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[Martian]

going by the thread title and also slightly off topic, i would just like to add that there are proportionally as many p"""s taking employees as employers

Indeed, and I have one on my team 

Gissa job, I can do that

[Andy B]

.... include everything from flat batteries and wheel changes (which i would frequently do 15+ per day) up to the National recovery. £57 for a jump start is good money .......

I'd feel embarrassed to call a recovery firm out for a jump start!! And I certainly wouldn't expect someone else to change a wheel over for me, not even on the hard shoulder. Part of the reason for joining a recovery service is due to the fact her Smart doesn't have a spare ....... a bottle of out of date goo won't be much use to you when your tyre has blown & is shredded. 

[Lazydocker]

.... include everything from flat batteries and wheel changes (which i would frequently do 15+ per day) up to the National recovery. £57 for a jump start is good money .......

I'd feel embarrassed to call a recovery firm out for a jump start!! And I certainly wouldn't expect someone else to change a wheel over for me, not even on the hard shoulder. Part of the reason for joining a recovery service is due to the fact her Smart doesn't have a spare ....... a bottle of out of date goo won't be much use to you when your tyre has blown & is shredded. 

It used to happen all the time. Wheel changes are sometimes not allowed by companies (H&S strikes again ) so company car drivers have to call Roadside Assistance to change it for them

Plus there are more and more people on the road who don't know how to change a wheel I was doing a fuel drain a couple of weeks ago and a young lad in a Corsa had a puncture... He didn't even know how the jack worked As he was in my way I just changed it for him (FOC)... Worked in my favour as the garage staff saw me do it and said that they would make sure the manager knew how helpful I had been

[MaxV6]

i thought basic car maintenance type stuff was now part of the theory test and whatnot???   like, specifically, how to change a wheel....  no???

[Lazydocker]

i thought basic car maintenance type stuff was now part of the theory test and whatnot???   like, specifically, how to change a wheel....  no???

Just because it's part of the theory, doesn't mean they can actually do it

[adey2]

i was also a ex recovery driver, i remember being on call and not getting any sleep, one that comes to mind is id worked all day around leicester area, got home at 10pm bed about 11pm to get a call that someone had broke down on donnington services, going to glasgow, i got them there turned round pulled into first services and slept on back seat of truck for 7hrs, company then stung me for 2 grand when i left by not paying wages

[Lazydocker]

i was also a ex recovery driver, i remember being on call and not getting any sleep, one that comes to mind is id worked all day around leicester area, got home at 10pm bed about 11pm to get a call that someone had broke down on donnington services, going to glasgow, i got them there turned round pulled into first services and slept on back seat of truck for 7hrs, company then stung me for 2 grand when i left by not paying wages

Yep... The long hours were a killer Worst "run" I ever had was from 05:00 Thursday to 03:00 Monday without actually getting into bed Just hour long "Power Naps" as and when I got the chance Made a lot of money that weekend though... over £2k

[Andy B]

.... Made a lot of money that weekend though... over £2k

Bit of a bugger to spend it though if you'd fallen alseep in the outside lane ........... 

[Lazydocker]

.... Made a lot of money that weekend though... over £2k

Bit of a bugger to spend it though if you'd fallen alseep in the outside lane ........... 

Indeed. Fortunately(?), I've never been someone who needs a lot of sleep... 4-5 hours/night is normal for me, often broken, and I'm very good a "Power" Naps

It was foolish when I think about it and I wouldn't want to do it again, but sometimes needs must

[Andy B]

....
It was foolish when I think about it and I wouldn't want to do it again, but sometimes needs must

Hindsight is wonderful, and yes, if you need the money you do what's asked of you ............. exactly the case of the young recovery driver - he was 25 with 3 little ones & obvioulsy every quid mattered.   

I've only ever fallen asleep at the wheel once. A very frightening experience. If you went towards Pompey on the A34 and followed the signs for Gosport, the signs (used to) put you on the M27(5?) for a junction, the ON slip very quickly became the OFF slip for Gosport ie by-passing Fareham. It is/was only a very short distance but I found myself in the outside lane when I opened my eyes! This was the best part of 30 years ago & was in the early ours - not something I'd like to do again.

[adey2]

most the new rules came in after the recovery driver who fell asleep on m25 nr to heathrow, killed him and if im right in remembering 6 passengers, im sure if i wrong to number of deaths ill be quoted as so

[Omegatoy]

I just had to have my new "bus" trailered to the garage here in Spain. ALL policies must have full recovery here. I think that is good as it minimises roadside deaths and holdups.

The fellow arrived quickly and took us 15 miles to garage of our choice. He was totally disaffected with his job (but lucky to have one when unemployment here is 30%). His main gripe was the hours and being permanently tired from never getting enough sleep. I think only a younger person could do that.

oooh not good!!! what was wrong with it?? done my fair share of recovery driving and got the sack for fixing cars at roadside rather than transport them hundreds of miles!! cant see the sense in that meself but it was a lesson learnt!!

[adey2]

i used to repair over recover, always baffled me the people over here who think they got full recovery with there car insurance policy, 99% of time it just a roadside policy with 10 mile tow, recovery companies made a killing off them, when i was in essex working the operators in office used to see who could sting people most

[Andy B]

i used to repair over recover, ....

You'd have been more than welcome to replace the crank sensor at the road side for me .......... 

Not quite as straight forward as a V6  clicky

[Vamps]

i used to repair over recover, ....

You'd have been more than welcome to replace the crank sensor at the road side for me .......... 

Not quite as straight forward as a V6  clicky