robroy:
Shoshaye:
wouldn’t tramp unless it’s a scania with fridge and microwave.
It’s nice to have a fridge and mw when tramping, as I have, but not entirely essential in real terms.
But you say the make of truck would be your main concern to determine whether or not you would take a good job that was offered.
I reckon I’ve heard it all now.
The new Scania looks like a fridge. Two birds killed with one fat Swedish stone
Necessity.
Any company that runs new trucks & gets them without speccing fridges for their trampers are total cheapskates & it’s disappointing so many guys seem to think it’s acceptable.
I find it unbelievable when I see Stobart drivers going round with a cool box, company of that size who do so much business with the truck manufacturers & they won’t get fridges chucked in for the drivers they go on about looking after so well! Pretty pathetic in my eyes.
Shoshaye:
I wouldn’t share. And wouldn’t tramp unless it’s a scania with fridge and microwave. Should be basic kit now for all guys who tramp.Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
I wouldn’t have a scania over rated over priced uncountable to drive so out dated with so much although they often put a coffee machine in but not a fridge 
I have a fridge in my R450 topline, but rarely have a night out. It keeps my pre made lunch and the milk for my Tea cool.
Along with the rest of my night out gear, it is better to have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it!
muckles:
switchlogic:
Something as basic as a fridge really shouldn’t be a luxury for trampers in this day and age. Still too many cheapskate bosses around. Think about it, add fridges when speccing new trucks and it would add pennies per week to the finance/lease payment.I think it adds about £500 to the price, and for a large fleet ordering many trucks at a time I’m sure it could be a bargaining tool.
But I suppose if you’re an accountant, and ordering 100 plus trucks a £50,000 saving or whatever the weekly payment saving would be might look good. Or it could be the person specifying the trucks has no idea of what a trampers job is and thinks all trucks drivers eat in cafes.
Wincanton Construction did a bit of research in to this a while back and as a result all their wagons are specced with a fridge and a Microwave. When they laid out the evidence of how infrequently their drivers parked up somewhere they could get a hot meal at night and then added in the fact that while Wincanton in general change wagons every three years, construction keep theirs for six, they finally got it past.
There are additional problems though. Given the fact that every company has at least one driver with an accident lawyer on speed dial, they have to do it all properly. That means risk assessments for both fridge and microwave, safe systems of work for their use and additional maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle because the additional appliances need to be inspected on a regular basis.
Stobart Biomass went a different route. All their wagons come with a 2000 watt inverter which is more than enough to run a home microwave or a three pin kettle. They don’t provide fridges but the do make the cooking a bit easier for those who want it.
At my current place I have a fridge for the first time when I am out tramping and while it keeps the bottles of water cold and means I can carry a pint of milk for brews, it also cuts down on other storage space. When I first started tramping it was in an ex-DRS Scania Highline with no creature comforts what so ever and I got into a routine then. I had a hot meal for lunch and grabbed something like a packed lunch for dinner. Now I’m trying to make it so I dont double the units tare weight by getting in, sandwiches have been switched for salads but I do the same. The only thing a fridge gives me is the chance to buy three days supply at a time rather than hunting out a good place each day.
A fridge is nice but it not a necessity. The additional costs of tramping are what the subsistence allowance is meant to cover. If you want a fridge and the boss doesn’t agree, put a camping fridge in it. I prefer to have something to watch at night, does that mean the boss should provide me with a laptop and netflix?
“You wouldn’t live in a house without a fridge”
Correct, I have a fridge in my house, but A, it is my house and B, I bought the fridge myself.
If I had a lorry without a fridge and I wanted one, I would get my own.
On the other side of that coin the last seven lorries I have bought have all been supplied with a fridge. I only have one other lorry now and I supplied a fridge, a 2500w inverter, a microwave, a CB radio and a satellite radio with subscription to all channels.
I’m a good boss [emoji41] [emoji41] [emoji41]
Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk
switchlogic:
Something as basic as a fridge really shouldn’t be a luxury for trampers in this day and age. Still too many cheapskate bosses around. Think about it, add fridges when speccing new trucks and it would add pennies per week to the finance/lease payment.
