Been reading the books about the Middle East runs. Some drivers saying they paid a house off in 2 years etc. Others saying they were the same as staying at home but wanted the adventure. Anyone still around that knows. Just being nosey.
Hi Lash
I started in my early twenties, and became an owner driver at the age of twenty four. Bought my own trailer and went on for Astran at the tender age of twenty five. Bob Paul called me and Gary Glass “the injection of youth”, we were the youngest on Astran. You had to set yourself up properly with proper insurance, TripTiks and a good reliable motor which would be customised to suit the job bit by bit, trip by trip. Belly tank, trailer boxes, AC, big running tanks on the unit. you couldn’t just “do one trip to see what it’s like” ! It was a lifestyle, away for weeks on end, sometimes not meeting anyone that you knew for days and days, comfortable with your own company. It wasn’t just a job, it was your way of life. You had to be a mechanic, accountant, linguist, cook, diplomat and anyone else that was needed at the time. Freedom on the road, no one to ask you where you were, as long as you got to your destination in good time with your cargo intact, that was what it was all about. But when you got to your final destination which for me was mainly Doha, you were only half way !! you still had to get home…another 8,000+ klicks, plus a re-load from Eastern Europe.
I was single, lived out of the running money and managed to save a fair amount of money over the years, some of which I re-invested in used trucks to send down the road as “sellers”, to make even more money. But, I didnt have a mortgage or a family.
Those were the days…
GS
I was five years into a 25 year mortgage when I started the m/e, which I was doing for almost 12 years, after three years the wife went down to the building society and payed in a cheque to clear the mortgage.
As GS Overland says, it was not a job, for me , not even a way of life, but the greatest adventure one could ever hope for!
have a read of jazzandy s trip on the old timers thread its brilliant.
Thanks for the stories and pictures. I find it very interesting. Me in too soft to have done that I’ve only done 10 nights out in16 years. 
Also like the videos that Luke does going on ferries or European stuff. As I say very interesting to watch/read but not for me.
lash don’t say it isn’t for you until you try it mate.
I hated and I mean hated being on a night out in the Uk, but loved the euro work I done (truckstops for trucks, garages with showers and clean).
friendly people and a chance to see some beautiful sites (from behind the wheel of a truck mind), being weekended by a beach in the sun.
and that was just the winter 
wish i was born 10 yrs ealier to do these runs, closest i got was n/africa and a little for kbr
I was 27 in 1974 on my first trip (to Jeddah) as an OD, fortunately I went to sea first so was familiar with far off places & culture.
I guess you were either hooked for life, or hated it – I’ve been lucky in life with some great experiences - but nothing comes close to the Middle East adventure & lifestyle.
You had to learn fast and often not in the easiest of circumstances, but if there was another driver around they would always stop and help.
Some paid off their houses, others like me don’t have much of a pension to even think about retiring, if it was still possible to do it now I would start up again even now at 68.
A few pics to give the taste:
