13th - 17th October 2008

Things have gone very quiet of late, not really anything great worth blogging about as we've had all three of us scratching about for work. In truth the work that has been there could be done by 2 drivers. This is a worrying prospect for a last one in driver with not quite 2 years service against a 25 year and a 32 year's service.

Then one day I had a bright idea, we occasionally get some transport for Hewdens at Dagenham who seem unable to keep a regular driver. We never work direct but through another transport company who give us the scraps. I did loads for them last year, and the other drivers have done some bits this year. It was a conversation with one of my colleagues who'd done a day for them a couple of week ago that gave me the idea, I suggested that Danbury hire me out as a supplied driver until they found someone full time. This suggestion does carry the danger of proving that they can do without me, but I felt it was only a matter of time anyway. However the important fact is that I can bring in some revenue to cover the expense of paying me.

So I found myself last week being inducted into Hewdens and now having to try and adapt my way of doing things into something that's similar to their way of doing things. When it was my wagon it was my rules, their wagon their rules now.

Monday
I leave home at 0630 at rattle off in my newly acquired van (acquired from the surplus at the yard) and it's a half hour run down to Dagenham to Hewdens yard. I'd loaded up on Friday and have got a 2t dumper at the front and a 7mt Telehandler behind. These pair are going to a sports ground in Chingford.



It's a bit tight to get to, and impossible to get into so I have to park about 300 yards away and drive the machines down the road to the ground.



It's back to the yard now to reload, I've got another 7mt Telehandler and a 1.5t mini to sit on the tail. It's all familiar stuff, another Scania 6 wheeler, Andover body etc. but there are some differences to get used to. Mostly that's the 4 over 4 gearbox - not a huge problem as our other 6 has got one but the 260 engine seems a bit lacklustre after running a 420.

I'm off through the Blackwall Tunnel and heading for the Old Kent Road although I must have forgotten to pass go and collect £200. It's a retail park and I find myself behind Argos to drop off the mini.

My next job is the CAT TH330, that's only going to Rotherhithe which is about 5 minutes away, it's a machine swapover and I'm collecting a JCB 540-170 which is a 17m lift. That's the biggest lift machine available although it's smaller physically than the CAT equivalent which weighs a whopping 15t.




On my way back whilst having a brew (the kettle has been moved with me) at Blackheath Common I figure that it might be a good idea to check the height as I need to come back through the 13'4" Northbound Blackwall Tunnel. I'm just under 13' so I'm OK to use it, I'm not thrilled about it though as it's a horrible journey through with the corners in the tunnel. You have to keep in lane 1 as there are height restrictors in lane 2, they disappear at the bends to allow you to cross into the other lane but you have to watch out for stray car drivers.

Back at the yard, the JCB comes off and I head out empty after finishing off my break. I'm going in the City proper this time, and I make amazing progress and arrive at Fenchurch Street (another Monopoly one) in half an hour which is incredible. I've got a 5mt Telehandler here and it's in a building that's being constructed. It's a bit of a job to thread it out but eventually I get it out no thanks to the boss eyed bloke who was trying to help me.

On the way in through Wapping the outbound traffic was heavy because of roadworks so I decided to head out through Whitechapel (that's the brown squares done) and it takes an hour to get back. I leave the yard at 1630 having done the grand total of 150km today

15th - 19th September 2008

Monday.
0645 Start. A bit of a catch up this morning with my mate who was off last week and off out about 0715 to Leaden Roding. We've a machine and driver on a bridleway maintenance contract and we also get to move the rest of the plant. Sometimes it's three trips other time only two. Today I'm in luck and their are only 2 dumpers plus our Yanmar 75 to move. First on is one of the dumpers and the machine and I follow the grab lorry across to Henham about 1 mile away from where they were last.



We took a different route to the two I used before and still it ends up being about 35 minutes give or take a minute. The machines are at the end of a long track and it's a long bumpy reverse to get there from the farmyard. Once I'done it's back to Leaden Roding to collect the other dumper and back via a 4th route which is also a 35 minute journey.



This time I unload in the yard and drive the dumper down the lane, this is easier if a lot less comfortable.

BAck to the yard and home at 1545.

Tuesday.
0645 Start. This morning looks a bleak for work, both of us on the 6 wheelers have got one job each for today. Mine is collecting a Hyundai 55 from Tolleshunt Knights near Tiptree for a groundworker.



It's just the machine with one bucket, nice and simple and before long I'm off on my way with it to Broomfield Hospital. By the time I get to Boreham Interchange they are on the phone chasing it, 20 minutes later when I get it there they have decided that actually they can manage without and could I take it back. At least I hadn't unstrapped it. So it's back to the farm and park it back where it came from.



