Truck & Driver UK – July 2019

92

TEAM T&D

July 2019 Truck & Driver

O

kay, I admit it, I have a

problem. The problem? I

love driving trucks. For

many people, being

away for several weeks at a time

and then having a month off

would be time to relish. But I get

‘truck envy’. Once I am home, I

see a truck on the road and get a

bit envious of the driver.

So, to keep the green-eyed

monster in check, a week’s work

was duly arranged. I do casual

work in my down-time for a few

different companies; this time I

was heading back to a regular

haulier, MDF Transport in Great

Yarmouth, Norfolk.

I enjoy working at MDF

because the work is varied and

they will accept whatever time I

have available, even if it’s only

two or three days in the week.

I was told to be in the yard at

8am Monday (they also know I

don’t like starting early on a

Monday!) to collect the truck keys.

Monday

Gear all stowed in the truck, and

the trailer I need connected and

checked, I’m ready for the off.

Nice and simple to start with –

down to Felixstowe to unload

some offshore pipes going

somewhere far, far away via a flat

rack container. It takes a while to

get unloaded, as several of these

consignments have come down

from Aberdeen, but by lunchtime

I am trundling out of the docks.

Felixstowe holds a special

place in my heart because it was

here, aged 16, I got my first ever

job as an import clerk for Haven

Logistics, which was located in

the Routemaster building, now

Home

and

away!

MAT IRELAND

Eurotrotting Mat has a

month off. Gets bored,

goes driving

sadly demolished. Ironically, it

was also the location from which

my dear friend Bob Carter’s Trans

UK companies were run. The

smell of yeast from the British

Fermentation Products plant

across the road, just inside Dock

Gate, always takes me back.

Next, Shipdham in Norfolk to

load up for Tuesday delivery in

Liverpool; across to Bury St

Edmunds, to Thetford, and then

across country via Watton.

Once loaded and strapped

down, I set off north. I can’t quite

decide where to aim for to park,

maybe Newark, but I decide to

get to Heywood Truck Stop, as it

is a lot closer – and, reload-wise,

who knows what Tuesday will

have in store?

I make it into Heywood on

4:27 driving time, ideal! My day is

done. As the load isn’t scheduled

to unload until 12:30 the next day,

I don’t even need to set an alarm,

so I settle down and watch a

documentary before turning in.

Tuesday

I wake up around 7am; so this is

a lay-in then! I wander to the café

for some breakfast and a shower.

The free shower is a nice touch,

the breakfast is cheap, tasty and

filling, and the service is friendly.

I relax for a while longer before

doing my checks; all in order, all

the straps are still tight.

I decide to head to Burtonwood

Services on the M62 to get some

diesel and subsequently call the

site coordinator to arrange my

arrival. It isn’t good news. I’m

load number five of six, and the

first load has not even tipped yet;

some problem rigging the crane

on site this morning. So I put the

kettle on and wait.

After an hour or so, the other

four trucks all turn up. We have a

chin-wag, but mindful of the

meagre two hours we get free in

Busman’s holiday: Mat has loaded up his FH at Shipdham

Monday morning, destination Felixstowe