How do you guys/gals work out what time you need to get to your base to pick up your wagon?
Have to work this out for the first time for myself today as needs to pick up the truck to get to Colchester for 7am from Soham tomorrow and I have no idea tbh.
I’m thinking 30 min vehicle checks, 90 mins driving, so get there for 5am at the latest but 4am to be on the safe side.
Any and all help really needed and appreciated.
Thanks
Andy
andygt4:
How do you guys/gals work out what time you need to get to your base to pick up your wagon?Have to work this out for the first time for myself today as needs to pick up the truck to get to Colchester for 7am from Soham tomorrow and I have no idea tbh.
I’m thinking 30 min vehicle checks, 90 mins driving, so get there for 5am at the latest but 4am to be on the safe side.
Any and all help really needed and appreciated.
Thanks
Andy
you work it out the same as you would if you were going anywhere for an appointed time. you wouldn’t leave home at 6.50am if you had a 7am appointment and it was gonna take you 2hrs to get there would you…
Why 30 min checks ?
Is it your usual motor
Did you load it or you running MT
It should be pre-loaded for me. No idea which motor I’ll be in as not been assigned one yet as far as I know.
The company allow 30 mins for checks, and will be my first time doing it for real there as am still a newbie.
Well it depends what you’ve got to do. Of course it’s not only checks you’ve got to do, pick up keys, timesheets, lift bags into the vehicle & store them, get the satnav out and set that up, fill in the start of your time sheet. As well as this you might need to replace a few bulbs, fill up the motor and familiarise yourself with vehicle controls. Thoroughly check the sidewalls of your tyres as I’ve often found some issues there, would also be a good idea to move the vehicle 2 feet forward after checking so you can be sure there’s no flat spots.
I’d personally advise get there an hour before you want to leave as you don’t want to be rushing around as you could miss things.
Allocating start times is a planner’s job, he always thinks he knows best so make him do it.
fair doos andy … any damage scratches to the motor / trailer take a few pics on your phone in situ in the yard before moving it then let the bods know before you touch it, Tacho in of course.
What ever you do as said don’t rush make sure its all ok have a look in at the load make sure your happy even if you gotta climb up and have a good look…
Make sure you have your route sorted maps in place easy to grab just in case of a diversion. take notes where you could stop at other times for breaks etc and enjoy . don’t let anyone get you in a fluster and take your time it aint a race to who can get what done quickest …
Bit worried that I have one of the old hands out with me Mon & Tues to see if I get on ok.
No idea what time he’ll want to start as when I offered him my number & asked for his on Friday we never actually got around to it. 
Just gonna roll with it and see how I do. If I get delayed on 1st day am sure the company will cut me some slack (I hope).
Good on you Andy, turn up early, don’t rush it double check, it’s best to go slow and be safe, you probably won’t sleep after about 11pm so you may as well go in then and have a kip in the truck
Good luck Newbie, well done for asking, I think drivers that ask questions become professional drivers and an asset to themselves and the company
Enjoy
Used to have to do this everyday with tramping. Not all jobs have planners that give start times. That’s a bit of a day job thing. Just er a little on side of caution like you are for first week, no secret to it at all, just like driving somewhere in car for appointment.
Used to pitch up in dirty little yard 20 mins before planned set off, pick up keys hanging on a hook, check out motor, warm it up and launch. That was on boxes. On general used to allow 10 mins extra to climb inside trailer and check the load. If they’re sending you to a tight tip that they reckon is a 4.20 run to take into account whether you’ve been there before and also you’ll prob hit rush hour traffic at some point that will push you over, so plan a break in when working out start time on tight runs unless you’ve done it and know its doable.
30 minutes for me unless I’d loaded and parked up the motor the night before.
cav551:
Allocating start times is a planner’s job, he always thinks he knows best so make him do it.
+1