With about five million miles spread across 6 decades it has been a roller-coaster of good times and bad, good bosses and bad, good trucks and junk, long hours and never something for nothing. If I had to sum it up; this song is synonymous with my career as a lorry driver.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JCcWlwPpDo .
robthedog:
DickyNick:
No such thing as the good old days it’s all a load of ■■■■■■■■.Can guarantee in 15 years the ones who have started trucking in the last 5 years will be telling all the newbies the job was better when we started in 2015.
Human nature is to dislike change especially with truck drivers it seems. We get set in our ways.
Come on. We’re trucks really better to drive when you had to change gear for 10 hours yourself? With no air con? No night heater? No fridge or microwave? Was it better before holiday pay became law? Before companies had to give average holiday pay? Was it really better without the likes of google maps and street view to check out delivery points before you get there? Good old times? Load of [zb].
Put a sock in it RowleyDick
Have a day off RobbieTheDieselDoggyRoy
DickyNick:
robthedog:
DickyNick:
No such thing as the good old days it’s all a load of ■■■■■■■■.Can guarantee in 15 years the ones who have started trucking in the last 5 years will be telling all the newbies the job was better when we started in 2015.
Human nature is to dislike change especially with truck drivers it seems. We get set in our ways.
Come on. We’re trucks really better to drive when you had to change gear for 10 hours yourself? With no air con? No night heater? No fridge or microwave? Was it better before holiday pay became law? Before companies had to give average holiday pay? Was it really better without the likes of google maps and street view to check out delivery points before you get there? Good old times? Load of [zb].
Put a sock in it RowleyDick
Have a day off RobbieTheDieselDoggyRoy
Having plenty of days off always on holiday between Scotland Holland and asia you’d know all about that though wouldn’t you, ring any bells ?
What I do know is, back in the day,there was not the carnage caused by the current crop of drivers playing on their phones whilst driving. Local lad is just starting 8yrs for killing a couple of people and ruining a few other lives on top of that whilst driving and playing on his phone. Should of been twenty yrs. How many times do we hear of this, and the age range is nearly always 25-35.
Difference in the ‘the good old days’ was that you needed to be mentally engaged to drive, and be a driver. Loads did not sheet themselves, and if you did not watch the road ahead and changed gear accordingly, you would get nowhere. There were not so many fat gits about then either. Most of the older drivers then were ex Merchant Seamen or soldiers who had fought in the war, and they gave you a great apprenticeship in the job, and life, and took no back chat.
As an O/d the job was a world away from what it is now. Even on containers, job rates were generous. If loading for say Felixstowe from Manchester, I would be paid the job rate from L’pool to Manc, the trunk rate to F’stowe, the trunk rate back up with the back load(there was always a backload), and the job rate for where ever that load tipped locally. Then you could get other local work to do as well. Traction only at that time too. Lots of shipping lines had their own trailer fleet. Fuel was 30ppl. I was a 30yr old O/d with a nearly new truck and a Lotus to drive to work in.
Also, the camaraderie is not to be overlooked. It is almost non-existent now, but back in the day you could rely on help on a windy day with sheets, or help with a wheel change, and have a good laugh about it in the cafe afterwards.
The dead eyed driving drones of today do less than half the job we used to do, and are worse for it.
I enjoy the convenience of driving todays trucks, but do so with the experience gained from the sneered at, so called, good old days, and have been accident free in nearly 30yrs of being an O/d.
Janos:
What I do know is, back in the day,there was not the carnage caused by the current crop of drivers playing on their phones whilst driving. Local lad is just starting 8yrs for killing a couple of people and ruining a few other lives on top of that whilst driving and playing on his phone. Should of been twenty yrs. How many times do we hear of this, and the age range is nearly always 25-35.
Difference in the ‘the good old days’ was that you needed to be mentally engaged to drive, and be a driver. Loads did not sheet themselves, and if you did not watch the road ahead and changed gear accordingly, you would get nowhere. There were not so many fat gits about then either. Most of the older drivers then were ex Merchant Seamen or soldiers who had fought in the war, and they gave you a great apprenticeship in the job, and life, and took no back chat.
As an O/d the job was a world away from what it is now. Even on containers, job rates were generous. If loading for say Felixstowe from Manchester, I would be paid the job rate from L’pool to Manc, the trunk rate to F’stowe, the trunk rate back up with the back load(there was always a backload), and the job rate for where ever that load tipped locally. Then you could get other local work to do as well. Traction only at that time too. Lots of shipping lines had their own trailer fleet. Fuel was 30ppl. I was a 30yr old O/d with a nearly new truck and a Lotus to drive to work in.
