Your biography, a bit of fun

evil8beezle · 4 October 2015 20:03

Wardaddy:
Mr Truckman sir, I can better that. I have the last Gateway carrier bag made, prior to the Somerfield takeover.
Mr EvilBeezle as you’re so interested I will divulge a little celebrity titbit.
Remember This Is Your Life hosted by the late Eamonn Andrews? Well he had a red book moment all for me, until it mentioned my mentors’ first job running a book warehouse in Dallas in 1963. He passed away before the show was filmed, however he did lend a copy to ex Black and White Minstrel star Leslie Crowther who was proof reading it on the set of The Price Is Right before his tragic death in a car accident.
The red book was apparently purchased from his estate by pension expert Robert Maxwell who apparently drowned trying to retrieve it after it fell off his yacht in the early ‘90s.
I spent the next 6 years trying to find it, turned out some bloke called Dodo or something like that half inched it from Harrods’ staff canteen and gave it to his bit of rough during a meal in Paris. It’s whereabouts are now unknown as it disappeared following a car chase in August '97.
Well got to go now, my elderly mother needs her bed bath.

You’re not DipperDave’s schizophrenic twin are you?
He told me exactly the same story…

eddie_snax · 4 October 2015 20:38

I left school at 16 in 1983, went on a YTS scheme for a year at a local canning factory
Passed My car license a month after My 17th birthday in August 1984.
After a year on YTS, I went to work as a labourer for a roofing company. Earning a lot better money, and having a lot more of a laugh into the bargain.
Easter 1986 got My first driving job, driving a 7.5ton Bedford for a local builders merchant.
October 1988 got My class 1, first go.
May 1989 got My first full time artic job(done some weekend work prior to that)been driving artics ever since. Doing agricultural haulage, peas beans cereals spuds and finish the year on sugar beet. Then some general haulage til harvest work starts again.
Jan 1991 went to work for a company doing unaccompanied tilts mainly for Frans Maas, but also Norfolk line, and Scandinavian Express to name some others, mainly from the east ports(Great Yarmouth, Felixstowe, Harwich and Immingham usually)
That was the start of a 13 year association with Frans Maas, what a great company they were
Changed hauliers in 1992 to work exclusively to FM.
Then in 1994 went to work for a general haulier, but mainly to do Frans Maas distribution, and unaccompanied work, as that haulier was looking to get into this work. Though this did lead to some other general haulage work when things were quiet.
Got Married to My now long suffering Mrs in June 1996, we have 3 kids now. I’m not sure if all this tramping has kept us strong or helped to avoid oportunities to argue. but its a good life I reckon.
2003 went to work for Frans Maas as an employed Driver, instead of a subby driver.
July 2004 left FM, and went to work as a driver at a slaughter house. delivering hanging meat.
A year later that firm shut it doors, I went to work for the former owner on his new project general haulage .
October 2009 left there and went to do Container work from Felixstowe.
Changed companies in July 2012, but still doing containers.

That’s what I’ve been upto, not that exciting, sorry

trucken · 4 October 2015 22:41

Suedehead:

trucken:
Left school at 16 in 1979. Worked on the A329M construction site for a few months. Passed driving test a few days after 17th birthday.
Started working for an insurance company but, after 2 or 3 years, decided I couldn’t hack working in an office (and the pay was rubbish) so got a job as a trainee driver, initially on 7.5t (in those days limit was 3t unladen), for the local Council.
At 21 paid for my own HGV test (went straight for Class 1 in those days).
Then drove rigids for a builder’s merchant until I was 24.
Moved on to a large roof tile co. as a 6/8 wheeler driver, and relief artic driver. Back-breaking work as it was all handball then, but eventually we got Hiabs.
I got given the company’s first brand new T reg W&D, with Hiab.
I’ve been TUPE’d twice since then, because they outsourced their transport, but am still working on contract to the same company, as a tramper.
Now got a curtain-side W&D, with Moffett though, instead of a Hiab.
So, basically, been driving for a living since I was 19, and been delivering for the same roof tile company since 1979.
Also during that time, I spent 12 years in the TA (RCT/RLC) driving fuel tankers and occasionally ambulances.
I’m 60 now, but expect to carry on driving at least for a couple of years. Unlike some…I still enjoy it!

