Got pulled up on a building site the other day…for wearing a hood.
Benny hats,or approved liners only.
“Top” health and safety guy(immaculate hi vis)then comes over to where we are lifting 6.25 ton pipes off the back of the lorry…and starts quizzing me on “normal procedure”
Then…once we’ve got one in the air…the thick ■■■■ stands underneath it.
How do I get one of these jobs?
Worst ever collection was Stanford Estate, Stanford on Soar. Its an Interserve site. I pulled in and waited for ten minutes while security found someone who knew what I was there for, despite the fact that another vehicle was in the loading area at the time. Followed the instructions to get to the loading point, which was down a route with trees dragging on both sides of the lorry at the same time, to an absolute mudbath.
When mano ahead of me had pulled out I pulled into the loading bay. The liquid mud was touching the bottom of the wheel, completely submerging the tyre. I was then told that I would be waiting 2-3 hours while the load was brought up from a holding area to the loading bay and then another hour or so to be loaded. At which point I would then be required to strap the load in the loading area before moving back to tarmac to exit site.
The job paid £180.00.
I refused to even get out of the cab. The truck at this time was 4 days old and I wasn’t bringing all that mud into it. The manager then came out and I explained that the loading area was unsuitable, offering first that it would clog up the ratchet straps with all that runny mud which would work its way into the threads of the straps making them hard and brittle. As each strap cost £10, I wasn’t going to write off £120.00 of ratchet straps on a job paying £180.00. He didn’t agree so I added that I also wasn’t going to be ■■■■-arsing about in all that mud then getting back into my brand new lorry without a change of footwear. His response was that his van was only 3 months old and it didn’t bother him, he didn’t understand what I was getting at when I pointed out that he chose to work on a building site, I choose to haul tins of peas for a bloody living.
He finally understood it when I said that the rate for the job was insufficient for the level of equipment damage, let alone the excessive waiting time. I would rather run empty to my next job, 150 miles away. He didn’t believe I would do it though until I started up and tripped the brakes.
Worst drop is Pladis at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Reverse on to bay, chock wheels, drop trailer, park unit over the yard, hand in keys and sit in canteen. Its just nuts, (which is ironic really given that its a nut free site)
Drop and drive…
Is the way forward.
They just hoof the stuff off the trailer, give the driver some sort of proof of arrival (gate pass, time stamp, letter head a non- commital proof of the goods actually turning up) and then get going again.
All my drops work this on this principle.
What part of self respect do people not understand, I would never give my keys to anyone and i would never sit in a shed or room when i have my own house sitting there.
The job is two a penny for good drivers why would you degrade yourself so much and on top of that be treated like ■■■■
Mine is the cardboard and plastic recycling company’s yard we do a lot of work for near Winchester ,
Yard is on a slope weight bridge is off to the right in the yard and you have to get your line up just right to get on it then back off when weighed
Yard is also constantly covered in papier-mâché slurry , my boots look white even though they’re black and when you got a full load traction is a problem
Suppose im pretty lucky in saying i dont have any bad drops, small steel fabrication places who actually want the stuff on the back of your trailer and are usually pleased to see you, a lot of it is famers who are diversifying into small steelwork jobs alongside the general farming and they will tip you whenever you turn up with a mug of tea on offer
nsmith1180:
Worst ever collection was Stanford Estate, Stanford on Soar. Its an Interserve site. I pulled in and waited for ten minutes while security found someone who knew what I was there for, despite the fact that another vehicle was in the loading area at the time. Followed the instructions to get to the loading point, which was down a route with trees dragging on both sides of the lorry at the same time, to an absolute mudbath.When mano ahead of me had pulled out I pulled into the loading bay. The liquid mud was touching the bottom of the wheel, completely submerging the tyre. I was then told that I would be waiting 2-3 hours while the load was brought up from a holding area to the loading bay and then another hour or so to be loaded. At which point I would then be required to strap the load in the loading area before moving back to tarmac to exit site.
The job paid £180.00.
I refused to even get out of the cab. The truck at this time was 4 days old and I wasn’t bringing all that mud into it. The manager then came out and I explained that the loading area was unsuitable, offering first that it would clog up the ratchet straps with all that runny mud which would work its way into the threads of the straps making them hard and brittle. As each strap cost £10, I wasn’t going to write off £120.00 of ratchet straps on a job paying £180.00. He didn’t agree so I added that I also wasn’t going to be ■■■■-arsing about in all that mud then getting back into my brand new lorry without a change of footwear. His response was that his van was only 3 months old and it didn’t bother him, he didn’t understand what I was getting at when I pointed out that he chose to work on a building site, I choose to haul tins of peas for a bloody living.
He finally understood it when I said that the rate for the job was insufficient for the level of equipment damage, let alone the excessive waiting time. I would rather run empty to my next job, 150 miles away. He didn’t believe I would do it though until I started up and tripped the brakes.
