HGV Drivers Report In!

[shauncr91]

Following on from Scania's thread showing off his new motor I was surprised to see how many others are in the industry on here, and the amount of interest from those who aren't.

So who does what and drives what? I'll go first, currently doing day work on a mixture of pallet network and general haulage, although it'll be just permanent general haulage after the new year with some nights out also.

My whip, not the prettiest but she gets the job done and it's a nice place to be inside (Hoping for a new motor before long though)

 

[shauncr91]

So people are trying to Syphon your fuel?

Any other stories/tips?

It's a common occurrence and if they aren't nicking your fuel then it's your load. Sadly there's a severe lack of safe parking spaces for HGV's in the UK and no authorities are acting on the issue. If someone's nicking your load or fuel then just leave them to it and call the police, it's all insured and generally the thieves won't bother the driver unless they intervene.

 

[shauncr91]

Are there not locks for fuel caps?

Yes but they just bust them off with an oil filter wrench. If they can't get in through the cap they'll take it through the sender unit if it's exposed or drill the tank if not.

 

[shauncr91]

I think the big earnings on tankers has passed now from what I've heard from people in that game and jobs I've seen advertised, there was big money to be earned but not so much anymore and those firms that are paying good money on it aren't recruiting, very much dead mans boots positions. I can't think of any positions where earnings are high across the board at the moment, I know trampers up north running up to 150t specialist work taking home little more than RDC drivers on curtains (Day men).

The next 5-10 years are going to be extremely interesting I feel as UK drivers retire without much young blood coming into it, also the effects of Brexit will be interesting at the same time.

 

[shauncr91]

What kind of personal qualities would you need for a truck driver. Your dealing with massive machinery for example, a lot of responsibility, I'm trying to work out whether I'm cut out for the task.

Your almost a pilot.

Strong initiative with the ability to work independantly for long periods of time. Safety is number one at all times.

A calm head that doesn't explode when things don't go your way while having a firm attitude towards people when needed (If you allow it then people will take the ****, from slow unloading to stupid requests to other road users). Some firms will ask you to take out equipment or loads which aren't safe/legal, don't be scared to tell your boss no.

Patience.

Believe it or not you do have to be smart to do this job, there's a lot of thought has to go into working out loading, weight, measurements, planning, problem solving. You can get by as a lorry driver while being a knuckle dragger but to do the job well you need to be above that.

It's a tough and sometimes dirty job, being a driver is only half of the job and depending on what line of work you get into you could be rolling around in the mud under machinery or sat with your feet up drinking tea.

You'll develop a lot of the qualities needed over time and soon realise it's not like a lot of other jobs or just driving up and down your county 9-5. I went from working in a call centre to this job and initially hated it thinking I'd made a mistake but I stuck at it for a year and now haven't looked back.

 

[shauncr91]

One of my workmates drove for Beamish and he said it was one of the the hardest jobs he'd done in transport, very involved and complex as you say.

 

[shauncr91]

Starting on doing some nights out for the first time next week. I feel like I've got most bases covered in terms of equipment but what would people suggest that I could find myself needing and possibly have missed?

 

[shauncr91]

Most of our rigids are manual but all the artics are automatic. Our training tractor unit used to be a manual so drivers could drive one should they ever need to, but not anymore.

 

[shauncr91]

Well, tucked up for my first night out, loaded out of Birmingham for Carlisle but delays on the M6 meant it wasn't going to happen today so tucked up in Lancaster North services.

Not half bad actually, full charge on the laptop and beers in the firdge; just what I'd be doing at home anyway

 

[shauncr91]

I'd never have a dump in my cab, I won't even wee in a bottle. Just plan the journey and use a toilet before you set off, obviously if you've got bad guts then that's a different matter.

 

[shauncr91]

Got a wonderful day Monday, Barnsley > Newcastle > Barnsley > Newcastle. How exciting!

 

[shauncr91]

I'd love a go at driving a Terberg.

 

[shauncr91]

Any tips for the training and test, is your trainer also your tester?

Just like your car test, your trainer and examiner are seperate people. Where abouts are you in the UK?

 

[shauncr91]

Not just the big firms that'll take on newer drivers, we're a small-medium sized company and have taken on a lot of new passes. It's often just about getting lucky and knocking on the right door at the right time.

I got my job just from showing up and asking if they wanted someone, only had a bit of agency experience doing basic work on fridges for the most part but they were willing to take a shot.

 

[shauncr91]

You mean you're not supposed to shunt the trailer back a foot, then drag it back forwards on the tug test?

Really though, lifting the suspension when coupling up is a good habit to get into because you'll only miss the pin once, dropping the air when pulling out if dropping a loaded trailer is also good.

 

[shauncr91]

Makes me cringe when I see people pick up a low trailer by slamming into it with the run up ramps, guarantee they wouldn't do it if they bought the truck themselves. Not for the sake of taking 5 seconds to drop the air.

 

[shauncr91]

Tough old day today having 4 drops on steel, a lot of work in chucking chains about 8 times and other messing about in the rain. Still take it over any RDC waiting room though

 

[shauncr91]

Found something today that was really strange. Was talking to one of the guys at our site and didn't realise that you don't necessarily know what it is you're shipping. Is it normal?

A driver should have at least an idea what it is they are carrying otherwise how can they know it's being carried safely.

 

[shauncr91]

Does anyone here have a set of decent waterproofs for when it's absolutely ******* it down? Considering the waterproof Dickies overalls but a bit pricey at £100.

 

[shauncr91]

Indeed but I'm informed that instead of carrying the usual 14 pallets these can only carry 6 !
3 wagons to do the work of 1 wagon !

That'll be sound for the environment.