A Week in the Life of a Driver - Day ONE!
27/09/2019
A large amount of items are at some point on the back of a UK lorry throughout it's journey in the hands of a consumer. Driving anywhere day to day we are sure that many of you come across lorrys on the road to your destination too!
But have you ever thought about what it would be like to be out on the road day to day as a career?
One of our drivers has kindly written a 5 part news blog outlining a typical week in the life of a lorry driver and we hope it will give our customers and general public a little insight in to the world of Logistics.
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Day ONE!
It's Monday and today I am the first driver in with a start time of 3:00am, though I arrive to the depot at 2:45am and unlock the warehouse before I clock in. I grab a quick cup of coffee, do my walk around checks of the vehicle which include:
· Glass Checks Including Mirrors
· Wipers & Washers
· Horn
· Seat Belts
· Interior Clean & Tidy
· Brakes
· Damage
· Battery Security
· Fuel / Oil Leaks
· Spray Suppression
· Lights, Indicators & Reflectors
· Steering
· Tyres & Wheel Nuts
· Excessive Engine Smoke
· Security of Body, Wings & Panels
· Tail Lift
· Plate
· Coupling Security
· Electrical Connections
· Markers / Registration Plate
Once this has been completed I get my paperwork ready which is left in the office for me.
My delivery is due in Newcastle upon Tyne for 7am. I take my vehicle out of the warehouse, lock up and hit the road North.
I arrive in good time at 6:45am and I go straight to get my paperwork signed by the office, having a quick cup of coffee. As I walk out, some of the companies drivers arrive and I have a quick chat with them whilst waiting for the fork lift driver to arrive.
At 7am I drive around to where we unload, open up the curtains and wait to be unloaded. I only have half a trailer today so in no time at all I am unloaded. After doing the curtains back up I grab a quick 15 minute break, then I head North again to collect my backload of insulation.
As I arrive there are a couple of trucks in front of me, this isn’t a problem though as I am a regular driver here and know they have a fast turnaround for getting the drivers in and out. Whilst waiting I grab another coffee and have a bite to eat, chicken and stuffing sandwiches today. From where I am, I can watch the planes coming and going from a nearby airport.
I manage to get a 30 minute break in before I am called to load up. Whilst I am being loaded I give my truck a quick wipe over to keep it looking presentable and post a picture on my social media accounts. Within 20 minutes I am loaded with 28 packs of cavity wall insulation and handed the delivery paperwork.
This delivery is off to Loughborough, so I hit the road South, and arrive in Loughborough just after 12:30pm. I know they are on break until 1pm so I pull into a layby overlooking some fields and have a quick break, eating the rest of my chicken and stuffing sandwiches. I only have 15 minutes as I am okay for drive time.
Making my way round to the delivery location, I reverse on to the yard. At 1pm on the dot they come out to unload me and I get the paperwork signed. I then check in with the office to let them know I am clear, I am then told by Stacey to head to a business whic located at the end of the road on I am on. Once I arrive I am loaded with 20 pallets of sauce. I haven’t been here for a while so I have a catch up with the manager and we have a quick chat before I head back to the yard.
This particular load will be delivered by another driver tomorrow so I head back over to Narborough. I drop the trailer in a parking space in the yard before heading to the office to be debriefed by Stacey and given my start times and plan for tomorrow.
My day is now over and I am heading home at 3pm.