Why is tramping now the way to go

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
61

There’s enough work out there to get what each of us wants.

Tramping work suits some, day or night work whether trunking or home deliveries or a myriad in between suits others, there’s enough scope to find what you want and enjoy your job as best you can and work it so it fits with what you need and want at home, one size does not fit all.

Dipper Dave, i’ll take small issue with you about the money, its entirely possible to find some very well paid work out there, and no its not all about the money but it makes sense to earn twice or three times the minimum wage for doing a job you enjoy if you can find it, and those jobs are out there but will never be advertised…where so many go wrong is that once they’ve found the plumb job they can’t help but take the ■■■■ out of the pay or sick schemes or carry on as they did in crap money, not giving a toss and doing damage or upsetting valued customers etc etc…if you asked our chairman who the most important person in our company is he would tell you without a moments hesitation ‘‘the customer’’

I tried coming off the road at one point when some higher ups talked me into promotion and i bloody hated every second, realised i can’t be stuck in one place with the same people and i can’t do office or workplace diplomacy to save me life, if someone’s being an arse hole they’re going to hear it from me sooner or later, if someone’s taking the ■■■■ out of a good job i can’t and won’t work with them.

I wanted to drive lorries from an early schoolboy age, and i mean proper lorries that required driving and gave some pleasure not the modern tat we get now (so that’s been a downer and getting worse with each new incarnation but just got to live with it for another 5 or so years cos its here to stay), this is my chosen work, there is money to be made out there as an employed driver still (there always was if you knew who and where to go), but you’ve got to find your niche and the type of work that suits you, if you can find that and a serious salary to go with it, why would anyone look for any other type of work, its having your cake and eating it.

62

Truckbling:
Tramping is for boring smelly blokes who only want to talk about their lorry.

Daily showers and a happy home life can cure the symptoms you mention [emoji3]

63

Yep I see what you mean Juddian, if the job pays 500 or 1500 a week I’d be just as happy doing it.

It’s all relative really but I’m happy on 500+ at the moment.

Hang on 1500 a week who am I kidding I’d sell me mother in law for that or considerably less.

64

Juddian:
I wanted to drive lorries from an early schoolboy age, and i mean proper lorries that required driving and gave some pleasure not the modern tat we get now (so that’s been a downer and getting worse with each new incarnation but just got to live with it for another 5 or so years cos its here to stay), this is my chosen work, there is money to be made out there as an employed driver still (there always was if you knew who and where to go), but you’ve got to find your niche and the type of work that suits you, if you can find that and a serious salary to go with it, why would anyone look for any other type of work, its having your cake and eating it.

In a similar vein, Terry Wogan on retiring from breakfast duties at Radio 2, was asked if he was looking forward to not having to get up early doors for his work, He replied with something along these lines “I’ve not worked a day in My life since I left the Bank in Dublin” (to take a career in Radio). I think that is so true. It plainly comes across on this Forum, that so many of us truly love our chosen career, the rough and the smooth, day work, night work or Tramping :wink:

65

Juddian:
There’s enough work out there to get what each of us wants.

Tramping work suits some, day or night work whether trunking or home deliveries or a myriad in between suits others, there’s enough scope to find what you want and enjoy your job as best you can and work it so it fits with what you need and want at home, one size does not fit all.

Dipper Dave, i’ll take small issue with you about the money, its entirely possible to find some very well paid work out there, and no its not all about the money but it makes sense to earn twice or three times the minimum wage for doing a job you enjoy if you can find it, and those jobs are out there but will never be advertised…where so many go wrong is that once they’ve found the plumb job they can’t help but take the ■■■■ out of the pay or sick schemes or carry on as they did in crap money, not giving a toss and doing damage or upsetting valued customers etc etc…if you asked our chairman who the most important person in our company is he would tell you without a moments hesitation ‘‘the customer’’

I tried coming off the road at one point when some higher ups talked me into promotion and i bloody hated every second, realised i can’t be stuck in one place with the same people and i can’t do office or workplace diplomacy to save me life, if someone’s being an arse hole they’re going to hear it from me sooner or later, if someone’s taking the ■■■■ out of a good job i can’t and won’t work with them.

I wanted to drive lorries from an early schoolboy age, and i mean proper lorries that required driving and gave some pleasure not the modern tat we get now (so that’s been a downer and getting worse with each new incarnation but just got to live with it for another 5 or so years cos its here to stay), this is my chosen work, there is money to be made out there as an employed driver still (there always was if you knew who and where to go), but you’ve got to find your niche and the type of work that suits you, if you can find that and a serious salary to go with it, why would anyone look for any other type of work, its having your cake and eating it.

