Chat & Social > The Bar - General Chat

My first ever trucking job on my own. how did it go?

<< < (5/7) > >>

frosty:
  Ive found the best way to keep track of drivers hours is to write em down! using a stop watch is ok but if you forget to start/stop it throws you out completely whereas if you put say 0600-0645 then for your next stint you put 0652- but forget to put your finish time for that leg down until your out of the yard you can guestimate your times and you wont be far out and youve got at least a partial record!

 its difficult to find a good agency..i found manpower was staffed by office bodies who were general recruiters and had no idea about hgv specifics whereas driver hire had ex drivers or ex forces personnel in the office who would help out as much as they could (they even brought me a flask of coffee and a pastie out when i had a hiab lorry sat up to its belly on a site until 2 in the morning!) starting on an agency is a steep learning curve, they often dont have the time to train drivers, your expected to be very capable and adaptable...stick with it though and youl get there

  

stretchy:

talk about being dumped into the deep end. mate just look at the big picture you are just a guy out there trying to make a living witch is more than some! dont let thease people get to you.. youve had a bad day some breads gone over big deal.. at the end of the day this seems like the company beeing stingey. they should have let a guy who knew the route go with you a few times and invested in some proper straps maybe printed of a few maps circling the place. it is not your job to provide anything for the company unless they will reburse you the cash.
been in a similar situation myself.  do not let the company take the [throw it] out of you but if you like it just try and talk it out how they can make it easyer and more efective for you.
get back in there, even if its just until you fined something better

stretchy

gtomo2:
Dont worry about WTD to much it just a avarage over normally 18 weeks to make sure to only "Work" for 48 hours so its only drive time and work thats included Not rest or poa.
If you use a digi tacho then forget the stop watch it will be wrong as digi tachos work i there own time. Just use the menu on the digi tacho to see your drive time and work time.
I normally write down my times like when i start work and times i start driving and end driving etc. Just k
get yourself a note book to write it all in so you know were you are up to.
And a good aa truckers atles can set you back about £25 but its cheaper then the £60 the police can charge you. Most truck stops and motorway services sell them.
My sat nav is set for mid way on shortest/fastres way and set high on motorway and major road and low on minor roads plus dirt track is ticked off (have found one error with that as most ind est roads are classed as dirt or unclassed roads so it wont bring them up).
if it a new to me drop then i use my truckers atles to get me close then use the sat nav to bring me in checking the route it says with the atles.
And as said before  just ask a driver they will help you out.
Bit of advise i was given years ago is very simple: If in doubt Dont. Its works great for me.
But most of all stick with it you will get better and in a few years will be laughing about your first day truckin.

lurch_917:
james just stick with it  from what you said you tried running before you could walk never a good idea . or are you one of these new wave drivers you know the sort that see us just pointing it in a direction and it gets there . thinking i can do that . dont get me wrong if your a real driver you wont let this beat you , if not have fun behind your desk

DiscoDan:
Isn't it a legal requirement that the haulage company provides you with a bridge height warning system, and as these are so expensive the allowable alternative is the AA Truckers atlas. We get issued with these as a new driver with the company.

Don't give up, bad days always come along, all the problems you mention are common. Try everything the agency offers you, it will all count in your experience later in your driving life. Turn up early so you aren't rushed leaving the depot. Take time to sort your stuff, check the truck and load. Get defects fixed before you leave, and ensure the load is secure. You don't have to provide anything, it's the employers responsibility to provide spare bulbs, up to date tax disk, load restraint straps, etc etc. Don't be afraid to go back into the office, ask for what you need.

Try the mobile web for Google maps when finding places. Stop and ask, even if you block the road while doing so, be assertive, this can be better than getting stuck down a street you can't get out of.

Basic rule I was once told... 'don't go into somewhere you don't know you can get out of again.' If necessary park and walk it first.  I did this only recently with a residential street in Manchester, when asked why I was late I explained my caution, transport manager didn't have a leg to stand on.

Good luck.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page