24-HOUR RESCUE/RECOVERY

NOT SO MUCH A JOB - MORE A WAY OF LIFE

(But good fun!)

 When the pump company you've been loyal to for many years makes you redundant at aged 56, it makes you think long and hard about the meaning of life! Options start to appear limited, and priorities have to be catagorised. Some people consider all problems to be hidden opportunities. I tend to be one of them. I always wanted to have a go at 24-hour rescue/recovery work, so I did - until the company closed down the depot 6 months later! Mind you, I don't think I would have lasted more than six months as working 48-hour shifts (2 days on - 2 days off) with little or no sleep and no regular meals, really takes its toll. Now in 2009 I am working in my dream job - driving a twin-deck car transporter all over Scotland. What makes it so good is that I'm an absolute enthusiast.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!

The first truck I used on joining the company was this 6-year old Ford Iveco 75 E 15 Cargo tilt-and-slide flatbed with hydraulic winch. It was also equipped with a spectacle lift which, along with the slidebed body, enabled it to carry 2 vehicles or car with caravan/trailer.This truck was big, beefy and could do any job asked of it, and I loved it!
Another view of my first love showing the huge bed and centre-mounted winch. The coachwork on the vehicle was a work of art with beautifully styled side cladding, and the stainless steel wheel trims just finished it off. The roof-mounted air horns unfortunately didn't work!

Later, I also used this Iveco 69 C 15 D which was only 6 months old and was the latest addition to the fleet. With a tilt-and-slide flatbed and powerful hydraulic winch, but no spec lift, it had the advantage of a crew cab that could seat 7. This enabled me to carry out long-haul recoveries with a full passenger load. With the tow hitch, a car and caravan or trailer could be recovered.


Loading a Volkswagen Golf GTI with a jammed electric window


Accident recovery is a regular part of the job, such as this Peugeot 306


Always nice to recover some interesting metal - this one is a Pontiac Firebird with a gear selector cable melted on the exhaust. . . . .


. . . . . and a beautiful black Ford Mustang with a blown inlet manifold gasket

CONTENTS