yorkshire terrier:
Firm I worked for about 8 years ago now once had the police come in to the yard and say don’t send any vehicles out until we give you the go ahead,it really was the worst wind iv ever experienced.as soon as the police went they were trying to send drivers on there way and when questioned said not interested things need delivering and threatening disaplinery action to those who would not do as they said.
That day 3 went over on the M1 near Barnsley I pulled in and called it a day and got all sorts of abuse down the phone,got to my drop next day apologised for been late and the bloke said don’t worry mate no point risking your safety for a load to be late.
If only some traffic office staff would have the same attitude…
Was that when a few went over on the M1 around Chesterfield and one over on Tindley viaduct? I remember trucks parked on the hard shoulder with the curtains shut for the night as the police had shut the M1 at junc 29 and told the drivers it was ok for them to have their daily rest until it calmed down.
It took me 5 and half hours to get from Leicester to Rotherham that night. Carnage everywhere. It was probably the worst I had known it since. 87.
yorkshire terrier:
Firm I worked for about 8 years ago now once had the police come in to the yard and say don’t send any vehicles out until we give you the go ahead,it really was the worst wind iv ever experienced.as soon as the police went they were trying to send drivers on there way and when questioned said not interested things need delivering and threatening disaplinery action to those who would not do as they said.
That day 3 went over on the M1 near Barnsley I pulled in and called it a day and got all sorts of abuse down the phone,got to my drop next day apologised for been late and the bloke said don’t worry mate no point risking your safety for a load to be late.
If only some traffic office staff would have the same attitude…
Was that when a few went over on the M1 around Chesterfield and one over on Tindley viaduct? I remember trucks parked on the hard shoulder with the curtains shut for the night as the police had shut the M1 at junc 29 and told the drivers it was ok for them to have their daily rest until it calmed down.
It took me 5 and half hours to get from Leicester to Rotherham that night. Carnage everywhere. It was probably the worst I had known it since. 87.
Yes that will be the time it was horrendous police even pulling trucks off at Barnsley it was that bad.
I don’t scare easily but no way was I driving in that.
Followed a puddle jumper on a1 and his near side wheels were being lifted off the road ,frightening,the thing was really getting battered,I’m not sure whether you’d feel in the cab what I was seeing but if you did you’d of pulled over,but he just kept on going,and was still going when I pulled off.
I appriciate what folks are saying about they want to make the decision on whether to drive or not in those conditions,but I think sometimes we need saving from ourselves,he was just a accident waiting to go over.
On that stretch there was another puddle jumper perched on top of central reservation,the other smaller stuff was getting blown from one lane too the other,tilted over at some extreme angles.
Give them credit most had slowed down,but they all looked a gust from going over,not good.
yorkshire terrier:
Firm I worked for about 8 years ago now once had the police come in to the yard and say don’t send any vehicles out until we give you the go ahead,it really was the worst wind iv ever experienced.as soon as the police went they were trying to send drivers on there way and when questioned said not interested things need delivering and threatening disaplinery action to those who would not do as they said.
That day 3 went over on the M1 near Barnsley I pulled in and called it a day and got all sorts of abuse down the phone,got to my drop next day apologised for been late and the bloke said don’t worry mate no point risking your safety for a load to be late.
If only some traffic office staff would have the same attitude…
I know that this is an entirely different scenario, but it does illustrate a contrasting attitude.
A couple of years after the ‘Great Storm’ there was another one which was nearly as bad. I was working for a firm called Direct Auto Service as a mobile HGV fitter. On the day in question I was on a customer’s site somewhere in the Croydon area and it was a bit windy to say the least, I had been joined by a colleague for a reason I can’t remember. This was in the days before mobile phones so we had a pager which required us to ring in. At about 10 am both of ours went off, my mate rang in first and came back with the instructions from our office that we both, like all 20 other fitters, were being told to drop everything, pack up and go home immediately since the company considered it unsafe to continue working on vehicles outdoors. We were to ring in when got home safely and we would be paid as normal for the full day. There would be no need to explain to the customer since that would be dealt with by the office as soon as they had contacted everybody.
