Disgraceful treatment
Discussion
This is a fairly common moan in trucking circles, but I'd like to relate my experience the other day & invite comment...
There is a large internet-based retailer located in Scotland, & my delivery there was booked in for 2.30pm. Through no fault of my own I was 20 minutes late. The guy at the gatehouse told me that, because I 'missed my slot', I would have to wait a while outside the yard. I was finally waved into the yard at 7.50pm...that's FIVE HOURS later.
No access to toilet facilities; no access to canteen facilities; no access even to the drinks machine (which, when I finally got in, wouldn't take my money anyway!); no suggestion as to how long I would be waiting; no nothing. I couldn't pull out as I had a collection afterwards which required an empty truck; I simply had to tough it out. What's both funny & tragic...I swear this is true...I was visited by the Jehovah's Witnesses & given a copy of The Watchtower!
Prisoners get better treatment. There is a thing called human rights. Don't drivers deserve human rights anymore? Surely there must be laws/rules that this firm are breaching? I have seriously thought about writing a strong letter of complaint to the appropriate manager, but it would probably go straight in his bin.
Surely we shouldn't have to tolerate this sort of treatment..should we?
There is a large internet-based retailer located in Scotland, & my delivery there was booked in for 2.30pm. Through no fault of my own I was 20 minutes late. The guy at the gatehouse told me that, because I 'missed my slot', I would have to wait a while outside the yard. I was finally waved into the yard at 7.50pm...that's FIVE HOURS later.
No access to toilet facilities; no access to canteen facilities; no access even to the drinks machine (which, when I finally got in, wouldn't take my money anyway!); no suggestion as to how long I would be waiting; no nothing. I couldn't pull out as I had a collection afterwards which required an empty truck; I simply had to tough it out. What's both funny & tragic...I swear this is true...I was visited by the Jehovah's Witnesses & given a copy of The Watchtower!
Prisoners get better treatment. There is a thing called human rights. Don't drivers deserve human rights anymore? Surely there must be laws/rules that this firm are breaching? I have seriously thought about writing a strong letter of complaint to the appropriate manager, but it would probably go straight in his bin.
Surely we shouldn't have to tolerate this sort of treatment..should we?
Combination of both. This is their policy: arrive early, you might get in 20 - 30mins before booking time...depending upon who's on the gate & whether he likes you or not. Arrive late...you're gubbed & join the punishment queue.
Based in Glasgow, I've been to every main warehouse/RDC in Scotland, & this place is by far the worst. The big players will give you an hour each side of booked time. They realise that there are such things as traffic hold-ups/previous delivery delays etc.
What these people forget is that visiting drivers are also potential customers. My partner & I have spent thousands of pounds with this crowd over the past couple of years. I am now a former customer.
Based in Glasgow, I've been to every main warehouse/RDC in Scotland, & this place is by far the worst. The big players will give you an hour each side of booked time. They realise that there are such things as traffic hold-ups/previous delivery delays etc.
What these people forget is that visiting drivers are also potential customers. My partner & I have spent thousands of pounds with this crowd over the past couple of years. I am now a former customer.
Are you self employed or do you drive for a company? We had that problem in a few places, they soon change their attitude once they realise that you will leave with their stock and that they may get it back whenever we can be bothered to return. if we are up to half an hour late that counts as on time to us, we give half hour waiting time before unloading and if they are deliberately being awkward we just pull out and charge them to deliver again. One of the many good points of having a transport manager that isnt a mug 
I know what the op means though, who else puts up with that kind of s
t in their working day? I dont do RDC work anymore, thank fk, used to spend 12 hours a day in Bellshill driving between them, lucky if I had an hour on my card, rest of the time spent waiting. Only delivered to Amazon once, tbh never had a problem but the whole point can be how the tosser on the gate is feeling can screw you up.
Went to Brake Bros in Bellshill one day, the guy on the gate says " youre not booked in" give the guy his dues, he phones through, nope, not booked. Fairy nuff, I leave to go to Morrisons for a collection with the 2 pallets.
Gets the call can I go back? They made a mistake. Theyre desperate for the stuff.
Sure.
Not waiting though.
Want in straightaway.
Ok
Want to see their faces when I told them their 2 pallets were up the front.
Shame I hadnt known before the other 20 pallets were loaded........