Also, the camaraderie is not to be overlooked. It is almost non-existent now, but back in the day you could rely on help on a windy day with sheets, or help with a wheel change, and have a good laugh about it in the cafe afterwards.
The dead eyed driving drones of today do less than half the job we used to do, and are worse for it.
I enjoy the convenience of driving todays trucks, but do so with the experience gained from the sneered at, so called, good old days, and have been accident free in nearly 30yrs of being an O/d.
You can’t come on here telling truths like that you’ll get all the ■■■■■■■■■ calling you a liar don’t mention what you were earning either god forbid
Janos:
What I do know is, back in the day,there was not the carnage caused by the current crop of drivers playing on their phones whilst driving. Local lad is just starting 8yrs for killing a couple of people and ruining a few other lives on top of that whilst driving and playing on his phone. Should of been twenty yrs. How many times do we hear of this, and the age range is nearly always 25-35.
Difference in the ‘the good old days’ was that you needed to be mentally engaged to drive, and be a driver. Loads did not sheet themselves, and if you did not watch the road ahead and changed gear accordingly, you would get nowhere. There were not so many fat gits about then either. Most of the older drivers then were ex Merchant Seamen or soldiers who had fought in the war, and they gave you a great apprenticeship in the job, and life, and took no back chat.
As an O/d the job was a world away from what it is now. Even on containers, job rates were generous. If loading for say Felixstowe from Manchester, I would be paid the job rate from L’pool to Manc, the trunk rate to F’stowe, the trunk rate back up with the back load(there was always a backload), and the job rate for where ever that load tipped locally. Then you could get other local work to do as well. Traction only at that time too. Lots of shipping lines had their own trailer fleet. Fuel was 30ppl. I was a 30yr old O/d with a nearly new truck and a Lotus to drive to work in.
Also, the camaraderie is not to be overlooked. It is almost non-existent now, but back in the day you could rely on help on a windy day with sheets, or help with a wheel change, and have a good laugh about it in the cafe afterwards.
The dead eyed driving drones of today do less than half the job we used to do, and are worse for it.
I enjoy the convenience of driving todays trucks, but do so with the experience gained from the sneered at, so called, good old days, and have been accident free in nearly 30yrs of being an O/d.
Sadly there were still some very serious fatal accidents back then from which we still have not learned to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. The caption for the picture is transposed from another image. The drive of this Mandator survived, other photos show that it was piggy-backing another artic which went over the top of it.
cav551:
Janos:
What I do know is, back in the day,there was not the carnage caused by the current crop of drivers playing on their phones whilst driving. Local lad is just starting 8yrs for killing a couple of people and ruining a few other lives on top of that whilst driving and playing on his phone. Should of been twenty yrs. How many times do we hear of this, and the age range is nearly always 25-35.
Difference in the ‘the good old days’ was that you needed to be mentally engaged to drive, and be a driver. Loads did not sheet themselves, and if you did not watch the road ahead and changed gear accordingly, you would get nowhere. There were not so many fat gits about then either. Most of the older drivers then were ex Merchant Seamen or soldiers who had fought in the war, and they gave you a great apprenticeship in the job, and life, and took no back chat.
As an O/d the job was a world away from what it is now. Even on containers, job rates were generous. If loading for say Felixstowe from Manchester, I would be paid the job rate from L’pool to Manc, the trunk rate to F’stowe, the trunk rate back up with the back load(there was always a backload), and the job rate for where ever that load tipped locally. Then you could get other local work to do as well. Traction only at that time too. Lots of shipping lines had their own trailer fleet. Fuel was 30ppl. I was a 30yr old O/d with a nearly new truck and a Lotus to drive to work in.
Also, the camaraderie is not to be overlooked. It is almost non-existent now, but back in the day you could rely on help on a windy day with sheets, or help with a wheel change, and have a good laugh about it in the cafe afterwards.
The dead eyed driving drones of today do less than half the job we used to do, and are worse for it.
I enjoy the convenience of driving todays trucks, but do so with the experience gained from the sneered at, so called, good old days, and have been accident free in nearly 30yrs of being an O/d.Sadly there were still some very serious fatal accidents back then from which we still have not learned to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. The caption for the picture is transposed from another image. The drive of this Mandator survived, other photos show that it was piggy-backing another artic which went over the top of it.
