Potential euro trips

[Tonymcg]

So the gaffer has just said we will be starting euro runs.

7 weeks into lgv1 driving,
should I be volunteering?
Do I get paid more?
Is parking in Europe free?
How does the 45hr rest period work? Cab or hotel?
How long does euro trips usually last?

Do many questions, please help

[Franglais]

Mostly "piece of strong questions"!
Ask your boss if he's gonna pay more.
It'll take as long as it takes. Calais isn't far, Athens is a long way. Multi drop or collection always makes a trip longer.
Compulsory 45 breaks are out of the can but your first weekend away need not be a 45, so can be taken in cab.
Parking easier and cheaper, often free.
.
Should you volunteer?
Yes, if you fancy a go. No id you don't.
If you volunteer and don't like it, will he throw his toys out of his pram? If not, what have you got to loose?
Since you're asking the question you must want a go.
If you hated the idea you wouldn't even be asking these questions.

[truckertang]

Bloody hell Franglais have you been on the Vino collapso, not used to seeing your smelling that bad..

Yeah just ask is it more money and where would you be going, if the money is ok for you then go for it.

Most parking is free but you'll find most truckstops/routiers/autohofs like you to eat at said establishment if your parked there.

I would still be doing it now if my personal circumstances hadn't changed.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[OwenMoney]

He's on holiday this week and exploring the far end of the Chateau Lafitte wine cellar.

[Franglais]

He's on holiday this week and exploring the far end of the Chateau Lafitte wine cellar.

Aye, not driving this week.
Working harder doing odd jobs than I even do on t'road.

[Franglais]

Bloody hell Franglais have you been on the Vino collapso, not used to seeing your smelling that bad..

Yeah just ask is it more money and where would you be going, if the money is ok for you then go for it.

Most parking is free but you'll find most truckstops/routiers/autohofs like you to eat at said establishment if your parked there.

I would still be doing it now if my personal circumstances hadn't changed.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Flailed my tost than?

[truckertang]

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[Tonymcg]

Cheers lads,

I am kinda interested but only if it financially benefits me, I'm not interested if it's for the same money, I'll ask all the questions

Thanks again

[Franglais]

Cheers lads,

I am kinda interested but only if it financially benefits me, I'm not interested if it's for the same money, I'll ask all the questions

Thanks again

Each to their own of course, but for same money etc, I would choose Euro work over UK every time.

[Tonymcg]

Cheers lads,

I am kinda interested but only if it financially benefits me, I'm not interested if it's for the same money, I'll ask all the questions

Thanks again

Each to their own of course, but for same money etc, I would choose Euro work over UK every time.

Would you? Why if u dont mind me asking? Is it better than uk driving?

[TheBear]

I'm retired now but all I will say is I only worked for firms that did euro work! It is a totally different culture abroad for a truck driver. One job, I spent two years running back and forth between here and the Algarve. People were paying a fortune to go to places where I went for free lol The only country I have never driven to is Russia. (If you look in search, go back about 10 years, there are still 'diaries' on here of my escapades). If I got my licence back now, it would only be to run over the water.
Others european trampers on here will say the same as me. Once you've done Europe, you'll not want to drive here again. If your boss wants volunteers, then jump at it. Do it for a month and then re-evaluate.
I used to do Athens regularly and always got a buzz when arriving there.

Edited to add: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18944

An old diary I found. Sorry about the watermarks across the photos from Photobucket.

[Franglais]

Plus points as above.
Better restaurants with free parking for customers. Free motorway parking.
There are exceptions, but generally less traffic, better facilities, more acceptance of trucks as being necessary for all. Better restaurants!
I work UK when necessary, but although it's OK for a change don't much like it.
I wanted to be a driver partly to see different places. Why limit yourself to one country?
Oh, and mostly there are better restaurants over the water.

[hotel magnum]

I loved it over the water, and it did not matter which direction you went after getting off the ferry, you must condition yourself for better conditions, food, views to die for, not all of the jobs guarantee this but that's no different than a driving job here, and if it did not suit you, you would move on until you found one that did.

[toby1234abc]

I would say plan ahead for your 24 or 45 hour weekly rest periods , and come off the beaten track , by looking at a map , i would park in a decent place , you will be amazed what you stumble on with a walk or taking a push bike to get out the cab for the day .
Exit the toll motorway or main road for a peaceful nights sleep .
I saw medieval villages and towns , lakes , rivers or see a local festival , fair or a concert , it beats sitting on a motorway for two days .

Parking on the motorway means Eastern European trucks starting and stopping their engines to charge up the batteries if they have been watching tv or on their computers . They have large dishes on the cab to watch tv from their home country , they start engines all day and all night .
Note to Milodon , i am not slagging off EE drivers .

