I know it’s been done to death on here. In this week’s commercial motor there was an article about custom and show trucks.
A guy frome Coles who do a lot of custom parts and fittings said one customer is spending 5 k on lights and bars on new trucks to keep and attract drivers.
I have no idea how much of this gear you get for 5 k but surely giving the drivers a grand a year pay rise would be a better insentive or is it just me?
No, it’s not just you. 
Theyll get it back off corp. Tax. Half of them probably have shares in kelsa anyway like ■■■■ lomas
Pleanty of idiots willing to drive a big v8 for 200 quid a week less. cough MVH cough so don’t see why this is much different
Fancy trucks attract driver’s yes.
When I handed in my notice at my last job a couple of months ago, gaffer phoned me to try and talk me into staying. He tried to offer me the new gigaspace actros he has coming beginning of September if I stayed. Apparently it’s got full leather interior, light bars, air horns, pearlescent paint, TV, Microwave and a fridge in it. Told him as a day shift driver, most of those extras would be wasted on me, so I would be willing to stay for a substantial wage increase and I’d keep my current truck. I started the new job so you can guess what his answer was.[emoji23]
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Let’s just say that I’d rather have driven a scruffy old KW Ozzie import with an N14 and 18 speed fuller in it doing full load international/distance work for less money.Than a new customised Scania with all the chrome and lights on it doing London bulk refuse for more money. 
It’s going to take rather more than some blinged-up tractor and nice fridge stocked with bud to get me to go down on the firm laying this on. 
kr79:
I know it’s been done to death on here. In this week’s commercial motor there was an article about custom and show trucks.
A guy frome Coles who do a lot of custom parts and fittings said one customer is spending 5 k on lights and bars on new trucks to keep and attract drivers.
I have no idea how much of this gear you get for 5 k but surely giving the drivers a grand a year pay rise would be a better insentive or is it just me?
Can the DVSA not somehow weed out drivers who are more attracted by lots of silly little lights, trumpet horns and glowing V8 flags to display in the cab than by higher pay ? there should be a minimum IQ for driving lorries.
Then there really would be a driver shortage
Each to their own eh? What harm does it do any of you?
Would rather have an easy job an older motor that somebody else washes for me and a company van. 
Owners of blinged up tippers seem to take the crap paying jobs in this area.
No harm to me but when we are constantly told there is a shortage of drivers and new blood coming in to the industry and given so many different reasons. One been stagnating wages perhaps adding the cost of this over a five year lifespan of a truck to wages may be one way to help.
switchlogic:
Each to their own eh? What harm does it do any of you?
My tablet just restarted itself randomly and I lost a post that started “Each to their own”.
The reason is that it reflects on all of us. It makes us look like a cabal of immature, amateur, messers who are playing at working. People associate tyres with names highlighted in Tippex and lights and neon with Kev in a ■■■■■■ out Corsa doing burnouts in McDonald’s car parks rather than professionals.
There is no degree of truck customisation that is tasteful, unless it is functional. Stainless Mirror Guards etc. OK. Cut down mudflaps emblazoned with Hino on each side of a front bumper, less so. Airline Pilots, Captains of Ships and Train Drivers do not add tassels and shiny to their rides. They tend not to add 747-400 to their sunvisors either. When did you last see the driver of your plane wearing a Roll-Royce Trent 1000 Power ■■■■■■■, T shirt? You probably wouldn’t want to get stuck at the bar with one that did.
Some of my fondest mid-level work acquaintences are wheel polishers though, and I am sure that my ideas are as alien to them as theirs are to anyone sane. The world would also probably be a much duller place if bargees and gypsies hadn’t decorated their conveyances in days gone by (Suffolk Punch Power ■■■■■■■ & Dilligaf murals excepted).
I’m probably in the minority but would consider a lower paid job tramping if the kit was nice compared to a higher paid one with average fleet spec motors.
Hard to put an exact figure on it but 50p to a max £1 per hour less would be my threshold with other aspects of the job also needing comparing also.
Not something I would shout about though so keep it a secret.
