Just over 13 months have passed since I passed my C+E. I have been very fortunate in gaining loads of experience working for a very good agency whilst still serving in the Army (yes, I know this is a luxury that most do not have). I have also been fortunate in gaining my full DCPC through an extended ADR course (extended in the way of the extra 14 hrs CPC on two extra days).
I have driven loads of milk tankers for Arla Foods, box bodies for APC through VTS and Airsprung at Trowbridge, Tautliners for Massey Willcox, Sparks and RT Keedwell out of Devizes. I have also done some agency work in the Stoke on Trent area where I am settling into when I leave next year. Here I have worked for FedEx and Davis (refrigeration) out of Crewe.
One thing I have noticed in my experience gaining period is that there are a lot of helpful people out there, especially the Milk Tanker world at the Enfield site. Always stepping out of their cabs to Marshall and give a prospective of space available in a very tight yard.
Now as a young 41 year old I have spent every day of my 21 years in the Army knowing that everyday is a school day, whether as a student or as a teacher. A big thing that I have noticed ‘out and about’ is that the more stupid amongst our brotherhood of drivers are those that very quickly smirk and belittle those that have less experience and/or knowledge in our field of expertise (I do say expertise meaning the special qualification we hold as LGV Drivers, not the total experience that some have obtained over years of working in our chosen profession).
Do not get me wrong, in the Army I am one of the Kings of banter, but at the end of my ■■■■ take, I gladly take the lesser experienced under my wing and show them the way… And If I don’t know the way I will always have a man or woman who does.
What is the point of my scribbling I hear you cry (if you have actually managed to keep your concentration thus far). Well my fellow knights of the road it is this; yes, those with less knowledge, age, experience shalt have the urine extracted from them at every corner and turn, but is it not better to then give the advise they seek? Thus showing to those less fortunate of your years that actually you know what you are on about an not some moron who talks a good splitter gear change!
I really do not want to get the backs up of those that pride their ability on berating those with less driving ability than them but I would like to give you a thought and it is this, who gains the most respect, those that just act like redneck bottom bangers and give abuse or those that actually prove that they have gained something from all their years in the field that we share?
I am going will the latter.
As a foot note, to the red neck bottom bangers there is a dictionary available on google 