Not sure if anyway has seen this…
bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0 … -in-trucks
But in my opinion the creator has made it seem like a seedy job, asking about drivers ■■■ lives and what they do alone in the cab at night. Seeing the guy just in his Y fronts doesn’t really help much.
Typical bbc4 folder, watched it and thought was that the best this industry can offer, no wonder people don’t want to come into this job, but somebody saying, how much they like the job, and the joy of seeing the country and meeting different people doesn’t make good tv. Scandal and depravity sells.
Just as well they never interviewed Dipper Dave then … 
I watched it with our lass. She said “where did they find these depressing sods”
The whole documentary seemed to want to portray the job and lifestyle in as negative light as possible so people who manage Twitter accounts for a living, or have a degree in media studies and are now working as a solicitors clerk don’t feel so bad about themselves.
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Sound track designed to tell you exactly how you should be feeling, just in case the editor hadn’t cut out an occasional smile or glimmer of sunlight somewhere.
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max259:
I watched it with our lass. She said “where did they find these depressing sods”The whole documentary seemed to want to portray the job and lifestyle in as negative light as possible so people who manage Twitter accounts for a living, or have a degree in media studies and are now working as a solicitors clerk don’t feel so bad about themselves.
sadly it is how many others view the job; if you drive a lorry some (may be many) seem to assume you are a moron. 
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.
discoman:
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.
You paint a grim picture of tramping mate 
I’m assuming you’re a day man seeing as you used the old ‘‘sleeping in a tin box’’ chestnut, but it does not matter a ■■■■ to me personally what material the box is,… as long as it is a relatively luxury ‘‘box’’ , clean with all home comforts to live in.
Being away from home has never really bothered me that much, even though I have a lovely wife and family, but everyone’s different I reckon.
Your other point on lay bys…never go near them mate, and I do get parking paid.
Unpaid security? Yeh fair point, but you get an element of pay for it in your night out money, albeit not enough.
Twice as many hours? Yeh, can’t argue with that one, although I average about 55 to 60, more than most jobs granted, but it was my choice to cut back from the ridiculous 70 + permitted.
Young lads starting? I agree again, I talked both my boys out of it and they now have better paid jobs than me.
So to sum up, tramping is a life choice, maybe given the chance to go back…I would not do it again.
As for that ■■■■ documentary …it would put anybody off tramping for life, miserable old gits sat in their cabs all night, sat waiting for the next working day to start…■■■■ that. 
I would last only a ■■■■ week if I had to suffer the job in that way, and nowhere near the length of time that I have actually done it.
robroy:
discoman:
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.You paint a grim picture of tramping mate
I’m assuming you’re a day man seeing as you used the old ‘‘sleeping in a tin box’’ chestnut, but it does not matter a [zb] to me personally what material the box is,… as long as it is a relatively luxury ‘‘box’’ , clean with all home comforts to live in.Being away from home has never really bothered me that much, even though I have a lovely wife and family, but everyone’s different I reckon.
Your other point on lay bys…never go near them mate, and I do get parking paid.
Unpaid security? Yeh fair point, but you get an element of pay for it in your night out money, albeit not enough.
Twice as many hours? Yeh, can’t argue with that one, although I average about 55 to 60, more than most jobs granted, but it was my choice to cut back from the ridiculous 70 + permitted.
Young lads starting? I agree again, I talked both my boys out of it and they now have better paid jobs than me.
So to sum up, tramping is a life choice, maybe given the chance to go back…I would not do it again.
As for that [zb] documentary
I would last only a [zb] week if I had to suffer the job in that way, and nowhere near the length of time that I have actually done it.
Shocked to here you consider part of your night out money as " pay ". Bit of a major shift in attitude is it not ? ( not having a go at you mate btw ) just interested 
Regards. John.
Bluey Circles:
if you drive a lorry some (may be many) seem to assume you are a moron.
Unfortunately many drivers prove that assumption correct.
discoman:
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.
All the old cliches,
Loads of job, not just haulage, require people to stay away from home all week (or longer) and believe me staying in hotels and B&B’s can be far less homely than staying in a cab. Also often you’d be expected to share a room with one of your work colleagues when staying away.
My experience of day work was doing the same if not more hours than tramping.
I’ve never been a security guard and no employer has expected me to do so, I will take care where I park and I would call the police if I thought me or me load where in imminent danger (but I would phone the Police if I thought me or property were in imminent danger when I was at home), but I most definitely don’t spend all night awake worrying about somebody stealing the load and I wouldn’t tackle them if they were.
Not every employer refuses to pay for parking, so you find out as part of the interview and when they do pay parking you don’t take the ■■■■ by using MSA’s every night.
robroy:
discoman:
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.You paint a grim picture of tramping mate
I’m assuming you’re a day man seeing as you used the old ‘‘sleeping in a tin box’’ chestnut, but it does not matter a [zb] to me personally what material the box is,… as long as it is a relatively luxury ‘‘box’’ , clean with all home comforts to live in.Being away from home has never really bothered me that much, even though I have a lovely wife and family, but everyone’s different I reckon.
