john smith:
but i would say rigid drivers arnt as proffessional as artic drivers
Sorry but that is a ridiculous generalisation. Going by your way of thinking where would Class 1 drivers fall while driving a rigid?
i know of more than a couple of lads who r now taxi drivers who got fed up of being treated like rubbing rags wen they were so called class 1 professional drivers…
Coffeeholic:
Sorry but that is a ridiculous generalisation.
ridiculous wasn’t the word I was thinking of 
Neither was it the word I was thinking of Denis but if I had used that word I would have been forced to edit myself. 
john smith:
but i would say rigid drivers arnt as proffessional as artic drivers
What a pathetic statement john. 
So because I drive a rigid vehicle that don’t make me a professional?
That I have sat a theory test, a driving test and gained my class 2 licence and have been driving a class c vehicle for over a year don’t make me a professional?
Why not? I have similar restrictions to artics(56mph,7.5t limits etc) but because my truck don’t bend in the middle that means I’m not a professional?
I am about to take my class 1 test a week Tuesday,so I’ll beg and plead with my instructor to make me a pro,john.
Get a life mate.
Dan.
john smith:
i wonder if coach drivers have there own site like this one asking the same stupid question
If it’s a stupid question, why such discussion?
Dazza:
This should have been a poll as well as a discussion
Done!
I’d like to see a suit from the government or an office, bending an artic around the streets of London
Dan a.k.a Boo:
john smith:
but i would say rigid drivers arnt as proffessional as artic driversWhat a pathetic statement john.
[…]
I am about to take my class 1 test a week Tuesday,so I’ll beg and plead with my instructor to make me a pro,john.
Don’t worry Dan, I passed my Class 1 3 years ago and I’m only a pro when I put a drag on the back
just because you pass a class one test dosnt make you a professional driver you still have to learn the job and that takes years not a week driving a tonka toy on your lessons
Alan, I was being sarcastic, give me some credit, I’ve been in this industry many years mate!
“Grandfathers Fights!”
Dazza
since the poll went up, other.
a professional driver is not just 1 of the items in the poll but all of them and more.
you cannot possibly define a professional driver by using just one statement or word.
everybody has a different opinion as to how to establish a professional driver from a driver or a licence holder.
it’s a bit like saying 50 year old fred is a good driver because he hasn’t had an accident in his life.
50 year old fred only ever drives his car on a weekend and in the last 20 years he has only clocked up 5,000 miles.
50 year old fred also never wears a seat belt and should have his glasses on for driving but never does, his car has not been serviced for 5 years and he cannot remember the last time he checked his lights, the car has the original tyres on it but is 12 years old and stands still for 5 days of the week. finally fred suffered a heart attack last year but because he doesn’t drive very far did not bother to inform dvla.
so is fred really a good driver??
From another thread but relevant I think:
john smith:
where do i start, slinging tachos out the window, pulling fuses, winding clocks back/forward, not using tachos, disconnecting limiters, fiddling limiters, using wires and switches
No matter what size vehicle you drive this doesn’t make you professional by any stretch of the imagination, in my opinion.
Having an hgv/lgv licence doesn’t make you a professional, it makes you someone who passed a test.
I passed mine in the 70’s and have driven trucks ever since. I am not an expert nor ever will be, there is no such thing because no matter how long you drive a truck you learn something new every day.
Over here I am called ‘Professional’ but do not consider myself as such. I am jusy a guy who passed the test and drives a truck. If we are professionals then so is the milk float driver that hold you up on so many mornings.
johnny:
since the poll went up, other.
a professional driver is not just 1 of the items in the poll but all of them and more.
you cannot possibly define a professional driver by using just one statement or word.
everybody has a different opinion as to how to establish a professional driver from a driver or a licence holder.
it’s a bit like saying 50 year old fred is a good driver because he hasn’t had an accident in his life.
50 year old fred only ever drives his car on a weekend and in the last 20 years he has only clocked up 5,000 miles.
50 year old fred also never wears a seat belt and should have his glasses on for driving but never does, his car has not been serviced for 5 years and he cannot remember the last time he checked his lights, the car has the original tyres on it but is 12 years old and stands still for 5 days of the week. finally fred suffered a heart attack last year but because he doesn’t drive very far did not bother to inform dvla.
so is fred really a good driver??
Would all of this not come under Attitude? The attitude that one should wear their seatbelt, ensure they are medically fit to drive and the their vehicle is safe and roadworthy. I may be wrong, but the scenario you have described appears to be one that stems from a bad attitude to roadcraft.
and you can honestly tell me you run 100% legal being an owner driver, and can you earn as much as i do doing it? and i run legal, people need to get a sense of humour life aint serious and nor is driving a poxy truck thats the problem in this industry now:twisted:
john smith:
and you can honestly tell me you run 100% legal being an owner driver
Yes, 100%, and you are welcome to check my discs.
john smith:
and can you earn as much as i do doing it? and i run legal
Probably more, unless you are earning a lot more than anybody has quoted in the ‘Who Gets Paid What’ thread so far. Being an OD doesn’t mean you have to run bent to make a good living and if it came down to that I would give up before I ran bent.
so you do bang on 40 mph on single A roads then?
Coffeeholic:
john smith:
but i would say rigid drivers arnt as proffessional as artic driversSorry but that is a ridiculous generalisation. Going by your way of thinking where would Class 1 drivers fall while driving a rigid?
I agree what a bloody cheek having started out 12 years ago as a class 1 driver for nearly 8 years and then progressing to a PCV licence and driving coaches now i drive a rigid 16ton merc box van on glass deliveries
i am happy with the job the hours are good the pay is good and im home everynight and I love the job I class myself as a professional mainly because i love the job i have a clean licence i do the job to the best of my abilities and i take pride in doing it well. The main thing here is there are others out there with not even half the experience some of the guys on here have and they can and do make mistakes (frequently) but we as professionals have to forgive them as they know not what they do and the only person who gets stressed is you (blood pressure rises and makes the heart work harder result HEARTATTACK too soon before your time) so sit back laugh and think to yourselves IM BETTER THAN HIM it’s a simple philosophy that i follow everyday and hey i dont get stressed
I cant believe how many different opinions this subject has brought up… I would have thought that this would have been a quick and easy debate, but I can see this going on for a long time…
But its very interesting, reading the different views…
Cheers
AndyM