Looking to maybe get into tramping all week later in the year. Got me thinking… what do you guys do to keep yourself entertained when you’ve got your feet up? and is it best to park and pay in a MSA? That’s assuming you can get in there in time.
Last time I did tramping was over 25 years ago and tacho’s weren’t so, shall we say ‘Stringent’ and I could pretty well park up in most layby’s off a quiet road somewhere and have a sarnie, cup of coffee and get my head down.
Like to mix it up a bit. Sometimes pub,sometimes msa and sometimes truck stop.
Currently sat in Birchanger green,watching rats emptying a bin…and dicking around on my phone
I use the stops in Spain which are pretty good, most have decent food and use the Aires in France, the larger ones will have fuel, food of all different types and decent showers ect. Other than that i cook my own food using a small gas burner, hot water to use with packet/dried food only though, saves the washing up. Youve done it before so you’ll obviously know its a lot cheaper to be self sufficient, take with you plenty of easy cook food and it;ll be a lot cheaper than continually buying hot meals, rice meals are good ones…if you like rice… 
Of late I’ve been spent my evenings contemplating why I packed in a well paid job , doing 8 hrs a night , trunking and ended up doing this crap again , hindsight is a wonderful thing 
Having spent many years tramping etc in the UK and Europe before moving away from the country, I spent most nights away either at a pub or truck stop. Over here I have yet to find a truck stop with a bar. If I am in NYC and I am parked at our base or another terminal I will go out to a bar or diner with others.
I can’t remember the last time I paid for parking it was that long ago. I like to use industrial estates or decent lay-bys. I was the same when I was tramping in Europe unless it was Germany and you cant beat the Autohoffs.
As for entertainment - I don’t really anymore. If I’m away I like to maximise my hours and earn as much as possible. If you don’t whats the point of being away from the family? I’m sure that many cab happy drivers will disagree with this but I just see it as a way to make money. Nothing else.
m4rky:
As for entertainment - I don’t really anymore. If I’m away I like to maximise my hours and earn as much as possible. If you don’t whats the point of being away from the family? I’m sure that many cab happy drivers will disagree with this but I just see it as a way to make money. Nothing else.
If the pay structure was as it was there would be no need other than greed to max out when you consider it.
I disagree with a couple of your points, but I would never consider myself as ‘cab happy’
For me it’s ind est or a few quiet corners I know close to a town facilities , never lay bys, never MSAs.
Sometimes pub and meal, sometimes cook in cab, bottle of beer, tv or dvd, sometimes arrange to meet one of a few driver mates, but mostly on my jack.
As I have said many times this is a job not an endurance test. 15 hour days, (although I do at least one a week), should be knocked in this day and age imo.
9 hours off is not 9 hours ‘rest’ in real terms.
You park up, unwind a bit, scratch your arse, quick read of paper, shower, meal, then in to bed …and take half an hour to get to sleep.
That equates to about.6 hours rest in real terms.
Ok, I know there are lots of he -men heroes on here who thrive on tear arsing and work/sleep patterns, but how tf is that ‘‘safe’’ in this world of 'H&S, or am I led to believe it is only true on the surface with no substance…surely not. 
As I have said many times this is a job not an endurance test. 15 hour days, (although I do at least one a week), should be knocked in this day and age imo.
9 hours off is not 9 hours ‘rest’ in real terms.
You park up, unwind a bit, scratch your arse, quick read of paper, shower, meal, then in to bed …and take half an hour to get to sleep.
That equates to about.6 hours rest in real terms.
Ok, I know there are lots of he -men heroes on here who thrive on tear arsing and work/sleep patterns, but how tf is that ‘‘safe’’ in this world of 'H&S, or am I led to believe it is only true on the surface with no substance…surely not. <<
Quite agree. When doing my CPC I happened to mention that the maximum should be 12 hours not 15 and nearly had my nuts chewed off by the majority.
mikeshe:
Quite agree. When doing my CPC I happened to mention that the maximum should be 12 hours not 15 and nearly had my nuts chewed off by the majority.
And no doubt your manhood would be in question, asked if you were ‘‘in the right job’’ followed by telling you how the job paid ‘‘good money’’ for getting paid for 70plus hours on single time/crap rate 
Yeh, I’ve heard all that also mate.
Amusing aint it? 
robroy:
If the pay structure was as it was there would be no need other than greed to max out when you consider it.
Sorry I should have said - I am a very fortunate driver that gets paid by the hour and overtime after 8 hours every day. I also get extra pay for mileage and what I loads haul. For me its not greed just simple mathematics. If your saying that a tramper should not earn as much as possible when away from home on a pay scale like this you really need your head tested. If however you are a tramper on a fixed wage then I would suggest that you should do as few hours as possible to earn that money but greed as ■■■■ all to do with this.