Looks foggy wonder if he was using his front fog lights ?
cav551:
Janos:
What I do know is, back in the day,there was not the carnage caused by the current crop of drivers playing on their phones whilst driving. Local lad is just starting 8yrs for killing a couple of people and ruining a few other lives on top of that whilst driving and playing on his phone. Should of been twenty yrs. How many times do we hear of this, and the age range is nearly always 25-35.
Difference in the ‘the good old days’ was that you needed to be mentally engaged to drive, and be a driver. Loads did not sheet themselves, and if you did not watch the road ahead and changed gear accordingly, you would get nowhere. There were not so many fat gits about then either. Most of the older drivers then were ex Merchant Seamen or soldiers who had fought in the war, and they gave you a great apprenticeship in the job, and life, and took no back chat.
As an O/d the job was a world away from what it is now. Even on containers, job rates were generous. If loading for say Felixstowe from Manchester, I would be paid the job rate from L’pool to Manc, the trunk rate to F’stowe, the trunk rate back up with the back load(there was always a backload), and the job rate for where ever that load tipped locally. Then you could get other local work to do as well. Traction only at that time too. Lots of shipping lines had their own trailer fleet. Fuel was 30ppl. I was a 30yr old O/d with a nearly new truck and a Lotus to drive to work in.
Also, the camaraderie is not to be overlooked. It is almost non-existent now, but back in the day you could rely on help on a windy day with sheets, or help with a wheel change, and have a good laugh about it in the cafe afterwards.
The dead eyed driving drones of today do less than half the job we used to do, and are worse for it.
I enjoy the convenience of driving todays trucks, but do so with the experience gained from the sneered at, so called, good old days, and have been accident free in nearly 30yrs of being an O/d.Sadly there were still some very serious fatal accidents back then from which we still have not learned to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. The caption for the picture is transposed from another image. The drive of this Mandator survived, other photos show that it was piggy-backing another artic which went over the top of it.
Cav, I am not saying it was an accident free utopia, but whatever the cause of the incident you are showing, I am pretty sure the driver was not scrolling through Facebook at the time.
Elsa lad and ■■■■ knob I’ve bumped a thread for you have a look at here’s a couple of snippets in case your in any doubt take a look we’re not all whingers dreamers And ■■■■ heads like you
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=161971&start=30#p2697260
Here you go Elsa Lad (■■■■) and nickydickyknobhead
A grand a week was a regular wage in car delivery pre 2000, averaging 50 hrs per week, then the non union I,m alright jack mob got a foot in the door and now its not much better than general haulage.
WaggerWagger888:
A grand a week was a regular wage in car delivery pre 2000, averaging 50 hrs per week, then the non union I,m alright jack mob got a foot in the door and now its not much better than general haulage.
I can vouch for that. I made pretty decent money in the 70’s and never did anymore than 50 hours but in the 80’s it was well over a grand a week for less than 40 hours. Job and Finish.
Could not be bothered getting out of bed for the money most drivers earn these days. Maybe better motors (but not in all ways) but the roads and drivers were far more civilised pre 2000.
Thank goodness I have done my time when I did. 
jakethesnake:
WaggerWagger888:
A grand a week was a regular wage in car delivery pre 2000, averaging 50 hrs per week, then the non union I,m alright jack mob got a foot in the door and now its not much better than general haulage.I can vouch for that. I made pretty decent money in the 70’s and never did anymore than 50 hours but in the 80’s it was well over a grand a week for less than 40 hours. Job and Finish.
Could not be bothered getting out of bed for the money most drivers earn these days. Maybe better motors (but not in all ways) but the roads and drivers were far more civilised pre 2000.
Thank goodness I have done my time when I did.
For once snakey your right have a word with your alter egos
was good old days only because we were young, fit healthy and knew no better.For myself being a country lad seeing through a windscreen the uk ,ireland and euroland was a dream come true in the 80s, the craic was good and no phones. ohh and the women as well lol.Wish i had my health back nowadays. jimmy.
