Hi all i just wondered if anyone is as fortunate like me to be doing doubleman work and for some reason get slapped with a complete tool lol
And just usual nightmare shifts
What is the doubleman life like? Do spliy the driving down the middle? Do you jump on the bunk while the other guy is driving or isn’t that allowed these days
Every double manned wagon I see (usually on the M20) has both drivers sat in the seats, the one in the passenger seat usually has his feet on the dash and is fast off mind.
When I worked for Rentokil/Initial, we used to do a lot of double manned trunking runs from Chorley down to Okehampton, Wimbledon and Hayes.
We would be teamed as a pair for the week and would take it in turns to do the first stint of driving, usually doing 3 1/2 hours each.
Depending on who I was paired with, I would either jump on the bunk and pull the curtains straight away, or spend an hour or so chatting before jumping on the bunk.
I quite enjoyed the double manned shifts, but obviously it depended on getting along with your colleague.
The only downside was you occasionally got saddled with some numpty. 
I couldn’t do it. I’d be reaching for the James Bond stylee ejector seat button on gearstick, quick as a flash. Or he would.
She definitely would.
mds141:
Depending on who I was paired with, I would either jump on the bunk and pull the curtains straight away,
How did the other driver see out the window?? 
I’ll get me coat
2nd or 3rd shift as a truck driver was doing a double manned run, guy was brand new he told me “I never sleep on the way down” so we chatted all the way down, 6 hours or so. On the way back up he says “I’m totally shattered, I’m jumping in the bunk, I do usually sleep on the way down, just wanted to see your driving first!” Fair play to the guy I would be the same. He then said “When I’m sleeping, No radio, No phone, window closed and heating on… When doing double manning, you got to make sure your partner sleeps well, as if he doesn’t… he will be driving you up the road tired!!!” absolutely true, it was roasting in the cab and I was board stiff. So we swapped and he says “Do you want the heating on?” I said “Nope windows open, radio on, talk on the phone all you want” I woke up he was freezing with his jacket on lol
Great experience, but wouldn’t do it with and numpties… would be a great job if you had a decent partner all the time 
I used to enjoy double manning, went all over Scotland a few years back although we got digs at the time. Was running in 3.5t up to 26t but made more money getting digs then a night in the cab, had some great times for 18 months and used to think solo lorry drivers were mental being on their own all day.
Now I’m a tramper and if I have to share a cab for a few hours never mind a day I’m very uncomfortable and breath a sigh of relief the second I’m alone again 
Funny how things change but I don’t think I could ever take a job double manning again, but I did enjoy it at the time.
There’s a few at our yard who I’d be quite happy double manning on the odd occasion with - a couple of them are Polish and speak about 20 languages between them, so I’d use the time to learn another language or two!
Most of the guys at our yard are clean freaks, so wouldn’t have to worry about the truck being a sty.
Welk his is my first time being double manned with another driver and honestly id seen myself for 6 weeks 5days a week 15hrs a day and have 5minutes of talk which usually results in attitude to the point i now understand anyone paired with him (dragging heels lazy ■■■■ rather than f"uk bout")either quit lol 12 drivers in a year lol one a month.
I perfere being out myself or in anycase multi drop with van assistant. But never again 
Where do you double man to Davy? Cannock/Birmingham?
You should tell this fella you need a bit of shut eye or else you’ll feel a wreck later on.
merc0447:
Where do you double man to Davy? Cannock/Birmingham?You should tell this fella you need a bit of shut eye or else you’ll feel a wreck later on.
I do get a bit of shut eye most of the time. Usually second part of my rest period what i cant stand is if hes driving and i decide to stay awake i end up sitting in silence most of the time which makes this job a drag.
Making the shift go by quicker is more important rather than sitting having more conversation on trucknet than i do in a full shift with the other driver.
Maybe i just like to talk lol anyone else discover this with other ppl?