I suppose that when you drive a truck for a while and become used to being left alone, it’s possible to underestimate the enormous amount of petty politics that goes on in an office environment. At most places I’ve worked, they have got rid of people on the flimsiest pretext simply because they don’t seem to fit in with the “old guard”.
Its a shame to read all of this - Luke I remember when you left the road in Ireland and Virginia turned up in force to sort both you and the load out. At the time as I remember you both came out of that episode not only OK but much more respectful of each other?
Now this - such a shame for all involved. There can be no good out of this.
Harry Monk:
I suppose that when you drive a truck for a while and become used to being left alone, it’s possible to underestimate the enormous amount of petty politics that goes on in an office environment. At most places I’ve worked, they have got rid of people on the flimsiest pretext simply because they don’t seem to fit in with the “old guard”.
This is very true. The amount of infighting and back stabbing is insane. After the sacking I emailed the office staff to say goodbye and got one reply, from the planner I always got on with best. Nearly a decade working with some of them only for them to blank me. I’m not sure me and office work will ever happen again to be honest. Doing this night shift for Bull Transport out of Tesco Avonmouth and I’m so happy. Happier than I’ve been in months.
How’s Bertie couping?
Is he riding shotgun?
Are you on agency?
switchlogic:
Harry Monk:
I suppose that when you drive a truck for a while and become used to being left alone, it’s possible to underestimate the enormous amount of petty politics that goes on in an office environment. At most places I’ve worked, they have got rid of people on the flimsiest pretext simply because they don’t seem to fit in with the “old guard”.This is very true. The amount of infighting and back stabbing is insane. After the sacking I emailed the office staff to say goodbye and got one reply, from the planner I always got on with best. Nearly a decade working with some of them only for them to blank me. I’m not sure me and office work will ever happen again .
This firm sounds nicer and nicer. Where do I sign up? 
switchlogic:
I’m not sure me and office work will ever happen again to be honest.
I didn’t say anything at the time, but from the word “go” I thought this move was destined to end in “tears before bedtime”.
Gregory’s have been really good to me but there is no way in the world I could ever work in their traffic office if it all went ■■■■-up as a subbie, and if I tried then I’m sure the wheels would fall off in exactly the same way and in the same timescale.
I’ve no regrets, was worth a try.
Harry Monk:
switchlogic:
I’m not sure me and office work will ever happen again to be honest.I didn’t say anything at the time, but from the word “go” I thought this move was destined to end in “tears before bedtime”.
Gregory’s have been really good to me but there is no way in the world I could ever work in their traffic office if it all went ■■■■-up as a subbie, and if I tried then I’m sure the wheels would fall off in exactly the same way and in the same timescale.
Yeah. But that was something I said earlier. If it was a tall order, why didn’t they act the decent, sit him down and give it the “look, mate this isn’t actually working for us, it cant be for you either,bla bla”. He’s given them nearly a decade of decent service plus a ton of good publicity.
I don’t think they’re necessarily bad otherwise he wouldn’t have enjoyed his years as a driver. Just think they’re misguided and frightened not to act like people and trying to aspirationally act the way a big business machine is supposed to be in their minds eye. And then they’ve royally cocked it. Shame they could’ve handled it differently and kept up a good rep on media.
i understand it fully.
Friendly Driver you have sometimes on the Phone,never long in Office,does his Job without leaving much Hassle for Office to sort out and even buys a drink then and when.
Then,of the Suden is that Driver in a Position,much high then other Office Staff and perhaps in Power to criticise them,and perhaps seating close to Boss tellin them what he had to sort out over the Years the Office messed up.
Sure someone was busy as Hell rasting out and just had a chance to do something.
So,the one who answered the Email,…i wouldnt trust them. There needs to be one watching what you do,to make sure nothing comes back to Office. Just think you would get on with Boss in a few day and he tells you they said that or that. You could play them to the Wall.
think on that too.
Musstnt be the Boss his fault.
Luke you gave it ago and it did not work out no shame in that at least you had a shot at it also remember a good driver does not automatically make a good manager I think that’s been proved over the years. I did read in one of your posts that Virginia wanted you in Tamworth 7 days a week and on call 24/7, if you have drivers out on the road and there is a problem who do they call you you’re the boss, that’s all part and parcel of the job if Virginia did not make that very clear from the start then they are at fault put it down to experience and move on
Thanks for your comments everyone, good to see it from other people’s perspectives and there’s some really good advice too. Its been an interesting week but if one thing proved to me I should be back driving was last night. As soon as I hit the M5 in a comfy FH 500 Plymouth bound for Tesco I felt a big wave of happiness wash over me. Radio on, empty motorway, stress gone and a feeling of being back where I belong. I honestly hadn’t realised how far down the stress of that job had dragged me until getting back behind the wheel last night.
I’ve learnt lots. Done lots and am a more rounded person as a result. Now I’m back to plan A (this is what I planned to do before Virginia offered me the TM job) and so I’ve lost nothing but gained a lot. A fair few grey hairs for one. 
That’s exactly how I felt when I went back on the road, I’m back where I belong. It’s weird in a way as I’m capable of so much more than being “just” a lorry driver, as that’s how we’re conditioned to think by society’s rules, you hear all the you’re wasted as a lorry driver" comments and get encouraged to “better” yourself.
Yet driving lorries was always my dream, I live my dream every day I’m out on the road, not many people can say that in other industries or jobs.
