Having passed my class 1 2 months ago, the agency I usually work for had been eager to get me down the docks, but were reluctant to give me day work, instead offering nights only. Their excuse, it’ll be easier to deal with the docks etc at night, during the day I’ll be holding other drivers up, causing problems etc, all the other drivers will be too busy to help if I need any help, and basically had put the fear of god into me over going on to the docks (Felixstowe).
Anyway, this week, another agency had me in at Wincantons. They had made them aware that I am a new driver, and that I had no experience, and they were still happy to give me a go. So, today, I got sent on to the docks, drop a box at Landguard and pick 1 up from Trinity, and because of the 1st agency, I really wasn’t looking forward to it. So, I went to get my Rhides card, chap in the office gave me a map and pointed me in the right direction, another driver in the parking area couldn’t have been more helpful, I’d been talking to him and let it slip I was a dock virgin 
, basically everyone I came across on the dock was nothing like I’d been expecting, even the checkers were happy to explain where to go etc. I honestly don’t know what I’d been worried about, think I’ve ventured on to the docks about 3 times today, and can’t see why they were so eager to put me off.
Having been to Felixstowe alot with my father through the years working on the ships themselves, the docks can be a confusing place. That doesn’t mean you can’t figure it out and that people won’t help you. It pays for people to help as it keeps things flowing and benefits everyone.
Everyone is a dock virgin at some point…I’ve never been there in a Driver capacity as I don’t have my C+E yet.
LOL- ‘Dock Virgin’
Don’t know why ? But that made me laugh !
Just be careful who you tell !!! Ha ha !
The only reason they did not want you there during the day was the fact it was difficult to find a mug to work nights !!! FFS…they are an agency who probably dont give a ■■■■ about you , its just a fill the vacancy at night thing to them.
martinviking:
LOL- ‘Dock Virgin’Don’t know why ? But that made me laugh !
Just be careful who you tell !!! Ha ha !
Ha ha that made me spill my tea 
3 wheeler:
The only reason they did not want you there during the day was the fact it was difficult to find a mug to work nights !!! FFS…they are an agency who probably dont give a [zb] about you , its just a fill the vacancy at night thing to them.
++
Consultant probably couldn’t fill his night work with ■■■■ rates so spotted an opportunity to send someone in that doesn’t know any better.
Pleased to hear you found Wincanton though - hope all goes well.
Please, can I offer you one piece of advice if nothing else. If an agency operative opens their mouth then whatever comes out will be a lie. Operate with this in mind and you will never go far wrong.
Truckbling:
Please, can I offer you one piece of advice if nothing else. If an agency operative opens their mouth then whatever comes out will be a lie. Operate with this in mind and you will never go far wrong.
No matter what industry that is always the case, promise the world and deliver Hull 
FreddieSwan:
Pleased to hear you found Wincanton though - hope all goes well.
It’s going reasonably well. They were told that I was a newbie on class 1, and had no experience of containers, docks etc, which they seem to have paid attention to, although occasionally it seems to slip their mind. For instance, I had a reefer box with a genset on yesterday (I didn’t know what a genset was until yesterday), and went to drop the box at Landguard. I didn’t know, until one of the checkers told me, that they don’t take reefers with the genset on, on the quay, cue all the hassle of getting back off the dock and going off to get the genset taken off and then going back. It would have been useful if the planners had told me beforehand…
And reversing, not exactly my strong point, and something I tend to dread unless it looks relatively simple. I know I’ll get the hang of it eventually, as it comes with experience, but I spent 25 mins the other day trying to reverse in to somewhere a bit tight, before admitting defeat and asking for help from another driver.
SuffolkLad:
but I spent 25 mins the other day trying to reverse in to somewhere a bit tight, before admitting defeat and asking for help from another driver.
Where was that ?
Terry T:
SuffolkLad:
but I spent 25 mins the other day trying to reverse in to somewhere a bit tight, before admitting defeat and asking for help from another driver.Where was that ?
it was Ideal Paper, Farningham. I got in to the place ok, it was when they told me where I needed to put the lorry that was a problem, if you’ve ever been there and you know where ‘the ramp’ is you’ll know what I mean.