I’ve had this conversation with a few lads over the years who have just got their licences, for most someone they know does, was, is, in haulage, so it definitely seems to be a case of if you have had the symptoms so too speak u can be pretty sure u will develop the condition…

What I’ve found is how many though simply want day work and that’s it.
But interestingly the reason why for about half of them is due to not being able to get the opportunity to go tramping as cant get a foot in door…still seems to me that it is still regarded as a role for the seasoned, so maybe its why less want to do it or simply they just want to job an knock which seems rife in every job I’ve done…

Totally agree with you though, I’ve spent years hemmed in various roles, only time I’m happy is when I’m on a mooch, be it 10 mile or 1000 I love to drive and have always wanted to drive a truck.
But as I’ve said many times before in here.(apologies…)… I do wonder some days if its really worth going for if I’m never gonna get a shot at the goose like yourself has.

I despise agency’s with a passion and feel if I don’t get the goose I’m gonna loose the hunger for it, praps that’s why folk slate tramping as they feel there is no goose no more?

Hey ho I dunno :laughing:

66

i think we’ve ‘spoken’ before benjie.

Keep trying, like I keep saying I’ve got young lads on for me. Our work is unpredictable, one week you might be back in your bed every night, next week you are out doing Euro work for 3 - 10 days. So you can get it, just keep turning up and seeing where you get to call into. We got one of our lads from another haulier, who was just doing a bit of casual yard work. We thought he was decent and when a job came up, asked him if he wanted a full time job.

good luck!

67

albion:
i think we’ve ‘spoken’ before benjie.

Keep trying, like I keep saying I’ve got young lads on for me. Our work is unpredictable, one week you might be back in your bed every night, next week you are out doing Euro work for 3 - 10 days. So you can get it, just keep turning up and seeing where you get to call into. We got one of our lads from another haulier, who was just doing a bit of casual yard work. We thought he was decent and when a job came up, asked him if he wanted a full time job.

good luck!

We have indeed Albion and it is as was then very much appreciated :sunglasses:

See your the type of Boss who should be in this Industry, hope I can find a similar one when my time comes…if not I be tramping in me focus outside your gate :laughing:

I’ve found 2 well known container firms, and a long established general haulier within 50 mile of my gaff who are offering new C2 drivers the chance to join them and get CE, then a job upon completion subject to getting through door again ffs lol, typical scheme of job then deduct cost which I’d be chuffed with tbh.

So yeah that’s my HOPE locally, plus being containers I hope tramping is an option as big saving in commuter costs which would be a huge help…

Just so gotta get through my rigid this year, I will be using Peter Smythe so hopefully they can get me through hahahaha.

Just want to drive professionally, make me family proud and future bosses chuffed to have me :grimacing:

68

Dipper_Dave:
I think tramping sorts out the men from the boys.

If you just go to work to earn a crust and driving is a means to an end then home every night is fine.

But if driving is more of a passion if your the type of driver who sees a 6 hour drive as something to look forward to and sleeping in the truck is an added bonus then tramping or at least a job where your not afraid of the odd night out is the way forward.

Different times and circumstances of life can make tramping look more attractive but if you do this job just for the money then not only are you in the wrong job but you’ve dropped a serious bollock somewhere.

Horses for courses and each to their own etc. But for me tramping has not only put a spark back in my love life with her indoors it’s also made me more grateful for the quality time I spend in her (the wife not the truck).

+1, but not the bit about spending quality time in your wife :wink: I have my own wife for that!!!
I was with a local firm for 8 years up to 2013. They put me through class 2 in 2006, work was varied, being local to gatwick, airfreight made up a huge percentage of their work, some weeks were no nights out, others, 3 or 4, even spent a few weekends away on t’continent.

They got involved in a pallet network, and I did that for the last 2 years of my employment, earning some very good money, but same drops day in day out, commuting each day, got to me, and So I talked my way into a job where I am now, I took an £8k pay cut, and got into tramping, 3 or 4 nights away, which improved life at home with the Mrs and kids, when they’ve missed you all week, coming through the door to two bright smiling faces and the sour face on the wife (only joking Mrs b) was fantastic.
Being at home every night I think I was upsetting her routine and getting under her feet!

I’ve now done my class 1, at my expense, and the boss has ordered a new fh drawbar, with a few bells and whistles, for delivery in March. And my salary has been upped by about £4K from my starting salary back in '13.

