I am a relatively new driver only a few years on me but I think I am fairly experienced as a C+E driver now. I’ve done most work with the exception of car transporter.
I even briefly considered continental work.
But quickly thought to myself no ■■■■■■ way.
Why do you guys do it? From what I can make out the pay isnt much better compared to local work and the risk is so much greater.
youtube.com/watch?v=Mf76yyTY7Ss
What am I missing? I am honestly curious.
adam277:
I am a relatively new driver only a few years on me but I think I am fairly experienced as a C+E driver now. I’ve done most work with the exception of car transporter.
I even briefly considered continental work.But quickly thought to myself no [zb] way.
Why do you guys do it? From what I can make out the pay isnt much better compared to local work and the risk is so much greater.
youtube.com/watch?v=Mf76yyTY7SsWhat am I missing? I am honestly curious.
Because transiting Calais is only a small part of euro work, away from there you get treated completely different to in the UK tipping and loading times are a fraction of those in the UK. Most places it’s possible to shower while being tipped and the free coffee always helps. Decent places to park a decent 4 course meal in a Routiers is around 12 euro all freshly cooked, park up in towns or villages and get a chance to see places that others pay to see. Lost count of the number of weekends parked up in Europes capital cities and spent the weekend sightseeing or just on the lash, UK services or a layby on the A1 mmmmm no comparison to sitting on the beach in the south of Spain or Portugal in January.
Mazzer2:
adam277:
I am a relatively new driver only a few years on me but I think I am fairly experienced as a C+E driver now. I’ve done most work with the exception of car transporter.
I even briefly considered continental work.But quickly thought to myself no [zb] way.
Why do you guys do it? From what I can make out the pay isnt much better compared to local work and the risk is so much greater.
youtube.com/watch?v=Mf76yyTY7SsWhat am I missing? I am honestly curious.
Because transiting Calais is only a small part of euro work, away from there you get treated completely different to in the UK tipping and loading times are a fraction of those in the UK. Most places it’s possible to shower while being tipped and the free coffee always helps. Decent places to park a decent 4 course meal in a Routiers is around 12 euro all freshly cooked, park up in towns or villages and get a chance to see places that others pay to see. Lost count of the number of weekends parked up in Europes capital cities and spent the weekend sightseeing or just on the lash, UK services or a layby on the A1 mmmmm no comparison to sitting on the beach in the south of Spain or Portugal in January.
+1.
Geoffo:
Mazzer2:
adam277:
I am a relatively new driver only a few years on me but I think I am fairly experienced as a C+E driver now. I’ve done most work with the exception of car transporter.
I even briefly considered continental work.But quickly thought to myself no [zb] way.
Why do you guys do it? From what I can make out the pay isnt much better compared to local work and the risk is so much greater.
youtube.com/watch?v=Mf76yyTY7SsWhat am I missing? I am honestly curious.
Because transiting Calais is only a small part of euro work, away from there you get treated completely different to in the UK tipping and loading times are a fraction of those in the UK. Most places it’s possible to shower while being tipped and the free coffee always helps. Decent places to park a decent 4 course meal in a Routiers is around 12 euro all freshly cooked, park up in towns or villages and get a chance to see places that others pay to see. Lost count of the number of weekends parked up in Europes capital cities and spent the weekend sightseeing or just on the lash, UK services or a layby on the A1 mmmmm no comparison to sitting on the beach in the south of Spain or Portugal in January.
+1.
+2
On the Calais thing… I’ve been through Calais for the ferry or Coquelles for the Eurotunnel hundreds of times and I’ve never had an issue. Obviously I’m not saying it doesn’t happen but what I am saying is that some drivers just dont help themselves with how they approach it.
Agree with all the above.
+3
+4
This can’t be TNUK can it?
No arguments or dissent?
I agree with all the above, once you start driving abroad you’ll see how awful the UK is to drive around, especially if you get to places like Scandinavia, or somewhere warm like the south of Spain. When was the last time you did a delivery and the guy came out, shook your hand and said hello, fancy a coffee?
noisycarl:
I agree with all the above, once you start driving abroad you’ll see how awful the UK is to drive around, especially if you get to places like Scandinavia, or somewhere warm like the south of Spain. When was the last time you did a delivery and the guy came out, shook your hand and said hello, fancy a coffee?
I don’t doubt it.
But am I wrong in saying the pay is not much better if at all?
Also the risk of a fine if an illegal is caught on your truck just seems to not make it worthwhile to me.
adam277:
noisycarl:
I agree with all the above, once you start driving abroad you’ll see how awful the UK is to drive around, especially if you get to places like Scandinavia, or somewhere warm like the south of Spain. When was the last time you did a delivery and the guy came out, shook your hand and said hello, fancy a coffee?I don’t doubt it.