I saw a Spanish singer called Manola Garcia at football stadium concerts that were both sold out .
After reading the great diary by The Bear , it reminded me of the notorious French Doaunes or Customs , i once had a DAF , i was having a sleep in a lay by , half way between Rennes and Nantes , i was heading to Portugal .
The switch to turn of the engine , on the floor by the pedals , was broken .

I left the engine running , rather than keep stalling it and break something else , then somebody is banging hard on my door , i look out to see i was surrounded by Douanes .
They said it was not normal to have the engine running , so i was escorted to to Rennes for them to unload the whole trailer with forklifts only to find nothing illegal .They all ran off .

Another run in, in France there is no driving from 22.00 Saturday to 22.00 Sunday , it was about 23.00 on Saturday, and i always wanted to see the biggest sand dune in the world , which is Southwest of Bordeaux .
The Douanes pull me over , not for the driving ban , but to inspect my full load of groupage , by climbing all over it .
They had a Land Rover with air tanks in the back , the reason is to deflate the tyres to patrol the beach for washed up drugs thrown from boats .
Then re-inflate the tyres for road use .I have been escorted by the Douanes on motorbikes with their blue lights and sirens to a mobile X ray scanner .I think they enjoyed showing off to other motorists by doing that .

[Tonymcg]

I'm retired now but all I will say is I only worked for firms that did euro work! It is a totally different culture abroad for a truck driver. One job, I spent two years running back and forth between here and the Algarve. People were paying a fortune to go to places where I went for free lol The only country I have never driven to is Russia. (If you look in search, go back about 10 years, there are still 'diaries' on here of my escapades). If I got my licence back now, it would only be to run over the water.
Others european trampers on here will say the same as me. Once you've done Europe, you'll not want to drive here again. If your boss wants volunteers, then jump at it. Do it for a month and then re-evaluate.
I used to do Athens regularly and always got a buzz when arriving there.

Edited to add: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18944

An old diary I found. Sorry about the watermarks across the photos from Photobucket.

Outstanding, sounds great, I think you've got me 'hooked'

[Gidders]

I concur with what toby said above.I couldn't count the number of interesting places I've been and seen over the years while on a couple of days off.If you are interested in things cultural and architectural there are numerous old towns,cathedrals and castles to mooch around.Eating and drinking establishments are plentiful.People could be paying hundreds of pounds to visit these places and you get it for nowt.What's not to like?

[Tonymcg]

It all sounds great, now the big question, should I expect to get more money for international tramping?
I currently tramp uk

[Mazzer2]

It all sounds great, now the big question, should I expect to get more money for international tramping?
I currently tramp uk

You'll probably not get anymore pay but you will in the main have an easier life with less work, it is more common to get paid by the day rather than the hour as often you don't work the hours that you do in the UK. I used to do multi drop starting in France through Spain and finishing in Portugal first drop on a Monday morning and last one on a Friday in Lisbon very rarely did more than 10 hours a day all daytime work and earned the same as the guys on UK work doing 15 hour days and alternating between days and nights.

[dieseldog999]

It all sounds great, now the big question, should I expect to get more money for international tramping?
I currently tramp uk

You'll probably not get anymore pay but you will in the main have an easier life with less work, it is more common to get paid by the day rather than the hour as often you don't work the hours that you do in the UK. I used to do multi drop starting in France through Spain and finishing in Portugal first drop on a Monday morning and last one on a Friday in Lisbon very rarely did more than 10 hours a day all daytime work and earned the same as the guys on UK work doing 15 hour days and alternating between days and nights.

^^^^^^^^
lets not forget the " duty free" every trip...

[GS OVERLAND]

@ Tonymcg
Go for it !
If you have a sense of adventure you will love it. I started when I was 18, never looked back, I went all over Europe and Middle-East. Even a bad trip was a good trip when you got home. The experiences of different cultures, food, wine, languages etc are more valuable than any amount of tramping in the UK. HGV drivers are respected in other countries, unlike in the UK where we are considered a nuisance, Euro work will open your mind, you will become a "proper driver" and you don't touch the load on CMR, at least you didn't used to, ( I stand to be corrected) unless you wanted to, just open it up and let them tip you. Take loads of photos. Give it a go, don't chase to get home all the time, tell him to send the loaded trailers out to you unaccompanied and turn round and go again..............Driving abroad knocks spots off of UK driving, just keep it straight and make sure that all your documentation is in order, your truck is in order and that you have sufficient ratchet straps to secure any and every load. and post your blogs.
Good luck.
GS

[muckles]

So the gaffer has just said we will be starting euro runs.

