Grit Lorries?

[stoofur]

I was driving home last night and a Grit Lorry passed me. Really important job at this time of year. But it got me thinking. What do Grit Lorry Drivers do in the summer? I imagine they travel south as the year goes on ending in Australia or even Antarctica?

Anyone have any ideas?

[eyebrows]

milkmen

[ChuckFickens]

you're correct and the annual grit lorry migration is quite a majestic sight to see.

[daniela31]

First of all the grit lorry driver must have been going over his governed speed if he overtook you. They are only supposed to travel at 30mph on a normal road.

They are quite often council workers anyway, who are on winter maintainance programme.
If they do a grit in the evening, they usually have time off normal work the next day.

[Lakitu]

LOL @ migration.

They work for the council, so I'm guessing their summer job is gardening....lawn mowing the parks and council house gardens...etc.

[Lakitu]

Why must the driver have been speeding? :o/

You don't know stoofur was doing 20 on a 30 zone or if the larry passed him in the opposite direction...

[eyebrows]

might have been parking also

[Bathsheba]

Dunno what happens in the summer, stoofur, but do you ever wonder how the first Grit Lorry Driver managed to get to the depot? x

[daniela31]

yes, you are both right. I jumped to the wrong conclusion.

[Lakitu]

Numpty x

[stoofur]

Actually he was passing me in the opposite direction.

I would love to see that migration though. I wonder if David Attenborough had done a program on it.

[daniela31]

Bathsheba, Hi.
They are ususally already at the depot, after having a forecast of bad weather iminent by their excellent computer warning system. Gritting is mainly a precaution before the really bad weather arrives, and during bad weather you will see them fitted with snow ploughs.
:-)

[eyebrows]

....thats name again....its mr plow....

[danchip]

many of the grit lorry drivers are binmen doing overtime or casual drivers brought in to cover these shifts, a lot of councils now bring in sub contractors to carryout this service as its cheaper than employing staff and paying for the vehicles

[Lakitu]

I have an image of all the drivers migrating with the Northern Lights dancing in the background.

[stoofur]

Bathsheba, That is a really good question. I reckon he or she takes the grit lorry home and then reverses to work driving over the freshly gritted area.

Maybe that is the way to go. We could all have a gritting tool we attach to the front of the car which would grit as we drive over it. Hey if anyone invents this remember I thought of it first ok?

[Bathsheba]

Thanks stoofur. I thought it had fallen on stony ground for a while then ;) x

[daniela31]

ER.......................bathsheba.
I answered your question actually.......................or am I invisible today?
;-)

[rnchugg]

I had to laugh at alot of those comments, I used to work for the local authorithy on the "gritters" firstly no matter what time day or night we where called out we where STILL expected to turn in for our normal shift of 7.45 am till 4pm (unless the "grit" was still running). secondly 90% of the lorrys where "demountabale" bodies that during "normal" and summer work where used for tarmacdan or general haulage work. The other 10% of "permanant" mounted gritters would go to the Head office for complete overhaul and inspection. The "Demounts" would also be shipped down so to avoid and breakdown over the winter period. As for the drivers during the rest of the year we where deployed to other units for other work. e.g grass cutting, road surfacing, tarmacing etc etc. Hope this helps.

[stoofur]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I never thought I would get so many answers. I lpve this site. I appreciate the funny as well as the serious answers. I must admit my question although firmly Tongue in cheek I did wonder what happened to the trucks in the summer and chug. I had no idea that the grit part could be separated so thanks for that I consider myself slightly more educated now. Thanks everyone!!

[Panic Button]

Sometimes they are out in summer heatwaves, gritting melting tarmac, I believe.