Her aspiration should be a lesson for you Josh. When she has achieved her aims, how will she look at you, when you are content to sit on a loading bay all day?
Remember that a lot of drivers on here are about mid-fifties and became drivers in very different times to today. There is a lot more opportunity today. If you do proceed with this, then do what another wise head has said and use your free time to continue studying. I have done both tramping and local work in containers, and I can say that nothing will alienate you from your friends more than doing tramping when you are a young guy.
As for the day to day procedure of container driving, it really is quite simple, with a lot of paperwork e-mailed to you or via PDA. Delivery information etc and then off-hire info for container. Not all container tip times are long, depending on which shipping line you work for. So you can have an interesting and productive day. Four hour tips will soon lose their allure. If I did it again, I would study, and take my running gear. I do local well-paid work now as an o/d, and it leaves me time to pursue the things I want to out of work. The work-life balance is so important, so try and recognise that now while you are young.
My girlfriend is a PHD in industrial chemistry and can kick my arse in a number of intellectual challenges, but I have the edge over her with outside interests that she has come to enjoy. You will never have the time or motivation to enjoy sailing, mountains, camping, swimming, running or cycling etc if you are in a truck six days a week. Your conversation with your girlfriend after a week tramping will send her to sleep too.
Hope I have not painted too negative an image of our industry, but tramping really is for those who want to embrace that lifestyle. You seem far too bright to be wanting to talk about trucks with some slightly whiffy over-weight guy on Toddington Services at nine o’clock after a fourteen hour day. Do it if you must, but make sure you have a get out plan for the future. Time flies.
If the lad is intent on giving it a go, let him crack on, experience is a good teacher and he has to learn to by his mistakes.
We all know the job today on the whole is a crock of ■■■■ to what it used to be, but if anybody had tried to talk me out of it all those years ago (as they did) I would not, and did not listen.
I managed to talk my two lads out of it, and I stand by it, but all the advice, especially the Mother hen stuff displayed on here , will not make a ■■■■ of difference if the lad is determined.
My advice to you mate is Don’t do it…there are better paid jobs out there with fewer hours and better conditions where the public do not hate you, after saying that it is for you and you only to decide.
Janos:
Her aspiration should be a lesson for you Josh. When she has achieved her aims, how will she look at you, when you are content to sit on a loading bay all day?
That has to be the most patronising comment so far. Josh, remember this. If it weren’t for us ‘numpty’ truckers the whole country would come to a grinding halt. Everything you own, eat or use at some point was on the back of a truck. Every implement that your girlfriend will use at university to gain her degree will have been on the back of a truck. If she looks upon you as a failiure then she aint worth it.
It’s correct that drivers don’t like us or want us on the roads. However, that’s down to ignorence as they don’t appreciate our worth. It’s a hard industry to work in and it’s being made harder. Having said that I still love the job and love driving. The industry is lacking in young drivers so I say go for it pal. If you don’t like it you can always change career.
Where I am you turn up Monday morning and on the counter is a pile of run sheets and a box of keys. You find your run sheet out of the pile, get the keys for the vehicle it says you’re using that day then go pick up the trailer thats on the run sheet and go where it says.
Josh just to give you some inspiration…
My son who is 21 applied for his provisional, did his theory, his Module 2 and 4 CPC, did a 4 day course consisting of four afternoons with 1 to 1 training with a test on the Friday and passed the whole lot going from car licence to LGV Cat C with DCPC in 5 weeks. Could have done it quicker but he is still working in his main job which is 4 on 4 off so he was fitting it in around his days off.
He saw a Cat C job advertised 2 days after his test and was invited for interview and when ringing around prior to passing was told by a couple of companies who do pallet network stuff (local multidrop) to go see them when he had passed his test.
Conor don’t take this as a knock at you cos it aint…end of, just a discussion from one parent to another.
As I said both my lads wanted to be drivers (or at least expressed an interest at one time or another) after spending a lot of time with me in school hols etc all over UK and Euro.
