I’m on a garden round and some bins can be pretty heavy and tough to put on the back if you’re on a gravel driveway for instance.
On your second point people can get peed off (mostly the school run brigade…) but if they see you’re not purposely being slow putting the bins on then usually you’re fine. Also you’ll get pretty good at reversing into tight spaces as most of your day could be doing this depending where you are.
It can be a good job, generally good hours starting around 7am and finished by 1400-1500 (used to be earlier)
It’s hard physical work the recycling and as the driver you are getting in and out every 5-10 metres.
Driver is generally responsible for the loaders and to make sure you cover the right roads.
As for other road users, well if you haven’t got a thick skin you will have after a few days… You have a job to do at the end of the day and most people understand that, you will always get the ■■■ holes though…
Another thing is the actual customers mind [emoji6] had some serious confrontations with some people, especially if you refuse to tip their box because it’s mixed or has broken glass/■■■■■■ nappies in it [emoji38][emoji90][emoji90]
Your normally with 2 other guys though so the numbers are in your favour and they soon realise that when confronted [emoji38]
I know you have to help with throwing the recycling into the back of the lorry - does this wear you down (having to constantly throw bags throughout the day)?
I only did a few days on bins; boss said I didn’t ‘have’ to help but no one would mind if i did (for cul-de-sacs in particular). I was concerned about leaving the truck running and unattended but he said ‘nah, don’t worry about it’ to which I said ‘Well, I do worry about it’ and that was it. I made it clear to my loaders that I was either going to be a driver or a loader for the day but not both and the first crew were ok with it. My next crew didn’t take it that well but they were a bunch of asshats so I could care less if I hurt their feelings, I only got out once in a gypsy camp where there were like 30 bins in a 50m radius.
I guess it’s up to the company/council what their policy is. I’m not sure it’s even legal to leave your truck unlocked and with the engine running and jog off to collect some bins but even if it is, I’m not doing it.
gratiaDei777:
2) Do you need a bit of a brazen attitude to potentially have to block traffic for a few minutes & not mind the impatience of some car drivers?
Not really, most people are understanding, the few idiots that you inevitably run into will usually overtake you in a risky way (forcing oncoming traffic to stop) but there’s nothing you can do about it, as long as you’ve made it clear to everyone you’re not there to drink coffee (beacons on)
This was the most boring job I’ve had in my life, more boring than working a 12 hour night shift as a lone security guard. Even the countryside collections were a pain, drive 1km to a farm, collect bin, drive 2km to a house - collect bin, back 1km to main road, 1.5km drive, collect 3 bins 50m from each other…Repeat 100 times in a day.
THe worst part was having to collect on 40mph roads - no speed cameras, people doing 50+mph, all my beacons on + 4 way flashers + lights + brake lights and idiots still only pull out to overtake when they get to about 10m from my rear, it was honestly horrifying not because of fear for myself but for the loaders behind. Sometimes you have to reverse 500m up/down windy lanes but not too bad unless there’s traffic then you’re going to get some sweat
edit to add: it was boring yet stressful at the same time
I was a kerbside recycling driver for several years, until I got the chance to move on to hiab work in an eight legger. The kerbside work is relentless, day after day up and down residential streets, tons of hassle with the residents in all types of areas, the constant vigilance required driving down streets which were almost impassible with parked cars is very draining. It’s not something I ever missed when I got the chance to move on to other driving work. The only positive thing would be if you were the type of person who didn’t like being on their own.
Zac_A:
I was a kerbside recycling driver for several years, until I got the chance to move on to hiab work in an eight legger. The kerbside work is relentless, day after day up and down residential streets, tons of hassle with the residents in all types of areas, the constant vigilance required driving down streets which were almost impassible with parked cars is very draining. It’s not something I ever missed when I got the chance to move on to other driving work. The only positive thing would be if you were the type of person who didn’t like being on their own.
Get your point about the relentless of the work, same streets week after week. That’s why I moved onto a garden round, two different weeks so a bit less mind numbing.
My main gripe with the job is the fact as a driver we are responsible for the truck, loaders, public, paperwork, any s**t off the supervisors, as well as loading all for a whole £1 an hour more than the loaders.
