Shunter drivers at RDC's
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chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,543 posts

180 months

Friday 11th November 2016
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Anybody on here?
Just after a heads up on the Terberg type tugs you see hurtling around RDC's. Do's and dont's. Thanks.

All that jazz

7,632 posts

175 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
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Self-explanatory really. They take some getting used to. If you think you can jump straight in one and reverse trailers like you can with a normal unit you'll be in for a shock but you'll have mastered it after a few shifts.

Obviously it goes without saying that 10mph yard speed limits don't apply to shunters laugh, nor does the 1-way system.

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,543 posts

180 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
quotequote all
Thanks.
I'd be rusty in a normal artic tbh at the mo as it has been 2 and 1/2 years now.
I have noticed they do appear to be quite quick around the yards biggrin

All that jazz

7,632 posts

175 months

Sunday 13th November 2016
quotequote all
chilistrucker said:
Thanks.
I'd be rusty in a normal artic tbh at the mo as it has been 2 and 1/2 years now.
I have noticed they do appear to be quite quick around the yards biggrin
You'd soon pick it up. I was on a specific contract driving an 18 tonner every night on the papers for nearly 3 years and didn't drive an artic at all during that time. When I went back on artics I took to it like a duck to water. I don't think you ever forget once you've learned.

Given your "situation" it would be a good way to get back to doing what you enjoy even if driving round a yard isn't exactly what you had in mind. However finding a company flexible and understanding of your circumstances when they ask for a valid class 1 may prove to be problematic, particularly with the larger logistics cos.

Am I right in thinking it's Matt(?) with the tats and you used to do concert work?

truck71

2,328 posts

201 months

Monday 14th November 2016
quotequote all
chilistrucker said:
Anybody on here?
Just after a heads up on the Terberg type tugs you see hurtling around RDC's. Do's and dont's. Thanks.
Not a lot to them really, visibility much better than a tractor unit, auto box takes away the leg work plus the chassis level access via the rear door saves a lot of ballache.

Key things as well as the driving are ability to work with despatch teams, manage "your yard", keep an eye out for defects and report them quickly and always use the trailer brake.

You'll do it easily.


chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,543 posts

180 months

Monday 14th November 2016
quotequote all
All that jazz said:
You'd soon pick it up. I was on a specific contract driving an 18 tonner every night on the papers for nearly 3 years and didn't drive an artic at all during that time. When I went back on artics I took to it like a duck to water. I don't think you ever forget once you've learned.

Given your "situation" it would be a good way to get back to doing what you enjoy even if driving round a yard isn't exactly what you had in mind. However finding a company flexible and understanding of your circumstances when they ask for a valid class 1 may prove to be problematic, particularly with the larger logistics cos.

Am I right in thinking it's Matt(?) with the tats and you used to do concert work?
Thank you both for the info. I like to think I'd probably quickly get back into it, but as pointed out due to a certain issue I have to get the job first. I have explained everything to the recruitment agency advertising the job. She told me that as its a yard shunter only the company will take car licence holders and train them. Is that right? Not that it matters for me personally, its all about the dvla, yet again. furiousfuriousfurious

She contacted the guy at the company and he told her as far as he was concerned if I have the car licence then in his opinion he sees no problem, BUT, he would have to check this in detail with company insurance. They are a large logistics company, UK wide. This was Friday. Not heard anymore yet, so based on the last 2 and a half years I guess I can already see where this is going. It's so frustrating as it would finally be a decent full time job, 4 on 4 off which I don't mind, a decent wage and 5 minutes from my house. It would be perfect, but I guess the DMG/DVLA will yet again get in the way. Bonkers eh.
Oh, they are reviewing my case this week with the chief medical advisor at the DMG. 2 years of this farce now rolleyes Funny how they will now review my case at long last, i'm sure thats nothing to do with the recent PHSO report.
Truck and Driver magazine have also been in contact as they are running a story soon about the massive failings of the DMG/DVLA. I'm delighted it is going public.

You are correct, I did indeed work with Mat on the tours. He keeps adding to the tattoos. He's on The Cure at mo, I'll prob pop up and see them at Wembley next month.

All that jazz

7,632 posts

175 months

Monday 14th November 2016
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I thought you were Mat. That's what I was lead to believe from the posts on TN anyway.

