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'The driver attempted to block down-change from 12th to seventh gear'
Page 68
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g1 have been involved with road transport for 12 years as a mechanic, an LGV1 licence holder and a member of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers. I am very much in favour of cutting out the "cowboy element" of our industry so it was with interest that I sat down to watch Channel A's exposure programme, Running Bent, earlier this month.
The programme began quite sensibly, relating the sad story of the young lad killed by a runway truck after its driver fell asleep at the wheel.
However, what followed was an insult to myself and many hundreds of professional people in road transport.
When the "undercover" driver gained employment he climbed into his truck, an ERF E Series.
Then he began explaining the use of the tachograph, at which point the ERF became a Leyland Daf. Finally loaded up our star driver heads off for Anglesey.ls he driving an ERF or a Leyland Daf? No, he is now in a Volvo!
As if this wasn't confusing enough, he is shown eating a hamburger in the Volvo when the mobile phone rings in the ERF and he answers it in the Volvo. This guy can drive two trucks at the same time—what a star!
Just when I thought this farce could not get any worse, our driver begins complaining about the clutch being faulty on his truck (the ERF) and how he was unable to change gear. I am not surprised he couldn't change down—I will stake my last week's wages that particular truck was equipped with an Eaton Twin Splitter which, when used correctly, doesn't need the clutch to change gear up or down. But our numbskull driver attempted to block down change From 1 2th to seventh gear and wonders why it won't change down properly. Near the beginning of the programme our driver claims he knows all about the hazards of a certain chemical because he learned about it on his ADR course. Ten minutes later he is saying he is not happy having to pick up a load of it because he is not experienced enough. Come on! This guy is never a truck driver. All he has done is made himself look stupid and contradict himself.
Last but not least, after his gruelling day behind the wheel he parks up his Volvo and climbs into the bunk bed in the ERF. Get real!
The programme was the biggest load of crap I have ever seen—a total waste of 30 minutes of my life. Please, please, Channel 4, if you intend to slag off our industry have the decency to do it using a more professional approach.,