Got married at 19, been together for over 41 years (being a tramper helps! ) No kids…but various dogs over the years.

Maths has never been my strongest point but if you were 16 in 1979,how the frec are you 60 now

As explained above, typing was never my strong point, should have read “left school in 1971”

thomasb9295 · 5 October 2015 20:32

Like reading these stories ,mines not as good a story but here goes

Left school at 16 in December 1979 went to work for my local council on Jan 7th 1980 and then spent the next 34yrs working there , but for some reason over that time had a wee fascination for big trucks , a family member did drive for a living as a tramper ,so during the odd holidays in the mid 1980s used to take in the odd trip for a week here and there in a Daf 3300 , seen parts of the country that I didn’t know existed , being a naive 23yr old learnt an awful lot from this trucker and a great guy , seem to be more camaraderie amongst drivers back then and a bit of a drinking culture meeting new people ect.

Now fast forward to 2013 and I decide to follow my ambition and do my HGV so pass my class 2 first time , didn’t do much class 2 work just a wee bit of winter gritting for my employer ( local council ) so decide to do my class 1 just a couple of months after my class 2 ,failed first time felt gutted was an understatement , anyway got a cancellation and did a resit a week later and passed was thrilled to bits , all in all was about £2800 lighter in the back pocket to get the golden chalice , now what do I do stick or twist been working for the same place all my working life , do I move on do tramping which I always wanted to do see much more of the country , or do I stay where I am and just do a wee bit here and there for ‘fun’ and keep my steady income .

I’m sure you can all guess what happened next , was offered redundancy didn’t have to take it , but after serious consideration took the money and run , be a trucker it will be fun tramping all over the country seeing all the sights , yer it was ,I did enjoy it ------------for about 5min reality kicked in very soon away from home 5 nights Sunday runs cooped up in a tin box ect , big culture shock long hours nights out all week stress and strains , nope I wasn’t prepared for this although I was warned , I had thought this job would be like back 80s I was wrong well wrong , so only been in this game since October last year moved from job to job trying to find what suits me , currently doing 4 on 4 off home every night bit better feeling , yes did see a bit of the country did enjoy it up to a point ,moral of this story looked at this industry through rose tinted glasses , but I do love driving these huge trucks and I get a buzz doing it ,and hats off to the guys and gals that’s being doing it for years it is a feat getting these things into some of the places ,I’m doing DD work at the moment on days can’t do night trunking can’t do flat work ( had a go at both ) , who knows how long I’ll last this time , but one thing everyone I’ve came across has been very helpful when I’ve needed help and advice so thanks to all those people . BTW I’m 52 now these are the daft ideas you come up with when you reach your 50s all the best and stay safe

3_wheeler · 6 October 2015 14:56

Grew up on a farm, left at age 14 and shared a flat with a Hells Angel and another biker( who drove a truck )and spent a lot of time washing up in a pub or being a motorbike courier to survive. Life with the old man was easier when I did not live there !!!
The farm also owned a small haulage co. Learned to drive as a kid and regularly loaded/ unloaded and put truck away in the yard. Became a Qualified electrical engineer by age 22 but evenings and weekends drove trucks and also when I had no Electrical work of my own I drove an old TK , I passed old class 1 age 21 and a week in an old Atki with no power steering and a bandaged sprained wrist , I was near in tears and I think he felt sorry for me . Married at 22 no kids ever . Never could see the fascination.
In 1984 the old man was taken ill and had just got a European contract for a tanker with loads each way, so ex missus and me did Malaga and back for nigh on four yrs double cabbing. Built a few houses in Spain and made some good money ( ex missus ■■■■■■ off with my mate then too !!!) .
Sodded off around the world driving and being an electrical engineer for 12 years . South Africa , Oz, NZ, USA ,Spain and others. Enjoyed the freedom. And lived well.
Got to drive some big weird and wonderful stuff too, especially in OZ. Tramping there makes here look like you are playing at it.
Returned a few times over the years and drove for a few small outfits here and there just to pay the bills when visiting mother after the old man died.
Came back full time in 2009 after meeting current missus whilst she was in NZ teaching medical and 3 months after arriving home had a BIG heart problem that near killed me…I get my licence back in Mid 2017 after arguments galore with DVLA doctors. If I bother to get a digi card and do the stupid dcpc is another matter !!!
Always been a Volvo fan.

