My job is bobbins which is why i`m leaving 
Strangely, I still love the job although I’m at home today because there’s no work…
I retired 10 years ago. Too soon, I missed the road and the people involved.
2 years ago I volunteered to deliver some dogs from a refuge down south to new owners in the Deux-Sevres, with my Berlingo.
I have never advertised but now I ‘work’ for more than a dozen different refuges, associations and organisations throughout France and beyond.
There are some weeks when I don’t turn a wheel and others when I am away from home from Monday to Saturday. Gradually I have improved my situation and now, with one rear seat removed and with the driver’s seat pushed forward there is room for a full length cut to fit foam mattress with a double high tog quilt which goes under as well as over me.
Dark tinted rear windows give me full privacy. And I love it. 
Overnight at routiers I eat well with many old colleagues and many I have never met before and smile when I hear the gentle hum of the night heaters and answer the incredulous questions of my fellow sleepers ‘but aren’t you cold without ‘chauffage’?’
The only drawback is the 10 or 15 minutes reorganisation each night and morning when making the conversion from dog transport to comfortable bedroom and back again but it reminds me of the really old days when as a young lad I embraced the open road and had to board up the seats and bonnet and spread my sleeping bag. Much colder then though, a Gardner chugging away all night wouldn’t drive away the cold and there was always a chance that a change in the wind would poison you. 
Even the ablutions in the morning take me back. The last wagon I had was a Magnum and, with the passenger seat folded down and a bowl of cold water placed on top I could have a full strip wash every day. Nowadays it is back to the 50s and 60s. Stripped to the waist in the routier washroom all lined up just like the digs of old. 
Happy? Yes, I love it.
COOKiEEES!!:
Everything about it is [zb]. The joke of a wage, the treatment, the stigma attached…
But I have no choice, it’s the only job I know how to do. I was a lazy git who couldn’t be arsed studying at school to become something respectable.
21st century now fella, never too late. Age is no boundary to gaining further education and moving on to different things.
Been on look out for a new job for a few months. jobs not like it used to be but I can’t find tramper jobs that take me out this country for a few weeks let alone in a scania. I found one but south wales and volvos. I’d settle for a man or Mercedes but never a Volvo 
. All I ever see is agency’s posting.
I’m quite happy where I am, no rush or inclination to find another job ATM.
Better than I thought it was going to be, we will see how things are once Turners take over fully tho !!! Hopefully still be ok tho as I believe we are being pretty much left alone in the important areas, fingers crossed.
I enjoy my job , I am one of the bosses though, my men seam happy , took them out for indian for christmas and I will give them £150 each as a present .
tango boy:
i like my job, i like the get up and go, running on you’re own or running with someone, not stuck in a office or warehouse, working out where you’re going to get parked up on a night, maybe a few beers or whatever, i think tramping makes the week go by quicker, then back home to her indoors and the kids.
Always a down side.
I’m self employed and am enjoying it less and less now that I know I am worth twice what I am charging in some cases, a third more in most!
Spardo:
I retired 10 years ago. Too soon, I missed the road and the people involved.2 years ago I volunteered to deliver some dogs from a refuge down south to new owners in the Deux-Sevres, with my Berlingo.
I have never advertised but now I ‘work’ for more than a dozen different refuges, associations and organisations throughout France and beyond.
There are some weeks when I don’t turn a wheel and others when I am away from home from Monday to Saturday. Gradually I have improved my situation and now, with one rear seat removed and with the driver’s seat pushed forward there is room for a full length cut to fit foam mattress with a double high tog quilt which goes under as well as over me.
Dark tinted rear windows give me full privacy. And I love it.
The only drawback is the 10 or 15 minutes reorganisation each night and morning when making the conversion from dog transport to comfortable bedroom and back again but it reminds me of the really old days when as a young lad I embraced the open road and had to board up the seats and bonnet and spread my sleeping bag. Much colder then though, a Gardner chugging away all night wouldn’t drive away the cold and there was always a chance that a change in the wind would poison you.
Even the ablutions in the morning take me back. The last wagon I had was a Magnum and, with the passenger seat folded down and a bowl of cold water placed on top I could have a full strip wash every day. Nowadays it is back to the 50s and 60s. Stripped to the waist in the routier washroom all lined up just like the digs of old.
Happy? Yes, I love it.
Possibly my favourite post of the year, great stuff. And doing it for such a worthwhile cause
i came back to this firm after 4 years working for another company. i enjoy it more now than what i did the first time. dont get rushed and knowing that your home after 5 days is a bonus
In short the answer was no.
On Wednesday the 19th of Dec, I knew I was to be in Wakefield early so I decided that I would leave Penrith minutes after 4am so I was not restricted to a 10 hour shift. I got to Wakefield and tipped, off to Leeds Bradford airport for a load to Manchester. Tipped Manchester and phoned in for next load and was asked if I could reload in Manchester and make it up to Dumfries. Time appreciation I worked out that I could do a 15 shift with a 10 driving all to help the company achieve its aim.
Got to the depot with less than an hour drive and work time left. I asked what they had for me and was told I had a trailer for AM delivery to NE England, so go and park in the yard. I pointed out that if I overnight in the yard I lose my night out money!! Told so what.
I pointed out that I had just done a long shift for the company and this was a stab in the back for having a can do will do attitude.
So what, just go and park up I was told, I said I will park up and go home for that sort of attitude, go ahead they said, so I did.
I have got more work lined up, but did I cut off my nose to spite my face?
I say no, more of us drivers should just say” foxtrot to you” to planners who think they know it all.
I will not name the company but I will give you a clue.
Two words — first word/ you can order it from an Indian restaurant.
Second word/A continent not Asia, consisting mainly of UK, France, Germany, Spain, Benelux etc.
Chicken Tikka European?
dont be stupid luke!
clues there for you (you can order it from a indian resturant)
has to be diarrhoea european
tell them you`re not prepared to do it 
10 drops a night start at 23.15 and finish at 09.00 mon night - Friday night finish at 09.30 on Saturday morning so half the weekend gone … Hate it
Switchlogic & Wirralpete Due forum rules that you can’t name and shame a bad company all I can say is you are not wrong
Chicken Tikka European & diarrhoea european
you made me laugh with your answear
switchlogic:
Possibly my favourite post of the year, great stuff. And doing it for such a worthwhile cause
Thanks Luke, I appreciate the comment.
If you want to read more this is where some of my journeys are related. Sadly, no way nearly up to date.
thefranceforum.net/viewtopic … 30&t=19101
I must try harder.
There is another website where I started these tales but left sometime ago and now they are buried 20 something pages back.
I love mine. “Only” a trolley dolly (which some on here seem to think makes me ‘not a proper driver’) however, worked there for 12 years, good money, know exactly what my start and finish time is likely to be, only work 4 days out of 7, decent kit that’s on top of the job in the power stakes, and they actually care when you have family/personal issues that can effect your ability to work. It says something that nobody ever leaves and they haven’t taken on full time drivers for about 6 years.
oman5:
I love mine. “Only” a trolley dolly (which some on here seem to think makes me ‘not a proper driver’) however, worked there for 12 years, good money, know exactly what my start and finish time is likely to be, only work 4 days out of 7, decent kit that’s on top of the job in the power stakes, and they actually care when you have family/personal issues that can effect your ability to work. It says something that nobody ever leaves and they haven’t taken on full time drivers for about 6 years.
Waitrose?