Bigtruck3:
robthedog:
Put it this way I was earning a £1000+ in the mid ninetys running legal And only 5 days max sometimes 4 and a half you’ll struggle to get that now maxing your hoursIn your dreams
On less you were on trip money and fiddling the fuel and tolls not a hope or bringing contraband in
As for running legal it never happened in the 90s
You seem to forget even today there is not a truck driver earning that money and never was unless you do as above and it would be a lot more if you could get away with today
As for your 4 days it was unheard of unless you were on trip money
Who rattled your cage bigprick3 read on the facts are all here another ■■■■ that knows nothing so just FO like the rest, anyway you’ve already been called out and proved to be a liar who couldn’t back anything up.
robthedog:
jakethesnake:
WaggerWagger888:
A grand a week was a regular wage in car delivery pre 2000, averaging 50 hrs per week, then the non union I,m alright jack mob got a foot in the door and now its not much better than general haulage.I can vouch for that. I made pretty decent money in the 70’s and never did anymore than 50 hours but in the 80’s it was well over a grand a week for less than 40 hours. Job and Finish.
Could not be bothered getting out of bed for the money most drivers earn these days. Maybe better motors (but not in all ways) but the roads and drivers were far more civilised pre 2000.
Thank goodness I have done my time when I did.For once snakey your right have a word with your alter egos
What do you mean for once he’s always right just like me.
DickyNick:
robthedog:
jakethesnake:
WaggerWagger888:
A grand a week was a regular wage in car delivery pre 2000, averaging 50 hrs per week, then the non union I,m alright jack mob got a foot in the door and now its not much better than general haulage.I can vouch for that. I made pretty decent money in the 70’s and never did anymore than 50 hours but in the 80’s it was well over a grand a week for less than 40 hours. Job and Finish.
Could not be bothered getting out of bed for the money most drivers earn these days. Maybe better motors (but not in all ways) but the roads and drivers were far more civilised pre 2000.
Thank goodness I have done my time when I did.For once snakey your right have a word with your alter egos
What do you mean for once he’s always right just like me.
How about I’m right, not a fantasist attention seeker like yourself That would be a better reply ■■■■
There were good old days for those on the right job, and there are good present days for those on the right job.
The vehicles etc didn’t matter because whatever you were driving was reasonably current for the time, drivers tended to be a bit tougher generally than these days so roughing it whilst not ideal was part and parcel of the job, just like roping and sheeting.
When the job was harder it didn’t get oversubscribed as it has now, you didn’t find many lorry drivers 30 or more years back on their second or third careers (save the ex army lads for obvious reasons), you really had lorrying in your blood to want to do it when it involved some graft.
I don’t get the disbelief about the money earned in some specialist sectors, back then or now, there have always been dead mans shoes jobs about, there still are, the secret was how to go about getting your foot in the door (these days finding one as those already in keep schtum), then trying your best to stop your brain dead colleagues from ruining the bloody job so it becomes just another one gone to the likes of the green death.
elsa Lad:
I’ve been in trucking for 31 years and I not sure when the good old days was…60’s 70’s very under powered trucks and if you tramping you be sleeping in dirty café and sharing a room hoping you don’t catch anything or across your seats in a day cab.80’s 90’s was when tachograph rules went out of control. you think you do long hours now, them days most firms ran bent, big or small firms were at it. Even the likes of Stobarts got done. 10hrs driving oh better pull the fuse then crack on, ive got a load to deliver. Nightly Rest? 4hrs that do, 9hrs are for wimps who want to sleep in a layby for 9hrs? The Trucks were getting better apart from the night heaters (if they work) did feel like they going to kill you, it was best to leave a window slightly open. Companies in my area tend to pay 20% of what the truck earns which on paper sounds good but it all went wrong if you had no back load.
I do think in 2006 when digi tachos were brought out + higher fines it brought better terms and conditions because operators had to start obeying the law, which stopped you working silly hours. Trucks are lovely to drive now (any fool can drive one) but for me microlise, trackers, camera’s spoil the job. I wont mention H/S rules.
I had the most fun through the ninety’s, maybe it was that I was in my 20’s single and do what I liked. But now in my fifties I like comfort of the modern trucks and less hours. As for the money its hard to tell because in 2000 I moved from Norfolk which is poor wages to the east midlands and away from general haulage to shop deliveries. Decent living and easy jobs I have had. I work on agency mainly for the same company but I do the odd bit of general every now and again. I have had a good standard of living and treated pretty well so for me its best now and not in the old days.
Yep, 90,s. Could earn as little or as much as you wanted depending on your propensity towards tacho adjustments.
Well thanks. There have been some interesting replies. My question was one of genuine curiosity as I don’t have the benefit of hind sight or the ability to make any comparisons of “then and now”.
I will never know if I have what it takes to survive as a driver 25 or 30+ years ago so its nice hear it from the perspectives of those that have done it and hung around long enough to still be at it today.
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