Being a similar age to 3300 John I agree the industry has changed considerably over the last 40 odd years, it wasn’t any easier in the past, just totally different. As for Phil… where is all that anger coming from? the guy must be totally stressed? Perhaps Phil should count his blessings, he has a job, he has an income and presumably can afford to pay for his CPC… but chooses not to do it. In my situation, I dont have a job nor the means to pay for the CPC, I’m the wrong side of 60 so come 2014 I wont even be qualified to do the job. So Phil, if you’re offered the chance to take the CPC and its being paid for by your employer, let me know and I’ll happily take your CPC and your job (you wont be needing it anyway after 2014).
Hi John, what a nice motor, i had one of those when i worked for Reeves Freight, anyway, the ropemakers arms, i havnt been in, in fact i havnt beemn in any pubs in Chatham, cos i only moved here a year ago. I originate from London, Charlton to be precise, and being a CIU member, used to frequent more clubs than pubs. I havnt worked for6 months, whilst waiting for my licence to be renewed ( thats my excuse anyway, dont tell the missus ) however, in the post today, there it was , all gleaming, and a new green part as well, so will go back to my part time role after easter, although to be honest, i`m not looking forward to that, but £300 a week take home for 3 days work aint to be sniffed at, and then theres my months holiday as well, my car to be maintained, along with my thirst and my lungs, if you get my drift, but Dunhill is £9 a packet in the shops, but i manage to stay friends with a good supplier, so their only £40 for 200, gotta keep the costs down mate. So my licence is good for another year, but the next one needs a treadmill test, dont know if i can handle that, what with my legs not taking the strain, but as they say, cross the bridge when you come to it, next year could be the end of the road.
Conor:
.You’re still living in the 70’s. Just being able to drive from A to B without losing the load is no longer enough. The rest of the world has moved on and you’re a dinosaur in a digital age.
training on the job by a long term experienced operative, or ex operative, is the only way you can hope to be shown and fully absorb how a job is safely and efficiently done in the ‘real’ world.
[/quote]
^ This.
Although having said that the freedom to get on with the job would/should mean getting rid of all the bs ‘experience’ requirement for new drivers and being allowed to make their own mistakes to learn by in the course of that ‘on the job training’ with just a bit of friendly advice where needed.
Hiya …you’ve seen my Daf now look what i have to play with now. she dose 60mph plus and was plated
for 60 ton train weight. this is the same model truck what Bob Paul (Astran)run to the middle east in
if any of you younger lads see me at a show you can have a drive to see what they was like to drive.
John
Limmpy I would let the asses brae, it is 2013 and it is 60 70 and yes I have heard mention of 80 hours a week with the use of the poa,smart ar,ses looking over ones shoulder and people dreaming up rules that are suposed to make things safer and better for the industry from the safe distance of a desk that is in easy reach of a toilet and canteen 15 hour spread over dont make me laugh.
3300John:
Hiya …you’ve seen my Daf now look what i have to play with now. she dose 60mph plus and was plated
for 60 ton train weight. this is the same model truck what Bob Paul (Astran)run to the middle east in
if any of you younger lads see me at a show you can have a drive to see what they was like to drive.
John
What shows will you be at? I’d kill for a drive of that beautiful old lady!
Cant say i have to put up with any of the bs rules that some people on here go on about, yeah my truck has a tracker but thats only for planning purposes, if i want to stop for the toilet thats fine, if i want to stop and get something to eat thats also not a problem, aslong as the job gets done thats all my boss is interested about. Today was the first time in weeks, maybe even months when i’ve been asked to put my steel toe capped boots on and shock horror i even sat on a loading bay today and didnt have to hand the keys in. Earlier in the week i was stopped by vosa had a chat with me about excessive overspeeding but that was it no fine just a telling off, they also asked me why i put my card in whilst driving and why i didnt make a printout but again they just said if you do it again make a note to cover yourself.
3300John:
Hiya …you’ve seen my Daf now look what i have to play with now. she dose 60mph plus and was plated
for 60 ton train weight. this is the same model truck what Bob Paul (Astran)run to the middle east in
if any of you younger lads see me at a show you can have a drive to see what they was like to drive.
John
Do you ever take it to the Basingstoke Festival of Transport?
ive heard it said,that the "job is ■■■■■■" on many occaisions.but is it...really that bad :question: yes,another quid an hour would be nice...but that could be said of every single working class job on the market.were all you old time truckers rolling in it then :question: ....i earn between £500 and £600 every week,none of my factory working friends earn as much..unless theyre banging the overtime in…err no thanks.
next…phones,trackers etc
cant see the problem,my boss never phones me....ever.he doesnt need to,he can see how im getting on via the tracker. nights out...i for one,would not swap my own personal space,which only i have slept in,for some grotty room in a truckstop,that has been used by a different bloke every night.neither would i fancy sleeping "across the bonnet" amongst cans of diesel and tools etc. trucks...no comparison really.the first truck i drove was a d series ford,and compared to what i drive today..it was a joke.15mph up loughborough bank.ha ha ha. gear box :question: gear bag...more like :smiling_imp: my scania is an awesome tool...a joy to work in....just press drive and go :sunglasses: rules and regulations.. is it really that much hardship to wear a pair of toe cap boots and a yellow bib :question: ffs does it really hurt that much to hand in your keys and sit in a waiting room for an hour or two :question: ive done a fair bit of rdc work this week and all but one have had me tipped in a hour…cant believe you old timers didnt get a bad tip/load once in a while.
we both done what we want, we both refused to abide by their rules so there is no comparison.
