philmots:
I’ve answered yes…Mon - Fri 9-5 or earlier… for the same money, nothing else would do as i’ve got it very good.
same here…
Already left. Handed notice in 2nd jan this year. I just stopped enjoying the job, a case of many little things building up over time turning what is a simple job, night trunking to the same hub every night, into a pain in the hoop. I am taking some time out, 2 months, before looking again. I’ve already been contacted by a former employer asking if I want a start back in the drainage industry. I told them if it’s still available back end of feb then I’m game, until then it’s out with the grandkids.
yep id leave tommorow
Hell no! I love my job! Why would I leave a job that I’ve paid x amount to get a licence, I’ve always wanted to drive since going abroad with my old man when I was little! Now I’m doing it! “Living the dream” at the end of the day the job is what u make it! Never the same day twice (unless you do trunking) good money, own boss kind of, I was in a truckstop last week and I realised why I try not to park in them cause every driver was winging and moaning about their job this that and the other, if you don’t like the job then don’t do it free up some space for someone that does! 
!
I am here: maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.312226,-3.465027
O yes, and been looking and applying. Problem is after 15 years i’m told i’m just a lorry driver, with nothing else to offer, even though i have worked in different industries, and so many people looking to change careers who are younger etc. So for now i’ll have to stick with it, but hopefully not for long.
Yes i would.
This will be my 30th year driving lorries . . yes i still class myself as a lorry driver,not a trucker 
Seems i have gone full circle.Had a class 1 from the start but drove class 3s for a few years going all over the Uk.
Was fortunate enough to get a break in the early 90s doing Euro work on artics which i did for various firms and thoroughly enjoyed up until being made redundant 4 years ago,which came as a bit of a hammer blow
Since then i have been on uk work and currently driving a class 3 again on semi local work,must admit the wages for what i do isnt too bad but is mind numbinly boring.
Made a decision that when the renewal is due . . aint going to bother.Sorry for rambling - should get out more i suppose
Yes i would leave tomorrow!
Crap money,long hours,early starts,late finishes,nights away from your family,no social life and having to work nearly twice as many hours in a week than the average working man.
yes,put my name down to leave this industry,please. 
In a heartbeat!!!
pretty amazing results so far ! The thing is though, its easier to get back into work if you have a truck license than any other profession.
After 19 years on the road, i had enough away from home and family and decided to do something else, however with my parents words ringing in my ears about learning a trade … i struggled, returning to transport and the only real life i knew, i got cpc national and international plus some other bits and went for a management position, first with TDG ( excellent training for hard work long hours and low pay) then Tibbet & Briten later to journey to become DHL - for seven years managed several sites in the North west , it was definately different type of hard work, but i was blessed with a good team of both drivers and warehouse people who gave everything to the contract, when the company announced the relocation of the business and subsequent full site redundancy programme, i was then instructed to discipline my colleagues to the point where the more who could be dismissed the greater saving on closure pay- this is the type of transport management this country is encouraging in the wild cost saving environment we find ourselves, i could not and did not betray my friends and colleagues, and subsequently joined them in redundancy, not able at age 56 to get another job- the question would i leave the driving game, to right i would run a mile- to all the lads and girls still on the road, god bless you , and drive safe
ticklingtrucker:
After 19 years on the road, i had enough away from home and family and decided to do something else, however with my parents words ringing in my ears about learning a trade … i struggled, returning to transport and the only real life i knew, i got cpc national and international plus some other bits and went for a management position, first with TDG ( excellent training for hard work long hours and low pay) then Tibbet & Briten later to journey to become DHL - for seven years managed several sites in the North west , it was definately different type of hard work, but i was blessed with a good team of both drivers and warehouse people who gave everything to the contract, when the company announced the relocation of the business and subsequent full site redundancy programme, i was then instructed to discipline my colleagues to the point where the more who could be dismissed the greater saving on closure pay- this is the type of transport management this country is encouraging in the wild cost saving environment we find ourselves, i could not and did not betray my friends and colleagues, and subsequently joined them in redundancy, not able at age 56 to get another job- the question would i leave the driving game, to right i would run a mile- to all the lads and girls still on the road, god bless you , and drive safe
Interesting and refreshingly honest first post.
