With reference to the container driver only getting exercise by winding trailer legs,on handball deliveries,which take up to five hours or more,i would give them my phone number and cycle off for a few hours.
Or failing that a long walk.
One drop was about 12 miles North of London.
On a hot summers day,out came the bike.
I got to the centre of London on the canal towpath network.
The same for Manchester and Birmingham,on the tow path.
No traffic.
As for fatigue in the aviation industry,there is lots of reading about cockpit managment for pilots.And how the Captain and First Officer work together.
For the maritime industry,one Captain on the Stena line Southampton /Cherbourg ship,would drive home to Scotland after two weeks on his ship.
toby1234abc:
With reference to the container driver only getting exercise by winding trailer legs,on handball deliveries,which take up to five hours or more,i would give them my phone number and cycle off for a few hours.
Or failing that a long walk.
One drop was about 12 miles North of London.
On a hot summers day,out came the bike.
I got to the centre of London on the canal towpath network.
The same for Manchester and Birmingham,on the tow path.
No traffic.
As for fatigue in the aviation industry,there is lots of reading about cockpit managment for pilots.And how the Captain and First Officer work together.
For the maritime industry,one Captain on the Stena line Southampton /Cherbourg ship would drive home to Scotland after two weeks on his ship.
We don’t have time mate, contract we do is drop and swap so do a lot of driving , usually close to 90hrs all the time
Seems this affects a lot of blokes.
My story started when I contracted a serious illness in 2008 that I beat but after a year off the road losing my girl friend and a lot of confidence I went though counselling that made me feel a bit better and I took a casual job late in 2009 driving,then got offered full time work with them tramping that I took.this is when the problems started again I was becoming anxious and feeling really low when down the road and Sunday evenings before I went away were unbearable but I still managed to get to work and go down the road.
I’d tramped for the last 8 years so couldn’t understand these feelings of not wanting to go to work so much and I went back to counselling.
Over the next few weeks of counselling I was told it seems like I’d always suffered from depression but not been diagnosed which came as a shock to me but when they explained all the symptoms I realized that I’d been feeling them for years.
I came away from tramping took a local job on containers still long hours but only occasional nights out and I feel so much happier.
I’m now married to a lovely lass and expecting my first child later this year and that all seemed impossible 5 years ago.
Iv since offered advice to people who suffered the same illness as me about depression and coping with it after long term illness,but the thing is if I had not contracted the illness I don’t think I would of known I had depression.
I will always offer any advice to anyone who needs it regarding feeling like this.its better to talk about it than bottle the feelings up and then having a breakdown.
Hi Guys
Time for a quick one 
The drivers usually start between 11pm and 2 am - one run normally starts 00:30 and would usually be back in the yard and done by 09:30
2 new drops have come up, local - and this driver will probably be dropping for these. 1st drop at 8pm, 2nd drop at 10pm, back into yard (by 11pm) break and then when load is ready, off on normal run and back in yard by 09:30 - this could of course, influenced by traffic snarl ups and the myriad of other pleasures awaiting out there on the black stuff, end up being a 15hr spreadover.
Is there anything legally wrong / problematic with this scheduling, it is only one day a week, but are there any problems in planning for a possible 15hr day (night)
your help and advice as ever, greatly appreciated guys 
Decca
^^^ there is nothing wrong in the legality of what you wrote. However you yourself hinted that it could be problematic sometimes. By this I mean night road closures (apparently they do this now 
) and other possible assorted hold ups which could mean the driver chasing his arse or possibly running out of working time before getting back to the yard.
I have to ask why any night man would willingly do a 15 hour shift too?
the maoster:
I have to ask why any night man would willingly do a 15 hour shift too?
As a mark of their real trucker-ness when combined with regular 70hr+ weeks.
Eight hours’ work, eight hours’ play and eight hours’ rest is the way to go.
georgy:
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
Wise words shag.
I’ve taken the knock a handful of times in life usually when work isn’t going my way, it is very easy to get obsessed with work particularly if you work for yourself.
I’ve learnt the only thing that matters through all those tortuous & sometimes unbearable times is that you don’t give up, ever. Have a rest by all means then come back with renewed vigour when the time is right.
The hardest thing to convince yourself of in the darkest hours is that life can & more than likely will get better for you in the future.
Not being a ■■■■ but I think sometimes it’s people with a bit more intelligence than is good for them that suffer from depression as your mind runs too many what if’s. Look at Stephen Fry, seems on the narrow now, can’t sat straight & narrow, Badum tish, national treasure is that fellow.
If you don’t like your job, leave unless you have dependents & even then at least look.
Life for me is chronically poor if I can’t tolerate the job I’m doing.
Best of luck with your sitch anyway OP, blokes rarely talk about mental health so it’s been good to share.
Now where’s the substance abuse thread… 
Yes iv got to agree, I posted my problems earlier on in this thread.
I just try and eat well limit my self to 2 coffees a day and excercise and it does make a difference believe me.
Also my advice to anyone who is really unhappy in there job is look for a new one best thing I did as my job was really beginning to damage my health.i hated everything about it the lads I worked with,the work we did,the places we went it was awful but the manager was a good bloke but I had to leave for my own health.
I earn a bit less now but iv just re jigged my finances and I’m managing just fine.