Some will know the short cut from Westerham into the Croydon area via Selsdon that passes the old Chelsham bus garage (now a Sainsbury’s). The two of us parted company at this point, about half a mile past the old garage on the way towards the junction at the top of Titsey Hill I saw in the mirror a large Beech Tree fall across the road about 100 yards behind me. An hour later I was home. My mate had a slightly more difficult journey requiring a a couple of changes of route.
claretmatt:
The driver killed was a Neil Bomfords driver. Long way from home and terrible for his family. RIP
thanks claretmatt for your message of respect to 1 of my colleagues. it is terrible news when you hear of drivers losing their life but it hits home harder when its 1 of your own colleagues.
R.I.P.
About 10 years ago now,I was driving in the north of Scotland when I got a call from my boss who said “How are you doing?”. I started to tell him I had just delivered Peterhead and was on my way to Elgin,he said he wasn’t bothered about that,but had just heard high winds in Scotland on the radio,asked what it was like and told me if it was bad,to park up for the rest of the day and carry on tomorrow. No,before you ask,he was not just worried about the lorry! We ran about 15 lorries,on only 1contract so he had a big incentive to get stuff delivered,but he said don’t take any risks park up if in any doubt.
Not all firms have gaffers like him of course. I am retired now and I know the job has changed a lot.A question though, have any of you rung in, either yesterday,or any other time,to say you were parking up till safe,and been TOLD to carry on? If so what did you do ? If you refused and parked up,what,if any were the repercussions ? Not making any judgements,just interested.
Regards John.
claretmatt:
The driver killed was a Neil Bomfords driver. Long way from home and terrible for his family. RIP
thanks claretmatt for your message of respect to 1 of my colleagues. it is terrible news when you hear of drivers losing their life but it hits home harder when its 1 of your own colleagues.
R.I.P.
So Thunderbird, how do you see this working?
I suppose it’ll be perfectly aligned with what you consider being dangerously windy conditions.
The Government authority in this matter (probably the police) will decide UK Plc, Transport of Goods Dept has to shut down because someone has decided it’s too windy. Then how are we informed, how is it enforced and where do we park?
Maybe they’ll do it by Police Authority Region, same questions apply.
What about Johnny/Jenny Foreigner who doesn’t speak or read enough English?
Then there’s the real world scenario. You’re driving a 16’ decker loaded with 5t of filter matting. It’s blowing like [ZB] and you’re being pushed all over the motorway. You phone your boss to inform him that you’ve reached the decision that it’s too dangerous to carry on in the prevailing wind. He can now say, “have the Police closed down the network there?”,“No?”, “then carry on driver or you’re sacked”. Backed by the legally enforced shut down of transport when conditions get too dangerous.
This week, you could have phoned your boss to inform him that it’s too dangerous to carry on … A TM is employed to manage a transport hub. It’s the TM’s job to encourage you to carry on. He could say “carry on driver or you’re sacked”. You can park up anyway, how is a TM in an office a hundred miles away going to make you carry on? If you get sacked you can then take him to court for unfair dismissal, or what ever it would be, backed by your union. You are in a union I take it.
The opposite scenario is also plausible. I’m driving along with my 13’ Euroliner with 10t of engineering parts. It’s a bit hairy in places but nothing too bad. The Police decide it’s too dangerous. I get parked up till things subside. I can’t get unloaded because it’s too late when I get there.
Yesterday I would have got there, done my deliveries and gone home, as I did.
It’s possible that when the authorities take charge I might have, but they are going to make it a blanket ban. They wont have the time to decide on individual merits or demerits. It’ll be all or nothing.
At the moment you as the driver have the responsibility of making that decision, based on your own feeling for the situation. You can carry on if you feel it’s not too dangerous or you can park up if you feel it is too dangerous.
What about the newbies you say? (Think of the children, in other words)
I was a newbie once, several years ago. I watched and listened and learnt.
I made mistakes, I nearly ■■■■ myself a few times. I didn’t repeat those mistakes. That’s how you learn your limits, by finding out your own limits for yourself. Not by taking someone elses word for it that your limit is this line (3’ back from the edge).
Thing is though most companies would make threats of dismissal ect if a driver was refusing the continue or even start driving in severe weather, Although of course a driver is still able to refuse regardless of the threats made, but if they where sacked as a result, Even if a driver successfully got them on unfair dismissal @ a tribunal , do you think that that driver accepted there job back that they would get fairly treated afterwards? most will know that they would get the crappiest jobs and be made to feel very unwelcome,
There should be protection for drivers so companies can’t dissmiss drivers in these type of circumstances, othewise a case of it’s risk loosing your job or risk your’s and others lives , damed if you do & damed if you don’t which is bollox IMO
carryfast-yeti:
passed 2 lying on their sides M1 j.29 ish,a Volvo artic and a rigid,and a DHL artic that had just been picked up,and was being towed away and a 10 mile queue behind.
That was me mate…just got home now…3hrs in chesterfield royal…was only doing 30-40mph felt me trailer go and then thought id got it back…then a gust just tipped me. Everything went slow motion,just braced meself and thought this is it…after a lot of sparks ,broken glass, ect everything went quiet.Two guys appeared were me windscreen was supposed to be and pulled me out.Me backs abit sore and ive had 4 stitches in me right hand,i honestly thought i was going to die.think xmas come early for me today.Drive safely all.
glad to hear you’re safe and well! could have been a lot worse.
Fatboy slimslow:
Thunderbird! do you actually drive a truck? [zb] happens! eleven went over yesterday! out of how many trucks on our roads! it’s called life, pal
Laughable ! Thanks…I knew this barrage was coming…yes actually I do drive a big thing. It’s my ■■■■. Oh I’ll wait for the funnies…■■■■ up time to moderates… BIG balls can give all the reasons in the world for being in charge, but in reality, its you and me that pays the price when the ■■■■ hits the fan…a point SIMON (aka BB) said when a colleague died in these instances, which is tragic…it wont bring him back…HIS point is, you have the keys, pull up. I have too agree, to certain extent. My point is that there are circumstances when we are pushed, job, finances, blah blah…Moreover, as I said (and others) why are industries like railways and planes taken down? I’ll say my bit, because it’s dangerous.
Ultimately this is a cheap industry that puts no value on anything except the next drop and half a penny off derv. If a moderator on here thinks we should all toss our lives away for that fact…well I’ll say no more. My opinions are read above and I’ll stand by them…my life, your families lives are worth more than bravado and ten pounds an hour.
Simon:
So Thunderbird, how do you see this working?
I suppose it’ll be perfectly aligned with what you consider being dangerously windy conditions.
The Government authority in this matter (probably the police) will decide UK Plc, Transport of Goods Dept has to shut down because someone has decided it’s too windy. Then how are we informed, how is it enforced and where do we park?
Maybe they’ll do it by Police Authority Region, same questions apply.
What about Johnny/Jenny Foreigner who doesn’t speak or read enough English?
Then there’s the real world scenario. You’re driving a 16’ decker loaded with 5t of filter matting. It’s blowing like [ZB] and you’re being pushed all over the motorway. You phone your boss to inform him that you’ve reached the decision that it’s too dangerous to carry on in the prevailing wind. He can now say, “have the Police closed down the network there?”,“No?”, “then carry on driver or you’re sacked”. Backed by the legally enforced shut down of transport when conditions get too dangerous.
This week, you could have phoned your boss to inform him that it’s too dangerous to carry on … A TM is employed to manage a transport hub. It’s the TM’s job to encourage you to carry on. He could say “carry on driver or you’re sacked”. You can park up anyway, how is a TM in an office a hundred miles away going to make you carry on? If you get sacked you can then take him to court for unfair dismissal, or what ever it would be, backed by your union. You are in a union I take it.
The opposite scenario is also plausible. I’m driving along with my 13’ Euroliner with 10t of engineering parts. It’s a bit hairy in places but nothing too bad. The Police decide it’s too dangerous. I get parked up till things subside. I can’t get unloaded because it’s too late when I get there.
Yesterday I would have got there, done my deliveries and gone home, as I did.
It’s possible that when the authorities take charge I might have, but they are going to make it a blanket ban. They wont have the time to decide on individual merits or demerits. It’ll be all or nothing.
