How do folks,
Only having my license since end of September I have finally managed to get my hands on driving and Artic at my current place of employment. I intend to do a diary of it if people are interested enough to read my ramblings. The type of work I am doing is delivering plasterboard/cement power/metal to building sites and or individual houses.
The Vehicle : Daf CF(I think) 14 reg.
The Run : Skem, Wigan, Skem (yup)
Start : 0630
Finish : 16:30
Breaks: 1 hr
Day one: 10th Nov 2014
So I knew I was going to be driving the Artic on friday afternoon so had time to panic and not sleep over the weekend. Turned up to work this morning dead on my feet so quick coffee down the throat and pick up my run notes and get ready to rock ‘n’ roll.
pull curtains back ready to be loaded only to be told it isn’t ready yet. BOOOO, so i run my daily checks and check the moffett. Wagon has 1/4 tank, first drop is in Skelmersdale so I know I can drop into BP on the way to drop.
Finally get away at 8:30. Up to Petrol station and then onto first drop at 09:30. Whole plot (down passenger side of trailer) so I dust that off for 11:00.
Get to Wigan, cannot for the life of me find any yellow sign post that match up to the drop I am doing so I hope the postcode I have been given takes me to the place via prat-nav. No it does not. So I end up having to drive all the way round through Up-Holland(i think) and come back into wigan. Give the number of the run sheet and ring. Gives me a new address. Still wrong 
Managed to reverse the wagon up a side street and turn around. See a yellow sign post (hallelujah!) follow follow follow…dead end and a nice gentleman walking his dog decides to tell me that the work here has finished the entrance now is via the industrial estate.
Head to the industrial estate get to the entrance of the its now 12:15. Pull over, speak to the forkie on site who informs me the lads have gone home for the day!! , i double check my papers to make sure its not timed and its not , just says “drop 2”
12:20 I throw my self on break whilst the forkie kindly unloads us. boom boom. back on the road for 13:20 head back to Skem. Get to a house delivery , narrow as sin by the Vauxhall place next to the “Conny” 
for about 13:45. ■■■■■■ around there till 14:30. As the guy wasn’t in so I had to check with my office if I could unload his ONE PALLET into his CCTV protected drive way. They say yes. I drop it. Head back to HQ with intention of picking up my 2nd run to Chester only to be told its gone. Ah well.
Back the yard for 15:15. Told my run for tomorrow isn’t ready so i will be late out again. So I get my straps and organise them so I can strap down quickly in morning.
Quick chat with the lads, get my run for tomorrow. Looks like a good run. off home to relax and fingers crossed for a good nights sleep.
Over the day I found I settled into driving the artic well. Infact I think i drove it better than the rigids (still a lot of the week to go though) But over all i’m happy. with out the ■■■■ up in wigan today I would have been on time but I think I need to hurry up a bit more when using the Moffett but my boss is happy enough to realise that will all come with experience.
Will try and get a photo of the wagon up for the diary.
Day 2
The Run :Ellesmere Port, Shotton, Mostyn, Ruabon, Shropshire (deliveries) and one Collection in Deeside.
Start : 0630
Finish : 17:30ish
Breaks: 45 mins
So the day started off right grand to find out non of my drops had been picked, guys in the warehouse have been run up the wall the past few weeks and its starting to show.
So I wait and finally get out the yard for 08:30. Get through the tunnel and BING!!! Engine Malfunction comes up on the computer screen. ring it in to the boss. I say I will run it to Ellesmere Port and see how it fairs. Get to first drop and can smell burning…only to realise my nose is to close to the exhaust 
Do the drop turn the wagon back on and its cleared…well on I go.
Mostyn was an interesting drop. It is being turned into a Wind Turbine maintenance place. Got to the entrance bang on 11:00 so turned my engine off to do the two mins silence. Ask the Security Guard for two mins. He nods and walks away. 30 Seconds later his mate opens my door “Y’ALRIGHT DRIVE!!” FFS!!
Take my 45 on site after dropping 8 packs of tiles.
35 miles to Ruabon , the places some of these Travis Perkins sites are placed are absolutely ridiculous but I got through. Shropshire drop was the same.
Back to Deeside to collection some Insulation roles of Knauf. Usually I have to ring my office to get a collection number as they forget to put it on the collection sheet. So I ring my office about 5 miles out to get it, told they will call me back 
I get to site, everything is hunky dory loaded, turn ‘n’ burn. As i’m driving out the yard phone rings “got your collection number” haha “too late fella, i’ve got the goods and out the gate”
Get back to the yard only to find an artic in the yard getting unloaded and one out side waiting to get loaded. Ah well…bit of over time wait for them to go, park in the yard. As yard lad if any of the runs are done , his words “no chance mate, sorry”
Looks like it will be a late start again tomorrow but im only in liverpool in morning so its not to bad.
All of my drops went without an issue today, it was more of an issue of distance which was killing time. Found I have an arm rest for what should be my gear arm, well it still is but it just twists a knob to D or R 
Day 3: URRRRRRRRRGH!!!
Local Drops around Liverpool city centre (5 in total, 4 managed)
start: 06:30
Finish 17:20
Same old story this morning, not loaded to head out as , again, the forkies are being pushed to the limit. We had people lining up outside to get into the shop at 7am!! so the lads where trying to do loads and customer service at the same time. Has a knock on effect. Out the yard at 8:30am
Any who, get my run. 2 Drops in Liverpool. Cunard Building then off to Halton Lane (?) over t’road. easy peasy first drop no issues. Got to 2nd drop and encounted the most ■■■■ health and safety guy on the planet ever! Everyone on site hated him. After 2 mins I seriously disliked him. Wanted to know when my Moffett was last checked, If I had my moffett license with me. Did my boots and mid soul protection, was my “Hard Hat” and Hard Hat (we have peak caps which have protection in them) in the end , I told him I have 2 pallets on for the plasterers on site the forkie can do it. The Forkie was sound and whipped them off.
Back to base round corner , call in to get some Diesel - defo put me off having my own wagon the price- into yard. Back to yard for 11:00.
Get 2nd run. Going back to dreaded 2nd drop on my first run. Still not picked 
Decide to take my break so I open up the curtains and let the lads know to just throw the stuff on and I will strap it down after my break.
11:30 - 12:16 - Break over. Strap loaded down and i’m back at the drop by 12:30. This time taking with me my moffett yearly check thingy. Meet up with Mr Health and Safety. Run through the process of him photocopying my cert and check to “add to his folder”. Spend 90 mins getting the stuff off. Proper tight as a scotsmans wallet this drop. Even had the site manager come and speak to me ask me how I found it. Told him to close the road in future 
Back to yard for 14:15. Spend another hour 45 waiting for next load. leave yard for run 3 at 16:00. Get to 4th drop of the day. Manage to get it off in an hour (■■■■■■■ of a drop) ring the 5th drop to let him know I am round the corner from him to be told he doesnt want it. Sound , back to the yard for 17:20.
Tacho on rest, tacho out, diary written in and tacho disc holder thingy filled in. Home time.
Hate days like this. Plus doing it in the artic was not fun. Still enjoying driving the Artic though. Had to navigate some tight bends, park in some “restricted areas” but all in all I would happily drive it full time should the option come up.
I believe I am off to Macclesfield tomorrow morning.
