windrush:
I too went with the old man during the school holidays back in the 1950’s/60’s and that set me on wanting to be a driver. I became an HGV fitter first, and then after15 years went full time driving. The old chap went ballistic, said that I was wasting my skills, but the money was a lot better driving. Nowadays kids are not allowed in quarries etc. I seem to recall a few years ago at one of our sandpits a chap had his Grandson with him and was told to leave the kid at the garage while he went to get loaded, well kids being kids the lad went exploring and fell over some old steel or something and was killed. Very sad, would have been safer with his Grandad. 
Pete.
^ Very sad. ^
Because I lived in a fairly rural area, there was a lot of farm work and in particular sugar beet, so when it was beet time, all the kids on holiday from school would be in the sugar factory with Grandad, Uncle, Dad or even Mum 
The rest were chucking cobbles at police horses or railway trains
Just to clear up a couple of points that have been made. My 5 year old lad knows what I do for a living, he has seen a couple of the lorries that I drive and he has shown zero interest in them, so I’m not depriving him of riding round in a big shiney truck.
Having a degree I agree doesn’t make me any better than the next bloke and I very rarely mention it, I only ever did my degree to keep my parents happy.
The comment about I should get out the industry, well your right I am currently exploring different avenues to get me away from haulage. Don’t get me wrong I used to love driving trucks, but as the days, months and years go on the job is getting harder and harder. I hate all the things that most of the topics on here seem to be about, vosa, fines, health and safety etc etc. I got a second wind when I started driving round Europe 4 years ago, but I was torn with doing a job I loved again and missing my boy grow up. And it just isn’t fair on him. Kids IMHO need both their parents around to help them learn and grow into decent adults.
It also isnt fair on my wife expecting her to work full time and look after our son.
So no I won’t encourage him into a job that generally speaking is low paid, low skilled, bad for your health and head, a job where you are hated by a large percentage of the population for clogging up their roads and a job which can destroy families.
Maybe one day I might get my enthusiasm back for the job I used to love, but for now it is just Money to pay the bills that I care about.
Please don’t take offence at this post, I’m not having a pop at anyone.
i have been goin with my dad since i was 3 years old, i am now 24 class 1 for about 2 years and i love it, its all down to my past of being with my dad in the truck, my 1st outing was a trip to barnsley in a F/FL10 wen i was 3, i remember everything about it, wa i had for breakfast walking up to the truck an claimin it was still nightime as it was early hours, i still go with him if am off work for the week or the odd saturday but he refuses to come with me haha, as been mentioned by other posters i too would not no were i would be in this day if i hadnt had got the hitch from such a young age, i spent every school holiday an every chance i could going with my dad as i gre up an landed a job as a fitter apprentice in a local firm who my dad has driven for in the past. i went on to0 become a nvq level 3 fitter an consider myself top of the job, i then went on to pass my licenses an became what i am today . . . a driver, if my children wen they r born want to come with me an become a driver themselves then they have my upmost support in this trade an any other trade/job the choose to do
sorry if i rambled on a bit 
europleb:
it would be intresting to know how many of us became truck drivers due to traveling all over with our dads in school holidays etc.with to total ban on traveling in trucks and entering commercial premesis thanks to health & safety nazis,wheres the next generation of drivers going to come from■■?.i think in 10 years time this policy will really bite our indusrtry in the arse.i know myself and many pals got into our industry at about 10 years old or younger due to being allowed to go to work with our dads[or mums]
I did!!
However it’s worth pointing out that back then (1975 - 1987) I was still not allowed to go, it’s just that people/customers weren’t so bothered or uptight.
Although I loved it and it definitely got me into the transport industry, a main attraction for my dad would be what is now termed as ‘childcare’ during the school holidays, as my parents were divorced and I lived with my dad from the age opf 11. It got to the stage where almost all the time off he booked was during term time!!
First lessons drilled into me by my dad:
Sit there and be quiet (It’s surprising how many people don’t notice you)
Don’t touch anything
Always be nice to the security guard (he can make your life a lot more awkward than you can make his!)
I was about 3 the first time I went out with my Dad - commer tipper 
, quickly replaced by an albion clydesdale ( hence the username). The first time I ‘drove’, was sitting on my Dads knee at Doveholes quarry - fair to say it was steering and help to change the gears with my Dad operating the pedals. I must have spent every holiday with him from 3 till about 14 when he had a few wagons and didn’t go out on the road much. Very happy memories spent at the aforementioned quarry, the potato fields of Lincoln and being in charge of keeping him awake as we took spares up to Aberdeen overnight.
here’s my son trying out an eight legger MAN for size,about ten years ago-
Im a hgv driver passed around 2 years ago! i used to spend every opportunity to travel with my dad in his lorry all over europe my first trip was to portugal in a Iveco Turbo Tech! Awful ride! And then it got upgraded to a eurotech! My word i didnt think there was much difference! Went to poland when you still had to clear customs at szcechin! Used to have a good crack then aswell in the pub at bourg, carisio, sisters, campogaliano, mistral, castets and i think the laugh and what the drivers used to be like swung me towards being a lorry driver! just a shame its not like that now although i would like to have a go over the water soon i think just to say ive done it! but its not the worst job in the world (it can be if you want it to be).
