For Better or for Worse

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Was talking to a very nice and interesting man a few weeks ago, from a famous haulage family. As we parted ways, he said “as the lorries improved, the job declined”.

It made me think, have we reached “peak vehicle” vs “peak job”? Was it really that bad?

I drive a “next-gen” R450, it’s okay. The Bluetooth gave up after a week, it’s got a nice bunk, it pulls fairly well, it’s an auto, (which I don’t want or need) it has good storage for a week away, the night heater is determined to make me into a Beef Wellington.

The roads are never, ever quiet. I have a Microlise, London and its environs are polluted with minicabs, car and truck drivers are the worst I’ve ever seen, the only places I like driving in are Scotland, Wales, the North East and the South West.

When I last tramped, I had a 164. More room than my current motor, wires and wedges everywhere, pulled the house down, manual, nice bunk, never worked out how to use the night heater properly.

Did a load from Scotland, 5 drops around the south coast. Was all for blowing her on but tacho and Microlise said no.

I would happily have pedalled on and got home 5 hours earlier today, but technology has prevented me from doing so.

Is this progress?

2

Do you have that Scania emergency brake thing in your truck?

Everytime I pass a parked car that has its lights still on it thinks I’m trying to crash. :open_mouth:
I hate it.

Ye your right. all they want is green band driving with cc all the time.
I hpnestly hate it and find it soul destroying at times. The fun is not there anymore.
Then again I work for a supermarket, there is nothimg as monotonous and soul destroying as that. I’ll soon be free though. :unamused:

3

adam277:
Do you have that Scania emergency brake thing in your truck?

Everytime I pass a parked car that has its lights still on it thinks I’m trying to crash. :open_mouth:
I hate it.

Ye your right. all they want is green band driving with cc all the time.
I hpnestly hate it and find it soul destroying at times. The fun is not there anymore.
Then again I work for a supermarket, there is nothimg as monotonous and soul destroying as that. I’ll soon be free though. :unamused:

To be honest, I don’t know! Earlier, on the M25, lane 3 came to a standstill for some unknown reason, and I nearly put me boot through the headlamp getting her stopped. There was a big red message saying “LOL now u can haz ambulace u mug” or something like that on the dash, but I don’t know if it was years of experience (which probably should have foreseen the unforeseen, in fairness) or the AEBS or whatever. In the end, nobody died, and my load of kittens were unhurt :laughing: