The last lorry i drove before retirement was a Daf 105 XF in September 2012. The first HGV i drove on the road legally the day after my 21st was an 8 wheel TK Bedford tipper in September 1968. Driven quite a few different makes since then
My last regular truck , ERF E10-290 , twin split, that was around 1990, do the odd day in mostly scania’s now, log in, turn on , twist and go.
I’ll take my old erf tks
John West:
Hi ROF,Just thinking about dodgy nights out. When I subbed from Pritchett’s Ashton in Makerfield depot, there were some good lads there, driving for ‘the on time freight line’.
I had the mastiff at the time. One of the lads had a new K reg Foden, which had a bostrom seat with armrests, and a ■■■■■■■ 220. It was like sitting in an armchair!
‘Get thissen a Fodden’ he used to say.
He’d lost his last job through a ‘dodgy’. He’d run unit only from Stafford to either Wigan or somewhere close (don’t be too harsh - it’s over 40 years ago!) parked up on the square and come back at 7.00 to find his truck surrounded by market stalls - and they weren’t moving!
I’m sure he wasn’t the first or the last. Difficult phone call!
I ran an Amtrak depot for 20 years. Those phone calls always started with ‘Errr…’
My eyes always closed and buttocks clenched waiting for the bad news!
Oh dear!!!
That reminds me of the morning that 'Er Indoors dropped me off at a lay by near Knutsford where I’d left the lorry overnight.
The first thing I spotted was a completely flat super single on the trailer.
No spare wheel.
Timed delivery in Knottingley in an hour & a half’s time.
Blagged it & got away with it but it was a close-run thing!John
This is the last truck I drove back in May … prompting the DVLA to revoke ALL my licences.
Rather a sad end to a 33 year career which has seen many ups and a few downs lol
TheBear:
This is the last truck I drove back in May … prompting the DVLA to revoke ALL my licences.
Rather a sad end to a 33 year career which has seen many ups and a few downs lol
Nasty looking damage Bear, not nice not being able drive after all those years, hope you get sorted and get driving again.
Cheers Dave.
TheBear:
This is the last truck I drove back in May … prompting the DVLA to revoke ALL my licences.
Rather a sad end to a 33 year career which has seen many ups and a few downs lol
Hey, I’m sorry for you , but think that they are punishing working people more as criminals today. 
Eric,
tiptop495:
TheBear:
This is the last truck I drove back in May … prompting the DVLA to revoke ALL my licences.
Rather a sad end to a 33 year career which has seen many ups and a few downs lol
Hey, I’m sorry for you , but think that they are punishing working people more as criminals today.
Hiya>>>two bit criminals don’t have any money only the workers. the workers in factories cant do any wrong
for the police or vosa to see…lets get the hard workers who’ll pay as much as they can to keep working.
i had a good paying job in 1973 on a rigid. i passed a stationary lorry on a solid white line. a copper saw me and
pulled me he said you over took. yes i’am loaded nothing was coming. he said i should have stopped made sure
the road was clear and started off again. i got done £35 and endorsed. my lass was earning £8 per week in those days.
in my book that was 5 weeks wages what,s that in todays money £2500…you lads from the Newark area will
remember the copper. he had a black beard he was always pulling trucks.
3300John:
tiptop495:
TheBear:
This is the last truck I drove back in May … prompting the DVLA to revoke ALL my licences.
Rather a sad end to a 33 year career which has seen many ups and a few downs lolHey, I’m sorry for you , but think that they are punishing working people more as criminals today.
Hiya>>>two bit criminals don’t have any money only the workers. the workers in factories cant do any wrong
for the police or vosa to see…lets get the hard workers who’ll pay as much as they can to keep working.
i had a good paying job in 1973 on a rigid. i passed a stationary lorry on a solid white line. a copper saw me and
pulled me he said you over took. yes i’am loaded nothing was coming. he said i should have stopped made sure
the road was clear and started off again. i got done £35 and endorsed. my lass was earning £8 per week in those days.
in my book that was 5 weeks wages what,s that in todays money £2500…you lads from the Newark area will
remember the copper. he had a black beard he was always pulling trucks.
Hey John, there you have a point, they can only take money of workers other haven’t. And today it’s coming worse.
I’m off the road, but if you see the truck checks today, for a half an hour to long commited 15 or more days ago it can cost you
weeks wages as you says. But on a CMR is written that you may not load or onload but where are the control officers at the factory ■■? 
Eric,
Hi there all good forum really enjoying reading on here the last wagon I drove was an 11 plate DAF 85 tiptronic in 2012 but before also drove DAF 85 wagon and drags with aframes for UPS out of Barking in Essex.Sorry don`t have a picture I am sure there is one somwhere on here.Thanks for an interesting forum pete407sw 
Volvo F10,good old bus when I sorted out the speed limiter out,then back fitting 
keith
Last October I finished with this one and haven’t been in a lorry since. The lorry itself was ok for a modern bland contraption, it was the standard of driving on the roads today that influenced me a lot, it just seemed it was every man for himself and no camaraderie like the days of old.
these were the last two I drove, I preferred the magnum, only as I fell out of the man a few times the steps being in the wrong place.
This Mercedes Benz 1820 Reg No. N173 DWX was the last HGV that I drove,
April 2010. I bought it in 2000, 4 years old, and by 2010 there was more
than 500,000 miles on the clock. Brilliant machine,never let me down.
Ray Smyth.
Ray Smyth Transport Ltd.
This Ford Transit Reg No. KU52 ZKZ was the last “Non HGV” that I owned.
It is seen here at the Wigan Depot of McMullan Transport of Ballymoney,
County Antrim,Northern Ireland in 2006. I kept it until 2010. For the next
5 years, If I needed a van, I would hire one for a couple of days.
Regards, Ray Smyth.
Mine PAY 127R Leyland Octopus 500 engine Fuller box. Warm n relatively quiet n left most 8whlrs for dead. 2 1/2 yr old when I finished n had broke down more than the other 20 odd motors I,d driven before put together, mostly engine of course
The last Truck I drove on a public road to Iraq was a Bedford TM Detroit (Wide cab).
No Pic.
The Best Truck I ever drove was a DAF 2800 4 X 6
Pic.
Trev_H:
Last October I finished with this one and haven’t been in a lorry since. The lorry itself was ok for a modern bland contraption, it was the standard of driving on the roads today that influenced me a lot, it just seemed it was every man for himself and no camaraderie like the days of old.0
Hi trev h you are right about camaraderie in the old days drivers helped each other and would always look out for each other now your work mates will go by you won’t stop to help it all gone as you say Everyman for himself cheers John
August 1985, last shift was nights on TNT to Atherstone, in this flying machine, pre speedlimiter days, before moving full time on the spanners…and now a desk
Last drive I did was the one in my avatar, a LHD Johnston/Iveco VT850R sweeper…RX54VLJ. Had a major heart attack in 2008, and lost my licence…end of driving career.
smallcoal:
Trev_H:
Last October I finished with this one and haven’t been in a lorry since. The lorry itself was ok for a modern bland contraption, it was the standard of driving on the roads today that influenced me a lot, it just seemed it was every man for himself and no camaraderie like the days of old.0
Hi trev h you are right about camaraderie in the old days drivers helped each other and would always look out for each other now your work mates will go by you won’t stop to help it all gone as you say Everyman for himself cheers John
John,
Trev Hadley passed away June 2016,thought you should know.
David