Those of you suggesting that the beaver tries a different driving job, you do realise who the beaver is, don’t you?? 
Someone could setup a market stall selling logo’d workwear, I hear there’s a market for 2nd hand stuff 
Daytrunker:
maga:
best thing I ever did was quit driving at 21 (3 years ago) to work in a factory doing the same 7 bolts up 36 hours a week
goodluck!
JLR by any chance?
yep, thats the one
maga:
Daytrunker:
maga:
best thing I ever did was quit driving at 21 (3 years ago) to work in a factory doing the same 7 bolts up 36 hours a weekgoodluck!
JLR by any chance?
yep, thats the one
I couldn’t think of anything more soul destroying than that.
Tommy7437:
Mugs game?Certainly is IMO ( which is allowed ) if you accept a salary paid job earning ex amount for 48 plus hours a week! You reap what you sow.
Agency at hourly rate pays much better. Talking to a guy the other day who was agency for a company based in Bathgate. He told me drivers were on £8.50 an hour there and he was bagging £11.50 an hour for doing exact same job!
Agency driver? YES
Mug? NOPE
At this time of year you can get a reasonable rate and regular work on agency right through to the end of December. January to May maybe even June some years is a different scenario.
eagerbeaver:
Really chuffed with the comments fella’s, thanks!As regards being reported 29088, it always ■■■■■■ me off when the neighbourhood watch have a go. The problem is as a day man, you are always chasing your arse, and unless you get REALLY lucky with your job, you often end up ‘pushing’ it a bit.
Get a bit close in the roadworks and you’re in for it. Shout at someone, you’re in for it. Nip through a weight limit…etc.
The general public hate trucks anyway, and now everyone has free minutes and a mobile phone. Beep your horn and it’s a phone call.Got dashcam footage?..Get it sent in
As regards driving a truck for a living, it’s crap. In my opinion the main reason that employers in the main take the ■■■■, is because we as drivers bend over and allow it. I HAVE HONESTLY ON NUMEROUS TIMES BEEN SO CLOSE TO DELIBERATELY PARKING MY WAGON ACROSS ALL LANES ON THE THELWALL VIADUCT AND SNAPPING THE KEY IN THE BARREL YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE IT.(Not with my most recent employers though who have treated me well).
The reason for this outrageous thought is not through mental illness
Sure I would probably get arrested and face a court appearance and then a fine. But so what? I can afford the fine, and one of my mates would do a crowd fund anyway
IT’S ABOUT TIME DRIVERS START GROWING A BACKBONE. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO NOT DELIVER THE GOODS. REMEMBER THE FUEL STRIKES? IT CAUSED CHAOS!!! START DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE JOB.
The facilities are crap. The conditions are crap. The employers are often crap. The parking is crap. We are spied on relentlessly. We are spoken to like crap.
STOP PUTTING UP WITH IT FFS. MANY,MANY PEOPLE OVER TIME HAVE SPILT BLOOD FOR BETTER CONDITIONS IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS SAY NO A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I would be willing to spend my time money and effort supporting any drivers action, and would happily get involved in any effort that would hopefully improve conditions for drivers, but it MUST start with drivers themselves. I understand that bill’s need to be paid and mouths must be fed.
But the weapons of choice for employers in this game are PRESSURE and FEAR. Anyone scared of REFUSING A REASONABLE REQUEST? Let me tell you all something. ALMOST ANYTHING these employers ask CAN be construed as REASONABLE.
SO START REFUSING AND GROW A PAIR. You will not be sent to jail. You will not be given the lethal injection. Your loved ones will not stop loving you. IT’S JUST A JOB FFS! You can go and get another one.
LET’S START BY REFUSING TO WORK FOR THE CRAP EMPLOYERS WHO PAY PEANUTS. I have always told you lot who I work for. At Downton’s they tried intimidating me regarding my post’s about their office staff. I was told that I had slandered one staff member in particular, and that it was ’ defamation of character. I told them that I would love to go to court and tell everyone who would listen about the place.