Though to be fair, id rather go there than Aldi/ Lidl.
t in their working day? I dont do RDC work anymore, thank fk, used to spend 12 hours a day in Bellshill driving between them, lucky if I had an hour on my card, rest of the time spent waiting. Only delivered to Amazon once, tbh never had a problem but the whole point can be how the tosser on the gate is feeling can screw you up.Went to Brake Bros in Bellshill one day, the guy on the gate says " youre not booked in" give the guy his dues, he phones through, nope, not booked. Fairy nuff, I leave to go to Morrisons for a collection with the 2 pallets.
Gets the call can I go back? They made a mistake. Theyre desperate for the stuff.
Sure.
Not waiting though.
Want in straightaway.
Ok
Want to see their faces when I told them their 2 pallets were up the front.
Shame I hadnt known before the other 20 pallets were loaded........
Though to be fair, id rather go there than Aldi/ Lidl.
Ah Lidl, the place that keeps the costs down by not hiring any warehouse staff. It shows how over rated health and safety is in most warehouses with the barriers, walkways, dont reverse without a banksman and the sit in a crappy room for an hour, give me your keys and do not return to your vehicle bks.
Rock up to Lidl and the security guard hangs out of the window and shouts 'bay number 50'. You bang it onto the bay wander inside and tell them that yes, honestly I do know how to use an electric pallet truck and then do everything yourself. First time that I ever went in there I saw a stobart driver throw a pallet of drinks bottles across the floor
The best one that I have ever done is Walkers crisps in Leicester. Although the health and safety was over the top, everything was thought out well and worked. The booking system was am/pm and you phone them an hour before you are going to turn up. If you are collecting then they will start getting the stock out, checked and labled and put near the bay that they are going to give you. Turn up, directed to a bay where a banksman is already waiting to reverse you on, drop the trailer there and park your unit outside the subsidised canteen and have a full roast dinner for £2 and a few free packets of crisps to take with you. By the time youve eaten and wandered back to sit in your cab the shunter driver comes over and tells you that youre loaded, so you go pick your trailer up with the paperwork in the back and pull out. We used to fight over getting that job
ks. Rock up to Lidl and the security guard hangs out of the window and shouts 'bay number 50'. You bang it onto the bay wander inside and tell them that yes, honestly I do know how to use an electric pallet truck and then do everything yourself. First time that I ever went in there I saw a stobart driver throw a pallet of drinks bottles across the floor
The best one that I have ever done is Walkers crisps in Leicester. Although the health and safety was over the top, everything was thought out well and worked. The booking system was am/pm and you phone them an hour before you are going to turn up. If you are collecting then they will start getting the stock out, checked and labled and put near the bay that they are going to give you. Turn up, directed to a bay where a banksman is already waiting to reverse you on, drop the trailer there and park your unit outside the subsidised canteen and have a full roast dinner for £2 and a few free packets of crisps to take with you. By the time youve eaten and wandered back to sit in your cab the shunter driver comes over and tells you that youre loaded, so you go pick your trailer up with the paperwork in the back and pull out. We used to fight over getting that job
Plastic chicken said:
This is a fairly common moan in trucking circles, but I'd like to relate my experience the other day & invite comment...
There is a large internet-based retailer located in Scotland, & my delivery there was booked in for 2.30pm. Through no fault of my own I was 20 minutes late. The guy at the gatehouse told me that, because I 'missed my slot', I would have to wait a while outside the yard. I was finally waved into the yard at 7.50pm...that's FIVE HOURS later.
No access to toilet facilities; no access to canteen facilities; no access even to the drinks machine (which, when I finally got in, wouldn't take my money anyway!); no suggestion as to how long I would be waiting; no nothing. I couldn't pull out as I had a collection afterwards which required an empty truck; I simply had to tough it out. What's both funny & tragic...I swear this is true...I was visited by the Jehovah's Witnesses & given a copy of The Watchtower!
Prisoners get better treatment. There is a thing called human rights. Don't drivers deserve human rights anymore? Surely there must be laws/rules that this firm are breaching? I have seriously thought about writing a strong letter of complaint to the appropriate manager, but it would probably go straight in his bin.
Surely we shouldn't have to tolerate this sort of treatment..should we?
