Saturday, February 22, 2020

Drive Time And Working Time Directive Explained - Sort Of!

Now this is a tricky subject, and as far as I am aware I'm doing it right.

How do I know this? well, every thing we do in the cab is electronically measured and recorded on a tachograph machine.

If you get it wrong you get a print out and a little letter from the powers to be informing you of your wrong doings!

I've only had a couple of letters, and they were from when I first started, but sometimes you do have to bend the rules if you get caught out due to road works, or accidents etc.

As long as you write down on the back of a printed out slip you get from the machine you are generally ok if you were to be stopped and inspected.

Also as long as it's not habitual and they can see it's genuine you are ok.

But lets first discuss Driving Time.

I always mention how long my Drive Time is. But, you firstly need to know how that drive time is made up.

So lets say you drive from one town to another and it takes you an hour, on that journey you stop at roundabouts, junctions, letting cars out, traffic jams etc.

Well, as soon as I start moving that time counts, when I stop at a junction, so does the clock.

So using the 1hr journey time above to get from town to town, you may have to stop 10 times each for 1 min. so your actual drive time recorded is only 50 mins and not 1 hr!

So although my drive time may only say 5hrs 30mins for the day, I may well of been behind the wheel for 7hrs due to hold ups and general every day driving delays!

You can only drive for a maximum for 4 1/2hrs before you are required to take a 45 min break. Thats 4 1/2hrs of drive time not actual time.

Actual time is classed as working time and that is 6hrs before you must take a break.

On top of that you can extend your total drive time twice in a week from 9 hrs to 10 hrs, so thats 4 1/2 + 4 1/2 + 1 more hour.

However, there are also minimum rest periods you must take which is 11hrs, but 3 times a week you can reduce this to 9hrs if you wish.

The total amount of working hours in any one day must not exceed 15hrs

I do hope you are keeping up with all of this!

It is not easy to keep to, you are constantly clock watching trying to make sure you stay legal. I've got better at this and am fairly ok, but every now and again you do get close to the limits.

It is also the industry norm for drivers to max hours out. Especially on container work as the loads can run 24hrs a day.

I could work 15hrs a day, taking just 9hrs off on 3 consecutive nights with the remaining days still working 15hrs but taking an 11hr night off!

That's 75hrs a week! This in my opinion is wrong on all levels.

I guess I work on average 60hrs a week, and this is still way more that you really should.

However, you have to take into consideration, that although my day may be 15hrs long, I may be parked up and either waiting to load or unload for 3 or 4 hrs of that day.

But, it's not like I can walk off and go shopping, or do anything else other than wait in the truck, or like in some sites, you cannot even wait in your truck, you are put into a waiting room with no comfy chairs and expected to wait it out.

So the life of a trucker is not an easy one, and I would urge anyone considering it to think long and hard about it.

It's not a job, it's a lifestyle, you can be away like I was this week, from early hours Monday morning till late evening Friday!

It's not for everyone, it does take a different breed of person to do this job.

Some days I love it, others I hate it, but the money is decent and I also know it's not forever.

Unless I keel over on the job we have bigger plans!

Till later..........








A Good Week! HGV Tramper

Monday

I was off to Felixstowe with the box I had on from Friday's job.

Waste Cardboard from Cornwall to Felixstowe is approx 350 miles! I'm not too convinced about the carbon foot print on this job.

Anyway my card went in at 0451 and after my daily checks and a brew I was off, getting on to the dock for just after 1100hrs.

Box off, and around the corner to a company to collect a full box and then off up the A14 where I made it to Rothwell Truck Stop and pulled in for the night.


Card out 1533, 7hrs of driving covering 500km.

Tuesday

Card in 0437 and I was off to a company in Coalville Leicestershire to drop the trailer and box off and pick up an empty one at 0600hrs.

Completed the job and I was off to a freight yard

Stopped for a spot of breakfast (porridge and honey) and a service station with some new parking for trucks which was empty!


I'm parked right down in the far corner on the right.