As has been said a few times on this thread, horses for courses,

69

Carl Usher:
Tramping isn’t the way to go but thick [zb] like you do it because you think it’s the only way to earn £500 per week.

Listen “Carl Usher”, i’ve removed your other foul mouthed tirade. Keep it up or repeat it and it will give me great pleasure to send this account the same way as your other alter egos. You won’t get told again.

70

Benjie83:

Juddian:
There’s enough work out there to get what each of us wants.

Tramping work suits some, day or night work whether trunking or home deliveries or a myriad in between suits others, there’s enough scope to find what you want and enjoy your job as best you can and work it so it fits with what you need and want at home, one size does not fit all.

Dipper Dave, i’ll take small issue with you about the money, its entirely possible to find some very well paid work out there, and no its not all about the money but it makes sense to earn twice or three times the minimum wage for doing a job you enjoy if you can find it, and those jobs are out there but will never be advertised…where so many go wrong is that once they’ve found the plumb job they can’t help but take the ■■■■ out of the pay or sick schemes or carry on as they did in crap money, not giving a toss and doing damage or upsetting valued customers etc etc…if you asked our chairman who the most important person in our company is he would tell you without a moments hesitation ‘‘the customer’’

I tried coming off the road at one point when some higher ups talked me into promotion and i bloody hated every second, realised i can’t be stuck in one place with the same people and i can’t do office or workplace diplomacy to save me life, if someone’s being an arse hole they’re going to hear it from me sooner or later, if someone’s taking the ■■■■ out of a good job i can’t and won’t work with them.

I wanted to drive lorries from an early schoolboy age, and i mean proper lorries that required driving and gave some pleasure not the modern tat we get now (so that’s been a downer and getting worse with each new incarnation but just got to live with it for another 5 or so years cos its here to stay), this is my chosen work, there is money to be made out there as an employed driver still (there always was if you knew who and where to go), but you’ve got to find your niche and the type of work that suits you, if you can find that and a serious salary to go with it, why would anyone look for any other type of work, its having your cake and eating it.

I’ve had this conversation with a few lads over the years who have just got their licences, for most someone they know does, was, is, in haulage, so it definitely seems to be a case of if you have had the symptoms so too speak u can be pretty sure u will develop the condition…

What I’ve found is how many though simply want day work and that’s it.
But interestingly the reason why for about half of them is due to not being able to get the opportunity to go tramping as cant get a foot in door…still seems to me that it is still regarded as a role for the seasoned, so maybe its why less want to do it or simply they just want to job an knock which seems rife in every job I’ve done…

Totally agree with you though, I’ve spent years hemmed in various roles, only time I’m happy is when I’m on a mooch, be it 10 mile or 1000 I love to drive and have always wanted to drive a truck.
But as I’ve said many times before in here.(apologies…)… I do wonder some days if its really worth going for if I’m never gonna get a shot at the goose like yourself has.

I despise agency’s with a passion and feel if I don’t get the goose I’m gonna loose the hunger for it, praps that’s why folk slate tramping as they feel there is no goose no more?

Hey ho I dunno :laughing:

Don’t let anyone tell you that tramping is for ‘seasoned’ drivers. It’s for anyone that wants/will tolerate a restricted home/family life and enjoys being out on the road all week.

For me, the price of being away all week and missing out on so much would require wages at least 3 times what the average tramper earns. Which is why I’ve never done it! :slight_smile:

71

Truckulent:
For me, the price of being away all week and missing out on so much would require wages at least 3 times what the average tramper earns. Which is why I’ve never done it! :slight_smile:

Pretty much my thoughts on it.

Put strain on a good relationship with my missus and miss out on kids growing up & generally a good home life for £40-50k a year? Not in a million years.

72

Benjie83:
I’ve found 2 well known container firms, and a long established general haulier within 50 mile of my gaff who are offering new C2 drivers the chance to join them and get CE, then a job upon completion subject to getting through door again ffs lol, typical scheme of job then deduct cost which I’d be chuffed with tbh.

So yeah that’s my HOPE locally, plus being containers I hope tramping is an option as big saving in commuter costs which would be a huge help…

I’d have thought container’s would be the most likely sector to see tramping eventually die out. Seemingly more & more container movements in and out of the ports are going on the railways into regional railheads, quite rightly. Theres even a service starting up Liverpool - Tamworth.

Ask any tramper at Maritime’s Manchester depot, nights out now rarer than hens teeth. Boxes come up from Felixstowe/Southampton/London Gateway on the train straight into Trafford Park, truck just does the final leg down the road.

