A Day In The Life

A Day in the Life

We’re starting a new series at Abbey Logistics to give you a look at what it’s like behind the wheel for our drivers. They do a great job every week, making sure our customers receive reliable and safe service.

First up is Rachel Caiger, who has been driving with us in Middlewich for three years.

“I have been a lorry driver for six years. For three of them, I have been with Abbey Logistics as a Monday-to-Friday tramper. I find working at Abbey fun, with a wide variety of work and products. I also find everyone is up for a laugh, no matter where you work in the business. Everyone is very friendly and extremely helpful when it comes to advice on the job.”

My day starts 4am Monday morning. I get into work and sort my truck out for the week, make the bed, and put my clothes and food away.

I complete my pre-use tractor unit checks on the app, then go and find my trailer and do my tank pre-use checks. After that, I’m off to Liverpool Docks to load. Loading starts at 6:00 am at Liverpool Docks.

08:00 am – I’m all loaded and weighed out. Today I’m delivering to a glass factory in Knottingley.

10:00 am – Time for a break. I pull over at a motorway service area for a brew and a biscuit and watch some TV.

10:45 am – Break over, and after a quick walk around my truck and tank to ensure all is still okay, it’s time to carry on to Knottingley.

11:15 am – I arrive at Knottingley, but unfortunately for me, it’s a one-lorry-at-a-time drop as it’s a small yard and someone is already tipping. Even worse, they’ve only just got there, so it’s a two hour wait before I get in position for my delivery.

I always find that if you’re friendly at customer sites, the staff look after you. They made me a brew and let me use their canteen, which gave me the chance to book another break.

13:15 pm – I’m directed to the point for my delivery.

15:00 pm – Delivery completed successfully, and I’m on my way back to Liverpool.

I receive my instructions for tomorrow’s work and would really like to get it loaded today, as this will give me a head start for tomorrow’s delivery in King’s Lynn, about a five-hour drive from Liverpool. I make good time back to Liverpool and manage to get loaded, so now all I need to do is park up and get a good night’s sleep.

This is just one snapshot of life at Abbey Logistics. More driver stories coming soon!