Welcome btw. 
I intend to when the cpc bollix kicks in as I can’t be arsed if they don’t recognise a fully trained up former blue light driver’s qualifications 
I’ ve just been on the job centre web site there are some class 1 jobs on at 7/8 quid an hour I reckon I could earn more driving a van
When you see posts on here asking how to get from Stockport to Leicester it makes one wonder what’s happened to the job , let alone self pride . Steering wheel jockeys ride again Are you so dumbed down over there nowadays that using personal grey matter is a thing of the past ?
I will be come 2014, im semi retired now…but with all the crap and hoops to jump through ive had enough, i will continue to drive until then but i dispise having to pay to do my job when ive got along fine for 28 yrs…so its shove it where the sun dont shine, let the young lads have the jobs that will be on offer when all us senior drivers retire or like me dont want ripping off …DCPC…MEDICALS …BULLSHINE, I can remember the good times. 
oman5:
God, yes!! I’m working on getting out right now.
Exact same here mate. Unfortunately I’m finding the fact that the only work experience I can put on my CV (without resorting to lying) is… driving trucks, to be counting against me. I don’t think most employers rate it very highly, and it’s starting to feel almost like being trapped in a vicious circle with no way out.
Pete the post:
Too flipping right I would, keep drumming into the kids to get some quals so they have some choice and don’t end up stuck in a dead end job with no hope of bettering themselves, I made that mistake and now I’m stuck in a rut as trucking is all I can do
+1
TTX boy:
Yes i would leave tomorrow!
Crap money,long hours,early starts,late finishes,nights away from your family,no social life and having to work nearly twice as many hours in a week than the average working man.
yes,put my name down to leave this industry,please.
beautifully accurate summary.
att:
Carlos Fandango:
Yes…
Ironically I’ve just said I don’t regret being a driver in a previous post but I am looking to change career.
I spent 2 years getting up to a level 3 qualification in counselling. The diploma is a 2 year course and quite time consuming so it’s been on the back burner for a while. My plan is to take it up again in September when the new course starts.
It’s emotionally draining but satisfying.I did that about 12-13 years ago, the diploma course is very good (If it is still the same!) It made me so self aware and aware in general, I couldn`t go forward and become a full time counsellor, as all I would have been doing, was lying to the clients!
You are conditioned in a way that enables others to go on working and thus contributing to the way society is today (Conforming!) Not a good thing in my veiw.
I did extra study regarding Asian phiosophy and philosophy in general…I think that is how I formed my opinions.
I get the impression from your posts that you have a more open minded view than some. It can drive you crackers though having empathy with people only for them to kick you in the nads with their narrow minded opinionated point of view 
To be honest YES as the enjoyment of the job is non existant any more, the pay in the transport sector is overall terrible, for all the effort of obtaining your licences and financial costs involved, to keep and mantain your licence , its far from worth while any more.
i’ve earned more driving a flt in a warehouse than i have done driving wagons for a living , plus it didnt cost me no were near as much to obtain my flt licence.
Neither did i have to work unsocialable long hours, nights out in stinking cabs, put up with idiots in transport office constantly spying on you with the tracker.
Considering the two I applied to are none driving jobs, that makes the answer yes.
I will get back into driving when I’m older, right now I just need a change.
gave up truck driving 10 years ago and i haven’t looked back.
i love my job working 35hrs wk ,earning alot more than i would driving trucks ,treated with respect and best of all i’m in my own bed everyday,
the good old days of driving trucks are long gone .
dafdave:
Up and till 2001 when I was retired injured I would never had left the trucking game.Happy as larry tramping uk/eu no probs.Looking at the job today dcpc,digital tachos,planners,extortionate parking fees,lack of decent parking,wtd, and some ive missed,no thanks I did 30+yrs but the job today I feel sorry for you lads and lasses out there, I would never go back now the job stinks,oh and one thing that slipped my mind for most of you[from what ive heard] crap wages.
regards dave.P.S.I forgot no decent kip for fear of getting load, diesel, or both pinched.
no sleep problems for me ■■■■ it they can take wtf they like lol im paid to drive not security