I got to the freight yard and had my box taken off with no fuss, having pre done the paper work before hand, without it they send you off to park up whilst you fill it out.

So I was in and out in under 15 minutes, I was then off to another freight yard on the outskirts of Birmingham to load another empty container.


Took 1 1/2hrs to get through this place, not the most Hi-Tech of places, but friendly enough and I was soon on my way to my next location to be loaded.

Now you may be wondering why I'm having to take one empty box off and put on another empty box?

The answer to this questions is simple. Each box belongs to a shipping line, and as we work for a number of different shipping lines we have to constantly swap boxes depending on who the work is for.

So from here I then had to drive to Walsall, which was only about 20 minutes away and see if they can load me early.

I arrived at 1130hrs with a load time of 1300hrs. Unfortunately they had trucks in before me unloading so had to wait till my allotted time.

So I parked up, with the thought that I may be able to have a good lunch!


Trouble was it was closed! Bloody typical but not a problem as I have loads of food on board to keep me going.

It took 3hrs to load and as soon as I had sealed the doors I was off and heading South.

I was never going to make it back to Southampton so elected to overnight at Teddington Hands Truck Stop.

Not the best place in the world, but it's on account, which means I don't have to pay and claim the money back and it is secure parking.


My card came out at 1739 I had driven 277km and been driving for 5hr and 5 mins.

So a long day time wise but not a great deal of driving.

However, I will explain in another post a little bit more about what drive time actually means and a bit more about my working hours.

Wednesday

I took a reduced rest, which is 9hrs and then I was back on the road. Card in 0245hrs.

Drove down to Southampton, refuelled as I was on fumes and I was then onto the docks.

Pick up a bright pink box and head to Salisbury for 0830.


That's the trailer in its closed position, by pulling the pins and applying the trailer brake I can either stretch or shorten the trailer depending on the size of box I carry.

When on the road, the 20ft box above would sit around the middle of the trailer so that there is equal weight distribution across the axles.

I was just outside of Salisbury in a place called Netherhampton, which is where the painter Constable painted a picture across the meadows towards Salisbury Cathedral.


I was probably less than a mile from where he sat and painted this picture.


I know which view I would rather have!

Once I had unloaded I was back down to Southampton docks, where this box came off and a 40ft full box was put on.

I was then off to a place called Bourne End which is just off the M40 near Beaconsfield.

Arrived, pulled in and parked up and they started unloading me with no fuss, an easy unload as it was all on pallets. My heart did stop for a moment when I found out that the box was full of printing machines. Last time I had to deal with those was in Dover and that was a nightmare!

Bit of a better view at this location.


1 hr later I was on my way again, and had a 15 minute drive to Beaconsfield Services where I stopped for the night.

Here my view wasn't up to much but I did have some local wild life to watch!



Yep, that's a rat!

Card out at 1531, driven 413km and with a drive time of 7hr 29mins.

Thursday

Card in at 0542hrs.

I had plenty of time as my reload was at 0830hrs at Hartley Witney which was 40 mins away, but as I had to negotiate the M40, M25 and M3 I gave myself plenty of time to get there. If I arrive early I just park up and relax.

Which is what happened.

Got on site for more waste card board heading for China.

Loaded up after having to reverse into a massive shed which was very dark and onto a ramp that you could not see, it did take a couple of attempts to hit the sweet spot.

Did have a bit of a view though.


Didn't take too long to load, and once the necessary paperwork, photographs, seal checks and weigh bridge readings were taken I was on my way and inbound to Felixstowe once more.

Pulled into our yard at around 1300hrs and dropped my trailer and hooked up onto another trailer with an empty box on.

I could not get onto the docks as they were shut due to high winds!


So my card came out at 1440hrs after driving 303km and only 4hrs 18 mins of drive time.

I relaxing afternoon and evening, caught up a bit on some programmes I download from BBC iplayer, read, and had an early night! Rock n Roll!

Friday

Card in 0540hrs.

I didn't have an early start either! Onto the docks for 0600hrs, box off, but had to go into a holding area to wait my time. I was expecting a bit of a wait, in the end it was only 20 mins which is good all things considering.


