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Digby
Original Poster
3,145 posts
115 months
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..traffic is crawling and stop start.I approach a set of traffic lights.Pedestrians are waiting to cross.The light is green but not wishing to block the crossing, I wait for a gap at the other side.A gap appears.Lights still green! I go to move off but nobody looks at whether it is actually time for them to cross in accordance with the lights or flashing walk icons etc.They all seem to have taken to using my movements as their guide.To them, I am stationary, so this means cross and that the lights must be red.I get called names and see many angry faces for daring to inch forward at this point.I avoid squashing lingerers by just spotting the tops of their hats as they glue themselves to my bumper, watch as several narrowly avoid death by motorbike and try to carry on before the lights turn red again...
..traffic is crawling and stop start.I approach a set of traffic lights.Pedestrians are waiting to cross.The light is green, the traffic moves but I end up part blocking the crossing as it stops unexpectedly or due to my gap being filled.The lights are now red & the tail end of my vehicle is still on the crossing.I get called names and see many angry faces as they surround me and glue themselves to every single panel of my vehicle.The lights are now green, but I can't move just yet due to lingerers and those who can't decide which way to maneuver round my vehicle.Left? Right? Back? Front? Is there a barrier blocking that exit? etc.I give a small rev of the engine to declare that I intend to proceed....I get called names and see many angry faces..
I love London..
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italianjob1275
170 posts
15 months
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Or...
You're at the lights, it's a box junction. Lights go to green but no where to go so you wait lights go red, artic sized gap appears just in time for the left turners to fill your gap. Lights turn to green nowhere to go so you wait... Again....
I hate London...
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Hooli
21,222 posts
69 months
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London, Urrrgh! >shudders<
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chilistrucker
1,492 posts
20 months
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it is a regal pain in the arse.
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Panda76
1,015 posts
19 months
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Hmm with the box jcn scenario there really does become a time when you have to get on with it and be an obnoxious yellow box ignoring git.Even if it does mean being in the way for the next traffic light cycle.
You would literally sit there all day if you followed the "rules".
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GC8
9,574 posts
59 months
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Youll probably be prosecuted by the local authority. Good luck with a quod est necessarium est licitum defence in that circumstance.
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Chrisgr31
7,425 posts
124 months
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Just drive slowly and advise that you never stopped in the Box junction!
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ZR1cliff
17,778 posts
118 months
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All in a day's workGot to the yard at 3am today and found my unit's tank half empty, off to a bad start straight away. Then ran through the tunnel to pick up a fridge at Tilbury. On the other side found I couldn't exit off Jctn 30 slip road, so had to go up to Jctn 29 and back. Got in the docks and joined the queue, then went to search for the trailer. Found it hidden behind other trailers and in darkness at 4.15 am and hooked up. After connecting and winding the legs up I went to the rear and checked the lights - No poxy light cluster at the nearside rear, possibly knocked off on the boat over? Ever had a feeling your day is not going to plan? I did! In the end I was diverted to Purfleet docks and another job, however the trials of the day didn't end there. All sorts of things were sent to test me as I worked between the docks, East London, up to Haverhill, then the docks again, East london and North london. One of the biggest tests was thrown up by an AWOL van driver who decided to abandon his van on a corner in a North London industrial estate. How he expected 44 ton artics to get through is a mystery to me. I made it with a fag paper to spare, while beyond you can see another van driver contemplating an illegal right turn. Only for me to be blocking his way. Yes that's my shadow. 
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zip929
561 posts
46 months
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Yep, you cannot beat London for driving fun in an artic.
I have many fond memories from my days in the 90's with TNT in Walthamstow.
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Turn7
9,360 posts
90 months
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Panda76 said: Hmm with the box jcn scenario there really does become a time when you have to get on with it and be an obnoxious yellow box ignoring git.Even if it does mean being in the way for the next traffic light cycle.
You would literally sit there all day if you followed the "rules". A lot of boxes have cameras on them now. Ask me how I know...... 
