DPD Ouch

Outcast · 4 Feb 2014 at 14:34

I wonder how much DPD charge for delivering bridges ?

I used to go under a 13" bridge getting from Wroxham to coltishall. Cab is marked up at 13"4. Use common sense .. It's a looong way round if you chose not to go under the bridge.

Although the trailer fitted under I still used to drop the drive axle suspension.

Funny memory.. As mentioned, I used to go under that bridge ever day... Then we had two vehicles (full of bacon) nicked from our Liverpool depot (had to be Liverpool didn't it) so we had trackers installed.

The pillocks installed it on the highest part of the trailer... Cue me going under that bridge and......

One (smashed) dangling sensor !! lol.

Phantom Shadow · 4 Feb 2014 at 14:50

arknor said:
looks like it should fit barely.

did it actually get stuck or is he just reversing back out?

they should give trailer hydraulic suspension so they can lower the trailer to get through tunnels that are borderline ^_^

That would just lead to the driver of a 16'5=6" truck thinking ooh I can drop my trailer by 4" and just about squeeze under that 16' bridge.

What I find stupid about truck drivers is how many of them clearly don't look at the height signs. Where I live there is a 11'3" bridge which clearly any HGV isn't going to fit under. The council have even put up a huge sign 50m up the road showing the height, next to the sign saying HGVs to turn there and go through the town.

We still have loads of HGVs drive down, get towards the bridge and realise they aren't going to get under and then spend half an hour trying to reverse 50m, often hitting trees and the bank at the edge as they do so. Think we have even had police block the road before so the driver could reverse up the middle of the road.

Rroff · 4 Feb 2014 at 14:57

Ixon said:
Also happens to Stobarts quite a lot this at one point to, giving agency drivers these double deck trailers with no training only for them to go get them stuck under bridges, alas they now stop giving agency drivers this kind of trailers & only the Stobart drivers can now drive them, which i might add they hate lol.

Our regular drivers hate the double deckers, the loading bay where I work also is on a hill and has 3 different angles over the length of 44 foot trailers so the extra height on double deckers mean the doors and so on get twisted and its unsafe - keep telling em not to send them to us but now and again they do and we have to send them back at a complete waste of time and money.

Scania · 4 Feb 2014 at 15:23

Hyburnate said:
No I was surprised it would be that serious :/ Sort of gathered that's what insurance is for.

Ahh! I was being a bit slow there!!

With Stobart, they are self insured. Any incident like that costs them big money.

Not knowing your vertical height isn't clever nor professional and they treat unprofessional acts harshly, quite rightly ultimately, if a driver doesn't know or check his height, what else is he missing out on his daily checks??

I know a few ex Stobart drivers who've got the boot for far less too!

Scania · 4 Feb 2014 at 15:28

Telescopi said:
Repairs to truck, inspection/repairs/fines for hitting a bridge, compensation to every customer whos parcel was delayed - big numbers, some or all may be covered by insurance but premiums get expensive fast.

Hope the driver had a good reason for going that way.

Quite.

Can you imagine the cost incurred by a haulier that strikes a bridge that has, for example, the west coast main rail line running over it? - in the event if a bridge strike, the rail line would be closed subject to inspection for structural damage, the rail operators are out of pocket, as is the haulier or his insurers picking up the rather large tab!

As I was told on my recent driver CPC course, no insurer would cover a fleet the size of Stobart without an absolutely huge premium, the fact it's cheaper for them to self insure with all the administrative costs that incurs says it all.

Outcast · 4 Feb 2014 at 15:32

I've heard that are a bit... er... Strict ?

One of our drivers just killed the engine in a practically brand new vehicle.

C&C of my post on FB

I came back MT (From Taunton) on Taunton 2 and was going up Stag hill on the A46 and the cab slewed sideways.. **** meself... Then I noticed what I thought was a diesel trail on the road. I followed it and thought "I'm going to catch this poor bugger up it's leaking that badly".. Low and behold just after the roundabout where you turn left at (straight on for Stratford) there was a lonely miserable Workmate (Editied name out).
I pulled next to him and asked him "Wossup" and he said he's lost all the engine oil. Couldn't even swap trailers !
Eez ****ed ONJ (Olivier Newton John)

Of course it's still under warranty but they are arguing he drove it when the warning lights were on and therefore invalidated the warranty.

Not that he had any choice mind as where it "let go" is a twisty NSL section of road and he stopped at first safe point. I'd have done the same.

So here's a question...

Baring in mind a full engine rebuild is about £10k max how much do you think a brand new engine is going to cost ? (It needs a new engine)

£38K !! .. Yup you read that right

[edit]

Oh he still has his job too. Even got an easy run the next night because he was home so late that morning

Mr Joshua · 4 Feb 2014 at 15:35

Looking at the picture, is there really much damage?

The arch looks quite generous to get that trailer through the middle if he was able to swing further over to the right, almost looks like the driver has stopped before much damage was done to the trailer.

Outcast · 4 Feb 2014 at 15:43

Indeed.

I'd hazard a guess that's a regular del point but the car has prevented him getting bang on square.

No damage that I can see either.

abbotsmike · 4 Feb 2014 at 16:24

Outcast said:
Indeed.

