My week started uneventfully (last week’s trip). Tipped in Melsenburg, Germany Monday, Linz & Wien, Austria tuesday and after backloading in Udine, Italy Thursday, I headed back for Ireland.
I decided to stop at Pidou, transmarck for some “groupage”. Couldn’t find anywhere in front of the store to park so I parked round the back. Thought i’d chance it as I’ll only be gone for 10 mins or so. Got back and done customary checks - cab -ok, curtains -ok, back doors-ok, seal/cord-ok, then i shone my powerful torch underneath the trailer. My heart missed a few beats at what i found. A dirty, scruffy young lad (probably around 15 or 16). He just stared at me as i stared at him. Big, scary wide eyes. he looked like he was shivering with the cold. I just looked at him for about 30 seconds and what I thought my instant reaction would be (ie. baseball bat out of cab, beat living daylights out of him) didn’t happen. I actually felt VERY sorry for him. Call me soft, call me all the names under the sun but I actually felt a lot of sympathy for this young boy.
I got him out and he stood there very scared and cold. i could see the fear in his dirty face. I couldn’t communicate with him but I think he was from Eastern Europe.
Since starting driving the Continent, I’ve been aware of the problems with illegal immigrants trying to “hitch” a lift over the water to the UK and always thought that if it happened to me I would see red and cause serious damage to said offenders. But no, I couldn’t. Not when faced with another human being desperate enough to risk his life in freezing, dirty conditions to get to England with the hope that his life might change for the better.
I’m no politician. I don’t know what the answers are.
Whilst in no way do I endorse the methods these people try to gain entry to UK- after all, it’s my liberty on the line here. But in the year 2003, is it neccessary(?) for people to resort to this? Surely there is more (in particular the French) other countries should be doing to stem this tidle wave of people?
I’m of Asian origin and when my mum and dad came to England 40 odd years ago they certainly did not travel 000’s of Kms strapping themselves underneath dirty trucks to get there. What’s gone wrong in the last half a century? Is England such an easy touch? Is the british Government to blame? What’s wrong with germany or staying in France. Or Spain?? (Has no one told them about the Upstairs Downstairs Club?) I know if I was leggin it for another country Spain is the place I’d be heading for. Don’t care if I had to walk there!
Seriously, I could feel nothing but sadness and pity for this young lad. I bought him a sandwich and a coke and we parted company.
I thought about this little episode all the way back to Ireland and I have to say it did upset me.
Something is wrong. very wrong.
Cheers, Kenny
Hi Kenny,
Thanks for posting that. In a time where every mention of Eastern Europeans stirs up a tirade of nationalistic and racial abuse you’ve shown that there’s a human element to this problem, and demonstrated to that lad probably the first ounce of kindness since he left home.
Like you I don’t know what the answer to the problem is - I remember when I worked in Romania the people just took in everything that US television told them about the dream life in the west, and most only had one thing on their minds: to get out.
Why they don’t stay in France or Germany? Maybe it has something to do with the active right wing that isn’t just in the Front National (Le Pen’s herd) but also seem to make up a fair percentage of the police and other authorities. When I hear people moaning about immigrants here I can’t help saying to them ‘Does that include me?’ Of course they always say no, somehow setting me as a British immigrant apart from the Eastern European or Arab immigrants.
I don’t envy you guys who have to cross the channel and deal with this stowaway business every time you get to Calais - it’s one of the things that’s ruining the job, but as your mail has shown there’s a life story behind every incident. I don’t know what the answer is? Just be vigilant with your checks I guess and cautiously treat every person with the respect they deserve … not all of them are gas-wielding desperados!
Respect to you,
Craig
Every now and then I come across something or someone that causes me to stop and think about things,to re-assess my views.You’ve done that Kenny
Nice one Kenny. Your post made a refreshing, heart warming, read and a change from the usual racist rhetoric spouted by drivers when this situation is discussed.
I came down into Calais from Belgium at about 04:00 this morning, it was cold and there was very thick fog, and I saw a group of about nine or ten walking along the hard shoulder. Included in the group were a couple of women carrying very small children, anyone who isn’t moved by seeing that must be very hard hearted.
