NEWSFLASH…
Police and Interpol today announced the suspension of the search for the missing village idiots. A police spokesperson said that due to the diligence of several drivers for a national food distribution company the missing idiots had been located safe and well in the warehouse they operate from.
They had been allowed to cause havoc loading lorries in a particularly unsafe manner with no regard for health and safety or driver welfare. Ordinarily this would be cause for concern but as the company they were working for couldn’t give a damn as long as the lorries were loaded and sent out on delivery routes then there was no problem as far as they were concerned.
A Health and Safety representative at the company said that the drivers would just have to get on with it as the only priority was to save money at the moment and having people to safely pick and stack heavy trays of chicken on dollies whilst utilising the equipment purchased specifically for the task was an un-necessary expense. As for making sure the pallets are wrapped properly the village idiots had been told at great length that only one layer of wrap was required and that making sure it was tight only wasted time.
No drivers were available for comment as they were all (with a few exceptions) working their backsides off to try and get back before they ran out of duty time.
Monday 30 March 2009
Thursday 26 March 2009
The more things change... the more they stay the same
For all of you who read this blog and I know that it’s not that many I feel it’s high time that I put some more in for you to read.
It’s been a few days since I was at work and I’m delighted to inform you all that nothing has changed. The loads are still as dodgy as ever, there are still no dollies for the chicken which is still palletised with no regard for health and safety or manual handling guidelines.
Monday I was on my allocated delivery route, as route that is assigned to a 26 tonne vehicle due to the number of deliveries and the volume of things to be delivered to the various stores around the streets of our capital city. The only problem I found was that whilst volume didn’t seem to be a problem to the colleagues who allocate the vehicles and the loaders managed to squeeze a quart into a pint pot, the weight was. My vehicle was nearly half a tonne over max weight and the rear axle weight was too high as well.
Time for a vehicle change to a 26 tonne 6 legger and no-one has reported the faults on this as well. No rear door retainers to stop them swinging in the wind and no oil in the power steering system either. The door problem was sorted by the addition of a drivers mate. It still took 40 minutes at the local Scania dealer to get the power steering sorted.
All the deliveries were made though and it says something about our planning that it took two of us to get the route completed though.
Tuesday was a different kettle of fish. 14 hours and 25 minutes PLANNED with 9 deliveries and a collection as well.
So nice of the transport department to tell me that drop 1 didn’t order so I sat at drop 2 in Ross on Wye for 45 minutes until they arrived. Drop 3 was 14 miles away and I was given a window time of 0915 – 1015, ok until you realise that Drop 2 is 0900 – 1000. The impossible I do on a daily basis… Miracles take me a little longer.
I ran at the end of the window for the next 2 drops, was late at the 2 after that and made it back into the window for the last two. The only problem is that there’s a collection to be made from Crumlin in Gwent. As I started at 0530 I was out of hours at 2030 meaning I had to be headed back from Wales at no later than 1745.
I pulled back into the yard at 2028, was on a loading bay for 2030 where I left the lorry with everything on board and then came home for 2 days rest and recuperation. This is now day 2 and I return to work tomorrow to see how things have improved. Well here’s hoping anyway
It’s been a few days since I was at work and I’m delighted to inform you all that nothing has changed. The loads are still as dodgy as ever, there are still no dollies for the chicken which is still palletised with no regard for health and safety or manual handling guidelines.
Monday I was on my allocated delivery route, as route that is assigned to a 26 tonne vehicle due to the number of deliveries and the volume of things to be delivered to the various stores around the streets of our capital city. The only problem I found was that whilst volume didn’t seem to be a problem to the colleagues who allocate the vehicles and the loaders managed to squeeze a quart into a pint pot, the weight was. My vehicle was nearly half a tonne over max weight and the rear axle weight was too high as well.
Time for a vehicle change to a 26 tonne 6 legger and no-one has reported the faults on this as well. No rear door retainers to stop them swinging in the wind and no oil in the power steering system either. The door problem was sorted by the addition of a drivers mate. It still took 40 minutes at the local Scania dealer to get the power steering sorted.
All the deliveries were made though and it says something about our planning that it took two of us to get the route completed though.