I did enjoy my stints behind a desk, but nowhere near as much as I enjoy my time behind a steering wheel, yes the driving does impact on the ability to have a social life, but on the flip side working in an office changes who you are, those of us passionate about our lorry driving are not the same people when we’re not lorry drivers, something is missing.
So instead of trying to “better” myself according to society’s rules, I decided to “better” myself as a lorry driver and do all the lorry driving things I ever wanted to do and as a result I’m much happier within myself.
You have an excellent way with words Mark, wasted as as lorry driver!
switchlogic:
and am a more rounded person as a result.
That’s what sat behind a desk does to you 
I doubt you’d have any social media followers at all if you’d done videos about your life sitting at a desk.
short walk:
You have an excellent way with words Mark, wasted as as lorry driver!
Hahaha, nice one!
newmercman:
That’s exactly how I felt when I went back on the road, I’m back where I belong. It’s weird in a way as I’m capable of so much more than being “just” a lorry driver, as that’s how we’re conditioned to think by society’s rules, you hear all the you’re wasted as a lorry driver" comments and get encouraged to “better” yourself.Yet driving lorries was always my dream, I live my dream every day I’m out on the road, not many people can say that in other industries or jobs.
I did enjoy my stints behind a desk, but nowhere near as much as I enjoy my time behind a steering wheel, yes the driving does impact on the ability to have a social life, but on the flip side working in an office changes who you are, those of us passionate about our lorry driving are not the same people when we’re not lorry drivers, something is missing.
So instead of trying to “better” myself according to society’s rules, I decided to “better” myself as a lorry driver and do all the lorry driving things I ever wanted to do and as a result I’m much happier within myself.
It’s one of those very few jobs where you don’t have to work cheek by jowl with others for very long and almost are your own manager running your own show. Depends if you work for one of those firms that lets you be. I found that enjoyable, being left alone. From time to time, simple details. The rest your command, where to fuel, how to get there, where to rest. You, truck, countryside. You parachuted in to bits of the UK and had to interact with various types, some good, some nobs, but then airlift out again.
Some would hate that but being stuck in an office day by day and being forced to constantly communicate and be nagged and prodded by people that wind you up is a fate worse than a fate worse than death for me. Its bad enough being stuck on a trip in my job with someone you do not get on with. I tried office work twice, hated it the first time. The second lasted 5 minutes. Awful.
I’ve always been more than ok with own company though. Some of my mates collapse if they don’t have access to human interaction for more than an hour.
I quite enjoyed the office environment, but I needed to be busy or I started climbing the walls. My office experience has as I said to Luke, helped me become a better driver and hopefully a better businessman, which as I have a couple of lorries of my own, can only be a good thing. It was a step I took before becoming an owner driver the second time around in the UK and I did the same here in Canada.
I don’t know if owner driver is a route that Luke should look into, I know he likes spending money as if it’s about to go out of fashion from comments he has made on here in the past, but it went a long way to scratching my itch to do “better”
I am guessing that the whole purpose of this thread and the video wasn’t to gain sympathy, but to put his side across before the jungle telegraph drums started beating.
At the end of the day it’s time to move on, or onwards as our gastronomic, sartorially elegant, Internet sensation, lorry driving superstar would say…
newmercman:
I don’t know if owner driver is a route that Luke should look into, I know he likes spending money as if it’s about to go out of fashion from comments he has made on here in the past, but it went a long way to scratching my itch to do “better”
Was a childhood dream, but will probably never happen.
newmercman:
I am guessing that the whole purpose of this thread and the video wasn’t to gain sympathy, but to put his side across before the jungle telegraph drums started beating.
Pretty much. Plus after years of promoting that company, of always being complimentary, of never airing my dirty washing in public only for them to shaft me like that made me want to take the edge off the sparkling online shine they have. That I pretty much built for them. I’m an easy going sort of chap who just wants as easy going sort of life. But that doesn’t mean I’ll accept people like them trampling me into the ground. Everyone has limits.
newmercman:
At the end of the day it’s time to move on, or onwards as our gastronomic, sartorially elegant, Internet sensation, lorry driving superstar would say…
Such words are making me blush sir! But thank you. Im planning to ramp up and professionalise my blog now, do you fancy a guest spot?! I want more writers on it. PM me of one is interested! Would be great to get a view from across the pond as it were
switchlogic:
newmercman:
I don’t know if owner driver is a route that Luke should look into, I know he likes spending money as if it’s about to go out of fashion from comments he has made on here in the past, but it went a long way to scratching my itch to do “better”Was a childhood dream, but will probably never happen.
newmercman:
I am guessing that the whole purpose of this thread and the video wasn’t to gain sympathy, but to put his side across before the jungle telegraph drums started beating.Pretty much. Plus after years of promoting that company, of always being complimentary, of never airing my dirty washing in public only for them to shaft me like that made me want to take the edge off the sparkling online shine they have. That I pretty much built for them. I’m an easy going sort of chap who just wants as easy going sort of life. But that doesn’t mean I’ll accept people like them trampling me into the ground. Everyone has limits.
newmercman:
At the end of the day it’s time to move on, or onwards as our gastronomic, sartorially elegant, Internet sensation, lorry driving superstar would say…Such words are making me blush sir! But thank you. Im planning to ramp up and professionalise my blog now, do you fancy a guest spot?! I want more writers on it. PM me of one is interested! Would be great to get a view from across the pond as it were