As harsh as it may seem - and forgetting the whole "I've got your load!" thing - it/you aren't their problem. You were outside your booked delivery time (yard movements and warehouse movements thus used for other things, leaving no room for you). What you do whilst you wait (be it waiting for your booked time, or waiting for the next available slot) is up to you. WRT using their facilties, you could've been any Tom/Dick/Harry: I suspect security/H&S/on-site liability stuff plays a big part in these things. My old place allowed intake drivers the use of the gatehouse bog once in the yard, but that was about it. We certainly didn't want otherwise unknown drivers wandering around looking for bogs/canteens.There is a large internet-based retailer located in Scotland, & my delivery there was booked in for 2.30pm. Through no fault of my own I was 20 minutes late. The guy at the gatehouse told me that, because I 'missed my slot', I would have to wait a while outside the yard. I was finally waved into the yard at 7.50pm...that's FIVE HOURS later.
No access to toilet facilities; no access to canteen facilities; no access even to the drinks machine (which, when I finally got in, wouldn't take my money anyway!); no suggestion as to how long I would be waiting; no nothing. I couldn't pull out as I had a collection afterwards which required an empty truck; I simply had to tough it out. What's both funny & tragic...I swear this is true...I was visited by the Jehovah's Witnesses & given a copy of The Watchtower!
Prisoners get better treatment. There is a thing called human rights. Don't drivers deserve human rights anymore? Surely there must be laws/rules that this firm are breaching? I have seriously thought about writing a strong letter of complaint to the appropriate manager, but it would probably go straight in his bin.
Surely we shouldn't have to tolerate this sort of treatment..should we?
Plus, they probably didn't want you away from the vehicle (i.e. using their facilities) as come the time they had a slot, they didn't want to be chasing around trying to find you!
Jimbo. said:
As harsh as it may seem - and forgetting the whole "I've got your load!" thing - it/you aren't their problem. You were outside your booked delivery time (yard movements and warehouse movements thus used for other things, leaving no room for you). What you do whilst you wait (be it waiting for your booked time, or waiting for the next available slot) is up to you. WRT using their facilties, you could've been any Tom/Dick/Harry: I suspect security/H&S/on-site liability stuff plays a big part in these things. My old place allowed intake drivers the use of the gatehouse bog once in the yard, but that was about it. We certainly didn't want otherwise unknown drivers wandering around looking for bogs/canteens.
Plus, they probably didn't want you away from the vehicle (i.e. using their facilities) as come the time they had a slot, they didn't want to be chasing around trying to find you!
I'm sorry but more than once my truck was used as extra storage when they had fPlus, they probably didn't want you away from the vehicle (i.e. using their facilities) as come the time they had a slot, they didn't want to be chasing around trying to find you!
ked their system. Is that my problem? I would rather give up driving trucks than go back to being treated like st at supermarket rdcs' I'n my experience on-site liabilty, H&S and the rest of the bks they spout only applies when it suits them. The old Tesco site at Chepstow would book you in late if arrived too early! Iceland,Tesco,ASDA,Morrisons and the rest, not one is worth a wk. 
[quote=4key]Are you self employed or do you drive for a company?
I drive for a company. Amongst other things, we deliver electrical goods for some of the major players; bookings for the likes of A*az*n, Argos, Asda etc. are made from our main transport office down south; my depot has no say in the matter. All we can do is try to make sure we arrive on time.
I can't disagree with the fact that I was outside my alloted time. However, somebody else turned up shortly after me at 3.00, with stuff booked in for 4.30. He was allowed in at 4.00, & was away less than half an hour later...begging the question: why couldn't I have had the now-vacant 4.30 slot?
I drive for a company. Amongst other things, we deliver electrical goods for some of the major players; bookings for the likes of A*az*n, Argos, Asda etc. are made from our main transport office down south; my depot has no say in the matter. All we can do is try to make sure we arrive on time.
I can't disagree with the fact that I was outside my alloted time. However, somebody else turned up shortly after me at 3.00, with stuff booked in for 4.30. He was allowed in at 4.00, & was away less than half an hour later...begging the question: why couldn't I have had the now-vacant 4.30 slot?
Plastic chicken]key said:
Are you self employed or do you drive for a company?
I drive for a company. Amongst other things, we deliver electrical goods for some of the major players; bookings for the likes of A*az*n, Argos, Asda etc. are made from our main transport office down south; my depot has no say in the matter. All we can do is try to make sure we arrive on time.
I can't disagree with the fact that I was outside my alloted time. However, somebody else turned up shortly after me at 3.00, with stuff booked in for 4.30. He was allowed in at 4.00, & was away less than half an hour later...begging the question: why couldn't I have had the now-vacant 4.30 slot?