Rightly or wrongly, I did my best to dissuade them, one agreed in the end and done an apprenticeship.
The older one out of the 2 that was more determined, not in as many words said ■■■■ you Dad, and went ahead anyway (don’t know who he reminds me of )failed his Class 3 (or whatever they call it today…4 wheeler rigid) and intended to re.test after saving up.
I chose not to help him re.sit and discouraged him, he now has a good very well paid job in the motor trade, working 40 hours for more money than my 60.
If I had encouraged or helped him he would be on less money, and (as I was) away from his now young family most of the time, so I think I made the right decision on reflection.
I am not saying you made the wrong decision by helping your lad btw, but are you entirely happy with him doing it, or would you rather he went back on his own job, as we both know the pitfalls of being a driver today.
Just to reiterate I aint criticising you (as it has ■■■■ all to do with me anyway ) just wondering if you secretly thought the same as me, but went along with him anyway.
The-Snowman:
Container work is a lot of sitting about. You can be queuing in docks for hours and be hours getting tipped at places.
Make sure you have a good stack of dvds, books & ■■■■!
Dipper_Dave:
+1
Be sure to PM me on your first night out so we can meet up and I’ll happily show you the ropes, might even untie you in the morning.
Been a tramper for a while now on boxes and usually jobs are given out on a pda thing with calls to planners when tipped or loaded.
Usually 2 jobs per day which include tipping and reloading the box. Can be just one job though.
Boxes are collected and dropped at various ports, rail heads.
The variety of the job is good with long hours and some would say low pay made up with various meal and night out allowances. Translates to about 32k a year.
Not for everyone but suits me at the moment.
Only times I go in the office is for seals, paperwork, delivery notes (not always needed) etc.
Planners leave you alone unless there’s problems and tip/load times vary from 1 hour to all day , a 3 hour is common allowing you to extend your day if you choose to.
All in all once you’ve cracked the dock and railhead procedures your onto a winner.
Box jockeys are also the best backeruppers due to variety and a higher skill level than other sectors…
But the job can lead to weight gain if one isn’t careful.
Anyway get a tablet, decent Wi-Fi/phone tethering thing and brace yourself for a level of ■■■■■■■■■■■■ not seen since one first discovered self pleasuring.
Xhamster will be your favourite pet.
Being ■■■■■■■ really isn’t my thing so i might pass on that thanks Dave haha
You’re new to the site and havnt experienced the dipper dave experience yet so you dont fully understand.
He wasnt actually giving you a choice
Josh641:
it would also suit my girlfriends plans of going to uni down there
Er, I dont want to ■■■■ on your parade mate or put you off. You know your set up better than us but heres my two cents
18/19 year old girlfriend at uni with boyfriend who is an hgv tramper = problems likely to result in you becoming her ex.
Tramping and relationships can and do work but she needs to be incredibly understanding and any 18 or 19 who is at uni is looking to have a good time going out getting drunk etc. You’ll be in a lay by somewhere while shes out with Tarquin whos doing modern history and your mind is going to be messed up if she doesnt answer the phone or a text. I cant see it lasting. Only my opinion though. I dont know her so im not having a go at you
Arrive at yard and proceed to drivers room.Grab keys and paperwork and have some idle chit chat with any other drivers that may be in there.
Take a stroll over to the wagon and insert tacho card,carry out daily checks and fill in necessary paperwork.Fill wagon with diesel and Ad Blu when needed.
Leave yard and work my way through jobs on the paperwork.Stop for a 45 around lunch time.After break finish off remaining jobs and head back to yard.
When back in yard wash wagon off,park it and hang keys up.Hand paperwork in and make small talk with the gaffer.Go home.
I found myself on this site recently,as I was looking for info on Hamster welfare .