7 weeks into lgv1 driving, should I be volunteering?

If you want to drive further than the UK, then take the opportunity, if you wait because you feel you need more experience the offer might not come round again.
7 weeks driving doesn’t really matter; it’s still driving a truck.

Do I get paid more?

That’s between you and your boss, although I believe you can claim more on night out allowance.

Is parking in Europe free?

Generally yes it’s free, motorway services etc, but although they’re generally better than the UK, try and find the places off the motorways, Routiers in France, Autohof’s in Germany etc.

Mostly these are free, but you might have to pay a parking fee, the cost of which comes off your meal, or the parking fee is say €15 and so is the price of the meal, (including your Vin Rouge and Café.) so you get a parking ticket, but don’t spend cash on your meal.

How does the 45hr rest period work? Cab or hotel?

Not sure about that one, the nature of my job meant I always have a hotel if I was weekending for more than 24hrs.
But I believe the regs have now been clarified that you are not allowed to stay in a cab for a full weekly rest, but whether every country applies those regs are a different matter.

How long does euro trips usually last?

As long as is required?
I think many do 2 weeks, so you’re only away for your reduced weekly rest and back home for a full weekly rest and any compensating hours due.
But some can be away for weeks or months if it’s that sort of job, things like music tours, event work.

Do many questions, please help

I assume you mean so many questions,

But yes loads of new things to learn, but despite what some would tell you, driving round Europe isn’t some wild west adventure, it also isn’t empty roads, (although often far less busy than the UK) there are traffic jams, bad drivers, full service areas, delays at ports, etc, but on the whole I think it’s far better than driving in the UK.

[toby1234abc]

Plenty of room for lorries at supermarkets , to buy your groceries and most supermarkets have a good cafe or a restaurant , good quality food .
The same for hotels , drivers get a reduced rate .Plenty of room to park .

[Suedehead]

If you get the chance to it . . do it.
All depends if you are on for a decent firm though, I presume there are a few left.
When I started, worked for a couple (iffy) companies but it put me in good stead and I learnt a few tricks.
That was before being tracked ,mobile phones but you had running money and hand written receipts.
Times have changed, good luck if you get a start.

[Simon]

So the gaffer has just said we will be starting euro runs.

7 weeks into lgv1 driving, should I be volunteering?

If you want to drive further than the UK, then take the opportunity, if you wait because you feel you need more experience the offer might not come round again.
7 weeks driving doesn’t really matter; it’s still driving a truck.

Do I get paid more?

That’s between you and your boss, although I believe you can claim more on night out allowance.

Is parking in Europe free?

Generally yes it’s free, motorway services etc, but although they’re generally better than the UK, try and find the places off the motorways, Routiers in France, Autohof’s in Germany etc.

Mostly these are free, but you might have to pay a parking fee, the cost of which comes off your meal, or the parking fee is say €15 and so is the price of the meal, (including your Vin Rouge and Café.) so you get a parking ticket, but don’t spend cash on your meal.

How does the 45hr rest period work? Cab or hotel?

Not sure about that one, the nature of my job meant I always have a hotel if I was weekending for more than 24hrs.
But I believe the regs have now been clarified that you are not allowed to stay in a cab for a full weekly rest, but whether every country applies those regs are a different matter.

How long does euro trips usually last?

As long as is required?
I think many do 2 weeks, so you’re only away for your reduced weekly rest and back home for a full weekly rest and any compensating hours due.
But some can be away for weeks or months if it’s that sort of job, things like music tours, event work.

Do many questions, please help

I assume you mean so many questions,

But yes loads of new things to learn, but despite what some would tell you, driving round Europe isn’t some wild west adventure, it also isn’t empty roads, (although often far less busy than the UK) there are traffic jams, bad drivers, full service areas, delays at ports, etc, but on the whole I think it’s far better than driving in the UK.