As far as the agency goes, you know the reputation they have so don't be pinning your hopes on them. If you know the company that's looking for the shunter, get in your car and go down and see them and speak to them face to face. I'd have expected any shunter job to have class 1 experience and preferably the licence to go with it. You have both although the latter is currently caught up in some red tape...

truck71

2,328 posts

201 months

Tuesday 15th November 2016
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Just a thought, I assume you passed a car test when it gave entitlement to drive up to a 7.5 ton? Has this been specifically suspended as well as your C+E? Or can you drive the 7.5t under the car licence?

PorkInsider

6,567 posts

170 months

Tuesday 15th November 2016
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chilistrucker said:
She told me that as its a yard shunter only the company will take car licence holders and train them. Is that right?
It's possible.

I used to work for a company (large global business, so very keen with regard to H&S and compliance) who decided to train a few nightshift warehouse staff to drive shunters. They definitely didn't hold HGV type licences.

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,543 posts

180 months

Tuesday 15th November 2016
quotequote all
truck71 said:
Just a thought, I assume you passed a car test when it gave entitlement to drive up to a 7.5 ton? Has this been specifically suspended as well as your C+E? Or can you drive the 7.5t under the car licence?
Sadly they took the 7.5 tonne entitlement away as well furious Just another nail in my coffin courtesy of the DMG. The ironic thing is they will let me drive a 3.5 tonne van with trailer. On several occasions I have pointed out to them the differences in lengths of a standard 7.5 tonne truck against a LWB type 3.5 tonne van pulling a 3 axle LWB trailer. I also raised braking and stability issues between the two, but as I have come to expect from the DMG/DVLA everything falls on very deaf ears.

I'm definitely not Mat, he has far more tattoos than me laugh

Thanks for that info Pork, handy to know.
The woman from the agency phoned me earlier and said she was still waiting to hear back from the guy at the company with reference to all of this. Fingers crossed I guess.

Mind you, I was contacted last night about what for me could be a really, really nice job and its not lorry or van related in any way. Spoke to the lady this morning about it in more detail as she wanted more in depth info on my work history. After a good chat she said she would be submitting my CV for this particular role today and I really like the sound of this specific job wink

I'm due a break at some point biggrin



chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,543 posts

180 months

Thursday 17th November 2016
quotequote all
Insurance said no on the shunter job frown

Got a call last night though, and have an interview Monday for the other thing.

PorkInsider

6,567 posts

170 months

Friday 18th November 2016
quotequote all
chilistrucker said:
Insurance said no on the shunter job frown

Got a call last night though, and have an interview Monday for the other thing.
Good luck for Monday, Chilis.

Like you say, you're surely due a break.

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,543 posts

180 months

Friday 18th November 2016
quotequote all
Thanks.
I will be spending the weekend researching as much as I can for this role. A little bit nervous about the interview as it is a bit different from what I am used to, but I'll give it my all! I really fancy this job.

Ms R.Saucy

284 posts

119 months

Monday 19th December 2016
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PorkInsider said:
It's possible.

I used to work for a company (large global business, so very keen with regard to H&S and compliance) who decided to train a few nightshift warehouse staff to drive shunters. They definitely didn't hold HGV type licences.
because you don't go on the road

i did some work a couple of years ago for a 3rd party logistics company and out of all the shunter drivers there was only one who held an LGV licence , the rest were forkies or trusted warehouse ops who happened to be i nthe right / wrong place at the time when the training came up ...

they had to hire a second LGV holder when they got another warehouse unit on the same estate that meant there would be more than a coupel of times a week runs on the road ( as before the runs on the road were usually when helping out other warehouses with a bit of holding each other's extra stock for a couple of days /weeks rather than having it clogging up the working floors / or in traliers clogging the yards )

Edited by Ms R.Saucy on Wednesday 21st December 19:56

chilistrucker

Original Poster:

4,543 posts

180 months

Tuesday 20th December 2016
quotequote all
I believe the job I was looking at went to a non Lgv licence holder. I'm sure with the right training they will be fine.
Despite my 23 years experience, they wouldn't touch me.
I really do have a lot to thank the DVLA/DMG for, for the last 2 and a bit years mad