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chilistrucker
1,492 posts
20 months
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zip929 said: Yep, you cannot beat London for driving fun in an artic.
I have many fond memories from my days in the 90's with TNT in Walthamstow. did you do anything into wapping? first place i ever drove an artic once i'd passed. van from basildon to wapping, then into an old f reg m.a.n twin splitter, hook upto a trailer in the loading hall, and do a st ives and back. in at the deep end 
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ZR1cliff
17,778 posts
118 months
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chilistrucker said: zip929 said: Yep, you cannot beat London for driving fun in an artic.
I have many fond memories from my days in the 90's with TNT in Walthamstow. did you do anything into wapping? first place i ever drove an artic once i'd passed. van from basildon to wapping, then into an old f reg m.a.n twin splitter, hook upto a trailer in the loading hall, and do a st ives and back. in at the deep end Only been doing this job for 18 months now and was also thrown in the deep end, London sites from day one, looking back it was the best laxative I've ever taken. Still get a bit anxiuos if I get a job that I've never done before, however I love a challenge and it makes the day a bit more interesting.
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chilistrucker
1,492 posts
20 months
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I agree cliff, it's sometimes the best way to learn! I loved London when I first passed, I liked the challenge, 20 years down the line I still don't mind it, but only at night though Day work in the uk just gets harder and harder!!! I'm looking forward to getting back on the European work.
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4key
3,959 posts
17 months
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ZR1cliff said: North London industrial estate. Thats eley/nobel road? I have had more fights and giggles on that estate than anywhere else, I once saw a skip lorry ram a transit off of a corner so it could get past. Every estate in enfield is filled with mentalists, I love it around there
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DAVEVO9
2,524 posts
136 months
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ZR1cliff said: All in a day's workOne of the biggest tests was thrown up by an AWOL van driver who decided to abandon his van on a corner in a North London industrial estate. How he expected 44 ton artics to get through is a mystery to me. I made it with a fag paper to spare, while beyond you can see another van driver contemplating an illegal right turn. Only for me to be blocking his way. Yes that's my shadow. Coca-Cola Edmonton Cliff? We pick up from there.
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ZR1cliff
17,778 posts
118 months
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You're spot on lads. Normally it's not too bad getting through, but on that day everything that could go wrong did and the minute I turned into the estate it was choca because of loads of vehicles stopping for Pat's Diner. (Good feeding place - hot dog, pastry and tea for around three quid) As for the van parked illegaly and in the way, where was a tipper or low loader when you wanted one, would have loved to see it get shoved into the wall. 
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ZR1cliff
17,778 posts
118 months
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chilistrucker said: I agree cliff, it's sometimes the best way to learn! I loved London when I first passed, I liked the challenge, 20 years down the line I still don't mind it, but only at night though Day work in the uk just gets harder and harder!!! I'm looking forward to getting back on the European work. Not long after I first started, my planner asked me to go to Hackney from where I was tipping at Tottenham, to pick up a TIR strap from another driver. I figured if I made sure I followed double deckers I would be ok I Eventually ended up in a tight one way system at the top of Cambridge Heath road and ended up going straight past my destination. I was ok cos I could walk back up the road to where the driver was. All in a day's work!
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Justin Cyder
6,162 posts
18 months
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25 years I've worked in haulage & I know two transport jokes. The first one is about Santa not coming this year because Eddie's undercut him.
The other one though...
Ernie the ERF driver has done thirty years local round the midlands. One day the gaffer calls him into the traffic office & says Ernie, tomorrow you're going to London.
Blimey alright then says Ernie & he duly loads up ready for the morning. Off he sets early down the M6, a couple of hours later he starts to notice fewer trees & fields & more buildings & people. He's not sure exactly where he is, so eventually pulls over in a layby & asks a passer by: Excuse me mate, is this London?
Yes mate, comes the reply.
Right then, where do you want this timber?
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