A Week in the Life of a Driver - DAY THREE!

Day THREE! 

Wednesday and my start time is 3:00AM, I arrive in to the depot at 2:45AM it’s Wednesday and I am back on my way up to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne with a load of paper.

I hit the road at just after 03:00AM after doing my checks and refuelling the truck.

On my way up traffic starts building, and I notice blue lights in the distance. Never normally a good sign. After about a mile we all grind to a halt and it’s a further 20 minutes until we are on the move again.

As I pass, I see the police cars in the hard shoulder and I see a car that looks like it’s lost control and hit the barrier. Everyone is out and looks okay which is good news.

I arrive at Newcastle just after 07:10AM, even though I am slightly later than normal I still arrive before the forklift driver. Whilst I wait I grab a coffee before driving round to the unloading area.

Whilst being unloaded I manage to have a quick 15 minute break and once delivered I get my paperwork signed and  head to collect my backload. In contrast to Mondays light backload of insulation, today I have a heavy load of timber being delivered in Nottingham.

I arrive at just after 08:30AM and I am called through to get loaded right away. Once I get loaded up and everything is all strapped up, I head over the weighbridge, 43740kg, which will do for me.

I park up and have to wait for my paperwork. Whilst waiting I have a 30 minute break and eat half my ham salad. Once done I have a walk down to get a coffee, and on the way back up I collect my paperwork. I head out onto the open road. It is quite hilly around here and the trucks 460 horses are certainly put to the test.

Soon I am on the A1 and heading south. I arrive at the delivery destination around 12:30PM. The guys are on break, but this gives me time to open up the curtains, unstrap the load, and get a quick 15 minute break in to finish my lunch.

It is an interesting drop as it is right next to a busy road, and the forklift has to come onto the road to unload the truck. Due to the traffic it takes about an hour to get everything off the vehicle. Once unloaded, the paperwork is signed, and I call the office to see what is next, I am told to make my way back and I will get a call if anything comes up.

I arrive back at the yard at 15:00PM, park up, and go into the office to see what is to be done next. After being told that everything is covered, I head out to the truck, drop the trailer, and head over to the wash bay to give the truck a wash. Can’t beat having a nice clean truck!

Once finished I park up, clock out and its home time at 15:45PM!