A Drivers Life

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
81

mac12:

wildfire:

mac12:

wildfire:

mac12:
When does he get time to plan your work do wages and all the other office work

his other half does all that :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses:

And she then sleeps in the office and use’s a hedge for a toilet, if not why should you

as a tramper that’s part of the job, I knew it before I went out on the road, what are you expecting a 5 star hotel every night :unamused: :unamused: :unamused: :unamused: :unamused:

not 5 star but what is wrong with being treated like a human. Some drivers are treated worse than slaves even if it is the job you applied for you should not have to work maybe double the normal working week for the average wage and then be expexted to live in a tin box to guard someone else’s load.

I am treaded like a human being thank you, I don’t guard my load either they can have it if they want(I work In recycling) bulk loose loads. my tin box is very comfortable thank you, I am not forced to do this job, I infact love this job and I am not on average wages for my area, possibly double the average but hey ho, if you don’t like the heat get out of the kitchen :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

oh and also since I left school I have never done a 9 to 5 job, just don’t interest me :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses:

82

mickyblue:
I love my job thank you. I only night out twice a week but I find it’s nice to be out and let the Mrs have a good nights kip…

83

NewLad:

mac12:

wildfire:

mac12:

wildfire:

mac12:
When does he get time to plan your work do wages and all the other office work

his other half does all that :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses:

And she then sleeps in the office and use’s a hedge for a toilet, if not why should you

as a tramper that’s part of the job, I knew it before I went out on the road, what are you expecting a 5 star hotel every night :unamused: :unamused: :unamused: :unamused: :unamused:

not 5 star but what is wrong with being treated like a human. Some drivers are treated worse than slaves even if it is the job you applied for you should not have to work maybe double the normal working week for the average wage and then be expexted to live in a tin box to guard someone else’s load.

I love this kind of bull [zb] talk. Average wage do you even know what the average unskilled worker earns■■? About £220-£250 a week, I don’t know any people driving Class 1 taking home less than £400 per week, I also don’t know many people that actually do the hours they are contracted for, many do a lot of unpaid overtime. Finally who said you have to ‘guard’ the load? I couldn’t give a monkeys if the fuel/load gets knicked as long as they don’t wake me up while there at it. I stop in services when empty because it suits me as I can shower/[zb]/eat without having to do it with wet wipes/carrier bag/camping stove and my employer pays for my parking including the meal voucher

You say the average unskilled worker takes home £220-£250 a week is that for working maybe 84 hours in a week and then sleeping at there place of work, most will only work 38 hours so at £235 that is £6.18. A Class 1 driver could be away up to 123 hours in a week so £400 is only an average £3.25 hour.

84

Many cant see that mac12, :laughing: the OP speaks a lot of truth :sunglasses: but one day the penny will drop! :smiley: it’s going to get a lot worse BEFORE IT GETS BETTER! :grimacing: :grimacing: :grimacing: :grimacing: :grimacing: :grimacing: :grimacing:

85

I can see where nightline is coming from, it is true that the wages we are paid, is not equivalent to the responsibility we have, and also the abuse we have to put up with, but there is only one option to change that, but it will not happen, cos its been discussed many times.He does fall down on a few other issues, international drivers dont do it for the experience, i was away for weeks when i was on the middle east, the uk money was more, but still chose to do it, because i enjoyed it, enjoyed having the load on my back for a week or so, and overall, it was an easy life ( thats why we are here )
Many drivers enjoy what they do, many drivers want more money, but manage on what they get, and not forgetting that some get the same £20 for international work, as their colleagues get for the uk. Some like going up the road, cos its better than multidrop, and for many, tramping earns them an extra £100 a week, i will agree that some drivers include their wages with their night out money, a trait that also needs changing. Trucking has always been a competitive industry, and the competition is tough, always has been, so its a case of best man wins ( the job/contract )
We all know of companies who had the work, and who has it now, so thats the strength of it, it wont change unless we change it, like we did years ago, but the modern driver has many things on his plate, and will not risk his cushty life, to better others, even though it will eventually better all of us, todays driver is a different breed compared to the oldies and if they are happy with their lot, good luck to them, and if Nightline is not happy with his lot, then all i can advise, is for him to move where it suits him, for i believe that he has a very big bee in his bonnet.

86

mac12:

NewLad:

mac12:

wildfire:

mac12:

wildfire:

mac12:
When does he get time to plan your work do wages and all the other office work

his other half does all that :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses:

And she then sleeps in the office and use’s a hedge for a toilet, if not why should you

as a tramper that’s part of the job, I knew it before I went out on the road, what are you expecting a 5 star hotel every night :unamused: :unamused: :unamused: :unamused: :unamused:

not 5 star but what is wrong with being treated like a human. Some drivers are treated worse than slaves even if it is the job you applied for you should not have to work maybe double the normal working week for the average wage and then be expexted to live in a tin box to guard someone else’s load.

