Help How do I collect a gas cylinder in the UK?

[littleadonis]

I want to get a large enough gas cylinder but I'm not sure about how to do it without making anyone I'm buying from suspicious. I'm also thinking about the logistics of it. So I'll be ordering a hefty cylinder that weighs roughly 20kg because other options are either too big or too small. I don't have a delivery location so I will have to collect. How can I collect it? Would I go in a taxi? If I go in a taxi, how do I not alert the taxi driver as to what I'm carrying?

This pdf on the regulation says:

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure their vehicle is safe. The driver shall have received appropriate information, instruction and training about the gases and packages being carried from their Employer. The driver should understand the actions to take in the event of an emergency.

Obviously that's not going to happen so I essentially can't alert the taxi driver to what I'm carrying. How do I conceal what I'm actually carrying? A duffel bag I guess? And I can't let the gas supplier see that I'm carrying the cylinder in a taxi as well. What questions from the supplier might I come across when picking up the cylinder? Will they ask me about how I'm transporting the cylinder? What would I tell them? Will they actually physically try and see how I'm going to transport it? And how am I supposed to carry the thing all the way to the taxi since the taxi will have to be far away to avoid suspicion? I'm a pretty small guy.

A lot of questions I know but I don't want anything to go wrong.

 

[SomewhereAlongThe]

Hey there, recently I ended up buying a cylinder and picking it up so I know how stressful it can be.

The best excuse you can use is to say that you're using the cylinder to weld small repairs on automotive parts, or that you have a friend you're picking it up for that does that (so that they don't ask you too many questions). Some questions you may come across is mainly what are you using it for, and if you say welding they may ask you questions about welding that you may not know, so it's always good to say you're getting it for a friend. I'm a girl so I just said my boyfriend is using it for that purpose. They don't tend to ask a lot of questions on their own unless you act unsure of which one to get, but if you're certain of what you need and just tell them, you'll be fine. I recommend you don't take a taxi, but that you take a Lyft or an Uber, that way you can message the driver and let them know you have a cylinder you're going to seat buckle into the rear seat. Cylinders need to be transported in cars upright, so I'm not sure that a duffel bag will work. What happened with me (I live in an adult group home so I can't let the staff see what I'm transporting) is I bought a trolly on Walmart that would fit and conceal the cylinder. I messaged the Lyft driver letting him know I have a cylinder, but that I know how to put it in his car and all is good (seat buckle the cylinder make sure it's straight up, not on its side) and all went fine even though I was very nervous about that part. I don't know why you cannot let the supplier see that you're going in a taxi, but if you put the cylinder in the trolly you can walk off property and change the pickup location for the uber/lyft. It was a welding shop I went to and they weren't so particular about how I was transporting the cylinder. I'm not sure if a gas supplier would be, but you could always tell them by car in an upright position with the windows cracked (in case of a leak). The trolly will help you carry the cylinder far away from the gas supplier, but I think you're worried they care more about the transport than I assume they would. It's not in their interest to grill you on transporting cylinders. You're grown up and would know how to do that on your own. So no I don't honestly think they would try to see how it's going to be transported. I hope this helps. I got my cylinder back home and no staff ended up seeing me bring it in. It was a success!

 

[littleadonis]

I don't know why you cannot let the supplier see that you're going in a taxi

Because it's againt the law here. So I'm nervous that they would deny me for inadequately transporting it. I think I might just walk it out around a corner and then get into the taxi. And I might just lie to the taxi driver and say that the cylinder's empty if they ask.

How big was the cylinder? Was it heavy? Was it easy to get it to the car? I'm trying to choose between two different cylinders, this regular tall and thin steel one that weighs 19kg, and an innovative short stout one made partly of and premium lightweight materials that comes with wheels and a digital interface and weighs 22kg.

And did your supplier ask any questions?

 

[Alexand3]

Get it delivered to your house.

 

[littleadonis]

Get it delivered to your house.

I already explained that I don't have a delivery location for it to be sent to and I my only option is to collect.