Sitting having my breakfast I could hear two drivers at the table behind me discussing the same group I had seen. One said he was tempted to ‘run the [zb]’s over’ and the other decided the best solution was to load them all on a ferry then take it out into the channel and ‘sink the [zb]’s.’
Sad, very, very sad.
well done kenny, i have to admit that whenever i have found people trying to get into my trailer it has always been a group of them, i never stop in or near calais on my way home, i am always at least an hour away and often more, if i could make calais i wouldn’t but i do stop in calais on my way out and have encountered groups looking for a ride, i always treat them carefully, i don’t get upset and explain that i am going to germany, they then lose interest and wander off.
i have noticed recently that the numbers of people (obviously asylum seekers) walking around the calais and the corridor areas is again on the increase, there was a group this week near the bp garage just after the split for lille, they had a fire going and were huddled together around it.
i am not cold hearted but i for cannot afford to pay a fine for bringing these people into the uk, they (some anyway) may be fleeing tyranny and persecution in their own country but they should not be allowed to make our lives more difficult by stowing away in our vehicles, often causing damage whilst gaining entry.
the government and the do gooders are responsible for them trying to reach our shores instead of just wanting to get out of their own country to the nearest safe one.
we are a soft touch, the land of milk and honey. our government needs to make the country less appealing to bogus asylum seekers that way only the genuine ones will want to come here.
stop the unemployment benefits for everyone, there are enough vacancies in this country for everyone to be at work, maybe not in a job they would choose to do but beggars cannot be choosers, everyone that can (is able) to work should be working.
those that are unable to work through ill health should be the only ones getting benefits.
people should not be allowed to draw benefits if they haven’t been to work for a period of less than 3 years, benefits should be based upon the last 3 years earnings, this will then encourage people to get jobs and the unemployment levels will drop too.
unfortunately as with many things it is all the freeloaders and chancers that have once again spoiled things for the genuine cases.
i think you did the right thing there, he was probably a genuine case, it’s those big gangs that are wandering around calais that are the main problem.
Craig 111:
When I hear people moaning about immigrants here I can’t help saying to them ‘Does that include me?’ Of course they always say no, somehow setting me as a British immigrant apart from the Eastern European or Arab immigrants.
You and me both Craig!
Unbelievable as it may seem but Germany is still very much for the “Superior Race” as outlined by the ■■■■ Party! Now don’t get me wrong, Germany is not full of goose-stepping ■■■■’s, far from it, but there is this underlying feeling of anti-foreigner. I have had discussions with German drivers which tend to run along these lines … first question is normally are you American? When they discover that I’m a Brit, they are happy enough to talk to me about all the trash foreigners in their country! They slag off anyone who is not one of theirs… The Dutch and the Austrians are favourites for abuse followed by non-Europeans, when I ask “aren’t I also one of those that you look down upon” I also get the reply that as a Brit your accepted… one chap even went so far to say that its in “Mein Kampf” that Germanys only friends are the Brits and the Italians!!!
I understand there is an award for the best post etc etc…. well Kenny gets my vote for this thread.
Ok,yeah you may not park up at the truck stop in calais but if you are just passing through just look and see how many trucks are from eastern europe,its the same europe wide,but most of them want to come to england,WHY.
froggy:
trucks are from eastern europe,its the same europe wide,but most of them want to come to england,WHY.
erm… to tip and load and go back to their relatively high standard of living in their own country, earned from doing a difficult and sometimes dangerous job?