But am I wrong in saying the pay is not much better if at all?
Also the risk of a fine if an illegal is caught on your truck just seems to not make it worthwhile to me.
Once you’ve done it you’ll never go back to UK work no comparison for all of the above and more, to numerous to mention.
I have never done it for work, but have driven on plenty of holidays over the Chanel and once away from towns the driving is so much easier , so much space. I have wondered though with so much space in France why are the slip roads so short or tight bends.
adam277:
noisycarl:
I agree with all the above, once you start driving abroad you’ll see how awful the UK is to drive around, especially if you get to places like Scandinavia, or somewhere warm like the south of Spain. When was the last time you did a delivery and the guy came out, shook your hand and said hello, fancy a coffee?I don’t doubt it.
But am I wrong in saying the pay is not much better if at all?
Also the risk of a fine if an illegal is caught on your truck just seems to not make it worthwhile to me.
So you want a better job, AND better pay for doing it?
Europe work used to be better paid, but it’s true it isn’t always so now. Some is, some ain’t.
Fines for having clandestine?
I’ve known many cases of people bringing them in, but none I’ve known have paid a fine. Take precautions and you’ll reduce the chances of being a target, and reduce chances of getting a fine if you do get caught out.
You will be drinking coffe in a police station, but if you’ve not been silly you’ll probably be OK. Cue horror stories to the contrary, but they are unusual.
As others have said just far better way of doing the job, the problem of illegal immigrants trying to stow away on your truck, is something you learn to deal with, by thinking about where you park and doing your checks and documenting it.
Calais has got easier since they cleared the camp and put in more fencing and a holding area, but this has meant that the problem is now more spread out, the clip was of Caen or Ouistreham to be more exact, where there are ferries to Portsmouth.
As others have said once you learn the ropes of Calais , the same applies to every port in Europe, life over in Europe is far better for truckers .
None of this can’t use the toilet hoohah , loads and loads of parking , far better food , not getting ripped off for parking or food .
Stick to the rules and you are fine .
The views are fantastic 
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I have had no issues at the ports except Bilbao where the trucks were queuing on the dual carriageway and you could see people jumping on your trailer and others around you. I drove in the port and stopped by some police before the check in and the guys soon jumped off and ran away. Once we were in the line up waiting to board more people had got in and were trying to get on the lorry in front of me, a few beeps of the horn and he was off and being chased by a port security car.
I parked in a truckstop in France about 5-6hrs away from Calais for the night, checked in the morning and nothing looked different, drove 4hrs, parked for 45min but stayed with the truck and gave it another look. By chance I decided to put something in the trailer that was in my cab so off came the pad locks and to my surprise 5 guys were in there, after pooing myself, after a min or so the guys got off asked me where they were and then headed over the otherside of the carriageway to hitch a lift away from port to try again later.
BUT, the rest of the time in Europe it’s a much better life.
adam277:
I am a relatively new driver only a few years on me but I think I am fairly experienced as a C+E driver now. I’ve done most work with the exception of car transporter.
I even briefly considered continental work.But quickly thought to myself no [zb] way.
Why do you guys do it? From what I can make out the pay isnt much better compared to local work and the risk is so much greater.
youtube.com/watch?v=Mf76yyTY7SsWhat am I missing? I am honestly curious.
I suppose even if the money was the same it would be a completely different life getting paid to see places that maybe a tourist never sees it could be just a way of life thats not for someone who wants more than the average and don’t like a bit of hassle
+5
adam277:
noisycarl:
I agree with all the above, once you start driving abroad you’ll see how awful the UK is to drive around, especially if you get to places like Scandinavia, or somewhere warm like the south of Spain. When was the last time you did a delivery and the guy came out, shook your hand and said hello, fancy a coffee?I don’t doubt it.
But am I wrong in saying the pay is not much better if at all?
Also the risk of a fine if an illegal is caught on your truck just seems to not make it worthwhile to me.
As usual it depends on how the pay is structured. We did some of the long crossings and the lads got 8 hours standard plus 4 hours overtime. Two of those in a week, particularly if it was Sunday and double helped a lot. My lads earned over 50k, and some weeks were only 45 hours, so whilst there were long hours some weeks, it wasnt all.
Illegals, we brought 18 in. Police came, interviewed the drivers, police were really good and nothing came of it.
I’d go for it if you get the chance.
I did continental for the first half of my career. Approx 1986 - 2001. I looked into going back to it after my Mrs died in 2015 but it seems no-one does it any more 
I’d look at it again if anyone offered…based North Yorks/North East