Rules is rules and you're only a driver!I drive for a company. Amongst other things, we deliver electrical goods for some of the major players; bookings for the likes of A*az*n, Argos, Asda etc. are made from our main transport office down south; my depot has no say in the matter. All we can do is try to make sure we arrive on time.
I can't disagree with the fact that I was outside my alloted time. However, somebody else turned up shortly after me at 3.00, with stuff booked in for 4.30. He was allowed in at 4.00, & was away less than half an hour later...begging the question: why couldn't I have had the now-vacant 4.30 slot?
I was a driver for forty years and it got worse as the years progressed, when computers arrived they totaly buggered up the system gererating reams of useless paperwork.
When arriving at a delivery point on a very hot summers day I was told to " go wait in your cab driver". this was in the days of fibreglass cabs with no insultion and windows all round the small cab, no shelter from the sun. I asked the guy would he like to go sit in his car for an hour in the burning sun?
If delivery was on time my last boss gave the customer 20 mins to unload, if not then we would pull out and charge for a re delivery, that was on local work though so not as easy if away from home.
Problem is that it is still first come first served at most places even though vehicles are 'booked in'
When arriving at a delivery point on a very hot summers day I was told to " go wait in your cab driver". this was in the days of fibreglass cabs with no insultion and windows all round the small cab, no shelter from the sun. I asked the guy would he like to go sit in his car for an hour in the burning sun?
If delivery was on time my last boss gave the customer 20 mins to unload, if not then we would pull out and charge for a re delivery, that was on local work though so not as easy if away from home.
Problem is that it is still first come first served at most places even though vehicles are 'booked in'
leggly said:
Rules is rules and you're only a driver!
But I'm a human being as well & probably better educated than the person that came up with this ridiculous 'rule'... if such a thing even exists! What would happen if I wandered into a random workplace, picked a random worker, & told him 'you're doing 5 hours overtime tonight, whether you like it or not'. He would probably stick one on me! And yet drivers are meant to treat this as 'part of the job'.. I used to work for a cantankerous old bd who owned a local firm. While he could be a pain in the arse, he always backed you up.
One of our lads was early for his slot at Tesco Hatfield. If memory serves, it was about 17:00? They let him in about half an hour early, then left him in the yard. After 3 hours or so, he'd been in several times to let them know that he was running out of duty etc etc. They put him on a bay and ignored him. He went back in numerous times, and told them that he would not be moving it off the bay after his 15 hours were up. They left him for another couple of hours, tipped him, then woke him up to shift it off the bay. He told them to fk off.
The boneheaded manager there, phoned our boss, waking him up, and complained. The conversation didn't go well, and he got told to fk off by the gaffer again.
Displaying his stupidity further, the manager then phoned the police to complain about this driver that was "blocking his depot". Trafpol arrived, and spoke to my mate, apologising for disturbing him further. They checked his disc, and told him he was absolutely in the right, and not to worry.
The copper jumped out of the cab, went to the car, and got a can of the paint they use to mark vehicle positions after an accident. He marked the position our truck was in, and went to see the manager.
Apparently, he read him the riot act, and informed him that someone would be back to check that this vehicle had not been moved before the 9 hour break was up.
It caused them all sorts of problems apparently?
On another occasion, talking about being self employed, I rocked up at Somerfield Bridgwater with a load of BBQ briquettes. I was given my delivery notes, and booking time by the girl in the office in France. I told her it was a long wait, and she rang them, and changed it. I heard the conversation.
Jobsworth on the gate, refuses to even phone goods in and check, and tells me to come back in 12 hours. I phone the boss. He phones the company. They phone Somerfield. Nobody will look into it.
My boss says bks, bring it back to the yard.
It stayed there for about a week until he could find another "convenient" time to re-deliver it. In that time, he had got the relevant confirmation that he was in the right. I was so grateful that he waited for me to re-deliver it, and even luckier that it was the same guard on the gate.
He had had a right royal bking, as apparently this consignment formed part of summer end of summer promotion, and was desperately needed. Stores had run out of these things because of his arrogance and pig headedness.
To the OP:
It stinks, but unfortunately we aren't really in a position to do much about it. It's nice when we do get chance, but that doesn't happen often.
