Chookiehen Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 .......for the rest of the year when they are not required to drive the gritters? Do they sit, poised and ready next to the phone for the first drop in temperature each winter, or do they all have 'day jobs' with the council? The forum seems to be the font of all knowledge, so i just wondered if anyone knew? It's driven me loopy for years now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I will wait for the answer like you..... I've never really thought about it before.....what do they do in the summer I wonder?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 According to Yahoo answers it could be any of the following; I drove a sanding truck some decades ago, and this was a truck owned by a private contractor paid on the basis of tons carried and miles of highway spread. When we had snow or icy conditions I might work 18 hours straight, but when there was no need for sanding, we were paid a standby amount, like 3 hours a day. What one did? One could book out and go drive the garbage truck, or one could stay in the yard to be available should need arise. Most would book out unless a storm is expected within a day. One would have to be getting lots of sleep, and because the ministry had mandated we stay and get sleep, they paid 6 hours for that 24 hour period before a storm. or It's been said already but, they just do other work for the council within their community. So, repairing things on council homes/property. Cutting hedges/grass. Picking up litter. Just keeping the area tidy in general. or The drivers go and do other things and the Lorry's get either get parked up till they are needed or used for other jobs. Source(s): I work for that department in my council or, for the more silly answers, Pick up all the bits of grit from the last time around to put back in their lorry. Lounge about. Help Santa. chase penguins with feather dusters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chookiehen Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Help Santa. I LOVE the thought of Santas elves being recruited in the Christmas 'off season' to drive the gritters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJuliet Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 My OH says that some of the gritters / snow ploughs have interchangeable bodies (I'm talking about the vehicles, not the drivers) so in the summer they are not necessarily parked up... they can be used by the council for other jobs. I would also expect that the gritter drivers are either contracted in (and they find other driving jobs for the summer) or if they are council employees they will be employed in other roles. PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I've always wondered how the guys who drive the snow ploughs get to work in the morning before they've ploughed the roads? Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 My ex was a road worker. All year round he did regular road work and between October and April all the guys in the depot were on week on / week off 'salting stand by. Quite often they would work their normal hours and then spend all night out gritting. I used to know all the 'spread measurements' for the weather types. Christmas party was late September as that was the only time the whole depot (apart from the guys who were on stand by for emergancies) could get together. Hope that answers some queries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 White lining etc according to Look North last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchens Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 They are usually part of the Highways team at the County Council, so they put out cones on motorways, clean up hard shoulders, street cleaning in those little trucks with brushes on the wheels all that kind of stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 chase penguins with feather dusters [/i] I knew it I've always wondered how the guys who drive the snow ploughs get to work in the morning before they've ploughed the roads? Another mystery... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I've always wondered how the guys who drive the snow ploughs get to work in the morning before they've ploughed the roads? Another mystery... They are already there!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I worked as a temp for Kirklees Council after University many years ago in the Highways Department, and what others have said is spot on, they are part of the usual highways teams so they are out doing other highways stuff the rest of the year, repairing roads (not sure they do much of that around here!!), road sweeping etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
