I Hit a Wall During This Residential HGV Delivery
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to make deliveries in an HGV, it’s easy to think the job is simply about driving from one location to another, arriving at the destination and unloading.
The reality can be very different.
A residential HGV delivery can be very different from a straightforward building site delivery, with narrow roads, restricted access and unexpected obstacles all adding to the challenge.
As a UK HGV driver, every delivery can bring its own challenges. Road conditions, traffic, restricted access, parked cars, tight residential streets and the location where you’re expected to unload can all make a straightforward delivery considerably more difficult.
And on this particular residential HGV delivery, things didn’t quite go according to plan.
I ended up hitting a wall.
What makes a residential HGV delivery difficult?
Delivering to a residential property can be very different from delivering to a large commercial site.
When you’re driving a large HGV, the amount of space available to manoeuvre becomes extremely important.
A road that looks perfectly accessible from a car can feel very different when you’re sitting behind the wheel of a large lorry.
There can be:
- Narrow residential roads
- Parked cars
- Tight corners
- Restricted access
- Low-hanging obstacles
- Walls, fences and buildings close to the road
- Other vehicles trying to get through
- Limited room to turn around
- Difficult unloading locations
For an HGV driver, all of these things need to be considered before committing the vehicle to a particular position.
When an HGV delivery doesn’t go to plan
One of the things I enjoy showing on my YouTube channel is the reality of HGV driving rather than pretending that every delivery is straightforward.
Sometimes you arrive at a delivery address and immediately realise that the situation is going to require a bit more thought.
That is particularly true with residential deliveries.
You have to think about the size of the vehicle, the available space and what is around you. A small mistake in judgement can potentially cause damage to property or the vehicle, so taking your time is important.
And sometimes, despite your best efforts, things still don’t go exactly as planned.
That’s what happened during this delivery.
This residential HGV delivery was a good example of why access needs to be considered carefully before arriving on site.
HGV access problems can make a simple delivery complicated
One of the biggest challenges with residential HGV deliveries is access.
Before unloading, the driver needs to consider whether there is enough room to safely position the vehicle.
This isn’t simply about asking whether the lorry can physically get down the road.
You also have to consider whether you can get into the required position, whether you can manoeuvre safely and whether you can get back out again afterwards.
This is one of the reasons experience matters so much in HGV driving.
A professional driver needs to constantly assess what is happening around the vehicle and make decisions based on the conditions at the time.
Why residential deliveries require extra care
Residential areas weren’t necessarily designed with large HGVs in mind.
Modern cars are considerably smaller than a fully loaded HGV, and a road that provides plenty of room for normal traffic can become extremely tight when a large vehicle arrives.
There can also be pedestrians, cyclists, parked vehicles and residents going about their everyday lives.
That means an HGV driver has to remain aware of much more than simply getting the delivery completed.
Safety has to come first.
Sometimes that means stopping, getting out of the cab, checking the surroundings and deciding what the safest option is rather than simply trying to force the vehicle into position.
The reality of being a UK HGV driver
This is something I want to show more of through Trucker Matt UK.
There is a lot more to being an HGV driver than sitting behind the wheel and driving up and down motorways.
Every day can be different.
One day you could be travelling long distances on the motorway. The next day you could be trying to access a tight residential delivery address where there is barely enough room for the lorry.
You can have straightforward days, stressful days, long days and days where something completely unexpected happens.
That’s what makes HGV driving interesting.
You never really know exactly what the next delivery is going to bring.
What can HGV drivers do when access is difficult?
When faced with a difficult delivery location, taking a few extra moments to assess the situation can make a huge difference.
Some of the things an HGV driver may need to consider include:
1. Check the available space
Look at the road, entrance and unloading area before committing the vehicle.
2. Consider surrounding obstacles
Walls, parked vehicles, posts, gates and other obstacles can all become important when manoeuvring an HGV.
3. Think about the exit
It’s not just about getting into the delivery location. You also need to consider how you’re going to leave.
4. Take your time
Trying to rush a difficult manoeuvre is rarely worth it.
5. Get out and have a look
Sometimes the best way to understand the situation is simply to stop and physically check the area.
These are all parts of the job that people who don’t drive HGVs may never see.
Watch the full residential HGV delivery
I’ve filmed the whole experience for my YouTube channel so you can see exactly what happened rather than just hearing me talk about it.
👉 Watch the full video here:
I Hit a Wall During This Residential Delivery – Trucker Matt UK
If you’re interested in UK HGV driving, building site deliveries, life on the road and the reality of working as an HGV driver, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Want to see more of my HGV adventures? You can find all of my latest videos, from building site deliveries and motorway journeys to life on the road, on my Trucker Matt UK Videos page.
More than just driving a lorry
One of the reasons I started documenting my work is because there is a lot about HGV driving that people simply don’t see.
The driving is only one part of the job.
Planning deliveries, dealing with difficult access, manoeuvring in tight locations, dealing with traffic and making decisions throughout the day are all part of being a professional HGV driver.
And sometimes, as this delivery proved, you can quite literally hit a wall.
That’s the reality of working in the HGV industry.
Final Thoughts
Every delivery teaches you something.
Every residential HGV delivery presents its own challenges, and sometimes you simply don’t know what you’re going to face until you arrive.
Residential HGV deliveries can be particularly challenging because of restricted access, tight roads and obstacles that aren’t always obvious until you arrive.
For me, these situations are exactly why I enjoy documenting life behind the wheel. The job isn’t always perfect, and not every delivery goes smoothly, but that’s what makes the videos real.
If you enjoy seeing what life is really like behind the wheel, check out my other UK HGV driving blogs and follow along with my latest deliveries.
The next delivery could be completely different.