What about the drivers who pay for the bling themselves some even forfit holidays etc
One of our drivers has spent 5 grand on the company truck he drives and then says he has no money ar well at least he has a shiny truck
Kerragy:
switchlogic:
Each to their own eh? What harm does it do any of you?My tablet just restarted itself randomly and I lost a post that started “Each to their own”.
The reason is that it reflects on all of us. It makes us look like a cabal of immature, amateur, messers who are playing at working.
Complete rubbish. I’ll let you into a secret, people don’t care. The average person won’t be able to tell one truck from another (Customised or otherwise) and don’t have any opinion of us let alone a bad one because of some spot lights. In fact the closest many people come to engaging with trucks is when the Coca Cola lorry does the Christmas rounds, and they don’t come much more customised than that.
switchlogic:
Kerragy:
switchlogic:
Each to their own eh? What harm does it do any of you?My tablet just restarted itself randomly and I lost a post that started “Each to their own”.
The reason is that it reflects on all of us. It makes us look like a cabal of immature, amateur, messers who are playing at working.
Complete rubbish. I’ll let you into a secret, people don’t care. The average person won’t be able to tell one truck from another (Customised or otherwise) and don’t have any opinion of us let alone a bad one because of some spot lights. In fact the closest many people come to engaging with trucks is when the Coca Cola lorry does the Christmas rounds, and they don’t come much more customised than that.
I’m not sure it was a secret, but thanks for the thought.
If people don’t notice, why bother?
Kerragy:
switchlogic:
Each to their own eh? What harm does it do any of you?My tablet just restarted itself randomly and I lost a post that started “Each to their own”.
The reason is that it reflects on all of us. It makes us look like a cabal of immature, amateur, messers who are playing at working. People associate tyres with names highlighted in Tippex and lights and neon with Kev in a [zb] out Corsa doing burnouts in McDonald’s car parks rather than professionals.
There is no degree of truck customisation that is tasteful, unless it is functional. Stainless Mirror Guards etc. OK. Cut down mudflaps emblazoned with Hino on each side of a front bumper, less so. Airline Pilots, Captains of Ships and Train Drivers do not add tassels and shiny to their rides. They tend not to add 747-400 to their sunvisors either. When did you last see the driver of your plane wearing a Roll-Royce Trent 1000 Power ■■■■■■■, T shirt? You probably wouldn’t want to get stuck at the bar with one that did.
Some of my fondest mid-level work acquaintences are wheel polishers though, and I am sure that my ideas are as alien to them as theirs are to anyone sane. The world would also probably be a much duller place if bargees and gypsies hadn’t decorated their conveyances in days gone by (Suffolk Punch Power ■■■■■■■ & Dilligaf murals excepted).
Immature messers playing at work? I dont think so. I recently passed one of anthony binns trucks at night pulling a container with my mother in the car, even being dark She commented on how good and clean the truck/trailer combo was, and how professional it looked.
On your second point, ship/plane/train captains are totally different. They do there shift, step out the door, and step into another craft either a day or weeks or months later. They dont have “there own” which there in charge of at all times.
Some drivers might have a truck for 10 years, and some might spend more time in there cab then they do in there 3 bedroom semi so its no surprise if they want to decorate how they want. Just as they do there house.
For some people the truck they drive is a extension of there personal self.
OK Point taken. I understand that for some that their truck is also their hobby. It’s a personal taste thing. No offence meant.
Kerragy:
switchlogic:
Kerragy:
switchlogic:
Each to their own eh? What harm does it do any of you?My tablet just restarted itself randomly and I lost a post that started “Each to their own”.
The reason is that it reflects on all of us. It makes us look like a cabal of immature, amateur, messers who are playing at working.
Complete rubbish. I’ll let you into a secret, people don’t care. The average person won’t be able to tell one truck from another (Customised or otherwise) and don’t have any opinion of us let alone a bad one because of some spot lights. In fact the closest many people come to engaging with trucks is when the Coca Cola lorry does the Christmas rounds, and they don’t come much more customised than that.
I’m not sure it was a secret, but thanks for the thought.
If people don’t notice, why bother?
Because it makes owners and drivers feel good. They enjoy taking pride in their vehicles. Why is that such a bad thing?