MY DAUGHTER GO’S WITH ME EVERYWHERE AND HAS DONE SINCE SHE WAS 3YEARS OLD SHE IS MAD ON TRUCKS THATS HOW YOU GET IN TO IT SHE CAN DRIVE THEM AS SHE OFTEN DOES SHE IS NOW 13 YEARS OLD OFTEN DRIVES ME UP THE WALL 
Unlike the title of this post and most who have posted so far, my memories are from the Sixties, I can just remember some from the Fifties but as I was around 12 yrs old mid Sixties I have better memories from then. I’m sure, to be honest, my Dad would have loved to have got out the house without me some days but I was stuck to him like glue soon as he got up. The main thing I remember as we delivered to different places was the amount of times people said ‘We’ve never had one that big in here before’ or ‘You won’t get that in here driver’ only for Dad to leave them impressed how little trouble he had getting the trailer right to the ‘door’ so to speak. When we returned from long trips I would be totally fatigued as I wouldn’t sleep (never have been able to kip in a moving vehicle) even at night with Dad slumped over the wheel when we got stuck out without digs, I only catnapped and got told off from Ma when she saw how knackered I was.
It wouldn’t stop me though and I loved it and Dad taught me the lot, he once made me re-fold a sheet four times cos I never got it smooth enough and showed me how to fold a sheet using your foot when on your Jack and lift it onto the shoulder in one move, something that come in handy later on. Most of the time was trouble free but I remember having the wind up when he casually remarked the trailer had no brakes when returning from Manchester, in those days back over Standage, any minute I expected to sail straight over the edge of some bottomless cliff, imagination running riot! As regards injury Dad always kept a close eye on me but I did step off the back of the trailer when loading on Newcastle Quayside one day, fortunately I had done Judo with my older Brothers and seemed to naturally land as I would of during a Judo session and never felt a thing, Dad nearly had a heart attack and couldn’t believe I wasn’t hurt inbetween saying ‘Don’t tell your Mam for hells sake’.
There were plenty funny moments too like the time we were loading Peanuts and his mate asked me if I liked them, when I nodded yes he got his knife out and slashed one of the bags open, peanuts rained out, ‘Pull ya jumpa oot then’ his mate said and I was soon standing with a jumper full, Dad said ‘Get in the bliddy cab wi them, yi’ll get me shot’, ah happy days. I was a bit of a wagon nut too and knew every make around then and what the engine was by the sound it made and noted all the different firms we passed up and down the road and just loved the cafe’s but it was a struggle drinking every drop of tea in those mugs sometimes. Scotland was always a favourite as it was later when I was driving myself, the scenery was breathtaking in those days. It mostly ended when I jioned the Army in 1971 although I did manage the odd trip and a drive when on leave, during my time in the mob Dad packed in driving and took a factory job but he was never as happy at work as he was when driving and still talked about it right up until he passed away a couple of years ago, I suppose he was lucky to be around in the years when the job was at its best despite the low wages and other hardships. Cheers Franky.
My memories are also from the 50s when I went with my dad he had a AEC Matador for Pickfords and did a lot of double heading then one day he was double heading the old 100 tonner “Leaping Lena” and I was able to ride in it and the lift pump was in the cab on the front bulkhead which had to be pumped by hand which I was given the job and I can recall going home a bit scruffy and smelling of diesel. When he got a new highwayman he taught me to drive on site roads. One story from the 70s is of a certain driver who had his boy with him and the work got changed and was told to load for Holland which he did but was chasing to catch the ferry and on arriving in Hull and loading on to the ferry realised that the son was on his mothers passport after booking on with a second driver and told the boy to keep out of sight which he did and got him back through with out any problems until he arrived home and the son told his mother. There is no way that would happen now as things have changed so much and you would end up on an extended holiday.
Eddys Lad:
I remember when Dad did a favour for a mate of his,We went down to British Ropes at Doncaster arriving there about 5ish just as the crane driver who was on a flyer to some do or other was leaving,His gaffer made him load the lorry but in his “strop” he dropped a coil down hard on the lorry and broke a spring which ended up with a bit of verbal and Me and Dad walking to a cafe to scrounge a lift home again and leaving the truck there,I think the cafe was called the Red Brick?? or summat,heading out of Donny towards the A1 ■■,
hi eddy the cafe was called the redhouse it was at the north bound end of the a1 doony bypas & iremember goin in with my dad early one morning many moons ago-alan
same with me. every holiday from school i was with dad. First when he had a volvo f86 in the seventies then 1980 till 1985 he had a scania 81 artic on the tippers. learnt a lot during those years. As soon as i was 21 i passed my hgv and had my own truck.
rayluv:
Glad its all been stopped HSSE would never allow now it was wrong had a mate in my native liverpool back over his son so its a bit close
i think rayluv your just kissed off that your dad didnt take you with him in his truck for the summer holidays is this why your so bitter!!! PMSL
Thanks revman,I know we did’t wait long for a lift.
Used to go out with my dad from the early 80s to the mid 90s on saturday mornings and school hoilidays on 8 wheel tippers on muck away in the london area mainly scammell routemans magirus deutzs fodens etc then a new f reg MAN 30 331 now that was a cut above the rest back then. Passed my test at 21 and have been doing tippers roll on off and artic bulkers on landfill work ever since. but sadly my firm like many others wont allow passengers.