There may or may not be a dumper to move for them later but the keys are not with it at the moment so I make my way back to the yard. Whilst at the yard I notice one of my tag axle tyres needs replacing and I find a usuable tyre in our container. I've got another job to go to so I call at the tyre shop enroute and get them switched over. I'm off to Gillingham in Kent, where I'm loading another Kermit green Hyundai 55 with just one bucket. This always happens with these machines, I don't see one for weeks on end and all of a sudden there's loads of them. I was expecting a dumper with this but on my way down I passed our lowloader with their 13 tonner and was pleasantly surprised to see it on the trailer.

My journey back to Essex is thankfully clear, and I take the machine back to their yard in Cressing. That's proper handy as the dumper is now available at neighbouring Silver End. It's about 5 minutes away and the guy arrives with the key as I am backing in.



It's quickly loaded and whisked off to Tiptree. Back to the yard for a 1715 finish.

Wednesday.
Yard bound today, nothing really to note.

Thursday.
0715 Start. Yeserday I decided that replacing some of the timber boards on the ramps would be a good use of time, the timber has worn to such an extent that it is lower than the metal and now provides very little grip. We'd run out of the screws to fix the floor and a trip to the local body builder has turned up screws that were not man enough for the job. Some got ordered from Andover Trailers any were due today but until they arrived I'd have to manage without.

There was another problem this morning, a large diesel stain underneath the tank seemed to suggest a fuel leak. However it soon became apparent that the yard had been turned over and fuel had been stolen from all three wagons. We estimate that we had 500+ litres of diesel taken, which must have been pumped into 5 gallon cans and hefted over the gate.

Although the ramps were stripped down they still have the steel ladder rungs and it's still usuable and before long I'm sent off to Purfleet to collect one of our 3CX's from a tarmac plant there. It's taken back to the yard and I'm straight back out to get a 5t machine from round the corner. I'm still not done yet though as there is another 5 tonner near Writtle to collect.



You can see the missing boards (or rather can't) on the ramps in this picture.

Back at the yard, the screws have arrived and once the machine has been offloaded we drag out the hardwood flooring that I'd cut yesterday and screw down into place. It's a bit of a rush as I've got another job to go to, a couple of machines at Sible Hedingham (where I top up with 365l of fuel) there's a 5t JCB and a JCB Robot (Bobcat skidsteer) these are down a very narrow lane and have to be secured whilst standing on the vehicle rather than alongside. Time is pressing and it's off to Heybridge to unload. Finished at the yard 1645.

Friday.
0645 Start. First job this morning is a run over to Tiptree for the 1st of two loads. There's various bits and bobs to load and it's really a Hiab job but he's busy and we're going to improvise. There are 3x 1200mm concrete Milton rings and a 'biscuit' to load, these are loaded with the 5 tonner on site and are due to go back to the groundworkers yard along with a skiploader where I will unload myself with their forklift. Well that's the plan anyway but it's got two problems, firstly to unload by forklift they need to sit on pallets, pallets are not big enough and are likely to collapse. The other problem is that they couldn't get the forklift going earlier and there would be a chance I'd have to jump start it. So i revert to my plan which is load everything on board together.

First on is the rings which sit up front by the headboard, it's making my slightly wide but I've got a permit (OK it's supposed to be for indivisable loads, but hey)
Next on is a 2t Komatsu, this has to be loaded so it is just right on the edge so I can squeeze a skiploader alongside. Finally the Hyundai 55 has a place on the back with the buckets squashed in the middle. Sometimes I surprise myself, and I'll class this as a good load. It's taken a while to sort out but it will save returning and therefore the time on the road. I'm off to Felsted with this lot to unload at their yard.







First job is to unload the 5 tonner off the back and drop the buckets.









When I Say it was tight, I meant it!


Not much room for error.


Next off is the skiploader which is carrying the buckets for the little machine and is staying here anyway.




The 2 tonner is shunted to the back, the ramps folded up and the truck moved so I can reach across with the 5 tonner and lift the rings off with the chains and pins they have loaned me.






Once the rings are sorted, the buckets are reunited with the little machine and the bigger one is reloaded on the back. I'm off to Rettendon now and it's a simple matter of tracking the machines off when I arrive.



Back at the yard I'm reloaded with a 3CX which is off to Purfleet to the same place I collected it at yesterday. I'm back about 1500 and there's a couple of machines to load up for Monday before heading home at 1615.

8th - 12th September 2008

I've had a few boring weeks lately, very mundane and a couple of short weeks/ long weekends so not much worth noting. This week is looking more varied so here goes again.

Monday.
0645 Start. I'm ready loaded today, Friday's last job was to load this lot dowm at Colchester, I'm working for another plant hire firm today covering for their driver who is on holiday. Off to Billericay where the whole lot is offloaded at an electricity substation.





There's just one of our machines to move today, and I'm able to slot that one in. Back to the yard to load our old Kobelco 60 and off to Takeley to drop it off.

It's only a short detour and I'm soon back on track at Braintree loading a 3t swivel skip dumper, this is joined by a 4.5t Yanmar which is collected a couple of miles away.



With standing room only I make my way back to Colchester to unload at Target Plant, it's right at the top of Colchester and only round the corner from the next collection at Ardleigh. It's down a little lane and a tight reverse into the property.



Once in I've got a 3t dumper and a Yanmar 75 to load, although it takes a little while to round up the buckets and load them with a breaker into the dumper.



I'm still back at Target in just over half an hour and off on my way back to Danbury.
Finished at 1545 after shipping my gear into our other 6 wheeler.

Tuesday.
0645 Start. A slight change of scene today, squashed up in a day cab for the sake of one tin box. On hire to Target again today so it's across to Colchester to load a 3t Volvo. The Volvo is going to Takeley to the same customer and site that I delivered one of ours to yesterday. They look a bit puzzled when I arrive with it but before long it's offloaded and replaced with a 5t Kubota.





I'm now backtracking to Braintree to drop the 5 tonner at a site where we have got an 8 tonner of ours. There really is no logic to this sometimes.

Once I'm clear it's off to Watford hospital to load a container, I pull in the entrance and decide to call my site contact rather than chase around looking for it.



I'm sat like a lemon in the entrance way for at least half an hour getting grief from the parking Hitlers before they come and fetch me, it's a bit of a squeeze to get to but I can at least get alongside. I'm not hopeful about this, it looks like it's about to lash down with rain. Obviously the sun was looking over it's shoulder at me today (as it certainly wasn't shining on me) and I had it hooked up and loaded in less than 10 minutes. It went like clockwork and I strapped it down before making my way out of the back entrance. I ended up following my nose for a route out in the abscence of helpful signs and ended up getting to the M25 via Rickmansworth.

I stop at South Mimms for an uncomfortable 45 and head back, I'm due to take the box to Felixstowe but if I do that I'll be looking at finishing about 6pm or later. A quick phone call confirms it can go tomorrow and I return to the yard and leave for home at 1545.

Wednesday.
0645 Start. Back with the box again, off to Felixstowe to drop it at DHL. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I wasn't surprised to find myself like a fish out of water in a busy container yard. I thought they might get narky and play the H&S card when I said I'd need to get on the roof to drop the chains off, but they were quite happy for me to do so, which makes a refreshing change.



Before long it's my turn for the mechanical monster, and with that I'm done and off back to the yard to swap back to my motor.



My next job is loading in Pimlico, today was the worst run I've had there as the traffic was heavy an slow going even mid morning. I've got a 3t dumper and an 8t machine to load. It takes some sorting out and a bit of jiggling to get it loaded, this is the biggest 8t machine we've got and the first time I've moved it on my wagon. Eventually I'm done and enjoy a better run out of London.



Back to the yard to get rid of the ZX80 and then off near Maldon to offload the dumper. Back to the yard and switch cabs ready for tomorrow. Finished 1645.

Thursday.
0645 Start. Back with the crane today, first call over at Watford. I'm bang on time at 0800 but there's a pair of tippers to go in and a wag & drag full of blocks. Now to my mind it'd make more sense to let me in to clear some space before offloading the blocks, but the blocks get offloaded alongside the wagon and takes us some of the limited space. Finally at 0900 I've get into the site, as I'm loading a 10' container I've got to try and get past the blocks. It's a bit of a squeeze and I amlost get stuck but a bit of difflock solves all that. There's a 3t Volvo to squeeze on the back and I'm ready to go.



I've a bit of a run now up past Braintree to unload at their yard. First off is the Volvo, with that out of the way I can get the crane out and hook up the box.





And slot it alongside some others.





It just starts to rain as I leave and I make my way back to Chelmsford to collect one of our 5 tonners. It's a bit of an awkward spot to get it out of so I make the most of thing and crane the buckets over a fence so I've just got the machine to worry about. Back to the yard and unload.

I'm told there's a machine going elsewhere in Danbury tomorrow but not until 0800, that'd mean a lot of hanging around so it gets loaded quick and I rattle off down there with it before the school kicks out. Finished 1545. Switch stuff back to my wagon only to be told of a last minute job for the crane tomorrow. Switch back and head for home.

Friday.
0715 Start. First job is in Colchester but not until 0900, I hate starting later as it means overtime starts later and after 1445 is my time. Still I'm ready on site at 0830 and I've got the dubious honour of moving a welfare unit. It's basically a mobile canteen / bog body on an old Cargo. I've never loaded one yet as it's usually a job attached to this motor but I've heard it's a bit of a game. The unit has got a long rear overhang with a genny mounted on the back. It also has a pair of screw jacks which did into the ramps so you have to extend the ramps with timber so the jacks clear the ramps.



Eventually with a little bit of help from the winch we get it loaded and secured.



This unit is going back to their yard near Ingatestone, and whilst I'm here there's a jackleg cabin to pluck out between some other and resite at the other end of the yard. At least at it's new home I can swing the crane around and lift the next one up, it's a caravan type sitehut and I'm off to Grays with it.



The job at Grays is fun, on Hogg Lane with a near impossibly small gateway so I elect to crane it off into the gateway. That's a squeeze too and it's a complex operation of slewing, raising and lowering and rotating to get it through the gap in the trees. If they'd sent the welfare unit it could have been driven straight in.

Next job is in Shenfield, I've got a 3t swivel skip dumper and a 5t Yanmar to load, these are off to Harlow and this job passes without event. Back to the yard, calling to collect the 3t from Danbury on the way. Finished at 1645.

11th -13th August 2008

Before we start I'll just point your attention at my fundraising widget >>>>>>>>>>>>>
I'd be very grateful for sponsorship of any amount for the cycle ride I'm doing with my 9 year old son.

Monday
0645 Start. A nice bright Monday morning, even better as the yard is already open and there's a big empty space in it. Having now handed the number 1 title back to it's rightful owner I am back at the bottom in number 3 slot. Or to put it another way, I'm back in my 6 wheeler.

I'd already preflighted the motor on Friday, everything was stowed in the overhead lockers and tacho ready to go. Just kick the tyres and light the fires as it were. I've got a bit of a run around this morning, first stop across to Felsted where I'm due to load a 3t dumper. It's a funny place to get into but I reverse in dwn the narrow driveway and round between the barns through the tight gap first time. I'm happy with that with so long out of the seat.





There's a slight change of plan here, there's an 80 roller to load first followed by the 3t dumper.



All ready to go it's a nice drive up to Chipping on the A10 where there are some barn conversions underway. Driving my lorry again makes me realise how shagged out the unit is, I've got so much more torque and the gearbox is much more slick.

The dumper comes off here and the roller is moved across I've got some more bits to go on. Next on board alongside the roller is a 1.5t mini. There's a skiploader to go on next and a 2t mini to sit on the back. Whilst it's not exactly full, there's a bit of thought required to get it all inboard and that's something I've missed over the last 10 weeks.



We're off to Hatfield Broad Oak now and I need to unload everything but the 2 tonner on the back. Or at least I need to leave everything but there. The 2t machine is run off and dumped to one side.





Then I can unload the other bits before reloading the 2 tonner.



Once everything is squared away, it's back off to Felsted to get rid of the machine and then I'm off back to the yard stoppng on the way to check that the bunk is still operational. Back at the yard it's chaos with vans and plant everywhere, eventually I find a space and squeeze in. Off home at 1615. 171Km.

Tuesday
0645 Start. The yard was awash this morning andmy journey over to the JCB dealer in Braintree not much better. There was not much activity going on there until past 0800 and it was after 0830 before I'd got my load, a 3t 803 demonstrator. Although I can't ever see the rain stopping I shed the waterproofs and head off to Kent.



The weather improves as I head round the M25 and by the time I arrive at Strood it's not a bad day. I'm actually at Diggerland, although they won't let me play for free even though I've brought my own one.



Back up to Essex and into the yard. I get another run out in the afternoon, collecting our 1.5t mini from Hutton. It's back to the yard, unload and reload with a 6t machine for tomorrow. Off home 1645.

Wednesday
0645 Start. Off out to Blackmore near Ongar to deliver the Kobelco 60 that we'd loaded last night. It's a bit big for the job really but the sign for it and I head back to Danbury where I'm due to load from a construction company there. I'm just 2 minutes from where I need to be and I get a call to go back to the yard, luckily that's only 2 minutes away too.

They have now decided that the 60 is too big after all and I've now got to load the 1.5t mini and take it back to exchange it. Then it's back to the yard and pick up where I left off.

We're loading a load of Heras panels and bits, and I'm working with our other 6 wheeler today. Luckily he's only just arrived and is just unfolding the crane. Just after we finish loading the rain starts, dodged that well.



I lead our little convoy, but have to keep off the throttle a bit as I'm that bit quicker.



Surely we are not going that slow?

After a cuppa in the dry we head off across to Kent and down into West Sussex, we're delivering to a site in Horsham. Unloading is by crane and we have to take cover for another heavy rain storm.



All done and it's back to Essex. Finished 1615. Off till Monday.