Did you ever find anyone?
There used to be a few companies in Felix that did it, p Barlow I think, and a couple behind the fuel station at Felix and Orwell bridge truck stop.
You should scan your CV and email loads of companies, write a cover letter with something like, ‘don’t mind weeks, or multiple weeks away’.
I spent a couple of weekends at Charnock Richard when there was a delivery in Lancaster on a Friday, and a collection in Manchester on a Monday, do instead of driver back to Suffolk and out again I would spend the whole weekend their.
Always thought Ralph Firmin would do that, as have been to a couple of their places and all they had was a transport office and a service shed! No haulage and storage facilities so where do they park their trucks? Been passed many a layby where there is astobarts truck parked their from Friday night to Monday morning!
JS8576:
Just curious as to whether you can take tramping to the next level by effectively living out of truck? Obviously if it is your own truck then i’m sure there would be no problem but if working for an employer is it a realistic option?My situation is renting a flat (social housing) have no realistic prospects of buying a house probably even a struggle to rent a house/bungalow privately.
Sick to death of living around idiots with no respect for their neighbours (noise effects me badly - not normal noise, traffic, etc… just [zb] who play loud music and stomp around) so looking at my options.
No commitments so would be an option in my case. Does anybody else do it?
I have total respect for a man who refuses to live among antisocial neighbours. I think the days of having a registration number for an address are long gone, however. Tramping isn’t the complete answer, but it is a part answer. Your wage, plus ‘away’ allowances should enable you to base yourself in a flat somewhere. Extreme tramping (ie shutting up the flat for weeks on end) should help you keep overheads down to a low enough level to maintain a quiet flat somewhere without hassle. When I did very serious tramping I saved a fortune. It’s do-able. Good luck mate. Robert
shep532:
Don’t forget you can’t take a regular weekly rest in the cab
He’s on the shotgun online shop looking over Berettas as we speak. Nice one rain cloud.
containers_only:
Did you ever find anyone?You should scan your CV and email loads of companies, write a cover letter with something like, ‘don’t mind weeks, or multiple weeks away’.!
just ask your run of the mill paddy haulage contractor for a job and you will be getting your multiple weeks away whether you want them or not…and that’s just for shunting, 
shep532:
Don’t forget you can’t take a regular weekly rest in the cab
Since when 
tommy t:
shep532:
Don’t forget you can’t take a regular weekly rest in the cabSince when was it being enforced in the uk?
As far as I knew that was only in Belgium or something.
eddie snax:
shep532:
Don’t forget you can’t take a regular weekly rest in the cabSince when
Point is, does anybody care. 
I’m all for rules designed for driver welfare and safety and fully agree with them, but wtf is that gem all about. 
I know and worked with 4 guys who live in their trucks,one of whom has he’s missus with him.
And they don’t work for an Irish firm.
eddie snax:
shep532:
Don’t forget you can’t take a regular weekly rest in the cabSince when
Since the current regulations were introduced - keep up 
The GV 262 states a driver may choose to take a daily rest or a reduced weekly rest in the vehicle (or words to that effect) - meaning any kind of daily rest but only a reduced weekly rest - no mention of a regular weekly rest, therefore it isn’t allowed.
Belgium were the first to bother with this little ‘gem’ of a rule, then others followed suit. I believe they only bother when it is a foreign registered vehicle. I understand the maximum fine (which is aimed at Operators) is in the tens of thousands of Euros. When DVSA have been asked about it they stated they would enforce the rule if they thought it was warranted based on individual circumstances.
As has been stated by robroy - does anybody care? Maybe not in the UK but it is part of the regulations. Better to be ‘aware’ of the rules rather than maybe get caught out. I suppose you could say it means a driver cannot be made/forced to take their regular weekly rest in a vehicle - so perhaps it is about driver welfare?
Dear Lord, weekly rest and not allowed in lorries, this is pish.
You could drive round many quiet industrial areas and out the way lay-bys dotted around the UK every single weekend and find hundreds of Eastern European drivers hunkered down for the full rest period, i know several spots where the Turkish (not EU at present) lads will be all parked together having a quite enviable peaceful and sociable time sharing food and drink and banter with safety in numbers.
I’d argue those Turkish lads (a thoroughly decent and friendly bunch of blokes generally) in particular are probably enjoying a quality of rest and recuperation far better than many Brit drivers are in their own homes/rabbit hutches, being disturbed by all manner of ill mannered neighbours from hell, loud music, parties till all hours, dogs barking, DIY fetishists hammering drilling sawing, wingeing wives and screaming kids you name it.
