Bewick:
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.
She wasn’t the only one that couldn’t back square on to a trailer Dennis,plenty of blokes couldn’t do it either and missing t’pin was a regular occurence.I used to watch 'em coupling up at an angle and asked if they could lie straight in bed.Tossers.
Mebe a bit unfair I was there Chris but we had a decent set of lads and they hardly ever got in lumber because we never got much damage at all !! But this lass had your “heart in your mouth” just watching,I kid you not mate !! Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
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.
She wasn’t the only one that couldn’t back square on to a trailer Dennis,plenty of blokes couldn’t do it either and missing t’pin was a regular occurence.I used to watch 'em coupling up at an angle and asked if they could lie straight in bed.Tossers.
Mebe a bit unfair I was there Chris but we had a decent set of lads and they hardly ever got in lumber because we never got much damage at all !! But this lass had your “heart in your mouth” just watching,I kid you not mate !! Cheers Dennis.
Dennis, If she did no damage or had no claims why bring the subject of her competence up?
It’s not relevant and she may be reading this thread. Be fair I know lots of blokes who still
can’t do the job properly after forty years. regards kevmac47.
Well I remember a lady driver in the 50s used to eat at the Coatsgate Cafe Beattock she drove an 8 wheeeler Mammoth AEC. Well respected with all the male drivers, I saw her sheeted loads sometimes & there was nothing out of place, in fact ive seen some ships in sail sheeted loads done by blokes, The good old days, Regards Larry
My aunty Mavis used to drive queen mary artics in WW11 and she was only 5 foot tall and her daughter drove an ERF for calor out of Kings Lynn in the late 70s early 80s for a few years
cheers Johnnie
Lawrence Dunbar:
Well I remember a lady driver in the 50s used to eat at the Coatsgate Cafe Beattock she drove an 8 wheeeler Mammoth AEC. Well respected with all the male drivers, I saw her sheeted loads sometimes & there was nothing out of place, in fact ive seen some ships in sail sheeted loads done by blokes, The good old days, Regards Larry
Well Larry,you wouldn’t have been able to hold the door open for her at the Coatsgate with it being a revolving door eh?
And anybody driving an AEC Mammoth Major can’t be bad…
Arh, I forgot to mention she had a cab mate too, A bloody big Alsatian, but it made no differance she was treated with respect, as she well deserved, every body liked her, she was good crack to say the least, Regards Larry
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
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.
Bewick:
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.
She wasn’t the only one that couldn’t back square on to a trailer Dennis,plenty of blokes couldn’t do it either and missing t’pin was a regular occurence.I used to watch 'em coupling up at an angle and asked if they could lie straight in bed.Tossers.
Mebe a bit unfair I was there Chris but we had a decent set of lads and they hardly ever got in lumber because we never got much damage at all !! But this lass had your “heart in your mouth” just watching,I kid you not mate !! Cheers Dennis.
Dennis, If she did no damage or had no claims why bring the subject of her competence up?
It’s not relevant and she may be reading this thread. Be fair I know lots of blokes who still
can’t do the job properly after forty years. regards kevmac47.
Don’t get me wrong Kev,it was my decision to give her a start and as I’ve said she was a canny driver and I stuck by my decision,against the tide of resistance from the traffic office ! But it made me cringe watching trailer changing !! But she was a decent lass when all said and done so I still stick by my decision after all these years and I’m sure she would not have anything negative to say about her time at Bewick Transport,least I hope not !! Cheers Dennis.
georgeking:
Lawsons Haulage were the best ropers and sheeters that I have ever seen bar none.
Am I wrong in thinking you don’t rope and sheet railway lines?
Down below the parapet tin hat in place regards kevmac47.
This is a load of Workington rail circa 1976 long before Lawsons would have been involved.I can only imagine that the requirements for hauling Rail were altered after our time so lets face it,even “fast eddies” brain surgeons could sheet and rope a load of Rail !! 1 ft high,8 ft wide and 40ft to 60 ft long !! Give me a break !! Bewick.
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
Here’s one of the DAF 2300 I used to drive for Thompson’s of Slough having a break on the top of Birdlip, I used to like the challenge of roping and sheeting every size and shape load neatly.
Bewick:
Another shot of the “one and only” Estelle behind the wheel ready for the return trip to Luton !
I’ll bet Harry wouldn’t complain about a scania 80 if that matress came as standard.
Oops I’ll be in trouble with thesexual harassment brigade now. regards kevmac47
You kept that quiet Dennis.not heard her mentioned on any of your threads before. 