Much to my surprise,there was a lady named Doris,who lived only 2 miles from me (and from looking at her photo,she must live in a warm house,'cos she had hardly any clothes on ) She wanted to meet me,do you think she’s an expert on small furry things
Baggie:
Much to my surprise,there was a lady named Doris,who lived only 2 miles from me (and from looking at her photo,she must live in a warm house,'cos she had hardly any clothes on )
robroy:
If the lad is intent on giving it a go, let him crack on, experience is a good teacher and he has to learn to by his mistakes.
That’s probably the best advice I’ve read so far. Just remember that you’ll get lots of advice from people who do any job and hate it (we all do after 5 years), people who love their job (usually doing it less than 5 years) and teachers who should generally be ignored at all costs.
I’ve done it several times including sitting behind the desk for 14 years, then retrained to a rather risky job* for 3 years, then retrained again to being hated by the public & being treated like [fb] by people in security huts. But whatever you do, as long as it’s not a bank robbery, go for it and hey if you hate it in 5 years time then it’s not as hard to change as many would like to make you think (especially teachers).
My soon to be former job does not involve being man servant to Dipper Dave…I said it was dangerous, not absolutely insane!
robroy:
If the lad is intent on giving it a go, let him crack on, experience is a good teacher and he has to learn to by his mistakes.
That’s probably the best advice I’ve read so far. Just remember that you’ll get lots of advice from people who do any job and hate it (we all do after 5 years), people who love their job (usually doing it less than 5 years) and teachers who should generally be ignored at all costs.
I’ve done it several times including sitting behind the desk for 14 years, then retrained to a rather risky job* for 3 years, then retrained again to being hated by the public & being treated like [fb] by people in security huts. But whatever you do, as long as it’s not a bank robbery, go for it and hey if you hate it in 5 years time then it’s not as hard to change as many would like to make you think (especially teachers).
My soon to be former job does not involve being man servant to Dipper Dave…I said it was dangerous, not absolutely insane!
PS: Just remember, don’t listen to teachers.
At 18 yrs old the only people he should really listen to are his teachers. If he had finished his education and was disillusioned I would be the first to say ‘go for it’, if you want to. He has nothing to fall back on if he doesn’t like it. It seems slightly morally wrong to entice a boy into the industry with promises of adventure at the expense of his education.
robroy:
If the lad is intent on giving it a go, let him crack on, experience is a good teacher and he has to learn to by his mistakes.
That’s probably the best advice I’ve read so far. Just remember that you’ll get lots of advice from people who do any job and hate it (we all do after 5 years), people who love their job (usually doing it less than 5 years) and teachers who should generally be ignored at all costs.
I’ve done it several times including sitting behind the desk for 14 years, then retrained to a rather risky job* for 3 years, then retrained again to being hated by the public & being treated like [fb] by people in security huts. But whatever you do, as long as it’s not a bank robbery, go for it and hey if you hate it in 5 years time then it’s not as hard to change as many would like to make you think (especially teachers).
My soon to be former job does not involve being man servant to Dipper Dave…I said it was dangerous, not absolutely insane!
PS: Just remember, don’t listen to teachers.
At 18 yrs old the only people he should really listen to are his teachers. If he had finished his education and was disillusioned I would be the first to say ‘go for it’, if you want to. He has nothing to fall back on if he doesn’t like it. It seems slightly morally wrong to entice a boy into the industry with promises of adventure at the expense of his education.
Joining the Army, going to sea, working in a dangerous country that’s ‘‘Adventure’’
Tipping a load of bog rolls at Tescos? I aint so sure.
Dipper_Dave:
+1
Be sure to PM me on your first night out so we can meet up and I’ll happily show you the ropes, might even untie you in the morning.
Been a tramper for a while now on boxes and usually jobs are given out on a pda thing with calls to planners when tipped or loaded.
Usually 2 jobs per day which include tipping and reloading the box. Can be just one job though.
Boxes are collected and dropped at various ports, rail heads.
The variety of the job is good with long hours and some would say low pay made up with various meal and night out allowances. Translates to about 32k a year.
Not for everyone but suits me at the moment.
