Hello to everyone.
Just signed up on the forum after much deliberation.
Having been very active in the road transport industry up until I had a stroke nearly 3 years ago and still off work now because of it. I know that I will not be able to return which I am gutted about as I have diesel running through my veins. Trucks and transport are one of my great passions.
Having started from the ground up by driving 7.5 tonners I then moved onto rigids then passed my class one 12 years ago and then cut my teeth on the agencies. I joined a company as a transport supervisor and occasional relief driver. There I passed my CPC freight national back in Sept 2005 and then 6 months later I passed my international.
From there I always wanted more and was constantly on the lookout for that dream job which I found in Jan 2007 when I landed the job of European Operations Manager for a leading UK Heavy Haulage company.
I loved that job. Working with specialist equipment day in day out was brilliant.
Unfortunately with my new found responsibilities comes added pressure and the grief that comes with being a manager. I then suffered a stroke in October 2008 and have been off work ever since.
In hindsight and knowing what I know now, being off ill for the past 3 years has been very tough. It begs the question. Was trying to better myself worth it in the end?
Well I am still here, but things could have turned out much worse.
Hello Malc44,
I used to get stressed out trying to do more than the best possible and excessively worrying about the job until one morning I awoke and found I could not grip anything in my left hand. I put it down to maybe sleeping awkwardly on it but after 24 hrs or so with no improvement someone noticed this and advised to get it seen too. It’ll be OK says I, the immortal one !! but he left me with a nagging doubt so went to the doctors in Guernsey where we were. Was I surprised greatly after doing some tests was for the doctor to tell me that I had suffered a TIA… Fortunately it was only a mild one (I think) and touch wood apart from one more about seven months later and treatment since things are back to normal but I have to renew my HGV every three years and only then after a stringent medical. Think they were about six or seven years ago now.
So is the stress worth the outcome… no bloody way, now its just a case of ‘what will be will be’. Not saying I dont care but just dont let the job get to me any more.
Hi Ray, You got it spot on with not letting the job get to you. Unfortunately I did, but luckily I have come through reasonably ok although my outlook on life has changed forever. Gone are the days of me busting my ■■■■■■■■ for someone else to then come along and say your not doing this or that right or pushing you just that little bit more. They always want their pound of flesh. In some respects I probably should have stayed a humble driver instead of trying to better myself by becoming a transport manager. Yes there is stress from being a driver, but that pails into insignificant to that of a manager. I didn’t really understand until I was one.
Well it is nearly 3 years ago and I am still off work. Will never go back to my original job nor will I ever drive heavies again as I have lost my class one due to epilepsy. At least I am still alive and doing ok. The alternative was ending up in a pine box.
All the best
Malc
