There’s me thinking ex- forces got theres out of a lucky dip bag 
gonzothejaffa1:
unlike these days where you can send six tokens off the back of a cornflakes packet to the dvla and they send you a shiny new licence and the keys to a megatoplineglobbysuperspace so you can do the continent and beyond on a five day week home by tea time friday and no weekends oh and 650net in the bank
I checked too this morning, and I confirm my packet of ricicles didn’t have any tokens for this offer either.
I feel cheated and I think a stern complaint letter is going to Kellog’s as we speak 
If I had know this I would have got it a lot cheaper and easier than the method I am chosing! 
C
NewLad:
FYI I have driven a van, 7.5, 12, 18, 26 and 44 tonne and I would drive anything if the money was right and a permanent job.
Same here except I started on bikes/courier learning a lot of London (a bit like doing the knowledge on main roads, but on a 500cc instead of a Slow’Ped’)
Nothing wrong with 7.5 tonners, every one starts somewhere & it’s better to start small than to be shoved in at the deep end. I was glad of the experience on Puddle Jumpers, learning the ropes,straps & sheeting, put me in good stead for Artics.
Don’t knock 'em, chaps - or their drivers.
46 years ago I started on a puddle jumper, carrying four pallets max, without a care in the world. I used to look at BIG lorries and thought ‘cor, wouldn’t it be great to drive one of THEM!’ Over the years I worked my up, via tippers, flats, low loaders; driving everything from a Thames Trader to a Rottinoff (look it up) until, one day, I ARRIVED! I got a Volvo F88 290, THE premium motor of it’s day! I have never forgotten, one Friday night, about 9pm, 40 miles north of Aberdeen, 300+ miles from home, wind blowing force nine, rain coming horizontal by the bucket, and there was I on top of a loaded 40 footer struggling with two sheets and a fly sheet on me tod!. I remember thinking WHY??
There followed a few years on tankers for Tate and Lyle and then 24 years ago I was lucky enough to go to an organisation who really looked after us - decent motors, easy schedules, no handballing, great sick pay terms, 30 days paid holidays etc. Started on two axle rigids, on to a dog and pup and then, as retirement loomed, back to a four-wheeler. Then in the last couple of years, a puddle jumper again until completing the last few months in a 2.5 tonne van.
So like I say - don’t knock 'em - they’ve done OK by me.
Steve
If you pull into the HGV parking at an MSA and the other drivers look at you like you’re something stuck to the bottom of their shoe then you’re probably driving one or towing a caravan.
Puddle jumper comes from planes which was used to describe small planes making short-hop domestic flights mostly in the US I think. Can only guess it came to be used to describe a 7.5 tonner in the same way wannabe gangsta teenagers call the police the feds.
FYI I have driven a van, 7.5, 12, 18, 26 and 44 tonne and I would drive anything if the money was right and a permanent job.
Yeah but you’re not a real driver cos you cant handle a 32t