Only times I go in the office is for seals, paperwork, delivery notes (not always needed) etc.
Planners leave you alone unless there’s problems and tip/load times vary from 1 hour to all day , a 3 hour is common allowing you to extend your day if you choose to.
All in all once you’ve cracked the dock and railhead procedures your onto a winner.
Box jockeys are also the best backeruppers due to variety and a higher skill level than other sectors…
But the job can lead to weight gain if one isn’t careful.
Anyway get a tablet, decent Wi-Fi/phone tethering thing and brace yourself for a level of ■■■■■■■■■■■■ not seen since one first discovered self pleasuring.
Xhamster will be your favourite pet.
Being ■■■■■■■ really isn’t my thing so i might pass on that thanks Dave haha
You’re new to the site and havnt experienced the dipper dave experience yet so you dont fully understand.
He wasnt actually giving you a choice
Josh641:
it would also suit my girlfriends plans of going to uni down there
Er, I dont want to ■■■■ on your parade mate or put you off. You know your set up better than us but heres my two cents
18/19 year old girlfriend at uni with boyfriend who is an hgv tramper = problems likely to result in you becoming her ex.
Tramping and relationships can and do work but she needs to be incredibly understanding and any 18 or 19 who is at uni is looking to have a good time going out getting drunk etc. You’ll be in a lay by somewhere while shes out with Tarquin whos doing modern history and your mind is going to be messed up if she doesnt answer the phone or a text. I cant see it lasting. Only my opinion though. I dont know her so im not having a go at you
No i wouldn’t worry at all about that, she is defiantly not that type of girl. She doesn’t drink, smoke or have any interests in going out to party or anything like that. The only reason she is going to uni is to study. Don’t get me wrong, i have thought about that but i can honestly say there is no chance of that happening. (if it does i will come on here and cry) lol
Got a busy day today, picking up my money first from the tooth fairy under my pillow, then writing a letter to Santa.
Somebody told me you find pots of gold under rainbows, it’s ■■■■■■■ down today so got the shovel out of the shed.
If I cant find it, no probs as I’m gonna win the lottery next week…2 and a half million!
I’ve thought about all this and I honestly believe it will happen, (if it doesn’t I will come on here and cry lol)
I feel like I’m 18 again.
The-Snowman:
For container work?
1 - Get in lorry
2 - Drive to tipping destination
3 - Park where they tell you to
4 - Make tea
5 - Go for a sleep
6 - 4 hours later, you will be tipped
7 - Take a break
8 - Take container to docks
9 - Get another container
10 - Take another break
11 - Repeat steps 2 to 6
12 - Park up for the night
13 - Repeat the next day
Container work is a lot of sitting about. You can be queuing in docks for hours and be hours getting tipped at places.
Make sure you have a good stack of dvds and books!
you have to open and shut the container doors pain in the arse, should be electric
The container doors can be a complete pain requiring, hammers, bits of pipe and some times a forklift to get the things to move.
By the way if you fancy doing an O/U or O/C course you will have plenty of study time.
Why does he specifically want to go on containers, wtf is the attraction.
I have never ever done it so maybe there is something I am missing here.
When I was young (and keen which I soon got over ) it was after going away with my Dad on flats and tippers, and later on with a mate on tanker work, that made me want to be a driver, I did not care a ■■■■ what sort of work I got into then as long as I managed to obtain a Class1.
So suspicion is beginning to set in here, I am wondering if Mr O.P is genuine in his enquiry.
He said, …stroking his imaginary beard.
Still no response to my ‘busy day’ post yet I notice.
m_attt:
Why do you want to have all the hassel of getting the licence to then spend all day watching a tv screen? Surley get a job were you actually drive the truck see places.
, will not make a ■■■■ of difference if the lad is determined.
)failed his Class 3 (or whatever they call it today…4 wheeler rigid) and intended to re.test after saving up.
, a 3 hour is common allowing you to extend your day if you choose to.
