EastAnglianTrucker:
Well I guess the simple answer to this problem is if you don’t like the heat, get out of the truck!This thread is a classic truck drivers ‘whinge n’ whine" jobby. Some hate the conditions they work in and others think that’s the way it is, so get on with it.
It’s not older drivers that have simply accepted bad conditions, it’s a market forces fact of life. If you don’t like sitting in a truck, sweating because RDC’s have for whatever reason decided to take your truck keys, you’ve basically got three choices. In the foreseeable future, there will always be someone who’s happy to do your job if you don’t like doing it!
In the meantime here are your options:
- Accept the status quo. (And by definition continue to complain about it…)
Why dont these RDC’s just make you sit on the naughty step, taking your keys off you, I’m amazed.
Find another job. (And find something else that doesn’t suit your perception of self.)
Take your employer/RDC owner to court and attempt to change your working conditions. (Good luck with that…)
sammy:
Is it such a big ask that if these RDCs are going to keep you for as long as they want that they provide the very basic facilities?
Be careful what you wish for matey. One of these days they will say “her’s a little room with a rancid overpriced coffee machine, flooded toilet and the chance to play musical chairs on the 8 metal frames, every time one of the 38 other drivers get the reg called out” … oh wait…
Close your curtains and open your door…
Hello Everyone, my first post.
I youst to keep an old set of keys and hand them in to the desk jockey, that way i could still turn the ignition on for my aux outs. When the red light was on, the wagon did not move, simple!
They should make you take red line off so you can keep your keys
There has been posts on here of drivers handing in there car keys then having to drive back 50 miles when they remember. 
get a chair out.
open wine.
drink wine.
still on bay.
more wine.
here you go drive your keys and cmr. sorry pall can’t drive, far too ■■■■■■■ see you in the morning.
I’m sorry but this is just a good old moan isn’t it. For Christ’s sake it’s March, it’s not even hot out there. Pleasantly warm but not hot. But if you want to compare yourself to a dying dog feel free.
switchlogic:
I’m sorry but this is just a good old moan isn’t it. For Christ’s sake it’s March, it’s not even hot out there. Pleasantly warm but not hot. But if you want to compare yourself to a dying dog feel free.
Yes I’m having a moan. So what? Not having a go at the weather, I love it! I’m having a go at the way these big multi-nationals who make billions every year are treating outside drivers because WE let them away with it when it started and now it’s the norm. I was roasting today sitting on a bay for almost 4 hours maybe you have a better tolerance for heat than I do and maybe it was only 20 degrees but do you think if it was 30 or 40 they would give a flying ■■■■?
I agree that it’s ■■■■■■’ annoying to be honest and I’ve caused a right stink about it in the past.
I usually hand in car keys or similar and pull trailer brake so I don’t accidently forget the car keys when I leave - my memory IS that bad.
I was on boxes, and some jobs could take 6hrs or more, and they’d take your keys, meaning you couldn’t secure your truck if you went the loo, for food etc, our company told me that the insurance pretty much said this was a no no. Also, the company I worked for and the companies I was delivering to both said they wouldn’t cover anything stolen from truck…
It really does need to stop.
I remember going to 1 place, rules were, hi vis, hard hat, goggles, gloves and steelies, get out of truck, trailer brake on, red air line off, suzi lock thing on trailer, trailer wheels chocked, and keys handed in… OTT anyone? 
I usualy take the pet cat for a wonder around the block while waiting at the RDC,get some funny looks with the diamond crusted collar,then back to the cab for some sniffing.
Unbelievable…
It’s MARCH. We live in Britain, next week it will be snowing, something else to moan about.
Here’s a thought…
Take small chair with you and sit outside, take brolly as well if you want.
Or
Work nights
They were just thinking of the children Wayne
was at thrapstson one morning a couple of years ago in the blazing sun and after 2 hours the creature on the desk told me that my load was going to be tipped at 12 due to some arcane ritual and told me to go back to my wagon . 15 mins later she came back to the counter i was leaning on to ask ‘‘why have you not returned to your lorry is there a problem’’ i calmly replied that it was over 30 c and i was staying in their nice air-conditioned office till after 12 and the special small package unloading team had been unleashed and the 4 pallets had been tipped ( D+D ) nipped out for a smoke and when i resumed my stance with both elbows on the counter she came back from the warehouse and slammed my keys and gate pass down and told me ‘’ you leave now ‘’
result
Work nights
Amen brother.
I spent the entire winter cursing the night shifts very existence having long forgotten what is great about it.
Today I got up at 12pm after a 6am finish, and have spent the entire day dossing about in the sunshine, and don’t have to go back until 7pm. Today, life is good. Roll on another 7 months of this.
I’m surprised someone is having a moan so soon (even for a lorry driver), its only been a few days of sunshine, usually takes a week or so before someone moans that it’s too hot. 
Oh, and get your boss to get you a MAN TGX, they have switches that work the windows without the keys, and the aux sockets don’t need ignition either. They aren’t perfect trucks, but that is a pretty good idea.
RDC’s in the summer… get yourself a camping chair, a floppy hat, and a good book, and go and sit somewhere out of the way. Worried about looking like an idiot? You’re already driving a lorry. Worried about being taken the ■■■■ out of? These people are invariably working, and you are sat in the sunshine.
If you have to be stuck in an RDC might as well make the most of it. It beats war stories in the waiting room. Or even Topgun Mo.
I was waiting 2 hours for a bay at an RDC yesterday. I went and asked the goods in clerk if they had a storage tank to put my load in, I then pointed out that it was nearly 30c in my curtainsider with no air movement, and i had 34 pallets of easter eggs for them…guess who was on the next free bay!
Never done RDCs so a question…
Why don’t they insist on setting trailer brake, dropping trailer, detaching all lines & parking the unit 5-6 feet forward??
The trailer can’t move & the driver is happy… seems simple to me 
Why dont you just wind the legs down and pull from underneath it by a couple of feet then theres no reason why you cant have them
Get on european work.
H&S is catching on out there but nothing like the bollox you put up with in uk
I personally would give up driving before i done full time uk rdc work its oppressing it really is,
i hate the places.
OVLOV JAY:
Be careful what you wish for matey. One of these days they will say “her’s a little room with a rancid overpriced coffee machine, flooded toilet and the chance to play musical chairs on the 8 metal frames, every time one of the 38 other drivers get the reg called out” … oh wait…
So you’ve been to Morrisons chilled at Wakefield as well?
Ken.