Top post mate and as per the other comments well done for sticking at it. Since moving to Qld (whilst there are tight hard to manouvre places any where in the world) generaly there is so much more room here for trucks…but then we need it with probobly 7 out of 10 trucks being bonneted K’ W, Macks, F, Liners ect.
Your farm manouvres made me chuckle…not at your expense my freind but because it reminded me delivering scap, ect to foundrys espeacialy around the Blackcountry little sweeping cobblestone tracks made for horse & cart in 1700’s and i was driving a White RC2 not the best steering lock, vision ect.
One in particular stands out as the forman would seem to find different tracks the more you went there so stupid you wouldn’t send the average car driver in to Anyway i / we always managed to get in there and get tipped back in flash and wave the delivery dockets at him “sign here please mate”…his reply would be you’ve never tipped that already and proceed to walk all the way down the lane (dont mind wasting our time…we have all day you know) to check and then shack his head sign dockets and walk off muttering to himself.
One day i was closing the tailgate and a worker from the foundry said " he aint got you yet then" when i asked what he meant i was told this prat used to love to stuff truckies up love to send them places they couldn’t get out of and he had told the lads at the factory i’ve gotta stuff this one in the yank truck up espeacialy as he had heard they wasn’t as manoeuvrable as the european gear…obviously a true gem to society…dont we need more like him
He wasn’t the only either there was another one like that in Bingley Y’Shire and another near Telford ect so just be prepared in case you come across any of these dipsticks at your farms…you will pick them…just maybe not first time so just do your own thing in your own time and good luck…great story.
The stupid thing is when all us drivers would meet up back at the yard we would have a laugh because they was told “you cant back in like the bloke in the white” and then i would be told you cant do it like the last bloke in the Daf LOL what dipsticks…must not be getting enough action must be there only excitment for the day
well done c_kay you’ve stuck to it.its s…t when you keep having little knocks. but theres people out there who have been driving 10 years and only go forwards on tarmac for hours and hours and never had a scrape.belive me if they come across some farmyards they would jack it in on the spot.I’ve done brewers grains. hay.sugar beet pulp and straw to farms and its a night mare.I’ve reversed blind side
round a barn passed a broken down tractor to get in a barn with straw I 've then gone back a year later and the f…n tractor is still in the same spot and if you knock it theres a insurance claim.well done pal you’ll move on in time to a better job BUT the perhaps you’ll be board.
John
This became a regular thing throughout the snowfall, but i somehow got through it without going off the road, crashing into anything or doing any damage at all
For a bloke with under a years artic driving experience, going into the places you do, in those weather conditions, & with an always moving load, thats is one hell of an achievement!!
So many would have given up and thrown in the towel.
I hope you really enjoy the summer, now you’ve got the measure of the job & of reversing, it will be a like a walk in the park.
Nice diary. A must read for all newbies, and plenty of not-so-newbies. As mentioned elsewhere, we’ve all had our horror stories at the beginning of our driving experiences, and, some stick with it and some don’t. Like you, I’m glad I stuck with it. The snow over the last winter was a real challenge for a lot of us, and like you I’m glad I got through it relatively unscathed!
well done C-Kay, farms arn’t everyone cup of tea & just like feed delivery , it’s a love it or hate it type of thing , it might be the same farms every other day but there’s always going to be something different happening throughout the year .
i dare say the back window has helped with the blind side reversing , without it farms are a blindside nightmare
chadwell heath ? surely someone’s tried to burn it down by now …there & hatfield come back express at ruislip & sheffield park all is forgiven
i seem to want to break out into song …
hawun hatoo hawun 2 3…
ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Where did you get that hat
Where did you get that tile
Isn’t it a nobby one
And just the proper style
I should like to have one
Just the same as that
Wherever I go they’d shout “Hello”
Where did you get that hat
The back windows have helped a great deal, but i dont always have one, which makes the job more challenging and proves to myself that i can do the job without one
For all the bad times i’ve had, the fun and love for the job i have far outweighs them. Here’s to another 30 years or so
Excellent write up C-Kay. I am going to be starting my class one training in the not too distant future and i cant wait. Its what i have always wanted to do so you could say i am living the dream.
nice read mate, good for sticking with it, i miss the farms sometimes in the summer, although you are pushed to find anywhere tighter to get in and out, and like they say if you can do that you can do any driving job
Quality write up fella, reminds me of my 1st year in my job, I started as bulk tipper driver last September, so i still have that oh ■■■■ feeling when i see a new farm lol, your story is so very close to my own, I knew i was on a steep learning curve, and like you at times i just wanted to jack it in, but pride and ignorance made me carry on. I also know i still have loads to learn, and like you, i now understand, that at times i just have to take my time, look around, and relax
I too love my job, and it too has its own rewards.
I’ll post a few of my own pictures soon, on my own thread of course
Magnificent post. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. You really seem to have a job you like and big thumbs up for sticking in it despite the very steep learning curve.
It’s nice to do first some proper work so you can then appreciate holiday-like feeling you sometimes get in some other type of work
C-Kay:
Carryfast:
If I’d have been the guvnor you’d have been driving an A frame wagon and drag
I want a go with an A frame one day, from what I’ve been told, they are fun
Yes, they are fun. They go around unbelievable tight corners without second thought and you can also impress people with your reversing skills Go for it
FANTASTIC READ BUDDY.
I do hope my reversing gets better - not hit anything yet Touch wood but I feel such a plonker.
I watch Ice Road Truckers, Eddie Stobart and of course Convoy for tips - Why on earth don’t driving schools teach you proper reversing rather than in a stupid little box over the other side !
Honestly mate, it WILL ge easier. I had days where i just wanted to cry because i couldn’t get into places
Once you learn how the trailers react and you get over the nerves and learn to laugh off any mistakes you make, it will just come naturally.
I’ve argued about the reverse training on here many times, from what instructors say, it’s a cost thing and would involve an extra days training or more, pushing up prices of the course
Anyway i / we always managed to get in there and get tipped back in flash and wave the delivery dockets at him “sign here please mate”…his reply would be you’ve never tipped that already and proceed to walk all the way down the lane (dont mind wasting our time…we have all day you know) to check and then shack his head sign dockets and walk off muttering to himself.
must be there only excitment for the day 
come back express at ruislip & sheffield park all is forgiven 
