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Warning to truckers & truckers family

42 replies

FairytalesAreBullshit · 23/04/2017 21:51

My Dad was targeted by an outfit as he slept on a popular HGV spot near Newcastle (Tyne)

They stole his fuel which was discovered at 5:30am. Police came and told him that it was a 'thing' on this A road. Then in the afternoon recovery people came to say nothing could be done, so had to wait for a pick up by the truck manufacturer, who dropped him on the Newcastle Metro. Being old having no idea how to get a ticket after hours, the name of the town was redeemed slightly, with the help he got. Eventually getting on a train where he was accosted by the loveliest Geordie gay guy, that's my favourite part of. A very kind man travelling Newcastle to Bristol who helped my stressed out Dad, making his journey home somewhat entertaining.

All I can say is buy knock off diesel in the Newcastle area I curse you. My Dad would have been very stressed and it's not what you need as you're knocking off, to have a 14 hour day on a Friday, it has made me upset for his welfare. They cut the fuel line, the imbeciles, but the more professional ones do what these idiots ended up doing eventually.

Is it worth the misery of truck drivers and companies that also get affected, so you can get cut price diesel?

So please warn any trucker relatives who do nights out who might be affected by this.

OP posts:
FairytalesAreBullshit · 23/04/2017 22:57

It's lovely no one gives a shit when the sacrifices these men & women make to get your goods all around the UK, including their safety.

I would have thought it's a fair warning.

OP posts:
Mistletoekids · 23/04/2017 22:59

Thank you

cowgirlsareforever · 23/04/2017 22:59

That's a terrible thing to happen to your Dad. Truck drivers are the unsung heroes of our modern life!

ALemonyPea · 23/04/2017 23:01

That is awful, your poor dad. Was he just parked on a lay by on the A road or a proper truck stop?

WorraLiberty · 23/04/2017 23:02

What do you mean 'it's lovely no one gives a shit'? Confused

BaronessBomburst · 23/04/2017 23:02

This has happened to people I know too. Apparently they collect it in a kids paddling pool. There's bog all you can do about it; if you lock the fuel cap they just drill into the tank and that costs even more in repairs.
Glad your dad got home safe. Flowers

SleepingTiger · 23/04/2017 23:04

Methinks some nice genes may not have been transferred.

PossumInAPearTree · 23/04/2017 23:08

I'm guessing OP was annoyed that no one commented in the first hour after she posted.

Hope your dad is ok. Wouldn't cross my mind to buy knock off diesel. Didn't even know it was available.

WorraLiberty · 23/04/2017 23:09

Ok well 'bump' would have done.

Glad he got home safely OP

thenightsky · 23/04/2017 23:11

And as prices rise, so it will happen more and more Sad

Cloudgaga · 23/04/2017 23:17

"Truck drivers are the unsung heroes of our modern life!"

yy

ThunderClouds · 23/04/2017 23:19

Glad your dad's ok, OP.

Crumbs1 · 23/04/2017 23:26

Unpleasant but a bit worrying if your dad is driving a heavy goods truck but, "too old" to manage to sort himself out with a metro ticket.

HappyFlappy · 23/04/2017 23:29

What a horrible thing to happen to your dad - I would have thought it could be pretty dangerous, too, risking spilled fuel lying about (though I suppose diesel isn't volatile the way some fuels are).

I can't understand how they could transport it in a kids' paddling pool (not doubting you Baroness - it's just that the logistics of the exercise are beyond my little brain Confused).

Like others, I wasn't even aware that cut price diesel was a "thing".

Hope your dad's got over the unpleasantness.

Glossolalia · 23/04/2017 23:33

Glad your DF got home ok.

FairytalesAreBullshit · 23/04/2017 23:39

I'm sorry but it was really emotional as your mind swings to what if a trucker wakes up whilst this is happening. Apparently they use a hammer to determine if the tank is worthy of doing over.

It made me cry thinking of the safety of the members of my family who are truckers and their safety. I was referring to the fact the post was ignored. I guess you have to be a truckers family member after something like this for it to hit home.

Thank you to those wishing my Dad was ok. I think it would have been stressful and he does have a few issues this could have triggered. He's an old man who hasn't been on a train in 30 plus years, so not seeing the friendly face of train station staff. Luckily having the £100+ fee home. A day where he was meant to finish early, the train only got to the home town well after 10. Then his car was locked in a compound.

