I went the other way. I moved on from my rigid job that had nights out to just working nights on artics. Don’t get me wrong, I do like sleeping in my own bed, using my own shower and using my own kitchen but I do miss the distance work. Furthest I go now is Liverpool or Sunderland and its getting boring. Constantly cab hopping, I hate driving other peoples wagons. The constant traveling is something I really didn’t cater for. 45 minutes each way! And the money went down. We’re on overtime after 9 hours, trampers at our place can really max their hours if they want but us night men are stuffed if it goes flat for a week. How the hell do I stretch taking a trailer from Immingham to Normanton and run back empty to over 9 hours without looking like I’m taking the urine?
I like doing nights, its less hassle, less traffic, no office breathing down your neck, less H&S people lurking about at drops but the drop in money now is making me really consider asking for a job as a tramper at our place. I know for a fact they’d moan and grumble though. “You wanted nights so we put you on nights” etc.
robroy:
It is those precious types, who bleat on about ‘I need to get home to my own bed’ or '‘I’ve no desire to sleep in a tin box’ ’ as if it is beneath them the same ones who look down their snouts at trampers, and think we are ALL unwashed carrier bag crappers with no social skills…We are not!!
Why did they even consider a career in road transport ffs ?
You’re reading a bit too much into this, I think. I don’t currently do nights out, although I’ve had thousands in my time. I don’t “look down my snout” at anyone who does, that’s their choice, just as my choice is mine.
To be fair Harry you were the furthest from my mind when I wrote that, I understand a guy of your experience ‘knows the score’
It was the habitual bleaters I was on about, the ones, who like I said, just play at the job, who will not react and adapt, and should really be in a 9 to 5 routine type job.
I realise that not all day men are like that by any means, just a few as I said…drama queens.
robroy:
I could understand some of you day men who get hot flushes and go all ‘time of the month’ if you very occasionally have to have an unscheduled night out, or even mention the words ‘night out’ (.oooh the drama ) if it was in a day cab, and
you had to sleep across the seats.(as it once was) then I could see your point.
In transport [zb] has always happened…fact, sometimes you will be held up and have to stay away maybe once a year in winter for eg…
. The clue is in the fact that you have designated bunk in there with you, so stop moaning like teenage girls and get on with it.
ffs.
When I started driving HGV’s in 1972 sleeping across the seats of a Bedford TK was the norm., I later progressed to a Ford D series.
In more recent times, as a day driver, I always took my overnight kit despite being a casual and having to load and unload it every trip. Being prepared makes life easier, no horrible surprises.
You are obviously a ‘proper’ professional driver who understands how the job works, so you cater and adapt.
It is those precious types, who bleat on about ‘I need to get home to my own bed’ or '‘I’ve no desire to sleep in a tin box’ ’ as if it is beneath them the same ones who look down their snouts at trampers, and think we are ALL unwashed carrier bag crappers with no social skills…We are not!!
Why did they even consider a career in road transport ffs ?
I also remember the dubious pleasure of sleeping in a TK and a D series too btw , but you just got on with it in those days with no drama queens in the job.
here we go again, when men were men and sheep were nervous , your not a “proper driver” unless you do nights out, we used to do this and we used to do that, I’m surprised that the Eaton twin splitter hasn’t surfaced yet
I don’t do nights out so that somehow makes me a teenage girl, doesn’t bother me, call me what you like, it’s driving a truck ffs, get real
robroy:
I could understand some of you day men who get hot flushes and go all ‘time of the month’ if you very occasionally have to have an unscheduled night out, or even mention the words ‘night out’ (.oooh the drama ) if it was in a day cab, and
you had to sleep across the seats.(as it once was) then I could see your point.
In transport [zb] has always happened…fact, sometimes you will be held up and have to stay away maybe once a year in winter for eg…
. The clue is in the fact that you have designated bunk in there with you, so stop moaning like teenage girls and get on with it.
ffs.
When I started driving HGV’s in 1972 sleeping across the seats of a Bedford TK was the norm., I later progressed to a Ford D series.
In more recent times, as a day driver, I always took my overnight kit despite being a casual and having to load and unload it every trip. Being prepared makes life easier, no horrible surprises.
You are obviously a ‘proper’ professional driver who understands how the job works, so you cater and adapt.
It is those precious types, who bleat on about ‘I need to get home to my own bed’ or '‘I’ve no desire to sleep in a tin box’ ’ as if it is beneath them the same ones who look down their snouts at trampers, and think we are ALL unwashed carrier bag crappers with no social skills…We are not!!
Why did they even consider a career in road transport ffs ?
I also remember the dubious pleasure of sleeping in a TK and a D series too btw , but you just got on with it in those days with no drama queens in the job.
here we go again, when men were men and sheep were nervous , your not a “proper driver” unless you do nights out, we used to do this and we used to do that, I’m surprised that the Eaton twin splitter hasn’t surfaced yet
I don’t do nights out so that somehow makes me a teenage girl, doesn’t bother me, call me what you like, it’s driving a truck ffs, get real
Yeh all very amusing mate, but try reading a post before you jump in making a ■■■ of yourself.
It is the ones who refuse to adapt I was referring to, not guys who chose to become day men.
Iam a yes man , anywhere any time ,further the better ,I have no problem in doing anything ,and I like to tip early as possible ,I like 15 hr spread overs , I’ve nightd out on my door step ,under peace walls in Belfast ,in the Alps ,I like to navigate via cafes .
I understand that your comment was tongue in cheek mate but my belief is that the major cause of stress in this job is the stress the we ourselves place upon us! Tramper versus day man is a whole different ballgame imo. A day man who gets messed around at a delivery or held up in traffic is constantly doing the mental arithmetic as to when he/she will be getting back to the yard, or indeed if they’ll have enough time to get back to the yard. As a tramper on the other hand I’ve taught myself to think that delays merely result in more money in my pocket and the only thing that will change is the view from my bedroom window!
I will admit that on my last day of the week the slow tip or traffic jam can elevate my stress levels a tad, which I’ll also admit I don’t like the feeling of, so I suppose that is one of the reasons I prefer tramping.
I’m not a tramper, nor am I a day man. I go where and when the boss needs me to go, if i get home that night all well and good, but if I end up on a night out then thats not a problem either. Things change at the drop of a hat in transport, and as a driver I will do my best to accomodate the changes to the best of my ability. I’m in a job that could see me doing mostly UK day work, albeit long days sometimes, to being available to run to Zurich or Geneva at the drop of the same hat. it has not happened yet since I have been here, but could. On that principle it is best to be prepared to go with the flow.
As a tramper on the other hand I’ve taught myself to think that delays merely result in more money in my pocket and the only thing that will change is the view from my bedroom window!
I will admit that on my last day of the week the slow tip or traffic jam can elevate my stress levels a tad, which I’ll also admit I don’t like the feeling of, so I suppose that is one of the reasons I prefer tramping.
Same here , We’ve got Drivers who tramp but still will come back to the yard gone 8pm and go home (even though we can stay in our trucks there’s a shower in the yard) and come back in for 5am and most don’t live 5 mins drive away
When I moved to the company I am with now’ I actually said I only do day work and he was ok with this but did say keep a bag in your wagon just in case… a few weeks ago he asked if I could do a night out for him and I agreed! I can honestly say i didn’t mind it one bit! It was a nice change to not be chasing all day to get home for a reasonable hour…
I must admit I couldn’t do it all week like some of you guys but a few nights a week is ideal for me!
TRY THIS…trip money…fridge work…ireland.uk.europe,equals mega stress nowadays as mostly the camaradri has gone due to 24/7 rdc operations whereas before you could work more to suit yourself.if your running legal for a beancounter mob and gettting paid by the hour,then wheres the stress?.when i demeaned myself on a daily basis for a cpl years to see if i could handle agency/tosco type work,then due to the fact they risk assess everything and tell you what route to go,plus getting paid hourly,then every time i hit traffic,i was rubbing my hands with glee with the delays…i ran between 45 and 48mph on motorways,and on the button in hi 3rd to keep the tracker happy on A roads at exactly 40mph with the ensuing coca cola xmas truck queue behind me everywhere i went.no atter how hard i tried,i could never be late.i laughed up my sleeve at the incompetence of ther planning and routing,but paid by the hour from the neck down as demeaning as it was,there was no stress whatsoever.
if you prefer tramping,then get a tramping job…if you want to shunt beans,then be a steering wheel attendant.by the nature of the game,then things constantly go ■■■■ up…be prepared for the occaisional drama.its a nights kip in a comfy cab,boring or otherwise…no need to make out you just survived a shipwreck.
Never mind nights out…whatever would some do faced with 26 pallets of soap powder (or some other type of water sensitive load) a flat tri axle, a heap of sheets and a bundle of rope
Things have got far too easy and the spoilt ones will always be after a pay rise / moan about wages while driving a brand new top of the range truck and a curtainsider…or worse…having to do a night out or travel further than the next cafe…
Twoninety88:
I’m not a tramper, nor am I a day man. I go where and when the boss needs me to go, if i get home that night all well and good, but if I end up on a night out then thats not a problem either. Things change at the drop of a hat in transport, and as a driver I will do my best to accomodate the changes to the best of my ability. I’m in a job that could see me doing mostly UK day work, albeit long days sometimes, to being available to run to Zurich or Geneva at the drop of the same hat. it has not happened yet since I have been here, but could. On that principle it is best to be prepared to go with the flow.
I think you are what is known as a proper driver . The boss pays a decent wage and in return you give him a decent service . No whinging and crying , just getting on with what you’re paid to do . I reckon you’re probably one of a dying breed unfortunately .
Fincham:
When I started driving HGV’s in 1972 sleeping across the seats of a Bedford TK was the norm., I later progressed to a Ford D series.
‘Progressed’ to a Ford D series? Are you sure that wasnt the other way around?
I once had a 2817 D series with the Perkins V8 and 16 speed box, what a pile of ■■■■ that was
AndrewG:
Going by some of the posts on here it does seem as though theres more than a few who dont like distance or nights out. Have this attitude in Europe and the whole thing comes to a standstill. I still find it odd that in such a small place as the UK theres drivers not willing to drive from one end of the country to the other to avoid having to have a night out, is it because they need to keep an eye on the missus maybe??
Get over yourself,
I’ve sat in Routiers talking to French drivers who say they never leave France or even their local area and there are plenty of drivers in Europe doing local deliveries in day cabbed trucks, ok if you’re based in Lillie you might go to Belgium but it’s no different than being based in Chester and going to Wales.
We get this sort of discussion again and again on here,
“If you’re a day man or trunker you’re not a proper lorry driver.” or
“if you have nights out you’re a mug sleeping in a tin box with no life.”
I prefer to be away, I love to tick off a new Country or another route, I’ve tried local work, trunking, even office and warehouse work, nice for a little while, but the novelty soon wears off and I want to be away again.
but I know people for who that would be their idea of hell, they want to stay local and be home everyday, they might prefer the certainty of regular hours or working with the same people.
it doesn’t make them less of a lorry driver they might be a better driver especially when it comes to getting a truck into a tight city centre delivery or into some farm in the middle of nowhere as they might do it several times a day, day in day out.
So if you’ve found a job that suits you that’s great, it makes going to work far easier, but don’t expect everybody else to share your passion for it, we’re all different and it’s not a one size fits all World.
AndrewG:
Never mind nights out…whatever would some do faced with 26 pallets of soap powder (or some other type of water sensitive load) a flat tri axle, a heap of sheets and a bundle of rope
Things have got far too easy and the spoilt ones will always be after a pay rise / moan about wages while driving a brand new top of the range truck and a curtainsider…or worse…having to do a night out or travel further than the next cafe…
good question…i just started a topic asking the same thing…might be interesting…or…it might just turn into a pointless debate consisting of pure pish…
AndrewG:
Going by some of the posts on here it does seem as though theres more than a few who dont like distance or nights out. Have this attitude in Europe and the whole thing comes to a standstill. I still find it odd that in such a small place as the UK theres drivers not willing to drive from one end of the country to the other to avoid having to have a night out, is it because they need to keep an eye on the missus maybe??
Get over yourself,
I’ve sat in Routiers talking to French drivers who say they never leave France or even their local area and there are plenty of drivers in Europe doing local deliveries in day cabbed trucks, ok if you’re based in Lillie you might go to Belgium but it’s no different than being based in Chester and going to Wales.
We get this sort of discussion again and again on here,
“If you’re a day man or trunker you’re not a proper lorry driver.” or
“if you have nights out you’re a mug sleeping in a tin box with no life.”
I prefer to be away, I love to tick off a new Country or another route, I’ve tried local work, trunking, even office and warehouse work, nice for a little while, but the novelty soon wears off and I want to be away again.
but I know people for who that would be their idea of hell, they want to stay local and be home everyday, they might prefer the certainty of regular hours or working with the same people.
it doesn’t make them less of a lorry driver they might be a better driver especially when it comes to getting a truck into a tight city centre delivery or into some farm in the middle of nowhere as they might do it several times a day, day in day out.
So if you’ve found a job that suits you that’s great, it makes going to work far easier, but don’t expect everybody else to share your passion for it, we’re all different and it’s not a one size fits all World.
There are plenty more who slog the length and breadth of Europe than day drivers on local runs with no complaint, me? i now have the Malaga to Calais slog and have no complaints. I never said anyone who didnt do distance or nights out wasnt a proper driver, ive never used those words its just i dont understand those that apply for driving jobs not wanting to do the miles/km’s involved when the word ‘driver’ is always plain to see in the job description. As for nights out, is it such a big deal or do some really need wrapping in cotton wool and putting away for the night ready to do their next shift If theres the fear of doing more than 300miles in a day or the terrifying prospect of not being home for the night then maybe the ‘truck driving’ job isnt for them…
There are plenty more who slog the length and breadth of Europe than day drivers on local runs with no complaint, me? i now have the Malaga to Calais slog and have no complaints. I never said anyone who didnt do distance or nights out wasnt a proper driver, ive never used those words its just i dont understand those that apply for driving jobs not wanting to do the miles/km’s involved when the word ‘driver’ is always plain to see in the job description. As for nights out, is it such a big deal or do some really need wrapping in cotton wool and putting away for the night ready to do their next shift If theres the fear of doing more than 300miles in a day or the terrifying prospect of not being home for the night then maybe the ‘truck driving’ job isnt for them…
[/quote]
+!..sums it up nicely.
AndrewG:
Never mind nights out…whatever would some do faced with 26 pallets of soap powder (or some other type of water sensitive load) a flat tri axle, a heap of sheets and a bundle of rope
Things have got far too easy and the spoilt ones will always be after a pay rise / moan about wages while driving a brand new top of the range truck and a curtainsider…or worse…having to do a night out or travel further than the next cafe…
This reminds me of waiting at Stranraer in August 1972 and a Northern Irish driver complaining to the Sealink staff that he had twenty tonnes of butter under a sheet in the scorching sun.
AndrewG:
As for nights out, is it such a big deal or do some really need wrapping in cotton wool and putting away for the night ready to do their next shift If theres the fear of doing more than 300miles in a day or the terrifying prospect of not being home for the night then maybe the ‘truck driving’ job isnt for them…
I just prefer to spend the evenings on my boat on the North Oxford canal looking at ducks and swans then sitting in a motorway service area looking at Bulgarians and Romanians. I like to get a shower without queuing up for an hour. I like being able to open the window without being hit by the sour reek of stale ■■■■. The only thing I miss about nights-out is the night out money.
’ as if it is beneath them 
the same ones who look down their snouts at trampers, and think we are ALL unwashed carrier bag crappers with no social skills…We are not!!
, but you just got on with it in those days with no drama queens in the job.
, your not a “proper driver” unless you do nights out, we used to do this and we used to do that, I’m surprised that the Eaton twin splitter hasn’t surfaced yet
,I like to navigate via cafes .