I took a job on the railway 35 hrs a week and 12 hrs off between shifts, 
sorry to hear you’ve not been well
suggestions:
see the doctor, especially about the chest pains
Check diet. lots of fibre, fresh fruit and vegetables. Lay off the caffeine
Check exercise. Are you getting up the sweat and pulse at least once a week
Confidence. Have you checked the job market to make sure you are in demand
Have you told your employer the hours and days which you are prepared to work
Brain. Have you got a hobby, sport or interest, do you get out to the flix or pub occasionally, or read
personaly I like challenging myself to a pie eating competition on the sofa in front of the telly
seriously, all the best and I hope things look up
Plans are , make docs appt today ,then chill out for a few weeks ,funnily enough i come from a family of fishermen too and thats just as bad … trying to find something complety different ,move out of the family home too , living in a 5 bed house alone is a bit pants … just taking things as they come now …
I seen a article in a newspaper last year about drivers suffering stress /mental problems loneliness missing family etc I never suffered loneliness in 50 years on the road it’s your job you chose it you have to have the mental attitude for the job I know it’s a different world from when I started in 1963 not for the better in those day you slept in digs some good some bad but it fostered a camaraderie missing today without exception most drivers in the digs we all went the pub and had a good laugh and you soon had a army of friends you used the good digs you knew and went back to them all the time you knew what driver would be there on a certain day you got up next morning had a laugh ate you breakfast and moved off a lot of guys went to (bag a nanny night dances ) to meet the r o they had a list of dances and what nights and they had a suite in the cab all f,there was family firms and some drivers worked for the same firm for 40years went to each other’s wedding etc now days 2am starts etc you have to be asleep by 8pm trying to sleep with all the noise that goes on quite often you only get 4/5hrs sleep incompetent useless office staff who don’t have a clue haunted by Vosa fines ,no wonder drivers are suffering. What I am trying to say is that in the day you always had company you could unwind you could turn it into a art form to have a good social life and this is the cause of the troubles today’s drivers are having it’s just work proxy starting times stuck in a metal tin all week no one speaks to each other I have seen 4vehicles belonging to the same firm and all sitting alone in there cabs would not have happened with the mainly super guys I worked with. I only finished at 70 years of age in 2012 and I am glad to be out of it I don’t know what the answer is perhaps today’s drivers are not as tough as the drivers past and don’t forget in the day it was all handball ropes /sheets and weekends away the roads where quieter years ago compared to today but my advice is if the job is effecting your health especially mentally get out the next thing that happens you start taking it out on the family that is a very slippery slope seen a lot of that in the later years with this job put your family and health first you can usually get another job but you won’t get your family back. From one who knows
Best post of the year from Dexterboy.It is every man for himself now.Now it is your work mates that grass you up to the managers.
If you ■■■■,the whole firm will know in five minutes.
Other drivers poking their nose in what others are doing.
Pulling the cab curtains at night and not leaving the cab for any social life.
Bad driving from other Lgv drivers,tail gating and bullying other road users in average speed camera road works.
Thank you Toby praise indeed
Just phoned British Airways to ask if they have any vacancies for pilots, unfortunately, theyre fully staffed
This job is very stressful, it has many casualties from broken partnerships, to serious health problems and often told by the doctors that it job related. I myself was a casualty but not as serious as others but although officially retired, the pension does not cover the luxuries one craves for eg, although i have a home abroad, i find it difficult to fund the airfare, and run a home in the uk, plus there are bills to pay out there too, i could move permanently and save a few quid, or sell my uk home and live the life of riley, but i always want a home in the uk, it covers a lot of things. Many drivers will realise how much they will get on their pension and they will be shocked, myself i have 2 pensions and i am not too bad but it really sickens me when i read of immigrants getting everything without paying anything into the pot, whereas some of our pensioners have to choose whether to eat or heat, thats sad. Of course the job has got easier with the introduction of the modern vehicle, but thats about it, its very stressful, bosses always on the phone, planners always on the hurry up, bad parking, no security, lack of decent food and not enough time to eat it, not enough rest between shifts and all the other worries of the road which is OUR responsibility, but when we get ill, stroke, heart attack or whatever, we get no help to survive it.
toby1234abc:
Bad driving from other Lgv drivers,tail gating and bullying other road users in average speed camera road works.
