I’ve been with this Dutch firm for nearly a year now, and during that time, I’ve managed to identify several typical drivers. They’re almost like Mr Men characters.
Mr ‘Blingit’ He’s the driver who’s added bits to his allocated truck. The bosses are too down to earth to customize any of their trucks so this driver has dipped into his own pocket to buy stuff. He’s got loud truck horns that he likes to blast at any opportunity. Very bright red cab lighting that he’s installed, and the obligatory curtains. Also, a light bar with a few spots and MAN stickers everywhere.
Mr ‘Moany’ As the name suggests, he will moan about anything and everything and is quite depressing to be around. Thankfully, he moans mostly in Dutch so I don’t understand, but the other drivers sometimes translate his woes to me.
Mr ‘Nosey’ He’s the one that will hang around the office, nosing at everyone’s worksheets to see what they are doing compared to him.
Mr ‘Rushit’ He’s the one that rushes around all day like he’s constantly playing catch up. He can’t sit still while being loaded or unloaded, and is constantly checking his watch. Rushes through his trailer changes and likes to help with yours so you can do yours quicker, completely upsetting your trailer change routine. He’s a prime example for a heart attack.
Mr ‘Yo Bro’ He’s the kid on the firm. Always playing rap music loudly in his cab. He’ll come storming into an RDC in his truck and try to do a high speed reverse onto a bay to show off that he can. It doesn’t always work though, as he misjudged it once and took out the side of one of our MAN’s with his trailer tail swing.
Mr ‘Odball’ He’s the one driver you don’t want to get sat next to in a driver waiting room. He’s also made it clear he doesn’t like a British driver on the firm and I’ve had one or two run in’s with him. The other drivers say just to ignore him as he’s a bit odd.
Mr ‘Angry’ He’s the foreman driver believe it or not, and does the odd assessment. However, he’s also got the worst road rage I’ve seen. Rode out with him once to learn a route and he’d blasted his horn at three different cars within the first ten minutes. After several more episodes of tail gating and bullying, I was glad to get out eventually.
Finally, there is a guy who is not agency, but a driver for one of the subbies that pull our trailers. I saw him go to his car once. He was wearing a grubby high vis which is unusual for Dutch drivers, he had a bluetooth ear piece, he was carrying his stuff in a Zeeman carrier bag which is a cheap store in Holland, and blow me if he didn’t have a slight limp going on. He ticked all the boxes. Couldn’t believe it.
