Tag: Scotland

Delivery Driver Camaraderie Saves the Day

Posted on by News Desk

Don’t worry, guys and gals. This week’s post doesn’t feature something silly like an oopsie daisy, that a van driver has done, or even any dirty motives. In a refreshing take of delivery driver news, this time we have some superhero-worthy stuff to report. 

Here is a story that is bound to make you feel proud to be a van driver or a delivery driver.

Scottish delivery driver goes above and beyond for his colleague

Derek Stoddart, a commendable Scotsman from Clovenfords, did something that perhaps not all delivery drivers would do. 

Despite the fact that he was supposed to finish his shift at Asda at 2 pm, he ended up staying out and working until 9.30 pm when he was able to return to the superstore. This was because he was helping out a fellow delivery driver whose van had broken down.

Knowing full well that there could be many disappointed customers, the kind Mr Stoddart offered to remain with the faulty van until services arrived, so his colleague could continue making deliveries. 

He was out there with the van for so long, that his family even came to say hi and deliver him his dinner and plenty of coffee. 7 hours later, he was able to get back to Asda, but during his time in the van, it grew dark. Thankfully, the van’s heating was able to keep him warm. We imagine he had a lot of time to think, stuck out there in the van. 

If that wasn’t enough, Mr Stoddart reported for his 6.30 am shift the following morning without any complaints. We’re not sure how many people would be so generous with their time, and we sincerely hope Mr Stoddart was rewarded handsomely. Perhaps some decent overtime pay, or some freebies from Asda? What do you think? 

Do you know of anyone, or can recommend a colleague who has gone above and beyond for their van driver or delivery driver duties? Let us know as we’d love to give them a shout-out. 
Until then, we can offer cheap van insurance deals as a reward for all you van driver superheroes. Simply begin by completing this quick 3-minute form.

Best Place To Drive A Van (And The Worst)

Posted on by News Desk

If you drive a van for business or pleasure, then you may be wondering where in the country is the best place to get on the road?

Is your current location the bees knees? Or would you be better off heading up North, or down South, or towards the West or East? Maybe you be best off leaving the country completely and starting anew in a foreign land?

Before you go “on tour,” – take a few minutes to read our blog post here at the CVI blog about the best and worst places to drive and own a van in the UK.

Okay, so let’s get straight into the action here and the number 1 WORST place to own a van is in London. Is it any surprise? Not to us here at CVI.

In North West London you have a higher chance of being in a fender bender. While in Greater London there is more chance your van gets nicked.

“Cor Blimey Guvnor, someone as nicked me van,” said the London resident.

Want to know some of the other WORST places to drive a van? Try on Harrow for size, where you are almost just as likely to shunted from behind as you are in Capital.

Other places to watch out for include Bromley, Watford, Dartford, and Sutton. In other words, if you are thinking about moving Up North then it might be a good idea.

Or even across the sea? Because it is Belfast which has been voted the number 1 BEST place to own and drive a van in the UK.

So if you want some peace and quiet and a bit of clam without having to worry about some scally ramming you up the backside or taking off with your pride and joy…then Northern Ireland is the place to be, right now, for van owners.

Want to know another place where you can expect tranquillity? In Scotland…Inverness to be exact, where the chance of being involved in a fender bender or having your tools disappear into the night is virtually zero.

Other places in Scotland that have been certified SAFE include Dumfries and Galloway.

To give you an overview of exactly where to be, and where to avoid…read on…

So obviously London is a place to miss, but you should also give Yorkshire and The West Midlands a wide berth, specifically Birmingham which is well known for being a hotspot for van hoodlums who have long been reigning terror down on van owners.

Northern Ireland and Scotland are the places to be, there is no doubt about that, but you can also breath a sigh of relief in the East Anglia where van crime is being kept at bay.

No matter where you live…you can still get Cheap Van Insurance with our 3 minute form. Give it a try.

Vans In The Village – Under Attack!

Posted on by News Desk

White van men have long sought out the safe haven of villages. There is plenty of space, and plenty of parking, and not much “rage.”

This all seems to be changing, with reports suggesting that vans in the village are now “under attack.”

Take the story of a white Ford Transit van in the quiet and sleepy village of Longniddry, Scotland. Nothing much ever happens there…until one night last year.

In an outburst that left everybody shocked, a man sat in his car and took aim at the white Ford Transit van.

He put his foot on the accelerator and smashed right into the side of the van. This wasn’t an accident. This was personal.

It seems the man in the car and the owner of the van had been in a long running feud for months. Eye witnesses claim it was to do with “the white van man parking too close to the car owners drive.”

