m.a.n rules:
mr eagerbeaver the industry seems to be getting you down.DONT LET IT. click on the link listen and CHILL OUT…
She’s controlling my mice and mouse hole
pmsl 
Any job that has the words “compliance” “kpi” “multi drop” “microlise” and H&S in the description or mentioned at interview is one to steer clear of in my experience.
Haulage is not for the faint hearted and not for everybody, some last 30 years or more, some try and will give up.
Seen many people coming into the industry full of enthusiasm, and leave in a matter of month.
Mainly because the loneliness (even in RDC waiting rooms) gets to them.
None of them will ever admit that they couldn’t hack it, but will blame anything else but theirselves.
It’s not a world of having fun with mates (no real mates out there) having a laugh and taking the mickey, it’s a job where you have much to much time to think, cause you are on your own in the cab.
If you have time to think, small issues grow too big problems, you have to much time to question yourself and no sparring partner to give any reflection.
It’s not a way of life, it’s not even a life, it’s a way to hide from life.
Been more than 38 years in the industry, been for years more than 40 weekends away from home, mostimes in stints of 5-8 weeks.
Have decided a couple years back to change and are now in a total different job (still sideways related to transport)
I got a feeling of all your posts that you are looking for something that is not there, maybe was once, but has gone years ago.
Camaraderie, looking out for each other, gaffers who put a hand on your shoulder after a difficult job, it’s all gone.
Part it’s the drivers own fault, loyality has gone (famous saying in transport: if you want loyality, buy a dog)
Drivers moving for a penny more away from a good haulier, a small argument and drivers throwing a tantrum and leave, managers sack people for the smallest mistake, to keep their customers happy etc.
I would give you one advice, leave the industry, it won’t make you happy to stay, it never will!
Hold your hand up and admit that you are not made for it, many are, but more aren’t.
It’s nothing to be ashame of, but plodding on will make you the same miserable old man like many on here.
Wipe you feet on the mat when you walk out the door, take it as an experience, a life lessons, and forget about it.
Your nearest and dearest will thank you for it.
Or otherwise become a shunter, and be home every day, forget about a nice truck cab, do your job, have a laugh with the guys in the warehouse, some banter with the regular drivers, and have a LIFE!!!
At our place its a case of “heres your run, now bugger off”. Our TM has a reputation of being a task master in previous jobs although he’s calmed down by some accounts. I’m still looking to move though.
Thanks for all the advice folks. I would say between you, the nail has been hit on the head! I think it was Caledonia who touched on one aspect of the job that is a negative for me.
A sense of loyalty and camaraderie seems to be something of the past sadly. Too much arse covering and looking after number one. I am not naïve enough to suggest that common sense should not prevail and to expect that every mistake should be covered up, but there seems to be this mindset of ’ ■■■■■■■■ to everyone apart from me '.
Not really something that sits well with me that. I know Robroy get’s fed up with this aspect too but he has the advantage/disadvantage of experiencing the job over the last 30 years (along with a lot of you).
I am going to consider ADR or bulk tanker work. Car transporters offer a challenge, but they also offer getting ■■■■ wet through, falling from height, branches damaging vehicles, and a cab only big enough to house nightline’s brain. A root around family firms may be something to look at and maybe delivering machinery/plant.
Plant/machinery gets you just as wet as the cars do. Fuel tankers is a good gig, even up North it pays 14-16 quid an hour. However it is very regulated and full of H&S and the cab is smaller than most car transporters, expect a day/low cab. Tankers is very procedural, you are mostly left to your own devices and you will never have to sit in a RDC waiting room again or deal with security staff/forkies/goods in staff, when you get to your drop there is rarely any waiting around and you tip when you get there. The customer/client/enduser is happy to see you, they need and want what you are bringing and 9 out of 10 times will have a cup of coffee and a pastry/sandwich/snack for you.
You still get wet though as you can’t leave the offsets and can stand in the rain for up to an hour. There is a lot of camaraderie in tankers and everyone is willing to help you out. The drivers on the whole are professional and generally keep the kit neat and tidy. You just got to make do without phone/satnav/Bluetooth/MP3 player and the likes and be ready to be watched like a hawk 24/7.
You rarely do 15 hour days, only when you have a breakdown or a major traffic delay, but if you do that’s 200 quid for a day’s work up North. You generally start early and finish early on days. Some gigs are shift patterns though, but there are still plenty of Mon-Fri day jobs out there.
You could apply for the position of drama queen.
I’m impressed that you actually do any deliveries/collections with all the whining you do eagerbellshine.
That’s if you do any ? Must be difficult with all your hissy fits, little girly rants getting in the way, can’t
be easy for you.
Not forgetting you’re the only driver ever with a backbone who has stuck up for himself and been
sacked blah blah blah !
Man up for christs sake, you wind instrument ! Never met an ex squaddie who moans like you
and I’ve worked with loads, all good skins.
You could try taking a leaf out of their book, but will you ?