I think that about covers those questions

The company I work for now only does Southern Germany and Northern Switzerland (Northern Switzerland includes Geneva). We usually work a 5 day week, ferry out of the Humber on Sunday night, to whichever port is the most conveniant for where we're heading. Monday is mainly a driving day. Tues we do our deliveries and the majority of collections and get to within easy reach of the ferry homewards. Wed final collections and up to catch the ferry home. Thurs, off the ferry and do any deliveries on route back to Stirling. Fri - Sat off, start again Sunday with a preloaded truck. We do a good 2,000 miles a week most weeks.
That's OUR basic game plan, it doesn't always work out that way. The other week I had 2 drops and a single full load collection in Switzerland. Clearance in was simple and quick, I got the first drop off and round to the second for 10am local time. That was a piece of machinery weighing around 10 tonnes, a crane job to lift it off. I reported in and the gaffer there said, "Oh good, I'm glad you're here, you've got a bit of a wait, the crane is booked for 3 this afternoon." I explained that this would give me a problem. I had to drive about 40km on small roads, through old villages with narrow roads, load 22 IBCs and secure them, then get to the border, all before 5.30 because that's when the Swiss customs export desk closes at that border. To give him his due, he was straight on the phone to the crane company and the crane arrived early, 2pm. It still took until 3.30 before I could get away. The 40km took almost an hour, too late to load and get through the border that day. I loaded first thing in the morning but, it's a good 10 hour drive to the ferry from the border IF there are absolutely NO hold-ups. I didn't make the Wed night ferry, so it was Thursday nights ferry instead, tip and home Friday.
Now we do this kind of work, it's what we do, so we know what we're doing. I've worked here for around 14 years and it was a long established company when I started.
So balls-ups like this are rare. A company new to Euro work, with whatever balls-ups Brexit is going to add on top, there are going to be problems much more frequently due to inexperience if nothing else. So how long will you be away? How far will you be going? Southern Italy or Spain? 7 to 9 days on the road easily, plus balls-up time. Holland? You can be on the ferry back the same night if it's tip and load. Multi-drop/groupage work, you could be on 2 day trips to 2 week trips. There are far to many variables to even give you much of an idea.

The difference is in the attitude of Europeans to truckers compared to the UK. I was offered the use of all the facilities they had while I was waiting and given free rein. This is quite normal in Europe, would I be given that courtesy in the UK? I don't know because I do a very particular job when I'm on UK work. Before I went onto European work I wouldn't even have been informed what time the crane was expected if it had been a UK drop, let alone given free rein to use their facilities. Phoning to try and get the crane in earlier for me?

[Joepipe3]

Must be changed days with that firm. In the past, their old lorries couldn’t do Dover in 10 hours from your base, but the drivers coming home could ship into Dover Friday morning and do deliveries and pick ups on the way home; sometimes as far as Wales.

P.s. your boss does bend over
.

[dead.duck]

Just started my journey into getting my HGV license. But I'd like to know how much experience on C+E you need before being 'allowed' to Euro work? I understand there is no rules but what most eployers expect from their drivers before sending them on European roads?

[muckles]

Just started my journey into getting my HGV license. But I'd like to know how much experience on C+E you need before being 'allowed' to Euro work? I understand there is no rules but what most eployers expect from their drivers before sending them on European roads?

As you say there are no rules saying you must have x amount of experience to do European driving, it could be your first job as a truck driver.

However these days that is unlikely, unless that’s all the company does or you’ve already been working for them in some other capacity, van driver for example, so they know what type of worker you are instead of relying on somebody that they no nothing about and has no experience of the job.

But if what you want to do is European work, then don’t wait for some random time to get the experience before applying for those jobs, find out who does European work and pester them, you’ll probably get loads of knock backs, but you never know, right place right time and all that.

[EDTRUCK]

Good afternoon Dead Duck -

All the information from the well-experienced drivers on here is spot on!! Just keep on trying as there is no minimum amount of experience needed to do continental work.

All I would say is don't ignore European van driving either. Yes I know that most of it is done by our EE friends, however there are still some UK businesses which run vans on European work (albeit specialist work). They may be able to give you a good understanding of the way things work in Europe, which will be useful as you progress to C+E work.

Often , with Euro work , it is not what you know (that does help) but who you know.

Although my business does only a small amount of Euro work nowadays, two of my trucks work a lot of the time for a customer who I don't haul for in the UK, but I do their infrequent Euro moves, and the drivers I use are not permanent members of my team - in fact one is my local publican, and the other works for British Gas in their offices. I use them because both have had valuable experience with driving specialist kit in previous job roles.

Cast your net wide, - there is Euro work about in the specialist sectors,

I hope that this is of use

[Harry Monk]

Just started my journey into getting my HGV license. But I'd like to know how much experience on C+E you need before being 'allowed' to Euro work? I understand there is no rules but what most eployers expect from their drivers before sending them on European roads?

Back in the day, I've known people who passed their test in the morning and were on the way to Italy in the afternoon. One bloke came for a job and was asked what continental experience he had, he said he'd been camping to the Isle of Wight with the Boy Scouts when he was a kid, he was taken on straight away. I set off on my first continental trip on the second day working for the firm concerned.

I'm sure it's a lot harder now but if you go to a firm which does a mix of UK and European work and you start on the UK side and don't mess up, it won't be very long before they send you over the water.

[GS OVERLAND]

Hi Harry
Test .................!! What test ?
GS