robroy:
Franglais:
robroy:
Mine definitely, as I have a cunning plan.
To correctly guess 6 numbers.I would not even look at another [zb] truck as long as I lived, and change my licence to car only
You
re just being lazy and feckless RobRoy. After all someone gets the 6 numbers nearly every week, so it cant be that hard.You’ve just summed me up in your first sentence.
Just the same as me,and the rest of us then, eh?
February 1st will be my last day behind the wheel of a truck. Taking early retirement at 63 and a bit.
Final straw is the introduction of inward facing cameras. I have no issue at all with outward in-fact I suggested it to them a few years ago but inward recording all the time and then being saved to a server for a minimum of 90 days has done it for me.
More and more petty rules have been very annoying but I could stand that.
September 26th 1986 to February 1st 2018, I’ve had some great times, the last 15 on agency full time with one company.
My new year resolution for definite,gonna win the lotto/euro next year,but only if it’s the big one,if its not enough i will just have to hand it back and tell them to make it bigger,lol,but if i did win i might carry on driving out of loyalty to my employer
chester1:
Harry Monk:
No, I’m not old enough to retire and I’m too old to re-train to do anything else, so I’ll carry on doing what I do, which is driving trucks from September to March, saving up as much as I can and then spending the Summer pottering around in my preferred mode of transport- which is also my home- until the money runs out. Then rinse and repeat.
First trip next year is to Llangollen, then down to London for a run along the tidal Thames, then Bristol. Don’t know after that.
Often thought of going down that road myself
Very nice harry,sounds an idyllic lifestyle (the boat,not driving)lol
Twice in recent years I have “left” driving…to pursue a managerial career…both times I have been let down on what was promised, both times working for a lot less than i was earning as a driver…
The final straw was being screwed out of another managerial position, after being told I had the job, gave my notice in to my then current employer, only to be told 2 weeks later that they were going with an internal candidate that had suddenly appeared.
I have accepted that at nearly 50, I will be driving trucks for the foreseeable future as I really can’t be doing with the backstabbing world of office work…
Mr Monk. How easy are the locks to operate? My mum wants to retire to a canal boat but she has limited mobility. Are the locks manned? Are they easy to use?
It’s getting on for four-and-a-half years since I packed driving in and whenever the licence renewal notice from DVLA may arrive, I will not be taking them up on their kind offer. It was without question the best thing I ever did and I only kick myself that I didn’t do it earlier. Fortunately I now work for a very good firm indeed and I am treated and rewarded well, but I hear horror stories from other people who work in an office full-time compared to my two or three days a week and out for the rest of it.
Radar19:
Mr Monk. How easy are the locks to operate? My mum wants to retire to a canal boat but she has limited mobility. Are the locks manned? Are they easy to use?
With a few exceptions, locks are unmanned. They do require a degree of physical strength to operate, although, like pulling a fifth wheel release bar on a truck, it’s more about technique than brute force. There are some long lock-free sections of canal, and many narrowboat owners never leave their mooring anyway, if your Mum does wish to cruise then the best advice I could give is that you take her to the nearest canal lock one weekend and offer to help when a boat comes through, single handing boaters never refuse an offer of help at locks and we all love chatting about boats and boating.
chester1:
Claretmac:
Harry Monk:
No, I’m not old enough to retire and I’m too old to re-train to do anything else, so I’ll carry on doing what I do, which is driving trucks from September to March, saving up as much as I can and then spending the Summer pottering around in my preferred mode of transport- which is also my home- until the money runs out. Then rinse and repeat.
First trip next year is to Llangollen, then down to London for a run along the tidal Thames, then Bristol. Don’t know after that.
How much does one of those cost!? N what’s the running costs maint etc… On average!?
If you budget for a Grand a foot you won’t be far out .
So you live in a windy, cold tin tube, with a stove to keep warm, Just like distance work in the 70’s then.
biggriffin:
So you live in a windy, cold tin tube, with a stove to keep warm, Just like distance work in the 70’s then.