Your other point on lay bys…never go near them mate, and I do get parking paid.
Unpaid security? Yeh fair point, but you get an element of pay for it in your night out money, albeit not enough.
Twice as many hours? Yeh, can’t argue with that one, although I average about 55 to 60, more than most jobs granted, but it was my choice to cut back from the ridiculous 70 + permitted.
Young lads starting? I agree again, I talked both my boys out of it and they now have better paid jobs than me.
So to sum up, tramping is a life choice, maybe given the chance to go back…I would not do it again.
As for that [zb] documentary
I would last only a [zb] week if I had to suffer the job in that way, and nowhere near the length of time that I have actually done it.
Sorry mate, not intending to offend any trampers, I asked before. I got an insight to why people do it etc.
I did try it for 4 days hated it, however enjoyed the views when I did do it… the point is sadly, things like these would make dipper Dave go limp.
muckles:
discoman:
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.All the old cliches,
Loads of job, not just haulage, require people to stay away from home all week (or longer) and believe me staying in hotels and B&B’s can be far less homely than staying in a cab. Also often you’d be expected to share a room with one of your work colleagues when staying away.My experience of day work was doing the same if not more hours than tramping.
I’ve never been a security guard and no employer has expected me to do so, I will take care where I park and I would call the police if I thought me or me load where in imminent danger (but I would phone the Police if I thought me or property were in imminent danger when I was at home), but I most definitely don’t spend all night awake worrying about somebody stealing the load and I wouldn’t tackle them if they were.
Not every employer refuses to pay for parking, so you find out as part of the interview and when they do pay parking you don’t take the ■■■■ by using MSA’s every night.
This, completely this.
Heaven forbid the BBC allowing a film to be shown where working class, middle aged, white men get shown in a positive light.
One piece of advice, if anybody asks to film you or interview you, make sure you have control of the editing process.
old 67:
robroy:
discoman:
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.You paint a grim picture of tramping mate
I’m assuming you’re a day man seeing as you used the old ‘‘sleeping in a tin box’’ chestnut, but it does not matter a [zb] to me personally what material the box is,… as long as it is a relatively luxury ‘‘box’’ , clean with all home comforts to live in.Being away from home has never really bothered me that much, even though I have a lovely wife and family, but everyone’s different I reckon.
Your other point on lay bys…never go near them mate, and I do get parking paid.
Unpaid security? Yeh fair point, but you get an element of pay for it in your night out money, albeit not enough.
Twice as many hours? Yeh, can’t argue with that one, although I average about 55 to 60, more than most jobs granted, but it was my choice to cut back from the ridiculous 70 + permitted.
Young lads starting? I agree again, I talked both my boys out of it and they now have better paid jobs than me.
So to sum up, tramping is a life choice, maybe given the chance to go back…I would not do it again.
As for that [zb] documentary
I would last only a [zb] week if I had to suffer the job in that way, and nowhere near the length of time that I have actually done it.
Shocked to here you consider part of your night out money as " pay ". Bit of a major shift in attitude is it not ? ( not having a go at you mate btw ) just interested
Regards. John.
Yeh that’s a fair comment especially when I have said myself on here in the past that it is not pay but subsistence.
I may have used the word ‘pay’ a bit loosely, more than a ‘major shift in attitude’’ should have said something like …
…a blow softener or compensation type thingy.
Nice to see you are still hanging on my every word though John.
They have certainly found some fine figures of men to put on the TV for millions of people to now form an opinion of a long distance driver. Only thing they never showed was any of them shoveling pies and chips down their fine throats for tea.
discoman:
robroy:
discoman:
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.You paint a grim picture of tramping mate
I’m assuming you’re a day man seeing as you used the old ‘‘sleeping in a tin box’’ chestnut, but it does not matter a [zb] to me personally what material the box is,… as long as it is a relatively luxury ‘‘box’’ , clean with all home comforts to live in.Being away from home has never really bothered me that much, even though I have a lovely wife and family, but everyone’s different I reckon.
Your other point on lay bys…never go near them mate, and I do get parking paid.
Unpaid security? Yeh fair point, but you get an element of pay for it in your night out money, albeit not enough.
Twice as many hours? Yeh, can’t argue with that one, although I average about 55 to 60, more than most jobs granted, but it was my choice to cut back from the ridiculous 70 + permitted.
Young lads starting? I agree again, I talked both my boys out of it and they now have better paid jobs than me.
So to sum up, tramping is a life choice, maybe given the chance to go back…I would not do it again.
As for that [zb] documentary
I would last only a [zb] week if I had to suffer the job in that way, and nowhere near the length of time that I have actually done it.
Sorry mate, not intending to offend any trampers, I asked before. I got an insight to why people do it etc.