GUESS WHAT…THEY CRAPPED IT.
You’ll be back on the agency within the month beaver 
I’m throwing the towel in (medical reasons) but have been thinking about it for a while now, all the rules and regs: H&S bullshine, backstabbing from fellow drivers, as you say bellends (myself included, at times) on the road etc: etc:
Not forgetting the CPC. POA. WTD digi ******* tachos, clueless cretins running transport offices, who couldn’t run a freakin bath. Where do they get these ar$e conkers from ?
Your Dad wouldn’t recognise the game now, proper drivers who looked out for each other back then. And they had some power then too, sadly all gone these days, never to come back, just when it’s needed.
Now it’s full of the I’m alright Jack brigade, not tarring them all with the same brush as there’s still quite a few good uns out there.
Enjoyed trading insults with you over time, fatty
You’re doing the right thing, you’re only on this spinning rock the one time, do what you enjoy and if you can get a few quid along the way, that’s what it’s all about.
Best of luck in whatever you do chap.
Have you thought of 4 on/4 off?
I was the same as you and was leaving the industry. Not saying it gets rid of the issues we all know but it becomes a hell of a lot more tolerable only working 50% of the year.
the nodding donkey:
maga:
Daytrunker:
maga:
best thing I ever did was quit driving at 21 (3 years ago) to work in a factory doing the same 7 bolts up 36 hours a weekgoodluck!
JLR by any chance?
yep, thats the one
I couldn’t think of anything more soul destroying than that.
the job is what you make it, the same as driving I suppose. I work with some great guys and girls which gets me through it, we all (about 25 of us) go out for beers/curry/night out once a month which is something I never thought I’d do. Somedays I feel like I’ve just been paid to socialise with my mates
the job itself is boring and soul destroying granted, but at £40k a year for a 36 hour a week, how can I complain. There are plenty of lads/lasses there who like working lorry driver hours banging in all the OT hitting nearly £70k.
Genuinely chuffed with the responses so far fella’s 
Even Moron 123 has kind words for me Had loads of PM’s and even offers of employment
Great bunch of folk on here, and also the overwhelming majority of drivers I have had the pleasure of working with and/or chatting to. I have mentioned many times on here that I am the Son of a (sadly gone) wagon driver, and it’s a bloody crying shame that a once respected job has turned to crap.
There are lot’s of Werthers original munching, hat wearing Yoda’s on here who drive Rover 75’s and used to drive a F88 in the Middle East 
And they know who they are. Great insight, guidance , experience and wisdom. Many are due to retire soon and can’t wait! (Good luck to them all). We as newer drivers MUST learn lessons from these wise elders, and share a pipe with them and nod our heads a lot. ( Nodding Donkey has a real advantage here ).
It’s time to start valuing ourselves more and fighting back. If ANY drivers would genuinely WANT me to in any way help or support them in trying to improve things in some way, my time and a reasonable amount of resources are offered.
WE COME INTO THIS LIFE WITH NOTHING AND LEAVE WITH NOTHING FOLKS! Somewhere in between, we hopefully find people who love us and with a bit of luck, we have some decent health and not too much pain.
WHAT EACH OF US CAN HAVE HOWEVER, IS PRIDE AND DIGNITY. LET’S START BY SAYING NO MORE! WE ARE NOT DOGS AND SHOULD NOT BE TREATED SO.
Beaver and numerous others mentioned increasing traffic volumes .
This has got me thinking, when you are stuck on a jam on any road, you see it is mostly cars, and not that many goods vehicles.
Fair enough at busy commuter times, folks have to drive to and from work .
In between these times, you have to wonder, where the hell is everyone going ?
Look at what the occupants are wearing, it is not work wear or a uniform, look at what objects are in the car ?
A random flower pot on the back seat.