2.5 years your still a “newbie” really,but at least you have realised that transport is a different world you have tried it and its not for you.
muckles:
Have you tried working for smaller haulage companies, like a family run one.
I know they’re not all wonderful places, but maybe you’d be better somewhere where you can deal direct with the boss instead of dealing with another tier of management. Of course not as easy to hide and skive in these companies as the boss has normally been there himself so know the stunts drivers pullIt worked for a Freind of mine, he tried the big logistics companies, just couldn’t get on with the impersonal nature, he now works for a bloke with a few trucks, the boss shouts and swears with the best of them, but he soon calms down he talks straight and he pretty much leaves my mate to get on with his job.
This describes my last com before ret. to a tee.Family firm best days on the rd. for me.Wish I had found him yrs before some of the others I worked for.
regards dave.
Think I managed 20 years before I woke up one morning and thought- this is seriously crap - always hated working after that day. Only since being sort of retired for a few years am I sort of missing working, don’t know why as it sounds worse now than ever before.
your days were always numbered
go and work elsewhere…simple as that…theres masses of jobs around…just go and get one that isnt a plobber beancounter co…i like doing trips for tangytype companies…bent as bananas and wired to the moon…do what makes the job interesting and dare i say satisfying and fun? it still has its moments though the uk cameradrie has long gone with the beancounter co`s and 24/7 timed deliverys.i like working for cowboys,i tried tosco types with an agency for a couple of years and detested it as the lack of input required made me feel like i was demeaning myself to being a cabbage with a hiviz and couldnt stand the lack of self respect.away and think of a decent job you think you may like,and away and do it.if that dont work,then the entire profession aint for you…if your ex cannonfodder/services though,id have thought a stobrat type co would be right up your street being paid from the neck down?
If you want more of a challenge, what about trying to break into heavy haulage? I know naff all about it, just a thought.
Or perhaps some other specialist transport field, someone has to drive the F1 cars around don’t they 
? Or maybe race horse transport if you can put up with horses? Wouldn’t adr and tankers be more full of h&s arse covering than ever?
Freight Dog:
If you want more of a challenge, what about trying to break into heavy haulage? I know naff all about it, just a thought.Or perhaps some other specialist transport field, someone has to drive the F1 cars around don’t they
I quite fancied that once then it seemed that it as nearly always 2 or more people in the cab, and if that wouldn’t be bad enough there would be all the time sitting around in lay bys waiting for escorts and even more people to stand around pointing and shouting and making a general nuisance of themselves - sounds extra crap.
I quite fancy dry stone walling up in the hills, quad bike and some dogs for company. Any job that doesn’t involve being anywhere near other people sounds good to me.
Bluey Circles:
Freight Dog:
If you want more of a challenge, what about trying to break into heavy haulage? I know naff all about it, just a thought.Or perhaps some other specialist transport field, someone has to drive the F1 cars around don’t they
.
I quite fancy dry stone walling up in the hills, quad bike and some dogs for company. Any job that doesn’t involve being anywhere near other people sounds good to me.
Amen to that, we prefer our three bonkers dogs to an increasing number of people.
Funny thing is, in the good days of transport you were on your own but with an extended family of brothers out there in other lorries and we looked after each other, now you are never on your own what with monitoring and spying systems and your fellow drivers try their best to stitch you up on the road, yet the job is now soul destroyingly lonely in so many ways, cameraderie (except as said in one or two specialist sectors) is dead.
dieseldog999:
go and work elsewhere…simple as that…theres masses of jobs around…just go and get one that isnt a plobber beancounter co…i like doing trips for tangytype companies…bent as bananas and wired to the moon…do what makes the job interesting and dare i say satisfying and fun? it still has its moments though the uk cameradrie has long gone with the beancounter co`s and 24/7 timed deliverys.i like working for cowboys,i tried tosco types with an agency for a couple of years and detested it as the lack of input required made me feel like i was demeaning myself to being a cabbage with a hiviz and couldnt stand the lack of self respect.away and think of a decent job you think you may like,and away and do it.if that dont work,then the entire profession aint for you…if your ex cannonfodder/services though,id have thought a stobrat type co would be right up your street being paid from the neck down?
Very well said, infact beaver might actually find it very liberating, i normally stick a marty mone cd in an just keep er lit, sod them all worry about nothing.
Or you could try sprinter type van driving…
Don’t count on getting away from bellends and ■■■■.
Seems to me in the near 40yrs I’ve been working that generally people are ruder, nastier and have far more " no-one matters but me" attitude than then. I blame Eastenders !
Sent from my X17 using Tapatalk
blue estate:
Don’t fancy a move down south ?
I have the same truck every day and been there 1 year 2 months and just moved up to a 26t as the driver of that got his big boy licence , I will be in this one for 2 months then get a new 26t Actros with the big cab
P/s No I won’t go for my cat 1 as I can’t get my head around the opposite lock thingy [emoji12]Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk[/quote
Opposite lock thingy
It’s truck driving not rally driving lol