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We're on the road again
Page 66
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Work is streaming in and Rob Salter is enjoying being out and about.
As the song goes,"We're on the road again". I've now finished working at the NYK Logistics depot and am now out and about in one of my trucks. My intention was to drive for three or four days and spend the rest of the time keeping on top of the admin and trying to gain more work, but in the past three weeks I have spent only two days off the road.
I suppose that's a sign that things are going well. One truck is running a "milk round" every day this month for NYK — so that's one I don't have to worry about — and the other two trucks have been very busy as well.The extra work has come either from people I know in the industry or by word of mouth so,as a result, I have spent most of my time driving and very little time on other things.
Sales people
It's been good getting back out on the road, although I do have one complaint.We're all used to receiving phone calls at home from people in far-off call centres trying to sell us things — but now you can't stop at a motorway service station without being apprehended on your way to the toilet by numerous sales people trying to push anything from credit cards to handheld computers to mobile phones. While parked at Sandbach services last week , I even had a young lady knocking on my cab door trying to sell me all kinds of insurance. There's no hiding place! I feel sorry for drivers who are up and down the motorways every day.
My workload has increased vastly, maybe. it's the time of year,! don't know, but I'm not complaining. We just try to do a good job and hope more work will follow.] have recently signed up to another website for return loads and soon. I first looked at the site some time ago but was put off by the subscription fees, but now I've signed up for six months. A lot of the work posted is van work but they do have a number of loads for larger vehicles. They also send a text message each time a load is available in your area — I've had over 70 texts in the past four days alone!
Although I haven't done any work from the site as yet it is encouraging to see the volume of work being advertised. Based on that I'm currently contemplating getting a Transit-type van, but obviously I need to test the water a bit first so! might rent one for a fortnight and see what comes.
I knew getting an estate car would have its plus points. I had a call from the editor of Commercial Motor the other week: he needed boxes of magazines collecting from Hinckley and delivering to Lincoln. So I jumped into the Volvo and had a nice afternoon outing to Lincoln and back.
New people
With the imminent arrival of our third child I am trying to keep myself as close to home as possible —I don't think it would go down too well if I was arguing with a sales rep in Knutsford while my wife was in labour.
Although things have been extremely busy recently I don't think the business is ready for a third employee just yet. It's going to be a difficult one to judge; until I can be sure of enough regular work,! do have the option of someone on a temporary basis to cover for me when the baby arrives. Maybe this is a way forward. •