Day In The Life of A Powered Access Driver
- Nikki Prince
- Mar 19
- 6 min read
Not being a morning person the thought of a 2.30am alarm call didn't fill me with joy, however I surprised myself and driver Carl by being awake and ready to leave at 3am.
It was a short 20 minute drive to the yard to begin the day. When we arrived and parked up we both had to put on our high viz before grabbing the truck and heading inside the giant warehouse to get the machines we needed to deliver.
Inside there were several other drivers also loading up for the day ahead. Job sheets are typically sent to drivers electronically the day before so they can plan in advance. This can include drop offs and collections nationwide.
The warehouse was full of different machines from cherry pickers to scissors lifts. Job sheets detail what items need collecting, so it is important to get to know what items are
called so you can find them in the warehouse and out and about on collections. This is something that will come with time though and not essential to know everything from day one. Other drivers were also happy to help each other, so if you need a helping hand there is always someone to ask even when you are on the road, they are just a phone call away.
Once items are loaded they then need to be secured with straps and chains. It is also important to make sure they are loaded correctly so they don't exceed height restrictions, little things like checking baskets are lowered can save potential disasters down the line. Drivers can use height sticks at any point if they are unsure as it is better to be safe than sorry. The impact of hitting something like a low bridge with an over height load would not only cause damage and delays for the driver and other road users, but it would also have a massive financial impact for the company. So this enforces that ongoing checks are an essential part of the job.
A degree of forward planning is important for the job as it can be like a game of tetris ensuring you have the space to load any additional collections throughout the day in a safe and secure way. That said the job does also require the ability to be able to think on your feet if you face unexpected challenges at collections or deliveries.
Once we were loaded we left the warehouse for the first job of the day. All the days jobs were fairly local, in and around Birmingham and there were 5 jobs in total to complete.
Powered Access Hire is a vital cog in the running of many businesses. With a wide range of machines available you can be sure the hire companies will have the right machine for the job. Whether you need a machine to change a light-bulb where a normal ladder wouldn't reach, need mobile equipment to help assemble or dis-assemble equipment and fixtures or carry out work within tight and hard to reach places, Powered Access can help.
Companies can arrange to have their chosen machines delivered to sites for the time frame they need. Once the time is up machines are collected back from sites.
Powered Access drivers are given a location/postcode for deliveries and on arrival they need to ensure machines are safely unloaded and left at the agreed locations for the customers. Often this involves no contact deliveries as it can be before places are open and out of normal business hours. Usually there is a contact number for any problems, but it will ultimately involve a lot of on the spot and out of the box thinking to get the job done.
For collections the same details are provided, but again this may involve no contact collections if it is out of business hours. It can be a case of having to look around and find the machines and then make sure you have correctly identified the right ones before loading them on the trailer. Bit like being a detective.
One of the jobs we had on the day involved collecting two machines from a location in central Birmingham. There was a postcode provided, but a driver had already been the previous day to collect and had been unsuccessful, so we knew it may be a challenge. The first obstacle was navigating tight one way streets to find a safe location we could park up and drop the ramps ready to load the machines. Once we had done that it was a case of looking in all the visible locations round about, car parks, loading bays etc. After about 15 minutes a car pulled up and said he worked for the company and knew where the machines were and when he had parked he would show us. We were taken to a secure underground car park that wasn't visible from the road as it had a roller shutter and needed security clearance to access. So without his help we may have also struggled to find the machines.
Once the machines were located and identified as the right ones they needed to be driven to the truck to be loaded as there was no access to park closer for loading. Another issue faced was that the machines were not fully charged so it was a slow roll to the exit and touch and go if they would have enough juice to even make it up the ramp. Thankfully they made it outside where driver, Carl, then had to plan where they needed to be loaded on the truck considering the rest of the days collections/deliveries. Once on they needed to be secured and then we were off to the next stop of the day.
The next job was another city centre location, this time a building site just a short drive away. On arrival there were other trucks also there for jobs, so we were directed to where to park and had to wait for the site staff to re-direct us when ready. After about a 20 minute wait it was our turn to move and we were told to park further down the street where they would bring the machine off site and onto the street for us. It was a seamless process and it was soon outside and loaded on the truck with the other machines, ready for the next job of the day.
Once we had completed the last job it was time to take a break. Luckily where we had parked for the last collection was just a short walk from a butty van, so we went and grabbed breakfast.
When break was over we headed back to the yard to unload the machines we had collected. and then park up the truck for the following day.
Although it was an early start, well for a none morning person it was early, it did mean that the day was finished in the afternoon and we were home earlier than some other driving jobs would allow. This would be great for those who have families or hobbies in the evenings. Compared to the other areas I have recently been out with I would say this is a physically demanding job. It requires climbing on and off the trailers when loading and climbing in and out of machines to load and unload them. It is also essential to make sure straps and chains are secure so this involves an element of physical strength too.
I would say you need to be able to think on your feet and be prepared to work in a fast paced environment in this sector of the industry. You must be prepared to get stuck in, get your hands dirty and not be afraid of hard work. It will require speaking to people at sites or to gauge information on locations, so must have good communication skills too.
I would also say that if you struggle under pressure then it may not be the best job for you.
There are plenty of plus points it you are looking for a driving job and are considering Power Access. No two days are the same, you get to travel up and down the country. The hours allow a degree of flexibility meaning you can spend time at home with loved ones or having down time. There was a team spirit within this company and all drivers supported each other too.
If you think Powered Access may be the sector for you it is worth contacting some companies, or even checking out the agencies which specialize in this. IPAF Training is required for the role, so you will have all the essential skills you will need for the role before starting.
Thanks to Rob at https://unityoperators.com/ for allowing me to go out for the day
Commentaires