I’ve heard of a few Romanians living in their trucks all weekend at an unnamed English haulage company. Think it’s wrong as they’ll contribute nothing to our country apart from a bit of NI and income tax. Seems to be the way a lot of companies are going unfortunately.
Matt.
xfmatt:
I’ve heard of a few Romanians living in their trucks all weekend at an unnamed English haulage company. Think it’s wrong as they’ll contribute nothing to our country apart from a bit of NI and income tax. Seems to be the way a lot of companies are going unfortunately.Matt.
Why are you bothered about them ffs , how is it affecting you exactly?
Ok I’ll go with it. You have just said they pay n.i. and tax.
They will buy food, drink, ■■■■ and bog rolls… so they are contributing to the economy.
If I were you mate I’d be more concerned about the home grown scroungers on benefits. The Underclass who are in reality fully fit to work, but can not be arsed to do so, or are incapable due to being on smack or crack, living off yours and my taxes, and draining the economy, rather than guys with a work ethic… just because they are foreign. 
robroy:
xfmatt:
I’ve heard of a few Romanians living in their trucks all weekend at an unnamed English haulage company. Think it’s wrong as they’ll contribute nothing to our country apart from a bit of NI and income tax. Seems to be the way a lot of companies are going unfortunately.Matt.
Why are you bothered about them ffs
Ok I’ll go with it. You have just said they pay n.i. and tax, they will buy food, drink, ■■■■ and bog rolls… so they are contributing to the economy.
If I were you mate I’d be more concerned about the home grown scroungers on benefits, the Underclass who are in reality fully fit to work but can not be arsed to do so, or ar incapable due to being on smack or crack, rather than guys with a work ethic.
Haha they don’t bother me. I couldn’t give a ■■■■ about them. I just don’t think it’s right for them to live in a wagon all week. You could look at it from a driver safety point of view, how relaxed are they considering they haven’t had a break as such from their wagons. It encourages foreign workers to come across as they are basically living for nothing. The firm I know of started with one Romania, then he brought a friend across, then his friends brother came across and so on and so on.
Matt.
xfmatt:
robroy:
xfmatt:
I’ve heard of a few Romanians living in their trucks all weekend at an unnamed English haulage company. Think it’s wrong as they’ll contribute nothing to our country apart from a bit of NI and income tax. Seems to be the way a lot of companies are going unfortunately.Matt.
Why are you bothered about them ffs
Ok I’ll go with it. You have just said they pay n.i. and tax, they will buy food, drink, ■■■■ and bog rolls… so they are contributing to the economy.
If I were you mate I’d be more concerned about the home grown scroungers on benefits, the Underclass who are in reality fully fit to work but can not be arsed to do so, or ar incapable due to being on smack or crack, rather than guys with a work ethic.Haha they don’t bother me. I couldn’t give a [zb] about them. I just don’t think it’s right for them to live in a wagon all week. You could look at it from a driver safety point of view, how relaxed are they considering they haven’t had a break as such from their wagons. It encourages foreign workers to come across as they are basically living for nothing. The firm I know of started with one Romania, then he brought a friend across, then his friends brother came across and so on and so on.
Matt.
Ok but it’s no different from what truckers have been doing for generations is it. From Middle East drivers in the 70/80s, and long range Euro drivers, to US and Canadian truckers today.
Given the choice and if I was on my own, I would rather live in a Superspace top range DAF or whatever than some ■■■■ hole bedsit next to villains and Smackheads or a bunch of noisy ■■■■■ as the o/p says.
So in comparison to that, how is living in a comparitively luxury truck with 2 days uninterrupted rest compromising ’ driver safety’ as you say exactly??
If there IS a driver shortage (which I doubt) so what? surely you don’ t believe all this ■■■■■■■■/drivercrap on here about them bringing wages down do you?
By the same token if there isn’t a shortage, they won’t send their relatives over anyway.
Given the chance of being young free and single again, I’d do it in a shot.
In the past I’ve employed guys that were happy to tramp all over Europe, in vans and trucks (and anything in between ) and have done it myself.
The work ranged from simple straight full loads to express and events, and again, anything in between!
Due to the nature of the work I always made sure everyone had a variety, and spread the good with the bad.