Don’t get me started on that. Tonight I was joining the M1 from the bottom of the M6 and they’ve lowered the 50mph speed limit to 40mph on the bend on the flyover because of the adverse camber. Lane 1 is for any vehicle and lane 2 has a 6’ 6’’ width restriction on it.
So there I am, fully loaded and weighing over 40ton, and I’m coming in to the bend at 45mph and using the exhaust brake to bring it down to 40mph, as that feels like the best speed for it. The next thing I know the (insert choice insult here) behind me in an artic with a double decker trailer pulls out sharply and flies past me ON THE BEND itself. There was literally 6 inches between us and I had to brake to let him past. For the rest of the way down the M1 he was 4 seconds in front of me.
I’ve been angered a few times by HGV drivers in my time, but for some reason this one really got under my skin. I just cannot understand the irrational mindset that the majority of HGV drivers seem to adopt. It’s as if they almost kill themselves to shave a couple of seconds off here and there. It is absolutely disgraceful and there is truly no need for it.
There has been much talk on Tnuk about the poor driving in road works.
Lgv drivers on a mission to be first in the queue when they see the average speed cameras.
Did the double decker have a phone number on it.?
If you think it was unsafe,his boss should know.Before the muppet kills somebody one day.
All this flashing in malarky.It was done when old truck mirrors were small and vibrated.
No need to flash now with big side mirrors.
If you do not flash in ,you get the sarcastic left and right indicator going.
Or if you do flash you get no thanks.So why blow your bulbs and have to flash 300 times a day.!I see trucks flashing in cars,WHY?
Spent all my working life on the road,had a good life but with all the rules and regs now its no longer enjoyable Retired 3 years ago,know exactly how you feel about cleaning your cab out for the last time,a great feeling. I said at the time IF dont need to use my Licence again in the 1st year of retirement I wont renew it so now im LGV Driver ( Permantly Retired)
toby1234abc:
Did the double decker have a phone number on it.?
If you think it was unsafe,his boss should know.Before the muppet kills somebody one day.
Because I had to brake hard he passed very quickly and I was busy ensuring I wasn’t going to veer out of my lane. I couldn’t even catch the name of the company as it was only written on the side, and he was too far in front for me to be able to read the small writing on the back, and I couldn’t catch him. So I’ve no idea who it was.
I’m pretty sure it was a white DAF cf with a white double decker and some lime green writing on the side joining the M1 at 2am from the M6.
Never before have I rang another driver’s boss - ever - but I wouldn’t hesitate with this driver. I felt slightly depressed for a while, firstly because of the powerless feeling of injustice, but secondly because there seems to be much more aggression between truck drivers these days - men who should know better. Most of it starts as irrational, some of it ends in tragedy.
Gray_nw, what are you going to do instead?
I’ve only been in the industry for a short time and I’m already fed up with it. Not what I was expecting or hoping for at all. Trouble is, although I’ve only been on hgv for four years, I’ve been driving non hgv for a living for ages and I’m not sure I could fit in to any other sort of work.
The guys that do nights on pallet trunking would know who this muppet works for.
There are not many lime green description of trailers.
gazza1970:
What other industry allows you to work 15 hrs then take 9 off
Theres plenty.
Ched:
Gray_nw, what are you going to do instead?I’ve only been in the industry for a short time and I’m already fed up with it. Not what I was expecting or hoping for at all. Trouble is, although I’ve only been on hgv for four years, I’ve been driving non hgv for a living for ages and I’m not sure I could fit in to any other sort of work.
I’m making enquires for various things ,nothing concrete yet … but nothing to do with the haulage industry thats for sure …
toby1234abc:
Best post of the year from Dexterboy.It is every man for himself now.Now it is your work mates that grass you up to the managers.