I dont know why i`m answering this thread when its so far out of date dec 03.but i cannot agree with whats been said and agreed…maybe this driver would not feel so needy about his stowaway if customs had spotted him as he came off the ferry and presented with a £2000 fine…or even lost his only source of income because he couldnt pay…it does get peoples backs up when the word asylum seeker is mentioned…and there are reasons for this…maybe even personal ones…and lets not forget that the asylum bill legislates that they should apply for asylum in the first safe country to the one they are fleeing from, and being that there are alot of them from the old eastern bloc…i wonder why we managed to travel through these same countries without hinder…of course there were problems with the local mafia…and gypsies…who stole and robbed us…who demanded something or our windscreen would get broken…these people are scroungers…because of our generous benefits system…and the only country in europe that gives them anything…in germany no benefits for 3 months…in holland no benefits if you have not worked…and you cant work unless you can speak dutch fluently…so catch 22 there…france no benefits for 3 months …we do not ask for proof of monies to suppport themselves whilst their claim for asylum is assessed…and they know and pass on the information that we are an easy touch…ask anyone about asylum seekers and they would welcome the genuine one…these are migrants…a different kettle of fish…and our crime rates and health scares have hit the roof…and that is a true statistic…as for the unemployed…i agree…there is no reason whatsoever for a very large majority of our youngsters not to work…but to claim benefits…and maybe the government agrees that its better to pay benefits than to lock them up at high cost rather than face an influx of crime…which is happening anyway…sorry…but they wont get my sympathy…
It’s even worse here in the US. Thousands of Mexicans cross the border illegally every year into the US. Several years ago, they fortified the border fence around all the busy crossings, so now the majority of illegal crossers risk going through the Arizona desert, and hundreds die attempting this each year, yet they keep coming. Thousands of asians try coming across the border from Canada every year as well.
Back a dozen or more years ago, I had a regular run that took me up to the ford manufacturing plant in Oakville, ON, Canada. I would cross the border every day, sometimes twice in a day-bringing door inserts up, carrying empty racks back. One day, another driver approached me about a way to make extra money. All I needed to do was to park my truck with the unsealed return load of racks on the back lot at the 5th wheel Truck Stop on the QEW, then come back an hour later, cross the border, then stop at the truck stop at the native American reservation and park there for another hour. An envelope with $1000 would be sitting on my seat for every trip.
Well, I turned the guy down, but I wonder how many didn’t.
it’s amazing how much some people will degrade themselves for a little bit of money. over here we over free housing to some of the qualified needy. we refer to these areas as “the projects”. the crime is so high in these areas that the police have reserved parking. yet there are plenty of people that are content on staying in these neighborhoods. it goes to show, give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a life time.
Of course, people want to come to the US or to the UK because they’ve seen how wealthy and happy we look on TV. I wonder how many would attempt entering if they knew that the best they could hope for was a crummy apartment in a project/council flat and a pittance from welfare/“the dole”■■
Still, the reality that most people ignore is that the jobs these people end up taking are the ones that no native citizens ever take.
The illegal’s problem around Calais seems to be on the increase again as the winter weather approaches.
One of our driver’s stopped in Calais last week as he had just come off the ferry from the UK,and as he was almost out of hours,decided to park at the IDS station.I know that is a hot-spot for immigrants trying to steal a ride to the UK as I had four climb into my pallet box a while ago there.
Anyway,the driver walked around the trailer the next morning and all seemed ok,he had a padlock on the back doors which was still intact.
As he was driving up towards Dunkerque he noticed some arms waving out of the side of the trailer,so he stopped and there were fourteen illegals in the back,eleven men and three young girls.
They had made a hole in the side of the trailer right up near the roof line,how they’d managed to climb up the side is amazing.
This week I stopped at the peage at St Omer on the way to Calais,not having enough time to get over to the UK.At 2am I heard someone blowing their horn repeatedly,it turned out to be one of two Italians who were parked next to me.
The driver could hardly stand up and was obviously having trouble seeing,he was on the phone too.
His mate got up and helped him to regain his balance and splashed water on his face.A few moments later the police arrived and started searching the parking area,apparently the driver had been victim to a gas attack and attempted robbery,but he’d managed to scare them off and switch his lights on and blow his horn.
Do we really get paid enough for the danger’s which are now part and parcel of this job?
Its not just Calais either, there has been a lot more immigrants in Cherbourg this last month or so.
I believe there is an organised gang working there, except I need a little more information to prove anything. I have mentioned my theory to Customs in Poole and they are keeping an eye open 
i have mixed feelings about the illeagals. one side is annoyed that they come here and work for lower wages and will live 10 to a house which in turn makes it harder for me to find a high paying job. The other side feels sorry for these people who travel so far from almost everything that they know for a chance at our pie. my next door neighbor is a russian guy and delivers pizza for a living. in case yous aren’t aware, philadelphia is a rough town, i barley notice gunfire unless it is right outside my house. but this guy doesn’t seem to mind the danger and insists it is much worse where he came from. so i’m definetly split on this immigrant issue.