I’ve had guys that were happy to spend 12 weeks at a time tramping Europe in XF’s and Toplines, always fully spec’d. Where possible they were booked on longboats, and we would always locate laundrettes, pharmacies etc. if they were ever needed locally to where they were parked. Most would have a bicycle on board that would get them into town for any provisions, or if parked safely to go site seeing (or beer drinking ) should the urge take them. At the same time, if they happened to be passing an event where we had trucks, would organise a trailer change so guys could get into a hotel for a few nights, bit of R+R and then take the next trailer that was passing back onwards.
At the same time, a young chap came to me, wanting to see Europe, but alas no HGV… so he spent 16 weeks touring Europe in a sprinter. He did see most of Europe, Scandinavia and some of the Balkans in those 16 weeks. Shame most of it was a blur at 100mph through the windscreen!!!
Generally the guys lived on their night out allowances, and any extras made along the way on tours and events etc, with salaries going straight into the bank and being saved.
It’s not ideal for a social life, that is if you want to settle down with 2.4 children, wife and house. But it can be one hell of a social life on the road, meeting new people, parties on the long boats, making friends and acquaintances along the way.
The point is, extreme tramping is not for everyone. But then, neither is multi drop. Or tippers. Or RDC’s. Or box shifting. Everyone is different. Each to their own. Don’t mock those that do it, because sometimes it’s by choice. Others it’s not.
I’ve done, and loved it. The wife was a different story though
si-d:
Given the chance of being young free and single again, I’d do it in a shot.In the past I’ve employed guys that were happy to tramp all over Europe, in vans and trucks (and anything in between
The work ranged from simple straight full loads to express and events, and again, anything in between!
Due to the nature of the work I always made sure everyone had a variety, and spread the good with the bad.
I’ve had guys that were happy to spend 12 weeks at a time tramping Europe in XF’s and Toplines, always fully spec’d. Where possible they were booked on longboats, and we would always locate laundrettes, pharmacies etc. if they were ever needed locally to where they were parked. Most would have a bicycle on board that would get them into town for any provisions, or if parked safely to go site seeing (or beer drinking
At the same time, a young chap came to me, wanting to see Europe, but alas no HGV… so he spent 16 weeks touring Europe in a sprinter. He did see most of Europe, Scandinavia and some of the Balkans in those 16 weeks. Shame most of it was a blur at 100mph through the windscreen!!!
Generally the guys lived on their night out allowances, and any extras made along the way on tours and events etc, with salaries going straight into the bank and being saved.
It’s not ideal for a social life, that is if you want to settle down with 2.4 children, wife and house. But it can be one hell of a social life on the road, meeting new people, parties on the long boats, making friends and acquaintances along the way.
The point is, extreme tramping is not for everyone. But then, neither is multi drop. Or tippers. Or RDC’s. Or box shifting. Everyone is different. Each to their own. Don’t mock those that do it, because sometimes it’s by choice. Others it’s not.
I’ve done, and loved it. The wife was a different story though
Or the alternative? Night trunk Carlisle to Birmingham and back every night. 
ah well each to his own and all that.
If I’d been 25yrs younger and assuming you paid well, I’d be hounding you for a job for 18 months or so. 
btw. Welcome to Trucknet mate.
So you fancy spending 16 weeks non stop in a sprinter then RobRoy ?
Sure can arrange something…
BTW… been lurking for years. Finally joined…
si-d:
So you fancy spending 16 weeks non stop in a sprinter then RobRoy ?Sure can arrange something…
BTW… been lurking for years. Finally joined…
Errr may have been a bit hasty there 
. I was leaning more towards the XFs and Topliners you mentioned
.
Sprinter? So you would make me start at the bottom would you, you git …
I wish I hadn’t said that now in one of my other posts
robroy:
si-d:
So you fancy spending 16 weeks non stop in a sprinter then RobRoy ?Sure can arrange something…
BTW… been lurking for years. Finally joined…
Errr may have been a bit hasty there
.
Sprinter? So you would make me start at the bottom would you, you git
I wish I hadn’t said that now in one of my other posts
Would always send a new driver out in either a sprinter or luton, or maybe even double manned on an express run before sending solo in one of my babies
I had a few funny ways, and some expectations, but everyone was happy - and never expected to do anything I wouldn’t. Simples.
tommy t:
In the past i have thought about living in the cab, Because of the dead money in rent , when you aren’t hardly at home to enjoy it, It a expensive way of storing your gear, rent & council tax ect, like most ever being able to afford to buy a house, due to the over inflated property value thank’s to the tory milk snatcher is never going to happen,
Over inflated property values in the north? Your having a laugh.