I'd hazard a guess that's a regular del point but the car has prevented him getting bang on square.

No damage that I can see either.

Or it's not a usual tractor unit. Pretty sure I see DPD tractor units with silly small wheels? That trailer looks noticeably higher at the front than the rear.

Hyburnate · 4 Feb 2014 at 17:53

Outcast said:
I've heard that are a bit... er... Strict ?

One of our drivers just killed the engine in a practically brand new vehicle.

C&C of my post on FB

Of course it's still under warranty but they are arguing he drove it when the warning lights were on and therefore invalidated the warranty.

Not that he had any choice mind as where it "let go" is a twisty NSL section of road and he stopped at first safe point. I'd have done the same.

So here's a question...

Baring in mind a full engine rebuild is about £10k max how much do you think a brand new engine is going to cost ? (It needs a new engine)

£38K !! .. Yup you read that right

[edit]

Oh he still has his job too. Even got an easy run the next night because he was home so late that morning

Jesus Christ :eek:

What vehicle?

[TW]Fox · 4 Feb 2014 at 17:58

Outcast said:
I used to go under a 13" bridge getting from Wroxham to coltishall. Cab is marked up at 13"4. Use common sense .. It's a looong way round if you chose not to go under the bridge.

Common sense would dictate you don't go under a 13" bridge with a 13.4" trailer. You think you were using common sense and you think you know what you're doing but so does everyone who gets stuck. How did you find out it fitted in the first place? With a gamble that paid off presumably?

subbytna · 4 Feb 2014 at 17:59

Let the air out of the tyres and pull that sucker out

Phantom Shadow · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:22

[TW]Fox;25789779 said:
Common sense would dictate you don't go under a 13" bridge with a 13.4" trailer. You think you were using common sense and you think you know what you're doing but so does everyone who gets stuck. How did you find out it fitted in the first place? With a gamble that paid off presumably?

Some drivers do give it a go but sensibly, drive right up to the bridge, get out and have a look, if it doesn't look like it'll fit reverse back and try a different way

It's the ones that push their luck by just driving straight through that get stuck.

Scania · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:24

Hyburnate said:
Jesus Christ What vehicle?

HGV tractor at a guess, 13 litre at a guess, still, I hope that includes fitting!!

Scania · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:26

Phantom Shadow said:
Some drivers do give it a go but sensibly, drive right up to the bridge, get out and have a look, if it doesn't look like it'll fit reverse back and try a different way

It's the ones that push their luck by just driving straight through that get stuck.

Pushing your luck is presuming because it fits under one side means it will still fit once it's got to the other side!

The height warning is warning of the bridges lowest point....

Hyburnate · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:27

Scania said:
Pushing your luck is presuming because it fits under one side means it will still fit once it's got to the other side!

The height warning is warning of the bridges lowest point....

Yep, and most of them are old and therefore not level. But then if they divert they end up behind time. It's like when they get jobs that are in 7.5T restricted areas. Do you take the risk or not deliver?

Outcast · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:30

[TW]Fox;25789779 said:
Common sense would dictate you don't go under a 13" bridge with a 13.4" trailer. You think you were using common sense and you think you know what you're doing but so does everyone who gets stuck. How did you find out it fitted in the first place? With a gamble that paid off presumably?

27 years of trucking experience.
Also knowing that our trailers go on the continent and are actually microscopically lower than 13".

I very rarely leave anything driving related to chance !

[Edit]

Oh it's a 63 plate Renault 460 Premium Prime-Mover

Scania · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:38

Hyburnate said:
Yep, and most of them are old and therefore not level. But then if they divert they end up behind time. It's like when they get jobs that are in 7.5T restricted areas. Do you take the risk or not deliver?

True.

I know of a driver who took out a 14'6" trailer on a 14'7" bridge!
Why? The council had resurfaced and not checked the new clearance.

As for weight limits, if it allows access (mentioned on the sign) yes, blanket limit, no.

Traffic planners problem if I can't get to the delivery point due to a legal limit, not mine.

Ixon · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:51

Scania said:
It can happen to all hauliers who pull trailers high enough to hit a bridge that's lower than it!

Agency or not, we (Stobart drivers) get double decker trailers when on Tesco work, it's nothing to do with training, it's down to common sense.

Trucks by law have to display the travelling height of the vehicle in the cab, it is the legal responsibility of the driver - agency or not - to know his vertical height, again, this is clearly displayed on the trailer, usually by the air line couplings.

Bar high winds when a 16'1" trailer is no fun, pulling a 'decker is no different to any other , if anything, easier if anything on Tesco work, they are "box trailers" i.e.you don't have curtains to faff around with.

Most - but not all - trailers have height adjustable suspension, it is still illegal - and bloody silly - to attempt to go under a 14'6" bridge with a 14'7" trailer, most bridge height signs allow a bit of excess, but the driver isn't to know if this is the case or not.

I wonder if that driver is looking for a new job yet?

Do you work at the Widnes depot?

DrewBrees · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:57

Driver should have made like all other delivery men and simply threw a small card with "your parcel is at such and such a place come and get it yourself you lazy barsteward" through the letterbox without checking to see if anyone is actually at home. Then he wouldn't have gotten stuck.