In a way, it is like long-distance tramping from yesteryear I suppose.
Some new boaters struggle with the restricted space but after 30 years of spending 80-90% of my life living in a tractor unit it’s like living in a palace to me. Plus I have a shower and I don’t have to crap in a carrier bag. 
Would love to stop driving this year but doubt it’ll happen, I’d ideally like to have my own truck on the road but it’s clear from reading on hear that a lot of what your told by ODs in the yard is bollox.
Although in saying that my boss has 20 odd trucks on the road containers on days and traction on nights and isn’t doing bad with it.
bobbya:
adam277:
Wouldn’t mind going into part time driving or being do warehouse/driver.
Sticking with it for the experience but driving is boring.If you find it boring maybe you should try a different driving job,I like the variety.
Well what I want is a 9-5 truck job. Getting that is very hard though; due to the roads and planners maximizing WTD rules etc.
Rather just be a forkie/warehouse drone with a bit of driving thrown in. Don’t mind doing warehouse work and finish time will always be finish time.
Harry Monk:
biggriffin:
So you live in a windy, cold tin tube, with a stove to keep warm, Just like distance work in the 70’s then.In a way, it is like long-distance tramping from yesteryear I suppose.
Some new boaters struggle with the restricted space but after 30 years of spending 80-90% of my life living in a tractor unit it’s like living in a palace to me. Plus I have a shower and I don’t have to crap in a carrier bag.
don’t they have to be out of the water every few years to be resealed? Where do you live then? Sounds like a great way to live, I’m a little envious.
Captain Caveman 76:
don’t they have to be out of the water every few years to be resealed? Where do you live then? Sounds like a great way to live, I’m a little envious.
Yes, “blacking”, I just had that done a few months ago. It has to be done every 2-3 years. The underside is pressure cleaned and painted in bitumen. I stayed with a friend while it was done although some boatyards will let you stay on the boat while it is done.
Mine is the opposite. I’m hoping to get mine back next year then I can come on here and whinge about traffic and hold ups. Discuss the best radio station and which sat nav etc.
This time next year…although I said that last year as well 
On the + side though, because I CAN’T drive at least I can have a drink or 2 - All the best everyone 
dri-diddly-iver:
Mine is the opposite. I’m hoping to get mine back next year then I can come on here and whinge about traffic and hold ups. Discuss the best radio station and which sat nav etc.This time next year…although I said that last year as well
On the + side though, because I CAN’T drive at least I can have a drink or 2 - All the best everyone
All the best mate and I hope you get yourself sorted in new year.
Keep your chin up. 
adam987:
Would love to stop driving this year but doubt it’ll happen, I’d ideally like to have my own truck on the road but it’s clear from reading on hear that a lot of what your told by ODs in the yard is bollox.
Although in saying that my boss has 20 odd trucks on the road containers on days and traction on nights and isn’t doing bad with it.
Don’t be stupid, OD’s can work, if you get the right work etc … get a regular payment … it will be tough but if that’s what you want go for it …
Just ensure, you have a good business plan and work accordingly… get the operator Cpc as a first then go from there. … maybe your boss could help you … you never know unless you ask.
discoman:
adam987:
Would love to stop driving this year but doubt it’ll happen, I’d ideally like to have my own truck on the road but it’s clear from reading on hear that a lot of what your told by ODs in the yard is bollox.
Although in saying that my boss has 20 odd trucks on the road containers on days and traction on nights and isn’t doing bad with it.Don’t be stupid, OD’s can work, if you get the right work etc … get a regular payment … it will be tough but if that’s what you want go for it …
Just ensure, you have a good business plan and work accordingly… get the operator Cpc as a first then go from there. … maybe your boss could help you … you never know unless you ask.
To be fair he has offered although it was on the xmas do so not really reading much in to it as there was a lot of pop been drunk. I’ve seen who I want to put a truck with but still need to research it.
Deffo not. Its a fun enjoyable job…most of the time
