newmercman:
You have a point Pistonbroke, but playing Devil’s Advocate, what about if the drivers had not needed micro-managing in the first place, then the shiny hi-viz tossers would never had got a foot in the door 
I’m going to take the advocate thing to extremes here, some of you may remember back in the day when the unions were dead set against the sleeper cab, well what if they got their way 
Instead of parking in laybys and sub standard truckstops, drivers would now be parking in motel car parks, the days of flop houses has long gone, so we would all be parking our day cabs outside a cheap motel and getting to sleep in comfort, far fetched? Maybe not, the laws of supply and demand would mean that as people can actually make money out of lorries parking up and using the facilities, there would be more of them, unlike truckstops who need acres of land just to get a tenner out of a driver for an evening meal, the parking fee barely covers the mortgage and taxes on the land required, yet a motel charging fifty quid a night would be able to make money, yeah costs would have to go up, but so what, it’s the cost of doing business. As is often said, reps don’t sleep in their cars, mobile engineers don’t sleep in their vans 
So we go back to the truth, since the dawn of time lorry drivers have created their own monster, you can blame whoever you like, from the EU, the Polish, H&S bods with shiny hi-viz etc, but the sad truth is that the blame lies at the feet of the lorry driver/licence holder 
If the idea was viable it would have taken off across the pond if it would have taken off anywhere considering how well developed their motel chains were even before the interstate networks had been finished.Instead of which they decided to put a 6 wheeler rigid’s worth of cab with a small apartment of ever increasing dimensions on the back. 
The diference is that the reps and the mobile engineers haven’t got any hours regs stopping them from reaching the hotel after they’ve done a day’s work and the road transport industry would probably collapse without the flexibility provided by on board night out facilities.If it would have worked you can bet that you’d be driving a day cabbed drawbar outfit with a room booked at Holiday Inns etc etc every time you need to book off for a night out with all the Motel guests moaning about all the parked trucks taking up all the space in the car park.
Now I’m scared!! I’m actually going to agree with Carryfast… 
Lorry drivers would never have been allowed to clog up motel car parks because of the nature of the beast! Why would a motel owner take £50 quid off of one lorry driver for bed and board when he could take twenty £50’s for the same amount of land? To his neighbours, he’s not a nuisance because he’s got twenty bright new mondeo’s sat in his car park, not a dirty great artic bulker, covered in all sorts of road grime, emanating the sweet smell of offal…
I agree, some of the crap that goes with the job is self-inflicted but most of it comes from being classed as a second or even third class citizen - and being treated as such! In no way, shape or form am I a militant but this country could actually do with a week of rep mobiles and school-run mummies having the freedom of the roads while all the wagon’s are parked up. It obviously wouldn’t happen but, if it did, THEN we might see some respect for what is a stressful and difficult, at times, occupation. Facilities et al would also improve…
Just to add, I was brought up with Fullers of all shapes and sizes and I think they are fabulous boxes. At times, the sense of pride in yourself when you KNEW you were doing it right was second to none. Technology is great but the job is dumbed down so much now in comparison… Only in my humble opinion, of course…
Carryfast:
If the idea was viable it would have taken off across the pond if it would have taken off anywhere considering how well developed their motel chains were even before the interstate networks had been finished.Instead of which they decided to put a 6 wheeler rigid’s worth of cab with a small apartment of ever increasing dimensions on the back.
It is common enough “over the pond” CF for daycabbers on slip seat trunks on max length triples etc as well as a lot of car transporters 
There’s a member on here that does it even though he has a sleeper.
In Europe too especially Spain motels are truck friendly and offer trucker room rates. We use them a lot when waiting or if it’s to hot to get a decent kip 
billybigrig:
Carryfast:
If the idea was viable it would have taken off across the pond if it would have taken off anywhere considering how well developed their motel chains were even before the interstate networks had been finished.Instead of which they decided to put a 6 wheeler rigid’s worth of cab with a small apartment of ever increasing dimensions on the back.
It is common enough “over the pond” CF for daycabbers on slip seat trunks on max length triples etc as well as a lot of car transporters
There’s a member on here that does it even though he has a sleeper.
In Europe too especially Spain motels are truck friendly and offer trucker room rates. We use them a lot when waiting or if it’s to hot to get a decent kip
There you go then nmm.This configuration standardised for long distance work both in Euro Land and North America and all nights out to be taken at Holiday Inns etc and no one could complain but mine would have had the 18 speed roadranger thanks.What are Unite and the Teamsters waiting for.
hankstruckpictures.com/pix/t … le0011.jpg
I’ll stick to my sleeper thanks both here and there. More flexible and a better comfier bed. We go all over Europe in non sleeper motors too and the idea of moteling it may be nice but some have uncomfortable beds, dubious surroundings and can be noisy. Also if you’re running late you can’t exactly stop earlier than the one you booked and paid for.
Fine idea but not practical all the time.