Compare it to the Kronenbourg brewery in the Alsace, which has shower/canteen etc all free, and even have machines full of chilled beer for free.
d who owned a local firm. While he could be a pain in the arse, he always backed you up.One of our lads was early for his slot at Tesco Hatfield. If memory serves, it was about 17:00? They let him in about half an hour early, then left him in the yard. After 3 hours or so, he'd been in several times to let them know that he was running out of duty etc etc. They put him on a bay and ignored him. He went back in numerous times, and told them that he would not be moving it off the bay after his 15 hours were up. They left him for another couple of hours, tipped him, then woke him up to shift it off the bay. He told them to f
k off.The boneheaded manager there, phoned our boss, waking him up, and complained. The conversation didn't go well, and he got told to f
k off by the gaffer again.Displaying his stupidity further, the manager then phoned the police to complain about this driver that was "blocking his depot". Trafpol arrived, and spoke to my mate, apologising for disturbing him further. They checked his disc, and told him he was absolutely in the right, and not to worry.
The copper jumped out of the cab, went to the car, and got a can of the paint they use to mark vehicle positions after an accident. He marked the position our truck was in, and went to see the manager.
Apparently, he read him the riot act, and informed him that someone would be back to check that this vehicle had not been moved before the 9 hour break was up.
It caused them all sorts of problems apparently?
On another occasion, talking about being self employed, I rocked up at Somerfield Bridgwater with a load of BBQ briquettes. I was given my delivery notes, and booking time by the girl in the office in France. I told her it was a long wait, and she rang them, and changed it. I heard the conversation.
Jobsworth on the gate, refuses to even phone goods in and check, and tells me to come back in 12 hours. I phone the boss. He phones the company. They phone Somerfield. Nobody will look into it.
My boss says b
ks, bring it back to the yard.It stayed there for about a week until he could find another "convenient" time to re-deliver it. In that time, he had got the relevant confirmation that he was in the right. I was so grateful that he waited for me to re-deliver it, and even luckier that it was the same guard on the gate.
He had had a right royal b
king, as apparently this consignment formed part of summer end of summer promotion, and was desperately needed. Stores had run out of these things because of his arrogance and pig headedness. To the OP:
It stinks, but unfortunately we aren't really in a position to do much about it. It's nice when we do get chance, but that doesn't happen often.
Compare it to the Kronenbourg brewery in the Alsace, which has shower/canteen etc all free, and even have machines full of chilled beer for free.
Lidls in Lutterworth - took a fridge up there loaded with around 60 pallets. Got there at 7am, Waited 2 hours to get on a bay. Unloaded myself - another hour. Then waited two hours for paperwork and finally left a 12.10
Another favourite of mine was Azda at Greenhithe. Got there at 14.30. Finally got a bay at 16.15 and unloaded in 20 minutes. Load was checked off just before their break and then........they went for dinner. Got my paperwork back at just after 1800.
On the other hand this Saturday I went to Bookers in Hatfield and arrived at 7.30am. I was behind four Stobarts, all fully loaded. I myself had 26 pallets to tip.
There was ONE forklift driver grafting his bks off and going from one bay to the other to unload us all. He had two bays going at the same time. My load was tipped, checked and with paperwork returned within one and a half hours. If it wasn't for a pallet rejected I would have been off site by 9am.
This job gets very frustrating at times, mainly because as Bookers showed, it can be all down to what system is in place and the attitude of those working there.
Another favourite of mine was Azda at Greenhithe. Got there at 14.30. Finally got a bay at 16.15 and unloaded in 20 minutes. Load was checked off just before their break and then........they went for dinner. Got my paperwork back at just after 1800.
On the other hand this Saturday I went to Bookers in Hatfield and arrived at 7.30am. I was behind four Stobarts, all fully loaded. I myself had 26 pallets to tip.
There was ONE forklift driver grafting his b
ks off and going from one bay to the other to unload us all. He had two bays going at the same time. My load was tipped, checked and with paperwork returned within one and a half hours. If it wasn't for a pallet rejected I would have been off site by 9am.This job gets very frustrating at times
, mainly because as Bookers showed, it can be all down to what system is in place and the attitude of those working there.Plastic chicken said:
But I'm a human being as well & probably better educated than the person that came up with this ridiculous 'rule'... if such a thing even exists! What would happen if I wandered into a random workplace, picked a random worker, & told him 'you're doing 5 hours overtime tonight, whether you like it or not'. He would probably stick one on me! And yet drivers are meant to treat this as 'part of the job'..