Tuesday was a different kettle of fish. 14 hours and 25 minutes PLANNED with 9 deliveries and a collection as well.
So nice of the transport department to tell me that drop 1 didn’t order so I sat at drop 2 in Ross on Wye for 45 minutes until they arrived. Drop 3 was 14 miles away and I was given a window time of 0915 – 1015, ok until you realise that Drop 2 is 0900 – 1000. The impossible I do on a daily basis… Miracles take me a little longer.
I ran at the end of the window for the next 2 drops, was late at the 2 after that and made it back into the window for the last two. The only problem is that there’s a collection to be made from Crumlin in Gwent. As I started at 0530 I was out of hours at 2030 meaning I had to be headed back from Wales at no later than 1745.
I pulled back into the yard at 2028, was on a loading bay for 2030 where I left the lorry with everything on board and then came home for 2 days rest and recuperation. This is now day 2 and I return to work tomorrow to see how things have improved. Well here’s hoping anyway
Wednesday 18 March 2009
Two 15 hour days
Wednesday morning,
It was as bad as I thought it would be. Arrived at work on Monday only to find my route had been changed and I wasn't due to start until 0415. Twelve and a half hours board time and sure enough with the crap loading that has become the norm at out place it turned into fifteen, right on my legal maximum.
Drops were split and spread over two pallets, then on top of another one they forklifted another pallet.
The routing was as accurate as ever. It's amazing that I can arrive half an hour early to one drop, run 30 to 45 minutes early and all of a sudden I'm running behind for the last 2 deliveries and late for the last one.
Back into the yard for 6.10 pm. Just in time for dekit, refuel and leave by 18.30 after finding that my regular Tuesday run has been cancelled - permanently. Tomorrow I start in Colliers Wood. Hey it can only get better... Yeah right. I've worked here for too long to feel anything but pessimistic these days.
Tuesday. 0340 arrive, get paperwork and start checking the wagon... For an older vehicle it's not in bad nick, there's a few minor gripes but nothing that's going to affect the run. Open the back doors to check the load and that's when it all starts going horribly Pete Tong.
1) No Pallet truck, 2) All the chicken (drops 1, 3 and 9) is on one pallet and there's only one dolly for all 24 trays. I might be reasonably strong but even that one's taking the piss. Back to the bay and complain to the shift management. I finally leave 50 minutes late and get to Colliers Wood only 5 minutes late.
Colliers Wood to Thornton Heath, back to Tooting, round the corner to Mitcham, up to Wimbledon and then the route planners come into their own. A (not so) lovely drive to Feltham and Hounslow. Nearly two hours late into Hounslow and that meant really tight on time to get back to the yard. Also thanks to our wonderful and highly efficient loaders who can't be bothered to get things done properly so delaying us on the road.
I was so tired that I completely lost track of time. I was 30 minutes outside my duty time when I got back to the yard. I should have stopped at Oxford but the auto-pilot was on with a finish at home and I cruised up the M40 not really realising where I was until I pulled off the motorway.
2 days off now and back to work on Friday. I can hardly wait.
Sunday 15 March 2009
Sunday before Monday
It's Sunday before my first set of deliveries for the week.
I shall be starting at stupid O'clock on Monday morning for a delivery route that will take me backwards and forwards across half of London. At least the powers that be have decided to remove two drops from the route.
This route is the worst of my week, there will be 8 deliveries rammed into a 26 tonne lorry when, with the volumes that are ordered, there should be a maximum of 6. I've never completed this route in it's old form without help, there's always been at least one delivery that's failed.
We'll see what happens tomorrow. It's going to be my first full week back after injuring myself on this route at drop 5. I have to say I'm not looking forward to it.
I shall be starting at stupid O'clock on Monday morning for a delivery route that will take me backwards and forwards across half of London. At least the powers that be have decided to remove two drops from the route.
This route is the worst of my week, there will be 8 deliveries rammed into a 26 tonne lorry when, with the volumes that are ordered, there should be a maximum of 6. I've never completed this route in it's old form without help, there's always been at least one delivery that's failed.
We'll see what happens tomorrow. It's going to be my first full week back after injuring myself on this route at drop 5. I have to say I'm not looking forward to it.
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