+1
Drivers always were their own worst enemies, but some of 'em are turning it into an art form.
The sleeper cab, whilst useful in order for a bloke on poor pay to make his money up by living in a blinged up tin can, but as Dexterboy’s working life example shows, getting away from the bloody lorry after you shift is up is vital.
Good thread this , I’m 24 been driving for 3 1/2 years , tramping for about 1, I’m getting fed up now , Main reason being my health putting on weight etc … I’m on containers so don’t do anything physical other than winding legs up/down , and don’t have time to goto a gym etc , I know not all driving is the same but I would take a 40hr week job tomorrow , health before wealth as they say, hope things work out for you mate all the best
I had a heart attack in 2003 aged 34 yrs. I was driving HGV’s for a good company, paid good money and just been assessed by them and told I was one of their best drivers, so no confidence issues there. I couldn’t face going to work though, dreaded being there and felt miserable and tired. The reason I thought must be the long hours I worked. I had always worked hard though and done long hours so couldn’t fathom it out. I had to make a decision, I went into the office and said I can’t do this any more and handed in my notice. Two weeks later I had a heart attack and only just survived it.
If you feel unwell and you can’t explain why or find the reason, then it’s worth going to talk to your doctor. I know it’s difficult to do, I didn’t do it and still struggle to do so.
The best cure for anxiety is to eat well, eat fresh, plenty of water, no nasty processed foods and simple sugars, keep the coffee and tea low and other high caffeine/sugar foods and drinks and get good rest.
Plenty of exercise.
I have suffered with mental health issues since I was 15/16 im now 28 and even though I have my mad crazy moments on the whole ive beaten it and im very strong willed, determined, ambitious. Im a great believer and i always think positive even if i know the outcome is likely to be negative or not as id wished. Im also a great believer in karma and fate you do good and good things will come to you, every dog has its day as they say.
My Grandmother bless her always said ’ the only problems you have in life are the ones you create for yourself ’ and ’ nothing in life is worth holding onto if it makes you feel low ’ if its no good for you get rid of it or walk away from it. Life is too short to be tied down, or to be stuck with someone who something that makes you feel depressed.
Hope you feel better soon mate
Saaamon:
gazza1970:
What other industry allows you to work 15 hrs then take 9 offTheres plenty.
I doubt it in transport. There’s industries outside of transport that have less rests and longer working hours (such as office traders) but its likely those industries don’t have a track record of accidents directly hurting the general public through fatigue and tiredness, therefore no hours regs. HGV driving does, and has regulations as do other forms of transport. Just very fiddly regs that have not been under the modern scrutiny of fatigue studies and therefore bizarrely still allow piddly rest with mammoth duties across multiple circadian rhythm changes. I doubt a single person who sat on the board in charge of EU driving hours has worked a packed tramping lifestyle and seen how tiring it can be. In the 70s it was enough to tick the box and think about tiredness. Now fatigue is recognised as being far more dangerous along with stress, time away, night duties, shift changes and transport lifestyles affecting human performance. Time off should be sufficient for 8 hours sleep at home in bed and sleep pattern changes taken into account when working different shifts. Breaks and rest should be uninterupted and away from work. In flight and sea ops they have to ask your permission to ring you on time off.
The road industry lags behind the other forms of transport from the perspective of the correct planning the hauliers should apply and the duty of responsibility placed upon them rather than shirking the responisbility onto the driver by use of disclaimers and sign here, there everywhere sheets, a driver who is on not far above minimum wage.
Sorry for the slight soap box rant but it’s leaning against an open door with me. Vosa are the organ grinder’s monkies but surely they have the power to influence change.
I agree with Dexterboy. Your health is number 1, 2 and 3. I doubt anyone died wishing they’d worked more (there’s always one in life). Best of luck to the OP. Your life will never stay like this, there’s always change. Just as much room for the good stuff as the bad 