I love this kind of bull [zb] talk. Average wage do you even know what the average unskilled worker earns■■? About £220-£250 a week, I don’t know any people driving Class 1 taking home less than £400 per week, I also don’t know many people that actually do the hours they are contracted for, many do a lot of unpaid overtime. Finally who said you have to ‘guard’ the load? I couldn’t give a monkeys if the fuel/load gets knicked as long as they don’t wake me up while there at it. I stop in services when empty because it suits me as I can shower/[zb]/eat without having to do it with wet wipes/carrier bag/camping stove and my employer pays for my parking including the meal voucher

You say the average unskilled worker takes home £220-£250 a week is that for working maybe 84 hours in a week and then sleeping at there place of work, most will only work 38 hours so at £235 that is £6.18. A Class 1 driver could be away up to 123 hours in a week so £400 is only an average £3.25 hour.

I don’t know about you but I don’t class being asleep at night even if it is in the cab as being at work. As I said before I don’t know ANY driver on max hrs taking home £400pw especially one that sleeps in the cab. And that un skiled worker on 235pw has tax and ni to come off that where I am on about take home pay not Gross on max hrs with nights out I would expect 600-700pw inc n/o money in the bank

87

mac12:

NewLad:

mac12:

wildfire:

mac12:

wildfire:

mac12:
When does he get time to plan your work do wages and all the other office work

his other half does all that :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses:

And she then sleeps in the office and use’s a hedge for a toilet, if not why should you

as a tramper that’s part of the job, I knew it before I went out on the road, what are you expecting a 5 star hotel every night :unamused: :unamused: :unamused: :unamused: :unamused:

not 5 star but what is wrong with being treated like a human. Some drivers are treated worse than slaves even if it is the job you applied for you should not have to work maybe double the normal working week for the average wage and then be expexted to live in a tin box to guard someone else’s load.

I love this kind of bull [zb] talk. Average wage do you even know what the average unskilled worker earns■■? About £220-£250 a week, I don’t know any people driving Class 1 taking home less than £400 per week, I also don’t know many people that actually do the hours they are contracted for, many do a lot of unpaid overtime. Finally who said you have to ‘guard’ the load? I couldn’t give a monkeys if the fuel/load gets knicked as long as they don’t wake me up while there at it. I stop in services when empty because it suits me as I can shower/[zb]/eat without having to do it with wet wipes/carrier bag/camping stove and my employer pays for my parking including the meal voucher

You say the average unskilled worker takes home £220-£250 a week is that for working maybe 84 hours in a week and then sleeping at there place of work, most will only work 38 hours so at £235 that is £6.18. A Class 1 driver could be away up to 123 hours in a week so £400 is only an average £3.25 hour.

but other than orys, i’ve never heard of anyone getting paid for all the hours spent away, this includes office workers when away on courses, office workers sent to work in a different branch, mechanics on courses, mechanics working in motorsport at british, european and world level, builders on courses or working on sites around the country, groundworkers on sites around the country, steel erectors, agency chefs working around the country, a fire alarm installer when working regularly away and occasionally away. oh yeah and truck drivers! sure most of them will be put up in a hotel and get a meal and a few beers bought, but given the choice of the cab and £20 - £30 or a hotel with meal and beer, i’ll take the cab and the cash thanks.

these are all from my own or friends experiences, i’m sure there are some or maybe plenty of people or industries that do pay for all the time you’re away, but let’s not get excited that truck driver are being shafted.

one of the best things about truck driving for me is how there is a job to suit anybody, i’ve worked in jobs that i’d usually be at work 6 - 6.5 hours a day to jobs that’d max your hours whilst being away all week and anything inbetween, if you don’t want to live in a tin box, then don’t, it really is that simple!

whilst i didn’t particularly like being away, when in the mindset of being away all week, i liked the job more. my mindset was wanting more time to get to wherever and time goes fast in that mindset. a traffic jam doesn’t matter as much as when you just want to get home.

i’ve not driven a truck in 2.5 years, but the last 4 or 5 years i did i generally didn’t do many nights out and i wouldn’t want to back to being away, but if it got to the point where i could earn significantly more, then it would be considered. everyones got their price :laughing:

And another thing, all this talk of no showers, toilets or food when you park up, of course everyone gets caught out every now and then, but it doesn’t exactly take a lot of planning to get those things covered, so let’s not conjure up images of trampers regularly starving, taking a ■■■■ under the trailer whilst trying to not get a wiff of his pits!!

