Vans keep the country fed and supplied, and their drivers spend more time on the road than almost anyone. Most of them follow the rules all day, every day, and still put up with plenty from everyone else. Here’s what gets under their skin, and, for fridge van drivers, a few things that make the day easier.
1. Aggressive and careless drivers
Tailgating, cutting in, lane changes without a signal and speeding. When the van is your workplace, it wears you down to see other people put you at risk all day.
2. Traffic
Everyone hates a jam, but a van driver has customers waiting at the other end. Roadworks, accidents and closures knock a whole round off schedule, and if you own the business as well, that weighs on you.
3. Nowhere to park or load
In towns and cities, loading bays are scarce, often blocked, and time limits are tight. Every lap of the block looking for space costs time, and a ticket costs money.
For a fridge van, every minute with the doors open also lets the cold out. Curtains across the doorway hold the temperature while you load. See our accessories.
4. Potholes and bad roads
Potholes and broken surfaces are hard on tyres, suspension and the load in the back, and they slow the whole round down.
5. People who don’t look
Drivers who block access to loading bays, pedestrians who step out without looking, and cyclists weaving through traffic all make a van driver’s job harder and slower.
6. Bad weather
Rain, ice, snow and strong winds mean less grip, worse visibility and slower journeys, and making drop after drop in the pouring rain is miserable. Winter is hard on vans too: see maintaining a refrigerated van in winter.
7. Being treated as an obstacle
Some drivers see a van as something to get past rather than someone doing a job: refusing to let a van out, sitting on the horn, or squeezing past on a narrow road. A little patience goes a long way.
Making the day easier
- The right size of van. A van that’s too big for your round is harder to park and costs more to run. See what size fridge van do you need?
- A reliable van. Breakdowns with a full load are the worst day of all. See common problems with refrigerated vans.
- Extras that save time. Curtains, shelving and pallet runners speed up every drop. See the extras people wish they’d specced.
Looking for a new van for the job? See our fridge vans and freezer vans, or call us on 01444 245555.
