Time to move on?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

scaniason:
Thanks for the suggestions and advice everybody - I appreciate what you’re all telling me. There has to be a happy balance between the work I’m on now and the ‘away for weeks’ type - at the moment I’m lucky if I hit 30 hours driving a week, with the rest of it sitting waiting. I know to some this would be heaven, but I’d rather be seeing the world rather than the same bit of fence!

Gary

… Become a coach driver

22

ADR 1:
… Become a coach driver

Self-loading freight is tempting, but I couldn’t do with being sociable, especially early in the morning!

23

For me, experiences are so much better if they are shared with people. For me the experience of driving over the Millau Viaduct (for example) in my wagon would be lessened by the fact the people I want to share it with are in a different country & i’m sleeping in a truck stop on my todd that night. I’d rather do UK work, save my money and go on occasional holidays with friends & loved ones to see what I want to see.

I wouldn’t mind the odd run to Europe just to break things up a bit, but I’m not sold on this whole ‘experiencing Europe’ whilst living alone in a tin can. Events work where your amongst workmates in convoys would be my preference should I be interested.

24

I had a “road to Damascus” epiphany last night. I wasn’t actually on the road to Damascus you understand, I was actually driving north up the Fosseway at the time. It was around 6pm, beautiful sunny evening, quaint little Cotswold villages and I passed a pub with a beer garden full of people drinking (go figure) and generally having fun. The thought suddenly struck me “wtf am I doing? I’ve been away most nights for the last 25 years and have accepted it as normal”.

Well it aint normal, and 70 hours a week aint normal either. I wan’t some normality before it’s too late. So to that end my cv has today been e mailed to a local company who are looking for a driver trainer. Surely that can’t be hard can it? :smiley:

25

Things in Europe have changed since customs and borders shut.
Free for all now.
Now,planners will get you a reload back to the UK before a truck ban starts so the truck does not stop.
Years ago we would have a four day public holiday on the beach topping up the tan at Lloret del Mar or Malaga until a load could be found.

26

Scaniason you would be better to find a job before you quit your old job their is plenty of companies over here do Europe if your interested

27

Scaniason you would be better to find a job before you quit your old job. their is plenty of companies over here do Europe if your interested the pay wouldn’t be as good but you would get to travel to lots of different places

28

Oh, I wouldn’t quit my job before I had another one to go to, don’t worry! I may be daft, but I’m not stupid… Fortunately my wife isn’t on here to disagree with that last statement!

Gary

29

Good job she’s not. This company seems what your looking for kellyeuropeanfreight.com/index.htm

30

irish lorries:
I can’t think of any english or Scottish companies that do runs to Holland but I’m sure someone here will

Peter Green out of Evercreech and Mason Bros in Swineshead nr Boston definitely go over to Holland.

31

NewLad:

irish lorries:
I can’t think of any english or Scottish companies that do runs to Holland but I’m sure someone here will

Peter Green out of Evercreech and Mason Bros in Swineshead nr Boston definitely go over to Holland.

New someone would know :smiley:

32

harry:
At one time UK drivers found it hard to get local work,it was all international long distance.Great life but heavy on divorces & alcohol abuse. Good luck with your search but I think its been ripped to bits by commie block lads?

+1
worst ever thing they did was take down that Berlin Wall

33

worst ever thing they did was take down that Berlin Wall

:open_mouth: Really?? Grow up

34

If you want to see Europe jump in the car and go and do it yourself, you can go where you want, see what you want and come home when you want. I’ve been all over and would never have seen it what I have whilst driving a truck.

35

I wish I could zb move on… ;(

36

deckboypeggy:
Hi Scaniason, you have missed the boat by about 20 years, it will not happen, most fish trucks from scotland have more than enough scots to drive them.First mistake is weekends at home forget it,Euro Transport was run on shipping out over the weekend,i doubt it has changed. if you live near a Dentestrangle depot go there, and offer to do anything,weeks away 3 then 1 weekend at home ,if you are a family man stay where you are ,the grass is [belive me ]never greener. the romance of trucking over Europe is good to talk about but doing it is another story, i would give you 2 weeks and you would want to jack it in, stay home…have a life that is what you have now if you venture into EUROPE ,CUTAINS .Most of the trucks you mentioned are well estasblished and local men will man the trucks ,unless you have the exsperance and can go to a company and say =yes i will do that and can do this…enjoy what you have…IMAGINE you are stuck in a pack house in spain and the weather goes ■■■■ up ,you have to wait. and ring the wife up to say ,sorry cannot make it home after 2 weeks,the kids are missing you …you are royaly f–ked… and that is what you will have do …sometime…[/quot

Absolutely, I am now 57 and started at 21, in 1985 I went home 5 times - divorced (of course) - now my kids don’t know me, bonding when they were younger just didn’t happen. It was a good life, visited every motorway service station in Europe, North Africa and some Middle East. I regret not having found something else to “scratch my itch”.

37

the maoster:
I had a “road to Damascus” epiphany last night. I wasn’t actually on the road to Damascus you understand, I was actually driving north up the Fosseway at the time. It was around 6pm, beautiful sunny evening, quaint little Cotswold villages and I passed a pub with a beer garden full of people drinking (go figure) and generally having fun. The thought suddenly struck me “wtf am I doing? I’ve been away most nights for the last 25 years and have accepted it as normal”.

Well it aint normal, and 70 hours a week aint normal either. I wan’t some normality before it’s too late.

Hey mate, nail hit firmly on head in one, could not agree more! There is definitely more to life than this ■■■■. I do miss the Euro work, and have had some good nights away there and in UK, but when I look back at all the time missed with family over the last 35 years it aint worth it, and I would urge younger guys not to make the same mistake as I did, (especially as the job presently is at an all time low, compared with better days) as you WILL regret it, unless you go the other way and get the brainwash/cabhappy syndrome :smiley:

38

Don’t know if this is any use to you or not but Virginia’s looking for a driver

39

Here’s a tip - Learn French come to France, loads of companies will employ you! Today, you do as you’re told, don’t answer back, break all the rules, but when you get caught your boss will say “You did it”. You will be well paid, but you will work for it.
By the way you will have to tell tales on other drivers, if you want a newer truck or good jobs.
This has become a rubbish job, drivers from the same company will not help you they just “beep” and pass. Bosses want more and more, no more fiddles, no bonuses, just work!!!
Today the best advice I can give a young driver is - change jobs, this one is played out from top to bottom and side to side.
We had the best years out of the job, nothing left now*, boyo!

  • Unless you have Polish or Romanian roots
40

alamcculloch:
If you are a single man then get out there and go for it.If you are married stay where you are .The big pay days and camping in the cab will mostly end up paying for your ex-wifes lawyer having continental holidays but staying in hotels.

Spot on!!!