What do you do if your truck is being done over whilst you sleep.

It was a truck stop, apparently 8 trucks got done over in one night at some point recently.

It makes you beg the question, ok fuel prices are shit compared to years ago. But putting men and women in danger.

He was first alerted that something was not right because his heater that's powered by the diesel had gone out. Then he got out of his truck and could smell the diesel, from where the eejits decided oh we'll cut the fuel line.

To the person who essentially said I was rather unpleasant, if your family member got targeted by a gang would you be all roses and coffee? Oh it doesn't matter you clubbed to death my Father, come in, I've baked a cake and everything.

Ok he was fine apart from inconvenience, maybe a few palpitations and sweating from the stress. But think of the truck driver who wakes up to their lorry being done over.

Not only do you have to contend with choice drivers during the day, but even at a truck stop you're not safe.

OP posts:
FairytalesAreBullshit · 23/04/2017 23:45

He's not too old to be driving, he's well below retirement age. But still him verses a gang who cut the fuel line and the top off his fuel tank, I wouldn't really fancy his chances if he had of woken up. I doubt it would be a skinny Weasley figure cutting off the top of fuel tanks.

Plus this wasn't just my Dad, it was many truckers who parked at this certain spot.

I don't know about paddling pools, or the specific method. Just that the police labeled these amateurs as initially they cut the fuel line spilled diesel everywhere. Then resorted to the other method of cutting off the top of the fuel tank.

OP posts:
FairytalesAreBullshit · 23/04/2017 23:47

If you've never been on a train in 30 years, the automated systems now where it's all digitalised aren't what you had in times gone by, where you went to a person to say oh I need to get from here hundreds of miles away. It's not always that obvious.

OP posts:
HelenaDove · 23/04/2017 23:51

OP Im sorry to hear this. Thanks Its thanks to these drivers that stuff gets delivered to the shops.

Without them we would be royally stuffed.

HelenaDove · 23/04/2017 23:53

OP i havent been on a train for over ten years I reckon i would struggle and im 43.

IMO we are getting too reliant on computers for everything.

notangelinajolie · 24/04/2017 00:03

I'm sorry your dad has had a bad experience but being unable to sort this out for himself is concerning. It isn't rocket science, surely he knows how to use a phone and get help? An old man who can't manage a situation like this should not be in charge of a HGV! When was his last medical? I worked as a Transport Manager for many years before I became a SAHM and in all my years I have never heard such nonsense. All the drivers I have ever worked with would have known exactly what to do. And although not a nice experience for him - it is something that does happen and he should have been prepared for it. HGV drivers are fully aware of what can happen and I am stunned that he was so unprepared. I think he needs to look for a job that is less taxing.

WinBigly · 24/04/2017 00:06

How horrible for your Dad, I hope he's okay now.

Must be very scary to wake up and find your livelihood has been attacked whilst you sleep and wondering what else could have happened. Very similar to being burgled in your sleep Sad I know people who have had serious anxiety after a similar situation.

Best wishes to your Dad, I hope he gets over this, and thank you for the heads up to others.

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MyKingdomForBrie · 24/04/2017 00:09

Bit extreme notangelina - he only didn't know how to use the automatic ticket machines, that's hardly relevant to his job.

WinBigly · 24/04/2017 00:19

Being old having no idea how to get a ticket after hours

That's the only thing this gentleman struggled with yet some people are suggesting that driving is beyond his ability and questioning his medical records? Blimey Confused

I suspect I'm younger than the OP's Dad but I have no idea how to acquire a ticket 'out of hours' as I rarely use the trains. I also do not have a smartphone where I can book tickets OOH or check the procedure. Not everyone has/wants an iPhone, some of us survive with a basic 'text & call' contract.

user1491572121 · 24/04/2017 00:20

OP this sounds like a terrible thing but you must stop infantasizing your Dad. You say "he's old" then say he's well below retirement age...so I assume he's in his 50s.

Tha'ts not old.

Many very capapble Mumsnetters are in their 50s and 60s.

It sounds like your Dad's a bit like me....a panicker. I'd be the same...I'm not knocking your Dad for being a bit scared or whatever...but don't keep saying he's old and can't manage things.

He managed well in the end.

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