This is my first drop at a Ford dealer in Wembley - I only had 1 cage, 1 small stillage cage thing and a few boxes, not really worth sending an artic but some nights I can have a full load either going out or a full load of returns coming back, luckily however there was only the stuff I couldnt be bothered to bring back the other night (I was there nearly and hour and a half that night!!), however the large stillage containers I told them about that wont fit on a tail lift are still there despite being told a day driver will collect them…
Last night I was there 55 minutes, would have been there less time but the padlock decided not to play ball in unlocking…
I picked up the returns and dropped them off at the yard and loaded the rest of my run as its easier to do Wembley first as a separate run.
My second drop was at a DAF garage in Colnbrook but there isnt any photos because the earlier I got out of there, the earlier I finish
However I usually drive into the yard there and reverse round to goods in but they were full of trucks so reversed in off the road, there was a forklift driver there who unloaded me from the side.
Wokingham is my third drop and this morning there was only 1 cage to drop off and 1 to collect, and it was here that I rearranged the load so the last drop would be at the back and the empties at the front as my last drop the forklift driver woudnt get in until 08:10…
I must have caught the security guard off guard because usually the bollards on the forecourt have been dropped down so I can reverse down to the lock up, so I had to knock on the window
It was a bit tighter to get in off the road because there was a few brand new cars parked either side, still made it in with 1 shunt though
There isnt any photos of my last drop at DAF at Theale either because my mind was on one thing - breakfast
This one is a bit tricky to get into as you have to drive in forwards then reverse up to tip, but youve got to be careful of the brand new unregistered vans and trucks (unlike Colnbrook this a dealer as well) dotted all over, as well as the parts delivery vans and the fitters vans parked in awkward places…
This was my last drop so it was onto the Max Cafe for breakfast just a short hop up the A4 from Theale
I quite like this cafe, its not too quite nor to busy and the food is cooked quite quickly…
The next stop was Reading services to fill up (they want us to fill up everytime we go back even with a full tank ), even with a full tank I managed £43
Got back to the yard and unusually we had a driver shunting trucks/trailers around the yard and warehouse and he told me to park it (well technically abandoned as there wasnt anywhere to park ) and he’ll sort it out…
Th th th thats all folks
Andy smg:
Nice diary mate. Your nameplate looks the biz.
Thanks - nobodies spotted me yet though
Does ND have many UK trampers ?
Im afraid not, its either days or nights, though Im not sure what the UK tanker drivers do, but as far as I know its the French and the Polish (that actually surprised me seeing a few Polish registered Norberts ) that do that.
And the French lot have a few Magnums - though as Hounslow is supposed to be the flagship depot for the south (with next down from Norbert himself based here) it woud be nice for a few Magnums, that might make doing muti drop in a 44 tonner a bit more bareable
Interesting read mate, you seem to be enjoying your new job
Did you by any chance snap any pics of that old Atkinson (I think) in the background of the third picture ?
I’ve no doubt someone here will be able to put a rough age to it
The DAF workshops at Colnbrook are definately interesting, I did them a few times when I was with CS at Northampton. Used to be one of our regular drops on a sunday. We always had to back in off the road, and that was with a class 2, because it can certainly get tight in there at times.
Just be glad mate that you dont have to deliver the crates for Volvo anymore, the smallest of them was just over the width of the taillift and we had to pump them off, the longest however was triple the size of a standard CHEP pallet and those were a [ZB] to get off the truck. The worst places I had to deliver those was the Volvo dealers at Colindale and also Regents Park, Colindale because it was an awkward reverse and angle on the gates, Regents Park because all you had was a poxy little lift to put the stuff in and the ground on the run up to the lift wasnt level.
SWraith:
The DAF workshops at Colnbrook are definately interesting, I did them a few times when I was with CS at Northampton. Used to be one of our regular drops on a sunday. We always had to back in off the road, and that was with a class 2, because it can certainly get tight in there at times.
I normally reverse round in the yard but it was a bit busy in there so decided to reverse in off the road - and neary ditched it at the same time
What didnt help was a week into the run, the bloke there said the Dunstable driver reversed in from the road
I start at 9pm and after hooking up yesterdays trailer toodle up to Caterpillar in Desford near Hinkley and dump the trailer on a bay and take the full one.
Then leaving Desford between 10.45pm and 11.30 ish head down south to Merton and Guildford. I usually have a full load of cages, stillages that just fit on the tail lift and pallets. The first drop often takes eons as I have to sort it all out and load the empties on whilst leaving the next drop accessible.
After Guildford it’s back to Northampton to drop the trailer, fuel up and pee orf home.
On a good night it’s 10 and half hours, on a bad night 12 hours.
On Friday a chap conked out across the bays at Desford and I didn’t leave until 12.30.
I wanted the Desford run from Hounslow but by the time I asked, there was only 1 run to cover
I think I do just about a 100k a night, and on a good night I get 12 hours and on a bad night 14
) that do that.