Mine had a red cross against it, once you get a green tick you are good to go.

Whilst I was waiting for my box to be lifted off, I was joined by a seagull. I never realised they had black spots on their tail feathers.

They are also partial to "Frostys" cereal!



On the plus side I watched the sun rise from my cab over the containers.


You have to make the most out of every situation!

Across the port to another dock to get a loaded box and once completed (it took 2hrs) I was off back up the A14.

I had plenty of time as my allocation time was 1500hrs, but was told I should be able to get in at 1400hrs.

I had to drag my time out so I stopped at Rothwell Services for 2hrs and had some breakfast, this time a proper breakfast!

Then I drove for another 30 mins and had another 45mins off.

This still gave me loads of time to arrive just before 1400hrs. All was going well, and 15 mins from my destination and accident and a 45 minute delay which finally got me onto site at 1445hrs

All I had to do here was a trailer swap, so reversed my trailer onto a bay, unhitched, drove over the yard and hooked up to an empty box and trailer. 20 mins max and I was ready to head for home.

I had to stop once more for a 45 min break at Cherwell Valley just off of the M40 and then it was non stop till I got back to our yard at Marchwood.

Finally pulling my card for the week at 1942hrs, driving 527km and 8hrs and 19 mins of drive time.

Feeling slightly frazzled and ready for a relaxing weekend!

Till later...........

T-Bone Steak Night With Salsa Verde

I do love a good steak!

T-Bone steak being my favourite as the cuts on the bone are the best you can get.

I bought this T-Bone locally to me at Dane Stream Farm Butchers.

Cut to my specification which was 2" thick.




It weighed in at a whopping 2kg and cost £46.00 which sounds a lot, but not when you think how much a big steak would cost if you were to buy 2 meals at a pub!

I was going to keep it simple by just seasoning it with sea salt and cracked black pepper.

But there was more to come!

Firstly I decided to make my own sweet chilli sauce. Armed with a handful of chilli's roughly cut I added them to a small pan, poured in a mug full of water, and a mug full of brown sugar and brought it to the boil, turned it down and left it to simmer for a good while.


This reduced down the liquid and once this had happened I got my electric masher/blender and blitzed it down where I left it to cool.

I forgot to take any pictures of the final product, but rest assured it had some kick!

Next I had to make a Salsa Verde.

This consists of:-

Basil
Mint
Flat Leafed Parsley
Garlic
Gherkins
Capers
Big Dollop of Dijon Mustard
Big Slugs of Olive Oil
5 or 6 Anchovies Fillets

All in a bowl and blitzed.

It's a taste sensation that is a great accompaniment to many meat and salad dishes.


I had part cooked so red skinned potatoes in a pan complete with a couple of bulbs of garlic to add some flavour, left them to drain as I was going to roast these.

Before I started to cook the steak, I trimmed off all the fat, chopped it up small and placed it in a hot cast iron griddle to render it down, the liquid fat from this was going to be used for my potatoes.

Potatoes in the pan, complete with the smashed up garlic cloves, the beef fat liquid and some slugs of olive oil and in the oven it went.

Portabello  Mushrooms were peeled, and butter added along with finely crushed garlic and these also went into the oven.

Finally Beef Steak Mushroom were sliced and seasoned with salt and chives.

Just to cook the steak now!

A searing hot cast iron skillet did the trick, 4-5 mins on each edge and side did the trick and it was ready to serve!



The meat was amazing, so tender and with the tang of the Salsa Verde plus the garlic roast potatoes and mushrooms it was the business, the coolness of the tomatoes and with the hotness of the sweet chilli sauce I was in 7th heaven!

Well worth every penny spent, and time took to prepare the feast.

Not that I minded, a few beers and wine were sunk in the making of this and all that was left was the washing up and a T-Bone!


Till later..........



Sunday, February 16, 2020

Ridge Monkey Cooking Frying Pan Review

Of all the camping equipment I have used over the years I reckon that the Ridge Monkey Pan is probably one of the most versatile bits of kit I have ever come across!