Worst drop is Pladis at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Reverse on to bay, chock wheels, drop trailer, park unit over the yard, hand in keys and sit in canteen. Its just nuts, (which is ironic really given that its a nut free site)
I dont blame you for pulling away empty. All that faff for 180£, im betting if they had actually loaded you in those conditions your’d be up to the axles in mud by the time they had finished. Cleaning OCD means me and mud dont mix well 
Years ago I did a few shifts for Warburtons.I’ve never seen a pre and post shift check sheet with as many boxes to tick.I really “admired” the Compliance Manager in his shed(office)in the yard whose crusade in life was to check each one.
On the same job,when I was asked to find a tractor unit to use it invoved a walk to the end of the yard,note the reg.no,and walk back to get the key,to walk back to the unit to check it over then back to the office for instructions.It did keep me fit but there was always one of their own drivers complaining that I’d taken “his” unit.Being a big lad with a frosty disposition can come in handy.
nightline:
What part of self respect do people not understand, I would never give my keys to anyone and i would never sit in a shed or room when i have my own house sitting there.
Do you think you’re the only one who strongly disapproves of all this type of crap mate?
You say you wouldn’t do this, wouldn’t do that, wouldn’t do the ■■■■ other, in most of your posts.
Well here’s the deal mate, you either hand your keys in, and sit in a waiting room, OR you don’t get tipped!..simples. 
I’m assuming you are like me, and either seldom, or even never visit these type of ott crapholes, so in real terms it does not affect you…or me.
In that situation it’s very easy to come out with all the wind and ■■■■ of ‘what you would and wouldn’t do’ in a situation you will maybe never face, but many have to face it on a daily basis.
It’s got ■■■■ all to do with self respect either, it’s about keeping their jobs.
Imagine the phone call 300 mile from base.
‘‘I’ve just pulled out boss, as nightline says I should have self respect and not hand in my keys and wait’’
I’m sure he would say.
‘‘Well said, just bring it back, I had a backload for you, and I will lose this lucrative contract, but I’m right behind you’’…
The only way it could stop is if all the drivers waiting to tip made a collective unanimous stand, but we both know that won’t happen.
Anything over an hour’s wait, complain to the desk politely but firmly, and ring the boss periodically… while sat on your hourly rate
It’s all you can realistically do.
So do us all a favour mate.
We all get it but for Christ’s sake Give it a ■■■■ rest eh? 
robroy:
nightline:
What part of self respect do people not understand, I would never give my keys to anyone and i would never sit in a shed or room when i have my own house sitting there.Do you think you’re the only one who strongly disapproves of all this type of crap mate?
You say you wouldn’t do this, wouldn’t do that, wouldn’t do the [zb] other, in most of your posts.
Well here’s the deal mate, you either hand your keys in, and sit in a waiting room, OR you don’t get tipped!..simples.I’m assuming you are like me, and either seldom, or even never visit these type of ott crapholes, so in real terms it does not affect you…or me.
In that situation it’s very easy to come out with all the wind and ■■■■ of ‘what you would and wouldn’t do’ in a situation you will maybe never face, but many have to face it on a daily basis.
It’s got [zb] all to do with self respect either, it’s about keeping their jobs.Imagine the phone call 300 mile from base.
‘‘I’ve just pulled out boss, as nightline says I should have self respect and not hand in my keys and wait’’I’m sure he would say.
‘‘Well said, just bring it back, I had a backload for you, and I will lose this lucrative contract, but I’m right behind you’’…
The only way it could stop is if all the drivers waiting to tip made a collective unanimous stand, but we both know that won’t happen.
Anything over an hour’s wait, complain to the desk politely but firmly, and ring the boss periodically… while sat on your hourly rate
It’s all you can realistically do.So do us all a favour mate.
We all get it but for Christ’s sake Give it a [zb] rest eh?
Like you I only get to visit RDC’s when the other work is quiet.
Ring boss every hour or so. He charges customer waiting time and I get paid to sit on my arse doing bugger all. Maybe not on the best of chairs or in the best of rooms but it still pays the bills.
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We’ve got a regular job that can be a right wind up. In most respects it’s nowhere near as bad as the previous ones.
Tarmac parking. Overnight is ok. Toilets and showers. Coffee and sandwich machine. Its self load, but with electric pallet trucks so none too difficult, and it’s loaded exactly how you want.
The problem comes from the automated system that delivers the pallets to the loading racks. Sometimes all goes well, another time half a load will be there in twenty minutes then the rest arrives in dribs n drabs over the next ninety minutes. I’ve had all bar one pallet and been waiting an age. Going to the office normally gets little more than a shrug and “that’s the way it is”. You’re timed in and out, demurrage paid, etc.
We’ve haf trucks there for a whole day occasionally.
It’s not as bad as some, bit more like mental torture. Totally out of your control.
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Franglais:
We’ve got a regular job that can be a right wind up. In most respects it’s nowhere near as bad as the previous ones.