A picnic basket on Aunt Madges knees .
The point I’m making is HOBBY drivers.
They should stay at home to allow trucks a clear road to deliver on time, save fuel and wages and no lost time.
Haulage firms make more profit, can employ
more drivers, buy new kit, attain new contracts .
The public moan that trucks delay them, that is rubbish, you delay us with your pointless car trip to nowhere special, with a car with just the driver, the car share scheme is a joke .
Can’t deny that the money sounds great but hand on heart the thought of 30 years of factory work even at £70k would kill me.
Money isn’t everything to a lot of people. Although I agree it helps a lot.
Now if one of one of these co workers looked like Holly Willoughby, had zero morals, an unhealthy interest in 39 year old greying men and the ability to keep a secret I may reconsider.
kjw21:
@maga.Can’t deny that the money sounds great but hand on heart the thought of 30 years of factory work even at £70k would kill me.
Money isn’t everything to a lot of people. Although I agree it helps a lot.
Now if one of one of these co workers looked like Holly Willoughby, had zero morals, an unhealthy interest in 39 year old greying men and the ability to keep a secret I may reconsider.
Isn’t JLR in Coventry?
So couldn’t hack it eh?
And your version of sticking up for yourself, like you encourage all drivers to do, is to leave the industry?
I am saying this slightly tounge in cheek because I only drive part time whilst persuing other work interests. And I agree the whole job is getting worse, with the increased volume in traffic/ muppet drivers/ endless roadworks/ numpties crashing into each other left right and center etc.
the nodding donkey:
kjw21:
@maga.Can’t deny that the money sounds great but hand on heart the thought of 30 years of factory work even at £70k would kill me.
Money isn’t everything to a lot of people. Although I agree it helps a lot.
Now if one of one of these co workers looked like Holly Willoughby, had zero morals, an unhealthy interest in 39 year old greying men and the ability to keep a secret I may reconsider.
Isn’t JLR in Coventry?
Fair point - add in a different accent. I’m thinking Eastern Europeanish (not Russian Border guard - more Czech Air Hostess!).
kjw21:
the nodding donkey:
kjw21:
@maga.Can’t deny that the money sounds great but hand on heart the thought of 30 years of factory work even at £70k would kill me.
Money isn’t everything to a lot of people. Although I agree it helps a lot.
Now if one of one of these co workers looked like Holly Willoughby, had zero morals, an unhealthy interest in 39 year old greying men and the ability to keep a secret I may reconsider.
Isn’t JLR in Coventry?
Fair point - add in a different accent. I’m thinking Eastern Europeanish (not Russian Border guard - more Czech Air Hostess!).
Oh la la…
So you have seen the sense after 4 years driving, it took me 15 before I quit to work for Network Rail 4 years ago best thing I have done getting away from driving although I enjoyed it for about the first 10 years
So the man who…
Tells everyone to stand up and get a backbone…cops out.
Like most of your ‘stories’ you couldn’t make it up.
close the door quietly as you leave please
yourhavingalarf:
So the man who…Tells everyone to stand up and get a backbone…cops out.
Like most of your ‘stories’ you couldn’t make it up.
Tell us all who you work for big balls. Give us a picture of your truck with it’s reg mark visible.Yep …thought not
close the door quietly as you leave please
maga:
Somedays I feel like I’ve just been paid to socialise with my mates
The finished quality of Land Rovers products it would appear that is what they are doing.
del trotter:
maga:
Somedays I feel like I’ve just been paid to socialise with my matesThe finished quality of Land Rovers products it would appear that is what they are doing.
I see similar posts on a popular motoring forum, I bet you still think Skoda’s are junk too?
Do you really think that based on where the company is today and the amount they are investing (>£3bn and still delivering profits of c£2bn), the amount of new jobs and jobs in the secondary industries, sales that have trebled in 4 years etc ,that they are still building the ■■■■■ they used to