73

rob22888:

Benjie83:
I’ve found 2 well known container firms, and a long established general haulier within 50 mile of my gaff who are offering new C2 drivers the chance to join them and get CE, then a job upon completion subject to getting through door again ffs lol, typical scheme of job then deduct cost which I’d be chuffed with tbh.

So yeah that’s my HOPE locally, plus being containers I hope tramping is an option as big saving in commuter costs which would be a huge help…

I’d have thought container’s would be the most likely sector to see tramping eventually die out. Seemingly more & more container movements in and out of the ports are going on the railways into regional railheads, quite rightly. Theres even a service starting up Liverpool - Tamworth.

Ask any tramper at Maritime’s Manchester depot, nights out now rarer than hens teeth. Boxes come up from Felixstowe/Southampton/London Gateway on the train straight into Trafford Park, truck just does the final leg down the road.

With more years in the transport industry than I will I will admit to I would agree 100% with you on this . Traffic congestion etc is almost forcing goods onto rail

74

BeakFreak81:

Truckbling:
Tramping is for boring smelly blokes who only want to talk about their lorry.

Daily showers and a happy home life can cure the symptoms you mention [emoji3]

+1

75

Dipper_Dave:
I think tramping sorts out the men from the boys.

If you just go to work to earn a crust and driving is a means to an end then home every night is fine.

But if driving is more of a passion if your the type of driver who sees a 6 hour drive as something to look forward to and sleeping in the truck is an added bonus then tramping or at least a job where your not afraid of the odd night out is the way forward.

Different times and circumstances of life can make tramping look more attractive but if you do this job just for the money then not only are you in the wrong job but you’ve dropped a serious bollock somewhere.

Horses for courses and each to their own etc. But for me tramping has not only put a spark back in my love life with her indoors it’s also made me more grateful for the quality time I spend in her (the wife not the truck).

You’ve hit the nail right on the head there Dave. Absolutely spot on.

We have one contract that requires us to be away all week, which I run week about with another lad. In the other week, the work varies. Sometimes a couple of nights away, sometimes you’re home every night. Suits me perfectly.
We run hiabs, so the work is a tad more varied than most.

Each to their own though. As said before, there is enough different sorts of work around to suit most of us.

76

Dipper_Dave:
I think tramping sorts out the men from the boys.

So sleeping in a tin box all week with not enough room to swing a cat whilst on noisy industrial estates or pee smelling services makes you more of a man than those who don’t tramp? I’d change the word man to idiot.

If you just go to work to earn a crust and driving is a means to an end then home every night is fine.

I’m sure most do it for a living and not a hobby.

But if driving is more of a passion if your the type of driver who sees a 6 hour drive as something to look forward to and sleeping in the truck is an added bonus then tramping or at least a job where your not afraid of the odd night out is the way forward.

If you see sleeping in the truck as a bonus then you must be homeless?

Different times and circumstances of life can make tramping look more attractive but if you do this job just for the money then not only are you in the wrong job but you’ve dropped a serious bollock somewhere.

So I’m driving a lorry, home every day making over a grand a week and I’m in the wrong job?

Horses for courses and each to their own etc. But for me tramping has not only put a spark back in my love life with her indoors it’s also made me more grateful for the quality time I spend in her (the wife not the truck).

77

Truckbling:
So I’m driving a lorry, home every day making over a grand a week and I’m in the wrong job?

Why would you be in the wrong job.
Making over a grand a week sounds great what sector of the industry are you in.?

78

The ’ talking ■■■■■■■■ ’ sector Dave.

79

eagerbeaver:
The ’ talking ■■■■■■■■ ’ sector Dave.

If it’s a day job worth shouting about, ie. 40-50 hours a week then that puts him at £20ph+. Unless he’s on a fuel tanker contract in the South East I’m not sure I’m buying it.

If it’s a 60-70 hour a week day job, then it’s a stretch to argue you have a better homelife than a tramper.

80

it all depends what you want out of life - money / security / variation - each to their own its technically all the same job just different variations of it.

same regarding money - I must admit I reckon the minimum class 1 salary should need to be £30+K a year without overtime to enable it to become attractive to new recruits but it wont.

as I said earlier I hated Uk nights out - poor facilities etc. but love the Euro work and if I didn’t have a family would jump at the chance again (although I reckon its changed a lot since I last went over the water).

finally to the mods - if you know these people have several aliases and post continuous crap why don’t you block the rest of them and leave them a single account?