I’m Welsh(english)/French (so bilingual), grew up in south-west France and am now studying photography at Falmouth University in Cornwall, UK. I’ve decided I don’t want to pursue photography as a career anymore and am seriously considering becoming a trucker. I grew up in a van with my dad and spent a lot of time on the road travelling so it’s a place I feel very much at home, especially french autoroutes.
I know you can’t sum up a whole career but I was wondering if anyone would be so kind as to possibly point out some key aspects to life as a trucker (long hauler and heavy hauler if possible). Some pros and cons., how to get your foot in the door as a younger driver (I’m 19 now but will most likely be looking at about 22)… and so on. Anything helpful really
I might have a few other questions that’ll crop up but I simply wanted to get a first post out there.
It’s long hours, sometimes unsocial hours, pay not as good as it use to be and it’s over run by Eastern European’s on low pay, stick to photgraphy.
Saying that i’m happy doing it as I have a pretty good job but there’s not too many around.
You’ll see more photographic opportunites driving around Europe than you will looking out of a university window.
Go for it, and do both jobs.
There are some miserable sods about, They’ll tell you to do anything apart from lorry driving. They also think lorry driving is 9-5 working for tesco, It isn’t. It’s the best job in the world.
I smell a rat… as its April its student thesis & dissertation season, where the message boards across the world are bombarded by students seeking information on various subjects.
Thanks for the replies. My plan was to carry on with Uni then head into trucking after hopefully getting my degree.
Peirre: It’s not because of dissertation season, I’ve been thinking hard about this for a long while now.
Big thanks to those optimists out there telling me to go for it and that it’s an enjoyable job. You guys are the only hope in keeping a little joy in this world.
And for those pessimists telling me trucking is horrible and to stay with photography, well you get that same negativity with the photography industry! In all honesty, photography is definitely among those hardest to make a good, reliable living out of.
I think that life must be hard for a photographer nowadays.With the advent of digital media ,everyone has a phone that can take good photographs and there is photoshop for the ones that could be improved.The transport game is over run with people who want to work for low wages .Its a tough call,I would say get your degree then see how the land lies .
alamcculloch:
I think that life must be hard for a photographer nowadays.With the advent of digital media ,everyone has a phone that can take good photographs and there is photoshop for the ones that could be improved.The transport game is over run with people who want to work for low wages .Its a tough call,I would say get your degree then see how the land lies .
Now that’s a well said, simply argument. Thanks for that.
It seems both are difficult industries (which they all are nowadays). So really I think it just comes down to what you’re cut out for doing, what type of person you are and what you enjoy doing. A lifestyle choice in sorts. Personally I would prefer being out on the road on a low wage than doing low wage photography assignments.
Anyway, it’s interesting to see people’s point of view on these things.
You need a job where you travel abroad & get paid for it. And time to take snaps.I did that most of my life At one time I could’ve pointed you in the right direction in the transport game but since the massive influx of commie block drivers & operators its slim pickings for UK newbies, but not impossible. Ever thought of NZ or OZ? that’s where I would be looking for a job with a warm climate & stunning scenery. Best of luck with the snapping ,that is one of the hardest games -definite ‘not what you know, but who you know’ that one. Get yourself a licence ,but start enquiring the NZ/Oz option if I were you. You could even ring a few French coys ,they used to good to work for as far as long distance was concerned. My mate Alain ,ex Foreign Legion used to do regular round trips ,Morocco -Moscow. It may also be cheaper to get your licence in France? Maybe they do apprentice schemes?
I would imagine that trucking and photography jobs will share some similarities as a career.
There will be photo jobs that are crap and boring, i.e snapping the winning entries in the loxcal WI cake baking contest and good exciting jobs like snapping celebs or exotic locations or wild animals etc.
Ditto trucking, some excellent jobs roaming far and wide in a top class truck and some mind numbing boring jobs trudging around in a clapped out old truck delivering to local shops etc.
Most careers have goos and bad areas of employment and we can’t all be lucky in the ones we can get.
Nico Chapman:
Are there any well known companies out there that mainly do international transportation? And any well known heavy hauling (oversized hauling)?
Cheers,
Nico
Donnel and ellis do abnormal load work and international.
Nico Chapman:
Are there any well known companies out there that mainly do international transportation? And any well known heavy hauling (oversized hauling)?
Cheers,
Nico
Donnel and ellis do abnormal load work and international.
Nico Chapman:
Are there any well known companies out there that mainly do international transportation? And any well known oversized hauling?
Cheers,
Nico
That will come further down the line. For the time being, when you get your class 1 licence go and have a chat with Conway Bailey at redruth. They are known to be “newbie friendly”