It wasn’t the first time they had come to blows. With heated words being exchanged on numerous occasions before, but on this particular night the time for words was over…and action was the name of the game.

So the man got in his car, put it into first gear, and then rammed the van, letting off some much needed steam in the process, no doubt.

As you can imagine, the Scottish Police were soon on the scene and in no time at all they arrested the car owner and took him away in handcuffs.

It doesn’t matter if he was in the right or the wrong, when you crash into a van on purpose then expect to be spending time in jail.

If you own a van in a village, then let this be a word of warning to you.

Your van is not safe, no matter where you park it. It could be down a country lane, outside a country pub, in a field, or even outside your own home.

Vans in the village are now under attack, and if you don’t have the right van insurance then you are at risk.

Perhaps a vigilante car driver will smash into your van, before driving off into the night without a trace. If you don’t have a full van insurance policy then you could end up out of pocket.

Fortunately, you can compare van insurance right here at The Nations Favourite. It will only take 3 minutes of your time to get very cheap quotes, and then all you have to do is choose the right one for you.

“I use Cheap Van Insurance,” shouted van owners in villages around the UK.

Duel in Dundee, and Beyond…

Posted on by News Desk

We arrived in Dundee and the Limo driver dropped me off at The Hilton. “I will pick you up at 8am tomorrow,” he said.

The next morning and the limo was waiting for me at 8am, and we headed to a bookies in the centre of town. It was a fairly routine story, and my mind wasn’t really on it, but I had a job to do as CNR of CVI…so I got out my notebook.

“White van crashed into the front of bookies. There was a bang when it happened. White van man? Fled! Coke? Puff the magic dragon? High on own supply? Perhaps.”

I had all the information I needed. “That’s a wrap,” I announced to the limo driver. “Let’s get going back to HQ.”

The CVI limo got going on the road and headed towards the outskirts of Dundee. The buildings disappeared and we found ourselves on a deserted road. And then…

…Out of nowhere a tanker truck roared past the limo and nearly took us off the road.

“What the heck,” I shouted.

Then the tanker truck slowed right down and stopped us from getting past.

Eventually the skills of the limo driver won the day and he found a gap past the truck.

We had overtook the truck, but it started blasting its horn and coming at us full speed yet again. I sensed danger.

“Speed up,” I told the limo driver.

Just as the tanker truck was about to crash into the limo…the limo driver put his foot on the accelerator and sped away.

We were driving at top speed out of Dundee…and into the Scottish Highlands.

Then the limo driver started to slow down.

“Don’t stop now, we must keep going,” I demanded.

“We have to stop at a service station…the last one before we enter the wilderness of the Highlands, and get a couple of pot noodles,” the driver replied.

“Ok be quick, that tanker truck is going to be in our rear view mirror again if we don’t hurry,” I said.

The driver went to get some pot noodles and I decided to phone HQ to let them know what was happening.

“No signal!” My Motorola was out of range.

I ran into a restaurant to use the pay phone and then phoned HQ. It was the answerphone.

“Hi It’s the CNR here. We are in the Scottish Highlands and…”

It was then that I noticed the tanker truck parked outside next to the CVI limo.

I looked around the restaurant and noticed everybody was staring at me. Which one was the driver? I thought to myself.

Then I recognised something familiar…a red baseball cap. It was the guy from the service station near Ipswich the previous day…the driver who had used his 2 For 1 vouchers at Pizza Hut.

“Meerkats,” I said, and then I put the phone down.

I acted calmly as I walked out of the restaurant and began walking towards the CVI limo.

I looked for the limo driver but all I found was 2 pot noodles, the kettle and the keys to the limo on the floor.

He had fled. Knowing what was in store.

I had no choice. I had to get in the limo and start driving. It was for CVI. Someone had to step forward.

Within minutes of being on the road I saw the tanker truck appear in my rear view mirror.

“This is it,” I said to myself. “A duel between The Meerkats and CVI. Winner takes all. There is no turning back now.”

The truck followed me through the Scottish highlands, and then I turned the limo round to face the truck in front of a canyon.

I took the pot noodles and locked them on the accelerator with the kettle. Now we were on a collision course. It was the only way.

I jumped free at the last moment and the limo collided with the tanker truck, destroying the limo and sending the truck into the canyon.

I watched as the truck fell to the bottom of the canyon.

“The summer is over, CVI has won this battle and the war. If anyone should be promoting 2 for 1 movie and restaurant tickets it should be us,” I said.

I sat at the Canyons edge and threw stones for the rest of the evening, Watching the sun set.

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