So do all of Bulls wagons have fridges or is it only the Internet superstars that get them ? 
newmercman:
“You wouldn’t live in a house without a fridge”Correct, I have a fridge in my house, but A, it is my house and B, I bought the fridge myself.
If I had a lorry without a fridge and I wanted one, I would get my own.
On the other side of that coin the last seven lorries I have bought have all been supplied with a fridge. I only have one other lorry now and I supplied a fridge, a 2500w inverter, a microwave, a CB radio and a satellite radio with subscription to all channels.
I’m a good boss [emoji41] [emoji41] [emoji41]
Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk
Odd comparison. You buy a radio for your house. But you don’t buy the radio in a lorry. Or the bed.
It’s not asking the earth. Years ago wooden boards across the doors, next a decent bed. A fridge is nice fitted, cheap and shows am employer has given at least a passing thought to his employee who is staying in the vehicle for a week. I wouldn’t turn a job down over it. I thought Luke had a balanced and forward thinking approach so I agree with him.
Another point. The Merc Actros with flat floor in either Big or GigSpace cab has 2 45l drawers under the bunk as standard. The boss can pay out £500ish + VAT if he wants, which replaces one with a 37l fridge, a reduction in storage space for an increase in cost.
Where is the business case for a fridge in a wagon? Does it add residual value? No. Does it add to the purchase cost? Yes. Does it save money like speccing up the SatNav + Cruise Control option does? No. There is absolutely no reason why a fleet manager should spec a fridge in a general haulage trampers wagon. International drivers yes, because then you get into Language barriers and exchange rates. People who spend a lot of time parked in completely inaccessible locations like on building sites, yes, because they have no other way of getting a healthy meal. People who drive from RDC to RDC, never being more than ten minutes from a decent meal, no.
nsmith1180:
muckles:
[quote=“switchlogic”The additional costs of tramping are what the subsistence allowance is meant to cover. If you want a fridge and the boss doesn’t agree, put a camping fridge in it. I prefer to have something to watch at night, does that mean the boss should provide me with a laptop and netflix?
No the subsistence allowance is for not sleeping at home in your own bed not to pay for parking etc unless you get a good meal allowance
No the subsistence allowance is paid to cover the cost of subsistence living. That’s why it is the called the Not In My Own Bed allowance.
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nsmith1180:
Another point. The Merc Actros with flat floor in either Big or GigSpace cab has 2 45l drawers under the bunk as standard. The boss can pay out £500ish + VAT if he wants, which replaces one with a 37l fridge, a reduction in storage space for an increase in cost.Where is the business case for a fridge in a wagon? Does it add residual value? No. Does it add to the purchase cost? Yes. Does it save money like speccing up the SatNav + Cruise Control option does? No. There is absolutely no reason why a fleet manager should spec a fridge in a general haulage trampers wagon. International drivers yes, because then you get into Language barriers and exchange rates. People who spend a lot of time parked in completely inaccessible locations like on building sites, yes, because they have no other way of getting a healthy meal. People who drive from RDC to RDC, never being more than ten minutes from a decent meal, no.
Sorry but where I often park I am more than 10 min drive form a decant meal due to fact the time I am parking up & please don’t say a truck stop or MSA will give you a decent meal
Reef:
switchlogic:
Something as basic as a fridge really shouldn’t be a luxury for trampers in this day and age. Still too many cheapskate bosses around. Think about it, add fridges when speccing new trucks and it would add pennies per week to the finance/lease payment.So do all of Bulls wagons have fridges or is it only the Internet superstars that get them ?
Every lorry they buy new have fridges fitted. They’re also a serious rarity, they have almost zero driver turnover!
Conor:
Can count on the fingers of one hand with some spare how many motors I’ve driven in the last 20 odd years with a fridge and given almost all that time has been agency that’s a lot of motors.
I love how Conor always has to tell us he’s been limping for over 20 years… like it’s an achievement and something to be proud of. Dear oh dear. It’s like a new prisoner strutting in and announcing to everyone he’s inside for child ■■■ offences.
nsmith1180:
No the subsistence allowance is paid to cover the cost of subsistence living. That’s why it is the called the Not In My Own Bed allowance.Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Night out allowance is paid for you sleeping in the cab
Meal allowance is paid to help with cost of meal for the day / week
yourhavingalarf:
I never go to hospital…The food is [zb].
James the cat:
newmercman:
“You wouldn’t live in a house without a fridge”Correct, I have a fridge in my house, but A, it is my house and B, I bought the fridge myself.
If I had a lorry without a fridge and I wanted one, I would get my own.
On the other side of that coin the last seven lorries I have bought have all been supplied with a fridge. I only have one other lorry now and I supplied a fridge, a 2500w inverter, a microwave, a CB radio and a satellite radio with subscription to all channels.
I’m a good boss [emoji41] [emoji41] [emoji41]
Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk
Odd comparison. You buy a radio for your house. But you don’t buy the radio in a lorry. Or the bed.
It’s not asking the earth. Years ago wooden boards across the doors, next a decent bed. A fridge is nice fitted, cheap and shows am employer has given at least a passing thought to his employee who is staying in the vehicle for a week. I wouldn’t turn a job down over it. I thought Luke had a balanced and forward thinking approach so I agree with him.
It’s not an odd comparison at all. Now if you read the rest of what I said you will see that I look after my driver extremely well, I forgot about the truck sat nav I supplied and the mobile phone with unlimited calling and data that I also pay for. I even let him take the phone on holiday with him as I parked his lorry for the two weeks he was away. Although I did charge him for the international roaming bundle.
So as the man that pays the bills I do think that looking after a good employee is very important, but like I said, if I was a driver and my lorry didn’t have a fridge, it wouldn’t be a big deal, yes I would prefer to have one, but in my list of priorities a fridge would come way down the list.
Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk
nsmith1180:
Another point. The Merc Actros with flat floor in either Big or GigSpace cab has 2 45l drawers under the bunk as standard. The boss can pay out £500ish + VAT if he wants, which replaces one with a 37l fridge, a reduction in storage space for an increase in cost.Where is the business case for a fridge in a wagon? Does it add residual value? No. Does it add to the purchase cost? Yes. Does it save money like speccing up the SatNav + Cruise Control option does? No. There is absolutely no reason why a fleet manager should spec a fridge in a general haulage trampers wagon. International drivers yes, because then you get into Language barriers and exchange rates. People who spend a lot of time parked in completely inaccessible locations like on building sites, yes, because they have no other way of getting a healthy meal. People who drive from RDC to RDC, never being more than ten minutes from a decent meal, no.
I took one of those drawers out and replaced it with my fridge as I work for a tight arsed firm.
Don’t miss the drawer space at all as I tend to fill them with crap anyway.
What exactly have ‘language barriers and exchange rates’ got to do with having a fridge in your truck or not.
It maybe makes no business sense, but if I was in the market for a second hand truck, and there were two identical Mercs apart from one with a fridge, I know which I would take.
Hanbury Davies used to spec up their Volvos to the hilt, sell them after 2 yrs and make minimal loss for that reason, so maybe your argument is shot down.
Anyway mate if I ever decide to go back on my own motors I would employ you, even if only to put a positive spin towards other drivers for me,…if ever I decided to treat them with any negativity or unfairness.
As a day man I have no real need for a fridge, although saying that, on hot days drinks soon go warm and [zb]. Just had a quick nosy on Amazon at 12v fridges vs 12v coolboxes. Holy moly…big difference in price!! £50-£70 for a 25L coolbox and a decent compressor fridge was £300+.
Out of curiosity Rob, what is it that you have shoved under your bunk in place of the drawer?
eagerbeaver:
As a day man I have no real need for a fridge, although saying that, on hot days drinks soon go warm and [zb]. Just had a quick nosy on Amazon at 12v fridges vs 12v coolboxes. Holy moly…big difference in price!! £50-£70 for a 25L coolbox and a decent compressor fridge was £300+.Out of curiosity Rob, what is it that you have shoved under your bunk in place of the drawer?
Keep eye on flea bay as compressor fridges come on there for half price at least
