ramone:
It was a tongue in cheek remark Dennis,ive worked with 2 female drivers and 1 was very good no roping n sheeting though,mind theres plenty blokes who wouldn`t have a clue how to do it.As for coupling up we had a large fleet of trailers 400 + and the damage to the back of the cabs got out of hand, i suggested a simple answer to this drop the trailer legs a couple of inches short of the floor and drop it on the air but our training school manager said no way as it wasnt in his training book so we continued to pay thousands of pounds every year in damages cos no one gave a toss suprise suprise the place was closed down
Hi ramone … Leaving a couple of inches not only saves the cab rears but also takes strain off the legs when reversing under. As you go under at normal road height the weight is taken off the legs so any side movement dosnt strain the legs. Time and again drivers arrive at ours to drop trs and they will insist on lifting the rear end before winding the legs into the floor.Theres been quite a few near misses to cabs and damage to legs. They still insist its the Mafis that are dropping them too high even though they don`t touch the legs.
But it wasnt in his training manual so it couldn`t be good practice,my dad showed me this well before air suspension.The reason behind it was if you dropped a trailer with the legs down to the floor then loaded the trailer heavy you would struggle to wind the legs back up but drop it a couple of inches off the ground and the unit took the weight ,but like i say it wasnt in his manual so it wasnt happening,he learned his trade in the army where there were lots of units and trailers
georgeking:
Lawsons Haulage were the best ropers and sheeters that I have ever seen bar none.
quite right kevmac,the only thing they were good at was making them chickens jump at the same time,at that chicken farm between keswick and cockermouth when they peeped them big scania horns
That’s magic glenny, the idea of all those FOWL caught on the hop and FOULING at the same time conjures
up a great picture. Ps I bet the stink was a bit on the heavy side also. regards kevmac47
Stanfield:
[A shot of our “one and only” lady driver that ran on nights from our Luton base. You kept that quiet Dennis.not heard her mentioned on any of your threads before.
I’m sure I did mention the fact in an earlier thread John,her partner Kenny worked for us on nights as well.Cheers Dennis.
Did she rope n sheet ?
Does she look like she could to you “ramone” ? No? Well don’t ask ------- questions then !!! She was a steady driver but her only failing was she couldn’t reverse square on to couple the trailer up very well, I know, I know, but I can’t explain it any other way !!! I watched them changing trailers at Charnock Richard services one night and another time at a customers premises at Stalybridge and it was a right shambles,it’s a wonder she never had the trailer into the back of the cab !!! Otherwise she was a very careful driver,but the traffic office lads didn’t reckon her as they couldnt accept that a female was fit to do a mans job !! I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have started another female driver but it was a worthwhile excercise IMO. Phew I’m going to hide now !! Cheers Dennis.
It was a tongue in cheek remark Dennis,ive worked with 2 female drivers and 1 was very good no roping n sheeting though,mind theres plenty blokes who wouldn`t have a clue how to do it.As for coupling up we had a large fleet of trailers 400 + and the damage to the back of the cabs got out of hand, i suggested a simple answer to this drop the trailer legs a couple of inches short of the floor and drop it on the air but our training school manager said no way as it wasnt in his training book so we continued to pay thousands of pounds every year in damages cos no one gave a toss suprise suprise the place was closed down
Were you still using the same sign writer Dennis ?he cant spell Bewick in this shot!!!
As the old saying goes David " Tha’s got sharper eyesite than a ■■■■■■■■■ rat!" I thought you would have missed that “glaring” mistake,■■■■ it you didn’t !! Nowt much gets past you mate,does it? Cheers Dennis.
Lawrence Dunbar:
0Dennis how would you rate this sheeting & roping, One to Ten, this was in the fifties era. Regards Larry
Well it looks like a big “spongy” load Larry but I think the sheets could have been a bit tighter,but he may have had to sheet up in the wind. Or on the other hand,is this a “loaded question” Larry and this was your very first solo effort ? In which case it’s back to working with the shunter for another month for you !!! Howay then if I have to mark it how would 5 be ? Do you concur mate ? Cheers Dennis.
Dennis my man, I would say you a about right, but have a close look at the top sheet its looks to me its on double, not an easy task for any driver, wouldnt you agree. It was not my wagon at that time, but I did learn to sheet & rope the proper but hard way, with old drivers that were very set in their ways, & could turn very nasty if I didnt do as they said, Happy Days, Larry.PS, they allways said I was a survivor.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Dennis my man, I would say you a about right, but have a close look at the top sheet its looks to me its on double, not an easy task for any driver, wouldnt you agree. It was not my wagon at that time, but I did learn to sheet & rope the proper but hard way, with old drivers that were very set in their ways, & could turn very nasty if I didnt do as they said, Happy Days, Larry.PS, they allways said I was a survivor.
Aye it does look a bit “suspect” that top sheet Larry but I’m now thinking you know rather more about this load than your letting on mate !!! Cheers Dennis
You kept that quiet Dennis.not heard her mentioned on any of your threads before. 