I did try it for 4 days hated it, however enjoyed the views when I did do it… the point is sadly, things like these would make dipper Dave go limp.
You did 4 days and feel obliged to comment about how bad it is? Not to mention the fact that you’re too weak to manage a full week away.
Wind it in and stick to being a plastic driver.
A.
Adonis.:
discoman:
robroy:
discoman:
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.You paint a grim picture of tramping mate
I’m assuming you’re a day man seeing as you used the old ‘‘sleeping in a tin box’’ chestnut, but it does not matter a [zb] to me personally what material the box is,… as long as it is a relatively luxury ‘‘box’’ , clean with all home comforts to live in.Being away from home has never really bothered me that much, even though I have a lovely wife and family, but everyone’s different I reckon.
Your other point on lay bys…never go near them mate, and I do get parking paid.
Unpaid security? Yeh fair point, but you get an element of pay for it in your night out money, albeit not enough.
Twice as many hours? Yeh, can’t argue with that one, although I average about 55 to 60, more than most jobs granted, but it was my choice to cut back from the ridiculous 70 + permitted.
Young lads starting? I agree again, I talked both my boys out of it and they now have better paid jobs than me.
So to sum up, tramping is a life choice, maybe given the chance to go back…I would not do it again.
As for that [zb] documentary
I would last only a [zb] week if I had to suffer the job in that way, and nowhere near the length of time that I have actually done it.
Sorry mate, not intending to offend any trampers, I asked before. I got an insight to why people do it etc.
I did try it for 4 days hated it, however enjoyed the views when I did do it… the point is sadly, things like these would make dipper Dave go limp.
You did 4 days and feel obliged to comment about how bad it is? Not to mention the fact that you’re too weak to manage a full week away.
Wind it in and stick to being a plastic driver.
A.
I never intended on ever getting an lgv licence… the reason it was 4 days was because I did an agency gig and was left to self manage it was job and knock… I had a full 7 days off from my perm job so tried it … I used the hours got home in 4 paid for 5 … I only used to use my licence if I needed to move trucks from my role prior to leaving the uk. Occasionally it would be when numpties were arrested and the vehicle was left on a hard shoulder or a driver was ill etc. however only used it once on duty. I am sorry, I chose not to be a truck driver … I still do 12.5 hr shifts everyday but I do 2 on 2 off due to the way my current employers work.
I think the drivers featured are somewhat typical, at least in certain aspects, of many who tramp.
Did nobody identify with any of the feelings expressed by them?
Truckers, by nature, tend to be solitary people, part of why the job appeals…so is it any great surprise that they found 4 people who prefer their own company?
Bottom line is that a happy, cheerful, trucker who is full of praise for the job wouldn’t have made interesting viewing. A group of sad lonely men who clearly have had some horrible life experiences, portrayed as shutting themselves away from society does, apparently, make for better viewing.
I just felt very sorry for them, I thought some of the questions were very intrusive, and clearly for at least one of the drivers, was making him very uncomfortable as he realised how he felt about certain things…
discoman:
robroy:
discoman:
No matter how you dress it up. You are away from home all week, living in a tin box, doing twice as many hours as a normal Job. Unpaid security sleeping in a layby when an employer refuses to not pay for parking. Tells young lad that’s the life … any sane person would walk away from the low paid job.You paint a grim picture of tramping mate
I’m assuming you’re a day man seeing as you used the old ‘‘sleeping in a tin box’’ chestnut, but it does not matter a [zb] to me personally what material the box is,… as long as it is a relatively luxury ‘‘box’’ , clean with all home comforts to live in.Being away from home has never really bothered me that much, even though I have a lovely wife and family, but everyone’s different I reckon.
Your other point on lay bys…never go near them mate, and I do get parking paid.
Unpaid security? Yeh fair point, but you get an element of pay for it in your night out money, albeit not enough.
Twice as many hours? Yeh, can’t argue with that one, although I average about 55 to 60, more than most jobs granted, but it was my choice to cut back from the ridiculous 70 + permitted.
Young lads starting? I agree again, I talked both my boys out of it and they now have better paid jobs than me.
So to sum up, tramping is a life choice, maybe given the chance to go back…I would not do it again.
As for that [zb] documentary
I would last only a [zb] week if I had to suffer the job in that way, and nowhere near the length of time that I have actually done it.
Sorry mate, not intending to offend any trampers, I asked before. I got an insight to why people do it etc.
I did try it for 4 days hated it, however enjoyed the views when I did do it… the point is sadly, things like these would make dipper Dave go limp.
Well it aint for everybody I admit, there’s a lot to be said for being at home all the time, but as I said I was, and am, ok with it.
I still don’t think those guys could be called typical trampers though, unless I’ve been mixing with the wrong (or second thoughts right ) kind of guys all this time.
On a side note we’ll give you a good howking tmoro at St James. 