Earnings wise expect up to £10 per hour, but expect to work between 55 and 60 hours per week. This is on general haulage, however time and a half/double time are becoming scarce. If you wish to seek greater earnings you need to aim to be taken on directly by the supermarkets I think think only ASDA are direct employers these days or move to haz loads for which you need an ADR certificate, this includes fuel which tends to be a closed shop.

You would also need a driver CPC which if you don’t have by September will mean you cannot drive a hgv. Also bear in mind you would need to qualify for a rigid licence before you can qualify for artic
work.

However there will be a driver shortage in the next few years which could see rates increasing as older drivers retire due to not completing a driver CPC and there are few young drivers entering the sector.

Also bear in mind you are on your own but you are managed via a traffic desk and these days mobile phones, satellite tracking and electronic messaging mean you are still managed closely.

Nights do pay more than day shift work, tramping or nights out in the vehicle also see a premium

Hi

Had 3 mk7s the 1.6 gives very slightly better mpg but is gutless above 3000rpm, the 2.0 is far better to drive, very impressive for overtaking, I get 59 to the gallon out of my 2.0 have had 75mpg as the best, did achieve 92mpg over 25 miles in the 1.6, this was me being very sad trying to get 100mpg.

Intelligent cruise control is great, put it on and the car basically drives all you do is steer, it brakes if you are too close to the car in front, however if you are catching a car up the car will slow to match that’s cars speed you need to start to overtake earlier, very comfy to drive, sat nav is accurate and easy to use

Comfy to sit in, well built feel.

Hi

Had 3 mk7s the 1.6 gives very slightly better mpg but is gutless above 3000rpm, the 2.0 is far better to drive, very impressive for overtaking, I get 59 to the gallon out of my 2.0 have had 75mpg as the best, did achieve 92mpg over 25 miles in the 1.6, this was me being very sad trying to get 100mpg.

Intelligent cruise control is great, put it on and the car basically drives all you do is steer, it brakes if you are too close to the car in front, however if you are catching a car up the car will slow to match that’s cars speed you need to start to overtake earlier, very comfy to drive, sat nav is accurate and easy to use

Comfy to sit in well built feel.

Yes I have a 2003 Soulcraft, still used as my main bike, fabulous to ride, just been resprayed and new graphics

I did notice there seems to be lot of bridle ways suddenly turning into footpaths across the area. I assume with the mines in the area every track would be a pack horse track at some point or other.

Many thanks for the info, may see you up there, I only live 20 miles away but never ridden there until last weekend, looks a great area.

Thanks for that Bajsyckel, I’ll stay off them, was looking at options to link up Blanchland to Allenheads

Has anyone tried the kiln dried logs imported from abroad that are advertised on the internet, they reckon 12-14% moisture.

Hi

Very bad year for sloes, the late frost killed the blossom, every bush round Teesdale has no berries this year, the only hope is high up where there is a late blossom.

I have a Westfield 1800 super sport does 1000 miles per year, it’s definitely not practical but have used it as my main car for short period

More practical than a bike you can just about get a weekends camping in for two if you dump the spare wheel and put a pannier there instead

Mine has 170bhp just had a new engine management in, it’s very fast now and will spin easily if you are not careful

There are some great roads where I live in the north Pennines, twisty smooth roads are its best terrain, eg hartside

The road is fine to Yad Moss, there are other ski areas locally, Harwood 2 miles from Yad Moss towards Middleton in Teesdale and Weardale ski club between Weardale and Teesdale, if it has recently snowed you need a 4×4 or chains to get here.

Yad Moss and Weardale is members only at the weekend, Harwood sells day tickets.

Car is company and I pay tax on it, Honda £120 a month, fuel is purely fuel no running costs for the car, I work it out as long as I get 36mpg I’m ok

If you run your own car it’s 45p per mile for business

Thanks for the info

Try a Trek Rocket, 20″ wheels not a baby seat but a harness, converts to a baby trailer we used ours for 5 years it went everywhere, forests, mountains, back of bike, would recommend one anytime

Have exactly the same as you IR my son with Autism starts secondary school on Wednesday and am like you seriously worried, the schools both old and new have been great with introduction days, a letter to every teacher explaining his fears, worries, and actions when he gets stressed or upset. School work is not an issue great at science and maths hates anything where imagination required.

However the greatest fear is interaction with other kids and their attitude to him, they don’t understand why he is slightly different, summer school at his new school showed this when he was teased for having an American accent, he’s not, but picks up the accent from telly, this ended in fisticuffs.

We can only hope it all goes well, but I dare say we will have good and bad days. The good thing his big sister is at the school which will hopefully help.

IR Hope all goes well

Fervourimage

I like Boris face this regularly, whilst you as a company try to cover every eventuality claims do come in, you pass them to your insurers and allow them to deal with it. No one becomes a target in today’s society it is part of the management process that we face today.

As a company we would not normally pay above SSP as it affects the bottom line and can open the floodgates for other illnesses to be paid when someone is off sick. The insurance claims go up the next year but that is budgeted for and costed.

Will send photos! Do you have an email?

Hi

I have a Specialised hard rock sport with 26 inch wheels and a twelve inch frame, it is 24 speed with v brakes but has mounts for discs on the frame. It has riser bars on and a basic front 80mm travel front fork. Bike is about 4 years old, still on the original brake pads and has not had that much use. Seat has a small rip in.

I am about to put it up for sale as my daughter has out grown it and I have just built her a Genesis up.

Would this be of any use?

1990 salsa brought in from the states
An early Marin Pine Mountain that had front and rear Manitous as suspension
Soulcraft

Above Barnard Castle, local riding is Baldersdale, Lunedale, Hamsterley and various tracks inTeesale

Does anybody remember the Boltby Bash a 2 day 3 stage race held in Boltby forest with the 50mph descent down Cracklow Slack?

Did it twice 91 & 92 great event

Still have the t shirt

Totalshell think I was 5th in that race, was it the one where there was a single gateway 200 yards after the start that caused massive congestion as the youths and juniors were trying to get through as the fun pack arrived, there was a guy usually just in front of me always wore a Bradford city striped football top, jez avert was also in the race.

I remember the Langborough on Tees course, not only were bikes taken but they raided the campsite and took the whole tent with everything in it. Would be 1991?

Hi

I’ve a twenty inch wheel spesh hot rock, good condition, scrape on front fork, good mechanical condition, am in the north east of England looking for £60 for it about 5 years old sat about for the last 3 years light trail use. It’s dark grey in colour.