Tarmac parking. Overnight is ok. Toilets and showers. Coffee and sandwich machine. Its self load, but with electric pallet trucks so none too difficult, and it’s loaded exactly how you want.
The problem comes from the automated system that delivers the pallets to the loading racks. Sometimes all goes well, another time half a load will be there in twenty minutes then the rest arrives in dribs n drabs over the next ninety minutes. I’ve had all bar one pallet and been waiting an age. Going to the office normally gets little more than a shrug and “that’s the way it is”. You’re timed in and out, demurrage paid, etc.
We’ve haf trucks there for a whole day occasionally.
It’s not as bad as some, bit more like mental torture. Totally out of your control.Sent from my GT-S7275R using Tapatalk
You don’t do fresh do you Franglais?
Sounds like a place we collect from in Sottevast, near Cherbourg, the companies name is Messagerie Laitières du Cotentin.
I know I´m not a “Real” driver but I´ll share this anyway 
Worst tip for me is pulling up outside a 3 bed semi, cars parked both sides of to road, 16:30. 8 cubic metres of concrete to drop.
Old guy wanders along the drive, ■■■ in mouth, wheelbarrow in hand.
Has a coughing fit…
“Right driver, mek it nice and wet”
Me: “Anyone else here”?
NEarly dead bloke: “Nay lad, just thee and me. We can handle it. Give it plenty o´watter” coff coff
Me: " Oh FFS!"
150 barrowloads later…
Old nearly dead guy who promised his grand-daughter that yes, he could indeed take delivery of, and lay, 18 tonnes of concrete in 2 hours is sat watching, smoking and coughing and offering unneeded advice while I finish up his ■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■ of a slab with his cardboard effin wheelbarrow.
steviespain:
I know I´m not a “Real” driver but I´ll share this anywayWorst tip for me is pulling up outside a 3 bed semi, cars parked both sides of to road, 16:30. 8 cubic metres of concrete to drop.
Old guy wanders along the drive, ■■■ in mouth, wheelbarrow in hand.
Has a coughing fit…
“Right driver, mek it nice and wet”
Me: “Anyone else here”?
NEarly dead bloke: “Nay lad, just thee and me. We can handle it. Give it plenty o´watter” coff coff
Me: " Oh FFS!"
150 barrowloads later…
Old nearly dead guy who promised his grand-daughter that yes, he could indeed take delivery of, and lay, 18 tonnes of concrete in 2 hours is sat watching, smoking and coughing and offering unneeded advice while I finish up his [zb] [zb] of a slab with his cardboard effin wheelbarrow.
TBH can’t help thinking fair play to the bloke 
Another fairly ok place has joined the no-waiting-in-cab saga.
Bibby’s in corby used to let you stay in the cab. Now they’ve got a crappy little portakabin with about 6 plastic chairs - coffee machine and bog not exactly close by either.
So that’s 2 decent drops fallen by the wayside this year by forcing drivers into a holding pen: Bibby’s Corby, and Co-op Andover.
We should have the option of uncoupling if we want to wait in the cab. I don’t know about anybody else, but being deprived of at least a couple hours bunk time per shift has a definite effect on my state of mind.
Own Account Driver:
steviespain:
I know I´m not a “Real” driver but I´ll share this anywayWorst tip for me is pulling up outside a 3 bed semi, cars parked both sides of to road, 16:30. 8 cubic metres of concrete to drop.
Old guy wanders along the drive, ■■■ in mouth, wheelbarrow in hand.
Has a coughing fit…
“Right driver, mek it nice and wet”
Me: “Anyone else here”?
NEarly dead bloke: “Nay lad, just thee and me. We can handle it. Give it plenty o´watter” coff coff
Me: " Oh FFS!"
150 barrowloads later…
Old nearly dead guy who promised his grand-daughter that yes, he could indeed take delivery of, and lay, 18 tonnes of concrete in 2 hours is sat watching, smoking and coughing and offering unneeded advice while I finish up his [zb] [zb] of a slab with his cardboard effin wheelbarrow.TBH can’t help thinking fair play to the bloke
Never thought of it that way 
2 places for me stick out; first is Sainsbury at Stoke. It’s the atmosphere in the waiting room, very depressing even before you get there. Second,M&S Nottingham,pedestrian walkway,right turns and a “challenging” blind side reverse down a sharp rampway. Peeps don’t wait they still walk between trailer and building even with Iran’s etc
toonsy:
Supermarket RDC type places obviouslyBuilding sites.
Anywhere where you’re supposed to know all their silly rules.
Anywhere with a FLT driver that has god syndrome.
Anywhere with a security guard that has god syndrome.
Anywhere where you need to interact with a shunter sat on his Terberg throne who has god syndrome.
Basically most places
What about delivery to Lidl/Aldi
We do a lot work delivering desks office equipment cupboards lockers etc to schools. Not the easiest of places to get in and out of In 26t wagon esp of schools are open. And once there can’t get to front door enterance times as only designed for cars not 26t wagons