88

Been driving for over 38 years, my ‘Tramping’ days are in the past … I hope :wink:
I have done weeks away in the UK and Europe getting paid night out money and parking fee’s. In the USA I have done coast to coast, north to south and spent a month at a time away and sleeping in the cab, I don’t know any company that refunds any paring fee’s here, I only know one that pay’s lay over (night out) pay. I still sleep in the cab 3 or 4 nights a week, mostly in Yonkers where I am based, rarely in any other place.

89

Contraflow:

mickyblue:
I love my job thank you. I only night out twice a week but I find it’s nice to be out and let the Mrs have a good nights kip…

Sorry but he is better looking then me

90

truckyboy:
I can see where nightline is coming from

The pub, by the sound of him :smiley:

91

The drivers hat did North Africa had plenty of time.By waiting days to clear Customs.Some met local ladies and rented flats with them.Ask Will on TN the nephew of Tony Bradfield who at 70 still runs there.Or John Poppat.

92

truckyboy:
I can see where nightline is coming from, it is true that the wages we are paid, is not equivalent to the responsibility we have, and also the abuse we have to put up with, but there is only one option to change that, but it will not happen, cos its been discussed many times.He does fall down on a few other issues, international drivers dont do it for the experience, i was away for weeks when i was on the middle east, the uk money was more, but still chose to do it, because i enjoyed it, enjoyed having the load on my back for a week or so, and overall, it was an easy life ( thats why we are here )
Many drivers enjoy what they do, many drivers want more money, but manage on what they get, and not forgetting that some get the same £20 for international work, as their colleagues get for the uk. Some like going up the road, cos its better than multidrop, and for many, tramping earns them an extra £100 a week, i will agree that some drivers include their wages with their night out money, a trait that also needs changing. Trucking has always been a competitive industry, and the competition is tough, always has been, so its a case of best man wins ( the job/contract )
We all know of companies who had the work, and who has it now, so thats the strength of it, it wont change unless we change it, like we did years ago, but the modern driver has many things on his plate, and will not risk his cushty life, to better others, even though it will eventually better all of us, todays driver is a different breed compared to the oldies and if they are happy with their lot, good luck to them, and if Nightline is not happy with his lot, then all i can advise, is for him to move where it suits him, for i believe that he has a very big bee in his bonnet.

I think that puts the whole thing in prospective,well written comment mate.
regards dave.

93

Cheers…you can call me trucky :laughing:

94

See nightline hasnt been seen since the bottom of page 1, thrown his grenade and done runner. :laughing: :laughing: .

95

strange letter,for a start how do you know that the taliban earn more than the drivers in this country,and where do you get the figure of £3.50 an hour,no driver in this country would work for that hourly rate if thats what it is,and as other drivers have said if you do not like the job, QUIT, its a simple equasion and not rocket science,you are obviously not happy as a driver,and if you still have age on your side there are plenty of other jobs you can do,thats providing you can find the time instead of wasting said time ranting at other drivers on this site,if you have nothing constructive to say then stay off the site, simple as that

96

truckman20:
strange letter,for a start how do you know that the taliban earn more than the drivers in this country,and where do you get the figure of £3.50 an hour,no driver in this country would work for that hourly rate if thats what it is,and as other drivers have said if you do not like the job, QUIT, its a simple equasion and not rocket science,you are obviously not happy as a driver,and if you still have age on your side there are plenty of other jobs you can do,thats providing you can find the time instead of wasting said time ranting at other drivers on this site,if you have nothing constructive to say then stay off the site, simple as that

I,ll second that.
regards dave.

97

mickyblue:

Contraflow:

mickyblue:
I love my job thank you. I only night out twice a week but I find it’s nice to be out and let the Mrs have a good nights kip…

Sorry but he is better looking then me

I think Contraflow may be inferring this is the oke who pops round whilst you are away :laughing:

98

nightline:
Anyone who has to do this for 20 pounds a night please get a job .

Your all sitting there telling me to get out of my job, why because I tell you something you already know about the job and the people who do it for peanuts, you people have not got a backbone in you body to stick up for a good living, you should be ashamed of your self’s you are a disgrace to truck drivers all over the world you always have been and always will be working for buttons

you are one strange person,as far as i am aware they [the trampers you are slating]do have a job,i am not a tramper driver but i would love to see you say it to the faces of a group of these drivers then see who has the backbone,me thinks you would be eating hospital food a few hours later

99

Try driving a city centre bus Fri/Sat nights on the money they get… You’d soon be wishing you had your ‘tin can’ back then!

100

why does this forum let so many bell ends on it?

if you don’t like driving or truck drivers go on another forum, if you hate your job and life get another just don’t come on here to moan your ■■■■ off!

and please don’t class all drivers as thick you will just look as stupid as you already have! whilst abroad I have been on a beach in Italy, spain, Greece. In the Uk I have seen so many places if I worked in an office I would never have seen.

can we not set up a billy ■■■■■■■■ / gripes / moans / trolls section as this site is getting worse and worse :blush: