Hiya ATKIG11, thanx for the welcome 
, your name reminds me of a time when i drove an atkins (sorry for spelling) centre steer, and that was a mad experiance…
Im hoping to get back in the driving seat as soon as my agency picks back up 
ive got the bug for C1 now hehe
That was a very well thought out piece you wrote there, Mal (about why we do the job).
I, too, have been in this game a long time. I have a PSV (or whatever it is called now) and drove coaches for 6 years in the early nineties. I have owned my own limo and done chauffeuring/security work for some very very wealthy people. BUT no matter what, I always end up back trucking!!!
It is the lowest paid of the three professions but 2 summers ago, I was coming home one night, down the A3 in my own 2 year old S Class Merc, suited and booted, having been up in London all day and I was looking at the trucks parked up along the A3/M25 junction. I realised how much I was missing the ‘fun and games’ on the trucks.
Next thing I am back hauling ■■■ over the Blanc, the Merc is parked up and I was back in love with work again. I have sold the Merc now and just know, I am back in trucking till retirement.
What other job can show you the sights we see? I drive along and never cease to be amazed at the scenery in Europe. Whether it is over the Blanc in winter, seeing all the snow … hauling 40 tonnes up the Sumosierra towards Madrid, I love it!!!
I am here to stay!!!
Page 1, 2nd post by Johnny.
Tacho’s on anything over 2.8T (like the Germans have) might level the playing field between the “Trained & Tested” & “Other” commercial drivers.
As for most of the other posts, don’t you thing we over glorify the job and talk it up a little bit too much? Yes, it’s essential. Yes, it requires a skill. And so do lots of other jobs on a similar pay scale/hours An occasional bit of perspective rather than this “blinkers on” attidude might balance the arguments a little.
Coffeeholic has the right attitude in my book — you can enjoy the life and make a reasonable living. And an as an Owner Driver, he certainly has to have a slightly wider perspective than just chasing “per hour this” and “after 8” that. And as a successful OD, he should make more money because he has taken the risk.
If you don’t like it, then get out and do something else. If you want to change conditions and the perception of “drivers”, then be a bit more positive. Whinging day after day won’t change a thing for you, other than everybody else will eventually steer clear of the miserable G1T!!.