I never pay for parking. ind est or quiet spots ive found here and there.
i try and stop somewhere with either a pub or takaway nearby but try and cook in the cab. i just like having a “■■■■ it i cba” option near by. ive only stopped once at a msa because i was taken ill and stopped at truckstops twice due to office imposed order due to carrying high value load.
entertainment wise i either read or play on my phone or end up in a pub with a driver pal.
only been tramping 6 months so still not got all the gizmos a lot of drivers take. but ive been doing a contract that involves handballinv so im generally tired so just go to bed.
when on more relaxed work i go for a walk and explore the local town
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m4rky:
robroy:
If the pay structure was as it was there would be no need other than greed to max out when you consider it.Sorry I should have said - I am a very fortunate driver that gets paid by the hour and overtime after 8 hours every day. I also get extra pay for mileage and what I loads haul. For me its not greed just simple mathematics. If your saying that a tramper should not earn as much as possible when away from home on a pay scale like this you really need your head tested. If however you are a tramper on a fixed wage then I would suggest that you should do as few hours as possible to earn that money but greed as [zb] all to do with this.
Ok thanks for the benefit of your wisdom mate, and you just carry on keeping me right, …I’m new to this game, so bear with my ignorance.
Appointment made to get my head tested btw…I’ll get back to you with the results. 
0
My routine depends on where and what time I’m likely to be parking up.
Recently, the way it’s been going, I’ll be parking up too late to get something to eat. So I take a break where I can get a decent meal, then carry on to where I either need to be, or where I run out of time. Then I’ll drink a beer while reading or mucking about on t’interweb on my phone, for an hour or so to chill a bit and wind down, then bed.
If I can park up somewhere with decent food, I’ll eat there, put The World to rights or burn a few million miles worth of diesel with the drivers there (as you do ), then go to bed.
I find ‘Trampers’ in general to be drivers who are prepared to live in a truck for pittance. “Living the dream” they say. Tut! [emoji849]
Honestscott76:
I find ‘Trampers’ in general to be drivers who are prepared to live in a truck for pittance. “Living the dream” they say. Tut! [emoji849]
Ark at lord sugar
Melt
andy_s:
Looking to maybe get into tramping all week later in the year.
I’d get a move on, there’s only 2 days of the year left …
robroy:
m4rky:
robroy:
If the pay structure was as it was there would be no need other than greed to max out when you consider it.Sorry I should have said - I am a very fortunate driver that gets paid by the hour and overtime after 8 hours every day. I also get extra pay for mileage and what I loads haul. For me its not greed just simple mathematics. If your saying that a tramper should not earn as much as possible when away from home on a pay scale like this you really need your head tested. If however you are a tramper on a fixed wage then I would suggest that you should do as few hours as possible to earn that money but greed as [zb] all to do with this.
Ok thanks for the benefit of your wisdom mate, and you just carry on keeping me right, …I’m new to this game, so bear with my ignorance.
Appointment made to get my head tested btw…I’ll get back to you with the results.
Update for my mentor M4rky.
Took your advice.
Been for my head tested this morning, as you suggested, took the full EEG.
Told that there was an irregular pattern in my brain waves after being severely patronised, so this is the plan.
I have to book a course to counteract it, I’m looking for a know it all type of guy, the course is teaching me how to ■■■■ eggs.
Can you suggest anyone.?
Visited the cemetry over my time off (being absolutely serious here btw) An old mate of mine who tramped all his life worked every hour that God sent…and then some.
He regularly maxed out for 30 yrs virtually lived in his truck, minimal rest, eventually burnt himself out and had an heart attack at 52 ish…he looked MUCH older.
The one before that, who I am sure a lot of the old 80s Euro truckers on here will know, died same way, an owner driver in his 30s 
(David Sisson aka Desperate Dan)
Bought a brand new top range DAF, had it to pay for.
Died in his sleep after thrashing around on a Euro trip…not many rules adhered to at that time.
I could tell numerous other (true) stories of similar guys with that type of work ethic, who looked forward to their long retirement, and lasted less than a year.
I have no intention of going the same way. 
So my turn to patronise now buddy.
Have a long life M4rky mate, but bear in mind there is more to life than enduring 70+ hours in a truck. …good pay or otherwise…just saying. 
Our lot now are insiting on truck stops or MSA’s. We’ve had too many loads damaged or nicked. Yesterday morning after finishing up my night shift, saw a tramper role in with a huge hole in the curtain by the headboard. One of our EE drivers was parked at Thorne by the M18. Me and another driver reckons he got done over by a gang. We think they had another wagon or van to load it into. They only managed the first 4 pallets though before the driver woke up.
The office are spitting feathers though because he was a stones throw from Donny services.
Thing is mate MSA s and many truckstops are crime hotspots themselves.
Nowhere is 100% safe, we got a trailer nicked from our own yard a couple of years ago.
If they want in they will get in…end of.
Radar19:
Our lot now are insiting on truck stops or MSA’s. We’ve had too many loads damaged or nicked. Yesterday morning after finishing up my night shift, saw a tramper role in with a huge hole in the curtain by the headboard. One of our EE drivers was parked at Thorne by the M18. Me and another driver reckons he got done over by a gang. We think they had another wagon or van to load it into. They only managed the first 4 pallets though before the driver woke up.The office are spitting feathers though because he was a stones throw from Donny services.
Which is a complete dump with potholes that rip trailer mudguards off, has showers that smell like an open sewer and will demand probably not much shy of 30 quid to park there for a noisy and unrestful 9 hours.
I’ll also add that the only times I’ve ever had my curtains cut have been in services.
A.