coming out of cowley today 5 3 14 ,i came up to the roundabout over the A34 and turned towards newbury,on the roundabout was a tradeplater looking for a lift,i put my hands up to say i am not allowed to carry passengers and he put up three fingers probably to say junction 13,i was going to stop but realised i was on the roundabout and could not stop for him,the point is if they want a lift why do they stand at places you cannot stop,same thing happened on the A303 towards yeovil,absolutely bucketing down and this guy[a tradeplater] is walking at a fast pace down the 303 trying to get a lift,nowhere again to stop without causing other drivers problems so had to leave him to get soaked,if these guys want a lift then they should stand where you can stop,its only common sense
Traditionally they rely on other tradeplaters to give them a lift hence why they hold their plates out.
If I’m in my own car, I’ll give them a lift (if they look genuine). I’ve been there, with plates, on a slip road.
Too many H&S rules now though to be picking them up in company vehicles.
dreamingofoz:
Did the three fingers look like this?
exactly that
dreamingofoz:
If so it was probably this in brackets
quite possibly
dreamingofoz:
Did the three fingers look like this?
What, wrinkly with dirty nails?
Contraflow:
dreamingofoz:
Did the three fingers look like this?What, wrinkly with dirty nails?
Was that pic taken in a 70s style Pontins chalet ?
I used to give tradeplaters a lift, but will never do now, cos they wont give you a lift as its against their company policy to pick up hitchhikers, ■■■■ em 
Contraflow:
What, wrinkly with dirty nails?
Is this better? Sorry I can’t do anything about the wrinkles, its an age thing.
Suedehead:
Was that pic taken in a 70s style Pontings chalet ?
Ha, ha it does look a bit like it doesn’t it. Don’t tell the Mrs, she chose those curtains. 
Do trade platers just get paid to take the car to the destination then no subs to get home is that why they do it? Or is it just a way of them coining the extra bit of money they get given to put in there pocket?
Generally they do it to pocket their expenses as they generally don’t cover what you need for public transport anyway.