Hi Folks!
Well, I’ve just been laid off - the dry freight contract I was working for has gone to a cheaper bidder.
Anyway, it looks like - all being well - I have the possibility of a start with a removals firm at the end of this month. They specialise in Europe, and go to the UK frequently too I believe. The plan is (if it all works out that is!) that I’ll start as a second driver on a short trip.
Does anyone have any advice?! This will be my first ever true Euro job (I’ve only done domestic work in the UK and Finland) and although I have done some removals in the distant past through an agency, it was only a few weeks, and it was about 20 years ago. I presume that hard-wearing ordinary work clothes are still the order of the day - no need to dress up like a day-glo orange in this job? Any general advice about removals work?
If you have done a bit of removals you have an idea of what you are facing. Not much really in the job has changed even in 20 years. You will hurt like hell for the first couple of weeks but it will get easier
Common sense prevails in removals, don’t try to be a hero as it will backfire. In contrast as the ‘new boy’ try to do the best you can. Don’t shy out of any heavy or double carrys. If you can show you want to work as hard as the others you will be accepted by the existing staff and in turn they will show you the tricks of the trade to make your life easier.
Double Manning isn’t for everyone and you have to accept that travelling with someone else can push the patients of a saint, but if you get a decent bloke it is a good laugh and a drinking buddy for nights/weekends etc
If you have any other questions, shout, but enjoy it, the job is hard but you get a sense of achievement at the end of a hard day!
Well, watch out for your digi card, you might not want to show it too early to a continental mr. plod. Not that I’d be suggesting anything, but, well, you know
Be very careful regards your back and how you bend. I used to laugh at people who complained about a bad back and used to think thats an old warcry to get out of doing any physical work. But last year I hurt my back and know cant walk properly, bend, work or even drive. Got an operation and it failed miserably so ended up a lot worse. So all I can say is just be careful…
i second that last comment…i use to do removals and was carrying something with a mate when he dropped it… ended up with a very bad back which just herniated a few months ago and is only getting better now after 2months of been in agony… also learn how to lift properly it will make the job a whole lot easier…most of all dont let the job get to you or else youll end up just miserable… before i got out i was a right grump and was only 23
the fub:
Be very careful regards your back and how you bend. I used to laugh at people who complained about a bad back and used to think thats an old warcry to get out of doing any physical work. But last year I hurt my back and know cant walk properly, bend, work or even drive. Got an operation and it failed miserably so ended up a lot worse. So all I can say is just be careful…
I’m very, very sorry to hear that. And I will be careful.
acceptme:
i second that last comment…i use to do removals and was carrying something with a mate when he dropped it… ended up with a very bad back which just herniated a few months ago and is only getting better now after 2months of been in agony… also learn how to lift properly it will make the job a whole lot easier…most of all dont let the job get to you or else youll end up just miserable… before i got out i was a right grump and was only 23
And again, very sorry to hear that
I’m starting to get a bit worried - I have to be somewhat careful with my arms. I had a break from driving of about 10 years during which time I was mostly computer programming - and all that typing and using a mouse gave me tendonitis quite badly. Had lots of cortisone injections that did nothing. But although I need to be careful, they are getting back to the state where the right sort of exercise seems to be beneficial. And I never had any problems in the past when I was doing lots of handballing…
Kyrbo:
Zetorpilot:
Does anyone have any advice?!
Well, watch out for your digi card, you might not want to show it too early to a continental mr. plod. Not that I’d be suggesting anything, but, well, you know
Well, fortunately, during the last couple of weeks with Mr H, I had a lot of shifts on wagons that still used the old-fashioned disposable disks…
Just thought I’d let you know I survived my first trip. The load went from Helsinki to Düsseldorf, then I had collections is Brussels and The Hague. I was away for a week in total. All in all, pretty knackering and I was very glad of the long ferry trip at both ends.
My left wrist got a bit too cold on the load-up in Helsinki, I didn’t realise at the time but it was painful when we unloaded in Germany, and then it started to swell up a bit after a couple of days. There was another one of our motors on the boat back, and the driver gave me some dragon balm which seems to have helped. It seems to be on the mend now anyway.
I’m looking forward to my next trip, and also looking forward to getting into a bit better shape physically
Glad to hear it mate. I use to love international jobs on removals. Not because i got to go to europe but i some how managed to score my self the cushy job of moving e-on energy people to dusseldorf as well and to copenhagen so each person only had a few boxes. Just me on my own and meeting local guys to help. This soon changed when they realised i had my class 1 and then i was doing the same thing but for familys and bringing a ported with me and doing big jobs… still good craic though… Once the e-on job was complete… I got a on the jobs doin madrids… First sent me in a 17tonner with only a few boxes on w the hope i could get a reload which i couldnt get anywhere in the centre in so told boss this and then they dragged me bak to the uk and sent me in a sprinter the rest of the time… 10days each trip could be knocked out in 5 then over to a mates house for a week off on the hush hush … Just remember keep on smile and even the bad times arnt to bad when u look bak on it
acceptme:
Glad to hear it mate. I use to love international jobs on removals. Not because i got to go to europe but i some how managed to score my self the cushy job of moving e-on energy people to dusseldorf as well and to copenhagen so each person only had a few boxes. Just me on my own and meeting local guys to help. This soon changed when they realised i had my class 1 and then i was doing the same thing but for familys and bringing a ported with me and doing big jobs… still good craic though… Once the e-on job was complete… I got a on the jobs doin madrids… First sent me in a 17tonner with only a few boxes on w the hope i could get a reload which i couldnt get anywhere in the centre in so told boss this and then they dragged me bak to the uk and sent me in a sprinter the rest of the time… 10days each trip could be knocked out in 5 then over to a mates house for a week off on the hush hush … Just remember keep on smile and even the bad times arnt to bad when u look bak on it
That sounds great! This firm I’ve been on with do pretty much all Europe, and go to the UK quite a bit too. I’m hoping to get to the UK of course and also down to Spain / Portugal for a bit of sun (can’t stand all this snow!) but I’ll have to wait and see what turns up. The next trip should be on my own with local help too. This first one was with a co-driver, as it was my first job with the firm and first Euro trip. Speaking Finnish for a whole week with no breaks was a bit tiring, but we got on well enough.
Had a cracking motor, XF95/530, an ex-Norwegian fish wagon and a bit ott for removals work. I really hope I get more work from this firm as the longer trips really suit me. And with this firm they shouldn’t be too long, and I should get time at home as well. I used to like doing R/R tours, but now I’m a bit older and with a family I think international removals is an excellent compromise (if my body holds up that is!).
