I went to one of our depots in Belgium this week, when I woke up it was raining, so I put on my plastic helmet while i did my checks and opened the lids for cleaning. As I walked into the bays, 3 lads were pointing and the boss said, dont bother with the safety gear you have escaped from the UK 
~I tried to explain it was to keep the water off my neck, they were still laughing at the Englander 
Uk versus Euro work can be looked at like this -
UK - live in the city / join in with the rat race. London rates / London wages.
Euro - live in the country / opt out from the rat race. Out of city rates / Out of city wages.
Each to their own - definately.
I know one thing for sure though - the Brits used to be all over Europe - we were the dog’s ■■■■■■■■ when it came to trucking.
We still need people to fly the flag over the water - but no-ones prepared to pick the ■■■■ thing up any more.
ianyng:
Uk versus Euro work can be looked at like this -I know one thing for sure though - the Brits used to be all over Europe - we were the dog’s [zb] when it came to trucking.
We still need people to fly the flag over the water - but no-ones prepared to pick the ■■■■ thing up any more.
i would given the chance ,
be off like a shot
but having no experiance over the water is a BIG drawback 
No its not Mezzzzzzzzzz…
My brother started driving for me just over a month ago - and thats after just passing his class 1 as well!
Hes fifty something, and not even done UK truck work, let alone Euro.
I work for a company with 3 artics and 4 rigids. I am away from Mon to Fri or Sun to Thur each week. Every 2 -3 weeks I get to go to Europe for a 3 day trip. We do a drop in Belgium, a drop in Holland then back to Belguim for a couple of pick ups. Same wage for Europe or UK, but slightly higher night out and food money for Europe. Average hours per week is about 60 but lots of POA means about 43 - 45 on the WTD. Take home for 60 hours is about £550.
I can spend my week doing central London or some other region, with all the hassle on the roads and the miserable gits I get to meet at some of the drops, and get home fed up with driving.
Alternatively I can have a relaxed drive to Dover, a couple of hours on the ferry with a cheap meal thrown in, drive on the wrong side of some nice roads for a couple of days, be greeted with some warmth and the occasional cup of coffee at my destinations, lots of free parking with good food and showers, and a pleasant return trip getting my duty frees on the way, and get home looking forward to the next time I go over. I know which one I would rather do.
As for the language problems - most of the people I speak to over the water speak english better than some english folk. About a month ago I was on the Brussels ring road when my alternator packed up. Phoned my local MAN dealer in UK - he did not know how to help. I looked in my MAN handbook and found a list of European dealers including one in a little village about 5 miles away. When he answered the phone I asked him how his English was. He said “Pretty good” which it was. He then proceeded to explain who to phone in UK to arrange payment for the repairs, and said that when that was cleared he would get out to me. Phoned UK and within half an hour the mechanic was with me and working. Found I could talk to the guy about anything as his english was so good. He blamed it on the fact that they are taught it at school, and also that a lot of their TV is english progs with subtitles.
I have just been to Eire for the first time, and have come back from there thoroughly impressed with the people and their attitude. How often in UK do you get a wave from a trucker you have never met before, just for being on the same road as him.
This has given me a lot of food for thought. I’m contemplating a run to Paris and Northern Spain with the firm I’m with at the moment. It’s been farmed out to a haulier, but they’re bringing it back in house. They want some idea of when the load’s going to be back (the european motors (all 2 of them )) have satellite tracking on them - you don’t get any hassle from it as I’m driving one at the moment and havn’t had a 'phone call for 3 weeks . I’m not going to get any more for doing it (may get a few more hours), but it might be nice just for the change in lifestyle as I’m doing 3/4 nights out a week at the moment anyway and don’t have anyone to come home to, so what the hell. I think I need a bigger invertor 
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Thanks Rob 
:lol:.
Yes. Yet again thanks for the replies. I can understand where everyone’s coming from with their for’s and against’s but I’ve decided it’s not for me until such a time comes when there is (what I consider) good money on offer.
I’ll leave that lifestyle to you boys that do it for the “love of it” and I’ll continue tootling around over here for significantly more money, which at the end of the day is what I go to work for. 
European work beats hacking it around the UK anyday, and as for language barriers…you would have more problems in Wales than in Mainland Europe.
Go for it, if your single you will love it, especially come the summer time. 
Euro Work?
Does that mean you work for €1 per km?