Supply delivery and a very narrow and steep driveway.

[*kana*]

Hello,
We just put a PA on a house with a very narrow steep driveway.  WE just loved the house and that was the only thing that concerned me about this property.  It is a short driveway, but too narrow and steep for their delivery truck. 

Does anyone have any issues with their driveway and what does the driver do to get your supplies up to you?  And to think I felt bad about living in the 2nd floor apartment.  This is going to be much worse for him. 

[jbeany]

I'm guessing it's not the only place with poor access on his route.  They have all kinds of dollies and tricks to heft heavy loads.  Why don't you talk to the driver and see if he's got any suggestions for making it easier? 

[wbdoug]

I noticed on the truck that delivers my supplies that he had a motorized dolly. I don’t know if this is standard equipment for all trucks. If your delivery truck has one of these then it probably won’t be a problem.
Bill

[*kana*]

Thank you both for making me feel better.  I keep telling myself to not worry about it but that is the kind of person I am.  I don't ever want to make someones job harder because of me. 

I have seen the motorized dollies, but wasn't sure if they climbed hills or not.  I guess I will just notify them of my hilly driveway when I place the next order.   

[texasstyle]

I agree with the others that they have so many ways to get supplies to you. Honestly, even if the truck has to go out of their normal routine, I would imagine getting these supplies to your home for such a worthy cause would make them feel like they've done something special and very worth while.

[tbarrett2533]

I have a very small driveway..... my tiny little compact car just fits, so when Baxter delivers my stuff, the driver just parks on the road!!!!!!
and to make matter worst, i live in an upstairs apartment so he has to take all them boxes upstairs which is a narrow stairway.....
keep one thing in mind please "Dialysis works for you, you do not work for it"- Houseofdialysis.

[bevvy5]

Our driver was great.  We  had easy access but he said he had some where he had to haul stuff upstairs and driveways and stuff.  He wasn't complaining at all though. 

I think they're used it, it's part of the job.  He did comment once thought that he was glad that one of his worst deliveries received a transplant.

[ride98inch]

Talk to Baxter and inform them of the driveway. I live in the country the driveway to my front door is about 75 yards from the main road at a 5-6 degree grade,  to top it off I have a couple of low hanging wire, cable and phone crossing over the driveway to my neighbors. The first time they delivered some how the truck slide under but backing out I had to find a long pole to lift the cables over the box as the drive backed out. After speaking to Baxter about two weeks later the phone and cable company were out lifting the cables. I guess what I trying to say is that Bxter wil work with you and find a way to get your supplies. 

[Grumpy-1]

I too have a steep driveway.  The driver just unloads down on the road and has a motorized pallet jack that he brings the full pallet up to the walkway.  Then from there he has a hand cart he brings in 6-7 cases at a time.  My storage room is upstairs so his hand cart has a motorize lift with it that helps him walk it up the stairs.

[Gerald Lively]

Welcome to rural America ( . . . er . . .  North America)

Yep, I live atop a ridge a quarter mile from the pavement.  The first 200 feet gives most truck drivers a heart attack . . . but . . . after 35+ years here we have arrived at solutions satisfactory for UPS and the more testy FED-EX people.  No, I haven’t had a dialysis supply truck up here just yet.

After the first major rainfall, I go out there with my teenie-weenie ATV that has a grader/blade on it, and I shove the gravel around, the theory is that the gravel will squish into the top inch of soil to provide traction.  Towards the end of the rain season, I go out there and take all of that rock out, if there is any. As the road dries, the roadbed becomes super smooth and hard,  those cranky truck drivers zoom all over the place in orgasmic joy.

I realize that not everyone has this equipment but in the old days* when I was young and tough, I did this work by hand.  The advantage I have is the location of the house atop a ridge over-looking the California Central Valley all the way to the Coast Range 100 miles away.  As for the trucks; there have been a lot of them – having built two houses here (one destroyed by forest fire).

If any of this helped, I will be surprised.

Gerald


*(Young and tough) I used to walk to school in knee deep snow for five miles, barefooted and backwards. (also known as “Old Guy” talk)