It's deceptively large, I went for the smaller version of the two available.




The benefits of a Ridge Monkey Pan is that once closed, you place it over the heat on one side, then flip it over to cook the other side.

There is no rubber seal, but I have never had an issue with juice leaking.

I have cooked lots of different meals on it.

To give you some ideas of what I have cooked so far:-














Above you can see Omelettes, Pork Chops and Veg, Pie and Veg, Stir Fry Noodles, Curry and a Chilli.

It is also incredibly Non Stick, so very easy to clean after using it.

I  think my favourite meal to cook in it has to be an Omelette, quick, easy and healthy.

So if you are thinking of getting one, click on any of the links and it will take you straight over to Amazon.




Till later......

A Quiet Week - HGV Tramper

Monday

I had to take my truck in for it's 6 weekly service.

So I had to unhook my trailer, and take the tractor unit down to our local Mercedes Benz Truck Dealership for 0700hrs

I waited in the drivers rest room whilst they completed the work, and was on my way within a couple of hours.

Not that there was anything much to rush back for!

This time of year (Chinese New Year) means the docks are quiet and even more so this year due to the Corona Virus outbreak.

Once back at the yard, I had just enough time to have a brew and admire the view when I had a quick job to go down to the quay with an empty trailer and pick up a box.



Come back to the yard, unhook and park up!

I then went into the office and completed some FORS training it's dumbing down of information that the Haulage Industry/Government require you to know as a professional driver.

I honestly felt a bit insulted as I worked my way through the module, as for every right answer you got right, you were given an imaginary prize of an element of a full British Fry Up! 

Question 1 - correct - you get a sausage!

All questions completed you get a full breakfast!

Really???

So in total today I did 62km and drove for 2hrs and 13 mins and won an imaginary breakfast!

Tuesday

I actually stayed at home! I was on standby all day which meant that I had to be back at the  yard within the hour if they called me, but with no boats in, there was no chance of that happening!

So day off!

I put my time to good use and played with my router.



Wednesday

I was in the yard for 0730hrs, hooked up a trailer with a 40ft box on it and took it to the quay to be unloaded/exported.

Watched a good sunrise as I had my coffee.



I then had to go and collect an empty 20ft box and deliver it to a company just down the road at Dock Gate 4.

As soon as I arrived at the location I called the company I was delivering to and they sent over a fork lift to lift off my box.

Down at Dock Gate 4 you can often see a few interesting things either being exported or imported.


 

An old Soviet BRDM-2 Not many of these in the UK.

On the way back I decided to take the truck for a bath.




Returned to the yard, and parked up and was off home - another easy day.

39km and 1hr 19mins of drive time.

Thursday

I was late in due to a Doctors appointment.

As soon as I was sorted I was off to collect a 40ft empty box and was to make my way down to Redruth in Cornwall.

I had plenty of time as my collection time was 1000hrs the following day. (Friday)

A nice easy drive down, stopping for a break on the A30 and as per usual couldn't help noticing all the rubbish in the layby.




I ended up in Cornwall Services, recently built, but not nearly big enough for the amount of trucks that use it. The facilities are also a bit iffy as well.


The one good thing is that the bays are nice and wide!

369km travelled - with 5hr 14mins of drive time


Friday

I had a good nights sleep but was woken early by the wind making one of the wind deflectors vibrate - irony at it's best! Plus it's not every day you wake up next to a Rock Legend!


After a breakfast of coffee and porridge I was off - I only had a 30 minute drive and gave myself plenty of time to get there.

I had to wait a few minutes to get on site, but was soon ready to be loaded with waste paper.





Doors closed and sealed and after weighing in I topped out at just under 42 Tonnes.

Being that heavy meant that on some of the hills on the A30 I was down to under 20mph as I crawled up them!

Finally getting back to our yard just after 1800hrs, refuelled and parked up

406km travelled with a drive time of 6hrs 19mins in total.

And so ends another week.

Till later...............