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.
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!
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