Just hung up my keys again yesterday, fed up with it all. Getting fed up with starting at 5am or finishing at 5am, changing between days and nights, suffering sleep depravation, not having a life, not being able to do stuff during the week like clubs etc, sick of days like yesterday where over an hour of the 14.75hrs I did was sitting in traffic jams because of accidents, sick of wondering how to get from A to B with all the road closures on a night.
Found a job I start on Wednesday that has nothing to do with driving. 9-5, Mon to Friday with an hour for lunch. Kick in the balls with the pay because I’m going to be working 35hrs and not 55hrs but I can afford to live on it and the benefits to my life far outweigh the loss of money. I can always do an odd shift driving if it comes to it and this job actually has promotion prospects too.
Quite surprised to find a job as quick as I did especially given its not just a new job but a complete career change at age 45 and its a technical job to boot. Decided last Monday I’d had enough and thought about doing something else, looked on the jobcentre website on Thursday, fired off an email, got a phone call 9am Friday morning, had interview on the Monday and offered the job on the spot.
“Getting up” at 2.30 am after a second night in a row of a few hours cat-napping because I’d been flipped onto days mid-week, starting at 4am to do a 14hr shift, listening to the traffic reports yesterday as well as being sat in queues for an hour and a half because of accidents just made me believe I’d made the right decision even more. Even a nice sunny day drive doing Evesham, Malvern, Hereford and Ross on Wye with fast tips, no tight yards to reverse in and no problems with deliveries and it all running fairly to plan didn’t make me think twice.
Yeah that’s the point I’ve got to. Its going to feel like working part time doing this job. Last time I had a job with remotely normal hours was over quarter of a century ago.
9 to 5 Friday, 35 hour week ?
Can’t say I blame you mate.
As I often say to some on here (mostly the cab happy) there is more to life than driving a ■■■■ truck.
I suppose I am in the trap of being in a rut, so I’ll more than likely carry on with it, mainly because I am at the stage now where I don’t know much else.
Like truck driving, my original trade has changed beyond recognition since my apprenticeship was completed.
I suppose on the face of it I am better off in this job than many, as I am more or less left to my own devices, so unless things drastically change, I’ll stick with it.
Prior to my driving years I did a brief stint in an 40 hour office job and it felt like I worked 70 hours in an office. The clock seemed stuck . I hate offices though. Had more time off at home though. All my 40 hour a week mates have nice predictable lives, can do stuff in the eves. Arrange to meet at weekends, all that. Lot to be said.
You’d think with the supposed ‘driver shortage’ that drivers would at least have no problem in telling the muppets running the industry that they are day shift drivers ‘or’ night shift drivers not both and to shove the 15 hour shifts.
Prior to my driving years I did a brief stint in an 40 hour office job and it felt like I worked 70 hours in an office. The clock seemed stuck .
^ This will always be what makes it so difficult for a ‘driver’ to settle into an office/warehouse/factory etc type job. My choice would always be doing whatever it takes to argue a driving job’s conditions to what I want rather than take the nuclear option.
Carryfast:
You’d think with the supposed ‘driver shortage’ that drivers would at least have no problem in telling the muppets running the industry that they are day shift drivers ‘or’ night shift drivers not both and to shove the 15 hour shifts.
There’s none so blind as those that don’t want to see.
Can’t say I blame you, I’ve had enough of it now. I wish I could pack up working altogether, but I can’t afford to, but I have stopped doing nights out, I “only” do 12 hour shifts (in fairness, half of that involves sitting around on the laptop) and I only work six months a year, I’ll be off cruising on my boat when the clocks go forward in March. Best of luck with the new job.
Good on you chap , family comes first some seem to forget it on here
I stay away all week but I’m single still live with Mom but my brothers live close so she’s not alone
I totally agree. I left the agency when they kept giving me 2 am starts. I had been offered a job with a local haulier where I would be home every night for dinner. Although it was less money, it was a huge improvement for me and my family. I never regretted it for a moment.
Santa:
I totally agree. I left the agency when they kept giving me 2 am starts. I had been offered a job with a local haulier where I would be home every night for dinner. Although it was less money, it was a huge improvement for me and my family. I never regretted it for a moment.
There’s no point being the richest man in the graveyard.
Best of luck, mate. I hope all works out well for you. Sounds like youve thought it all through and are ready for any hiccups in front of you. Its often said that we regret the path not taken, rather than the easy option of just muddling through, and always moaning about it.
If you get bored you can always do an agency job on “double bubble” at the weekend? Money in the piggy bank, and reinforce the reasons you got fed up with it all in the first place!
Its too late for me to career change, it’s the dumbing of the job down to the most utterly inept pillock they can find that’s ruining the job for me and i now am counting down the next 4.5 years till i can retire.
. I hate offices though. Had more time off at home though. All my 40 hour a week mates have nice predictable lives, can do stuff in the eves. Arrange to meet at weekends, all that. Lot to be said.
My choice would always be doing whatever it takes to argue a driving job’s conditions to what I want rather than take the nuclear option.
but my brothers live close so she’s not alone