At the moment you as the driver have the responsibility of making that decision, based on your own feeling for the situation. You can carry on if you feel it’s not too dangerous or you can park up if you feel it is too dangerous.
What about the newbies you say? (Think of the children, in other words)
I was a newbie once, several years ago. I watched and listened and learnt.
I made mistakes, I nearly [zb] myself a few times. I didn’t repeat those mistakes. That’s how you learn your limits, by finding out your own limits for yourself. Not by taking someone elses word for it that your limit is this line (3’ back from the edge).
LISTEN big BALLS I take your very well written reply to hand…however, I still dont agree. Lives are more precious
than any load that can be delivered the following day.
Thunderbird:
LISTEN big BALLS I take your very well written reply to hand…however, I still dont agree. Lives are more precious
than any load that can be delivered the following day.
At what point have I written anything that says different?
I have said, you are the one with the keys, with all the information at your fingertips.
If you feel it’s necessary to stop, do so.
Where I thought we disagreed is that you want it to be someone elses decision to make. Someone in authority has to decide for you that it’s to dangerous to carry on driving in the prevailing conditions.
I say it should be your decision.
Don’t allow yourself to be bullied by the office desk driver.
Make your decision and have the balls to carry it through.
Thunderbird:
LISTEN big BALLS I take your very well written reply to hand…however, I still dont agree. Lives are more precious
than any load that can be delivered the following day.
At what point have I written anything that says different?
I have said, you are the one with the keys, with all the information at your fingertips.
If you feel it’s necessary to stop, do so.
Where I thought we disagreed is that you want it to be someone elses decision to make. Someone in authority has to decide for you that it’s to dangerous to carry on driving in the prevailing conditions.
I say it should be your decision.
Don’t allow yourself to be bullied by the office desk driver.
Make your decision and have the balls to carry it through.
Well you have your opinions Simon on the matter (which I respect) and I have mine; they have been aired above along with other drivers on here with much the same contrasting views as yours and mine. I dont think there is any more to be said. I’m not arguing for the sake of it.
Be safe and the same applies to all of us who drive for a living…when the worst happens we all know who is in the firing line. FULL STOP.
DrivingMissDaisy:
Reducing speed will help a lot and still enable the job to be done.
I often wonder about that tbh. Are you more likely to get blown over doing 55 than you are doing 45? I wonder what the actual physics on that are?
As it’s invariably the gust of wind from the side that takes you over I suppose you could argue that if you’d been travelling faster you’d have passed the spot before the gust happened. The same could apply to driving slower of course!
Had this conversation with a mate yesterday and both agreed that it’s better to be flat out across the Orwell Bridge instead of hanging about for that 90 mph gust that’s gonna turn you over.
Realy ■■? better you an your mate than me then could end up as a free flying lesson methinks
Few years ago I worked for an Irish shipping company and while they never said we could not listen to the weather forecasts it was common knowledge you weren’t allowed to heed them and if you did you was up the road at the next port. At least we knew where we stood
Fatboy slimslow:
Thunderbird! do you actually drive a truck? [zb] happens! eleven went over yesterday! out of how many trucks on our roads! it’s called life, pal
Laughable ! Thanks…I knew this barrage was coming…yes actually I do drive a big thing. It’s my ■■■■. Oh I’ll wait for the funnies…■■■■ up time to moderates… BIG balls can give all the reasons in the world for being in charge, but in reality, its you and me that pays the price when the [zb] hits the fan…a point SIMON (aka BB) said when a colleague died in these instances, which is tragic…it wont bring him back…HIS point is, you have the keys, pull up. I have too agree, to certain extent. My point is that there are circumstances when we are pushed, job, finances, blah blah…Moreover, as I said (and others) why are industries like railways and planes taken down? I’ll say my bit, because it’s dangerous.
Ultimately this is a cheap industry that puts no value on anything except the next drop and half a penny off derv. If a moderator on here thinks we should all toss our lives away for that fact…well I’ll say no more. My opinions are read above and I’ll stand by them…my life, your families lives are worth more than bravado and ten pounds an hour.
do you actually drive a truck? 
■■■■ happens! 
eleven went over yesterday! 
out of how many trucks on our roads! 
and a 10 mile queue behind.