Bewick:
richmond:
I remember loading out of convoys of deptford, are they still going, loading reels of paper on flats and sheeting it, i dont reckon they would let you do that anymore!, i still run flats and remember loading cans and cardboard tubes on flats , dont reckon ya would do that any more, but back then we all did,and didnt have any problems with it,.We used to and still do, load for djv, now at tilbury but back then behind the cafe at rainham, mick they man i dealt with 22 yrs ago, is still the main man there.
Hiya “richmond”,to-days drivers couldn’t sheet and rope a flat! there’d be reels lying in the road at every roundabout!!Bewick.
Now now Dennis,
There’s still some of us out there earning a crust that could still rope and sheet a 40 footer if we had to, don’t tar us all with the same brush ! 
yeah thats true, give the young uns a chance, i got a young 38 yr old loading a flat with steel tomorrow in felixstowe with steel tubes to go to droitwich.Just after he has been inducted onto the site, trained to use the harness, geared himself up with the ppe, and made sure he is wearing his goggles and chin strap…!So thats 2 hrs before he even gets started gone !
Trev_H:
Bewick:
richmond:
I remember loading out of convoys of deptford, are they still going, loading reels of paper on flats and sheeting it, i dont reckon they would let you do that anymore!, i still run flats and remember loading cans and cardboard tubes on flats , dont reckon ya would do that any more, but back then we all did,and didnt have any problems with it,.We used to and still do, load for djv, now at tilbury but back then behind the cafe at rainham, mick they man i dealt with 22 yrs ago, is still the main man there.
Hiya “richmond”,to-days drivers couldn’t sheet and rope a flat! there’d be reels lying in the road at every roundabout!!Bewick.
Now now Dennis,
There’s still some of us out there earning a crust that could still rope and sheet a 40 footer if we had to, don’t tar us all with the same brush !
Trev,there is no way I was referring to you as a “todays” driver!!! I know that there is little or no need to have those skills nowadays and ,of course, the 'elf and safety brigade would put an immediate stop to the return to the type of transport we grew up with in any case!! But never-the-less it would be hilarious to see some of to-days “star men” have ago at sheeting and roping and “H” and me come out of the WMC and onto the car park to judge the “efforts”!!! especially if “H” had had a dram or 2 or 3 and he told it like it was with me as “second opinion”-----"quite right there “H” I agree it’s a (zb) mess and want’s doing again!! Possy would have the “nuts” off me if I made a mess like that when I was his trailer mate!!! Cheers Dennis.
How about stripping down a tilt in the dark,on your own,in the heat of the summer,or in cold weather,the sheet weighed a ton,to pull it back,a lot of drivers have fallen off,and broken their pelvis,or legs.
I lost a lot of weight,it kept you fit too.
Used to load paper out of Convoys in the eighties,I remember some days when you pulled in there might be 20 plus trucks in front of you and they used to kick you out of the shed as soon as you were loaded even when it was raining. I would load for the Sheffield Star quite regulary what a tip that was,take your sheets of in a side street and then a bloke with a whistle and a stick would come along and fold your mirrors in and tell you to follow his instructions as you reversed down an alley that had a dog leg. Anyone ever do the same drop?
Sometimes i could ask the foreman if they could pull back the roof sheet with their crane,the crane was inside a depot,and would winch heavy loads like an over head winch.
One time,i had access to crane,but the loader clocked off,and left me to it in the dark,so had to pull the sheet alone,takes ages.