aspenarb

I have noticed that around here a few tree surgery outfits are using these secure container storage facilities that are springing up everywhere. It wont replace a yard as a chip/chog dump but a good alternative for saws,chippers and stump grinders. 24hour patrolled, floodlit and cameras everywhere beats any remote farmyard. Bob

These trucks are out there, we used to run a 10 ton Daf, that had a five ton payload and could tow 8 tons. As I mentioned it needs to be piped for air or you have the ballache of getting the air conversion approved and the plated weights altered. Bob

You will need something already piped for air like a wagon and drag if you want the big train weight or you will be limited to something on overrun brakes. There are a few SWB wagon and drag units about that would lend themselves to ARB work. Jenkinson run them

Before the like/laugh button was introduced on here there was a lot more interaction between members. Its now so easy to just read then like,laugh or pass on a subject, the point scoring laugh button seems to encourage the trolls in a very facebookesque way. Just saying. Bob

I would have thought a timber truck would bend into that gateway without too much trouble, If it cant be got into from one direction because of the telegraph pole I am pretty sure it would be manageable from the other. Quite often had to shunt about into gate entrances much narrower than that. I would be more concerned with sight lines. Bob

It gets worse for truck operators, the DVS zone kicks in tomorrow. Any unregistered/non-compliant truck unwittingly running into these areas which is basically anywhere inside of the M25 will cop a £550 fine which will no doubt escalate if paid late. Nice little money earner, no doubt others will follow. DVS2020 DVS2020.ORG Direct Vision Standards Bob

Most know about the LEZ/ULEZ in London., received a notification from Bath&North East Somerset council the other day that their CAZ ( clean air zone) will be in place and chargeable from the 15th March 2021. They must of been harvesting reg numbers for at least a year because the letter quoted a reg number off one of our vehicles that's not been down that way for quite some time. Trucks inc Euro 6 £100 per day, vans and smaller £9 a day and that includes petrol vehicles. Come upgrade time it may alter potential vehicle choices, there is a registration scheme that lowers these daily charges but I am not sure what this entails or if there are any concessions for those that live in these zones. Others to follow this year. New Low Emission Zones for 2021 - Confused.com WWW.CONFUSED.COM Cities are enforcing Low Emission Zones to reduce air pollution. But how does this affect motorists?

Ours go off and are analysed for infringements,if these infringements are not addressed the operators Olicence could be revoked come audit time or at the very least go from green status to red. Red to DVSA is a guaranteed pull no matter where you go, that needs to be avoided at all costs. If you qualify for tacho exemption its best to get the form filled in so DVSA know its exempt before you get stopped. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/754827/declare-heavy-goods-vehicle-does-not-need-tachograph.pdf

Worth checking with the client first, we have a done a few where they wont accept crushed concrete as fill, gets expensive using clean stone. Some of them want the tracks taken up and the ground reinstated when extraction is complete, some insist on root protection. Best to get a spec. Bob

The TMech has been good Will,. Just a couple of small things to consider, bolts holding the teeth on are crap so use uk sourced bolts, teeth are not always available so keep a decent stock of them or modify to Rayco teeth and the throttle lever is crap, change that for a decent mower lever and cable. other than that its not missed a beat. Bob

With the increasing roll out of lez and ulez zones in a lot of the bigger cities the 8k budget may be better spent on the deposit for a newer truck that’s allowed into some these cities. It will probably get to the point where the older trucks are worthless. Bob.

I can see this being a very slow process.I don't think the self employed in particular will be bearing the brunt of this, it will ultimately be the working class and I think they will pluck our pubes one by one over many years rather than a swift kick in the nuts. Bob

We have employed a few arb girlies over the years, as an employer I have not had any issues with them but it can cause a bit of resentment with the guys. Normally hinges around the graft/pay ratio as in the "why the feck are you paying her the same as me when she cant lift heavy fings" argument. Bob

Andy I would avoid gravel as its always on the move, not too bad in grass grids laid on top of a substantial sub base in a driveway that's used for cars, it wont work on membrane laid straight on top of grass with a five ton forklift scuffing around on it. Have a look at Protectaweb , good for 44 ton trucks and pulls up easily when you need to take it up, probably cheaper as well. Go for angular stone , it self interlocks and stays put, top it of with planeings or scalps

Follow it, it may lead to a Chinese takeway Bob

They look like fortnite symbols. Bob

As the lads have pointed out you need to find a decent supplier, if your location was known I am pretty sure someone on here will know of one on your patch. As far as estimating goes you really do need to look hard at what you are pricing.If the ground is made up, full of roots or services, if the fence is supporting tons of crap piled up on the neighbours side , ground conditions and levels can all affect progress. Its certainly not a generic rate per panel. Think about terms and conditions on your quote that will cover the unforeseen. Our lads on our landscape work get roped into a fair bit of fencing . The one below looked innocent enough when we priced it, what we didn't know was it was supporting next doors garden/jungle which was considerably higher. Ended up with 3mtr posts ,double concrete gravel boards all dug through heavy roots. Terms and conditions stopped it becoming a costly blamefest. Bob

Urine extraction aside for a moment ( I only said a moment )it's a rather worrying situation Mick when many years of experience and competence account for nothing. I can half understand the changes but think they should apply to new trainees going forward that don't know any different and leave those comfy with SRT for the rest of their working life. Bob

I hope a groundie wearing a chog for a hat wasn't one of them Mick Bob

There's the rub Mick " newly qualified" and no experience, the piece of Andrex they leave college with after a week ticks enough boxes and H&S criteria to allow an unsuspecting employer to legally let them loose in a tree.I have been of the opinion for many years that climbing qualifications should be part of a proper time served apprenticeship scheme and not just a ticket. Bob

Easy, employ hundreds of highly paid chair polishers to generate these ever-increasing and much needed paper pushing/certification schemes, run them through organisations that have little to no idea or experience in the field and as we all know this will make climbing a much safer occupation. Start the car Bob

Kevin and Paddy its not an H&S get out or slippery side step, we merely get a signed contract from our climbers clearly stating they will not use SRT. I am not condoning or condemning SRT, perhaps climbing certification should clearly indicate which method a climber has been trained or retrained in. Bob

How many of you guys have signed company disclaimers and still use SRT? Bob

A disc normally incorporates the blowing system and has a lot flywheel inertia, downside is to chip 18" you need 36"+ diameter flywheel. Drum is more compact, in theory just over an 18" drum will do the job of a 36" disc, downside is there is less flywheel effect so a tad harsher on the drive system so they tend to spin them up faster, also needs the added complication of a separate blowing system. Bob

Its an odd one Khriss, the fifteen minute daily check time is the same for 7.5 tonners as it is for an artic unit +trailer which could have 16 wheels/tyres and twice as many lights to run through. If its your daily driver you can thoroughly check around any small truck and fill in the defects book in less than five minutes, especially if you have got a mucker with you to help check the lights. Its not a problem or something to avoid, it is something I believe is bang on for bigger trucks but in need of a time tweak for the small ones. Bob