I agree, so why do we put up with it? Well i don't anymore but you know what I mean. I watched a work-mate tell the goods in tard to get fked at Tesco Chepstow as he'd stopped being what to do when left school. The waiting room emptied of drivers that day due to one man standing up to pointless rules these sites impose. I met one bloke falling asleep in his chair at Iceland in Swindon because he stupid enough to listen to them and sit there 8 hours! You're destined to suffer this treatment until the workforce stand together and get it changed. As I only have another 20 years at work I wont get to see this unfortunatleyThink the only way things can improve is by VOSA having a say about times on site and the implications of knock on effects that causes more stress in the job.
After all part of working and driving hours limitations is fair trading. How can you have fair trading when drivers are being held up for hours on end at distribution centres?
After all part of working and driving hours limitations is fair trading. How can you have fair trading when drivers are being held up for hours on end at distribution centres?
ZR1cliff said:
Think the only way things can improve is by VOSA having a say about times on site and the implications of knock on effects that causes more stress in the job.
After all part of working and driving hours limitations is fair trading. How can you have fair trading when drivers are being held up for hours on end at distribution centres?
The easiest way would be enforce the WTD without POA. A 48 hour working week is still more than most do but suggest that to most drivers and they say no! The sad fact is that there are more drivers willing to put up with sAfter all part of working and driving hours limitations is fair trading. How can you have fair trading when drivers are being held up for hours on end at distribution centres?
te wages and hours and then spend their time on Trucknet moaning. VOSA wont help, why would they? They know what time they're going home!ZR1cliff said:
How can you have fair trading when drivers are being held up for hours on end at distribution centres?
I mentioned in my original post about having an uplift to do afterwards: 14 pallets booked for 5pm., for onward delivery the following day. When it became apparent that I would be late, the collection point staff kindly agreed to stay on until I arrived. Around 7.30pm they couldn't wait any longer, & I never made the collection. My firm lost the entire job, & obviously the income it would have generated.
philthy said:
I used to work for a cantankerous old bd who owned a local firm. While he could be a pain in the arse, he always backed you up.
One of our lads was early for his slot at Tesco Hatfield. If memory serves, it was about 17:00? They let him in about half an hour early, then left him in the yard. After 3 hours or so, he'd been in several times to let them know that he was running out of duty etc etc. They put him on a bay and ignored him. He went back in numerous times, and told them that he would not be moving it off the bay after his 15 hours were up. They left him for another couple of hours, tipped him, then woke him up to shift it off the bay. He told them to fk off.
The boneheaded manager there, phoned our boss, waking him up, and complained. The conversation didn't go well, and he got told to fk off by the gaffer again.
Displaying his stupidity further, the manager then phoned the police to complain about this driver that was "blocking his depot". Trafpol arrived, and spoke to my mate, apologising for disturbing him further. They checked his disc, and told him he was absolutely in the right, and not to worry.
The copper jumped out of the cab, went to the car, and got a can of the paint they use to mark vehicle positions after an accident. He marked the position our truck was in, and went to see the manager.
Apparently, he read him the riot act, and informed him that someone would be back to check that this vehicle had not been moved before the 9 hour break was up.
It caused them all sorts of problems apparently?
d who owned a local firm. While he could be a pain in the arse, he always backed you up.One of our lads was early for his slot at Tesco Hatfield. If memory serves, it was about 17:00? They let him in about half an hour early, then left him in the yard. After 3 hours or so, he'd been in several times to let them know that he was running out of duty etc etc. They put him on a bay and ignored him. He went back in numerous times, and told them that he would not be moving it off the bay after his 15 hours were up. They left him for another couple of hours, tipped him, then woke him up to shift it off the bay. He told them to f
k off.The boneheaded manager there, phoned our boss, waking him up, and complained. The conversation didn't go well, and he got told to f
k off by the gaffer again.Displaying his stupidity further, the manager then phoned the police to complain about this driver that was "blocking his depot". Trafpol arrived, and spoke to my mate, apologising for disturbing him further. They checked his disc, and told him he was absolutely in the right, and not to worry.
The copper jumped out of the cab, went to the car, and got a can of the paint they use to mark vehicle positions after an accident. He marked the position our truck was in, and went to see the manager.
Apparently, he read him the riot act, and informed him that someone would be back to check that this vehicle had not been moved before the 9 hour break was up.
It caused them all sorts of problems apparently?
If I'd got a pound for every time I've heard that story I could've retired decades ago.
I see the most up-to-date version now involves cans of spray paint instead of sticks of chalk! Were you in Zeebrugge on 6 March 87 too?
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