Driveroneuk:
Seems a few of us have have worked for them. My time was back in 1995.
Not heard they gone bust, but did here they have less business nowadays.
I wrote a long article of useful tips about this style of work (which can be interesting & certainly good for experience) but i think it got left behind on the old forum.
Seems you other guys didn’t pick up the trick if going to be marooned somewhere remote without wheels at night, stick hold of the wheels you have got 'till morning.
That seems the sensible answer and is exactly what I did when I started driving a caravan transporter. I would park 3 or 4 miles short of the delivery and make myself at home in one of the vans
If I was plating and someone gave me a truck for Wick on a Friday, then unless i lived in Wick, the truck wouldn’t move.
I was told hire care would be waiting and to phone office for details the rest you read
rocky 7:
Since reaching retirement age I have been plating for a small companyin Manchester,
In general it is a good company to work for, the two boswses are hands on, and if you have a problem you tell them and argue it out, and resolve it. I have picked up loony load drivers and from what i have heard i would not work for them under their conditions.
Plating is not eveyones cup of tea. OK you get to drive top of the range trucks but you dont get to keep them
I personally only do it because I am past retirement age, and it is something to pass the time.
Still on the “plates”, its been nearly 3 years now and still enjoying it( apart from the hitching)
I had a laugh last week, a young feller asked me if I had a class one how come I didnt do a proper job.
I didnt bother telling him that as an ex ME driver I had probably spent more time at traffic lighs than he had been on the road.LOL
i worked for uniloads and used to earn a good wage but alot of hours you work are not paid, the wage didnt outweigh the job so i left. i would say its a job for active retirement folk or people who have there classes of license and want a little practise,
if you carnt think for yourself though forget it cos your left too get on with it if your crap at it then its your money your losing, by the way i always pick the trade platers up if i see them going my way its a tough life in the winter
dustylfc:
i worked for uniloads and used to earn a good wage but alot of hours you work are not paid, the wage didnt outweigh the job so i left. i would say its a job for active retirement folk or people who have there classes of license and want a little practise,
if you carnt think for yourself though forget it cos your left too get on with it if your crap at it then its your money your losing, by the way i always pick the trade platers up if i see them going my way its a tough life in the winter
Thanks Dusty, Its blokes like you that make my job easier. Most people say its because theyr’e not insured that they wont pick us up , but we carry our own insurance, unlike normal hitchikers.
What wrankles me is the “drivers” who give me the V sign Or the [zb] sign as they pass, I have even had so called “Proffesional drivers” swerve to try and hit me.
i deliver new vehicles at the moment but not the trucks as i dont have my licence yet so its mainly cars,vans etc,sometimes i use trade plates but mainly the vehicles are taxed and the company refunds my return travel so im never really stuck anywhere but if i see anyone at the side of the road with trade plates i will always give them a lift…
Most people say its because theyr’e not insured that they wont pick us up
I would have thought that the main reason nowadays is that most drivers are forbidden to pick up any passengers, probably applies to the big fleets more than a small operator.
rocky 7:
Thanks Dusty, Its blokes like you that make my job easier. Most people say its because theyr’e not insured that they wont pick us up , but we carry our own insurance, unlike normal hitchikers.
What wrankles me is the “drivers” who give me the V sign Or the [zb] sign as they pass, I have even had so called “Proffesional drivers” swerve to try and hit me.
All my life I have been hunting down an elusive insurance policy document. You know the one that says passengers are not insured. Providing the vehicle has a seat then any passenger would be insured, even as only a third party, just like my gatepost or great grandma.
This is company bullcrap and unless you are on security cargo should not be prevented taking WAGs and Kids in a cab with you. I have never seen an insurance schedule that prevents passengers who do not work for the company either.
rocky 7:
Thanks Dusty, Its blokes like you that make my job easier. Most people say its because theyr’e not insured that they wont pick us up , but we carry our own insurance, unlike normal hitchikers.
What wrankles me is the “drivers” who give me the V sign Or the [zb] sign as they pass, I have even had so called “Proffesional drivers” swerve to try and hit me.
All my life I have been hunting down an elusive insurance policy document. You know the one that says passengers are not insured. Providing the vehicle has a seat then any passenger would be insured, even as only a third party, just like my gatepost or great grandma.
This is company bullcrap and unless you are on security cargo should not be prevented taking WAGs and Kids in a cab with you. I have never seen an insurance schedule that prevents passengers who do not work for the company either.
We carry a copy of insurance and it just says no passengers carried for reward, the office only read the first part of the sentence as that suits them. It’s their truck so if they don’t want passengers then so be it but why make an excuse up.
Luckily I dont need lifts very often, I use the bus or train, but sometimes I am left miles away from a bus route or a railway station, This is when I would appreciate a lift .
there are a few platers who abuse lifts making it hard for the rest of us,but fortuneatly they are few and far between.
To those who do give me lifts ,Thank you, to those who dont, Take care anyway.