toby1234abc · 8 October 2015 21:01

My name is Ronnie Pickering, my biography will knock you out.

thomasb9295 · 10 October 2015 18:20

toby1234abc:
My name is Ronnie Pickering, my biography will knock you out.

Ha ha this is funny , best biography yet

tranny00 · 10 October 2015 19:59

If it was not for the abuse I would get I would tell you mine.

From normality to prostitution for money to keep a roof over my head.

To driving
But enjoying reading these

sinclair89 · 22 October 2015 22:05

Born 24th Dec 1989.

Did enough to get by in school with gcses but failed spectacularly at A-Level. I knew I wasn’t going to uni and just wanted to work.

Got involved with Maersk as a Officer Cadet at 18. Moved up to South Tyneside College and set up digs at Dr Winterbottom Halls. Went out on a Thursday night drinking “buckets” of some blue liquid, woke up Friday went out in a lifeboat on the Tyne and passed my lifeboat handling test.

Sailed to China, Japan, South Korea (got arrested in Korea) and round Australia.

Got my ticket off Neptune for crossing the equator, got to have a tour around the world’s largest container ship (at the time) Emma Maersk. It was going from that ship back to mine (Greenwich Maersk) that I got arrested. Long story short , 200 ■■■■ and an apology from the Captain made sure myself and 3 other cadets didn’t become fresh meat in South Korean prisons. Days out in Sydney, went for a day out in China.

Again decided that, although I loved the travel, I couldn’t hack College. I’m not book smart and I don’t succeed very well in written exams but give me something to do like tie knots or “fiddle” and I’m happy.

Friend set me up with his girlfriends best friend and after a few months of chatting and meeting up I went to live in Scotland at 19 in September '09.

Worked in a cafe , again made the best of the situation by having a laugh with the customers. Dumfries is small enough that you get regulars in and form a relationship. Funny to think that a scouser was the most exotic thing up there

January '10 moved back to liverpool with said girl and on Feb 21 2010 we was engaged. I was twenty she was (it was her birthday) 18.

A string of security jobs which I truly loved paid for the eventual wedding in July '12. I was married at 22. My friends came to the wedding just to make sure I wasn’t joking and to make sure my wife knew what she was getting into.

At 23 I decided it was time to follow my dad into truck driving. Passed class 2 in late '13 and started driving in mid '14. Gained my class 1 late '14 and Moffat licence. Worked at CCF and I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it but I was great full for the experience and the yard lads where top draw and I keep in touch with them today.

We also got a cat. He’s a baztard, but he’s my baztard

At some point between these dates my little brother (my best mate) passed out of the Army. I have never been so proud in all my life. Due to him not being able to spend much money during training , he took me on a night out in liverpool, when he got home , and we had a slobber knocker of a night.

Started this new job mid '15 obtaining my ADR and HIAB license. Just about to finish my 5th month and it’s been brilliant.

Still married after 3 years which I think for my generation is great.

At 25 I have achieved so much in that I am married, 2 cars, house and have a good job. Needless to say I have been fortunate as well to have to great parents. Allowing us to live essentially rent free for 2 years in their house so we could save up for the wedding and mortgage really gave us the step up we needed.

A lot of my friends are still at the stage of “it’s mad Monday let’s go out and get mortal”. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good knees up and fair to say I have ended nights in a state of disrepair but now a case of beer and a pizza on a Friday is all I need. Will meet up with them for big events/Birthdays.

Next couple of years involve 2 weeks in Florida '16 then possibly try for children in '17.

Here’s to the next 25.

sinclair89 · 22 October 2015 22:05