So, in future, if they look sensible, I.e the shirt and tie platers… I’ll offer em a lift…
For those of you who will drive past platers spare a thought for how that nice new lorry your boss bought you to drive actually got to your yard. Without platers, it wouldn’t have arrived. It will likely have moved 3 times by trade plate drivers. 1. From docks (assuming an import) to main distributer. 2. From there to dealer. 3. From dealer to customer.
In the case of a rigid it will also probably have made a trip to a body builders and back.
Sometimes platers get dropped out of previous lifts in horrendous places. i.e. A lift giver will say “I’m going to xyz town”. Plater thinks that’s great that’s just where i need to be.
Then 8 miles before the town the drivers says “this is where I turn off” as he turns onto an unclassified road. So the plater now has to stand on a fast moving busy main road, perhaps with the sun behind him so drivers can’t see him/read his destination and no safe place for traffic to stop. Not his choice to hitch there.
Of course had the driver told him he was actually going to turn off before the town, the plater would have got out at the last services or main junction.
One poster said platers don’t pick other platers up. Generally they do, but its illegal to carry them unless they work for the same co.
thelorryist:
So, in future, if they look sensible, I.e the shirt and tie platers… I’ll offer em a lift…
Many years ago I tried to hitch somewhere one day to pick a repaired car up whilst dressed like that. I gave it up as a bad job.
Next day tried again, but this time dressed in blue drivers trousers and a blue polo shirt. I was away in minutes!
One poster said platers don’t pick other platers up. Generally they do, but its illegal to carry them unless they work for the same co.
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Exactly they wouldn’t break the rules for you or me, but expect everyone else’s liability insurance to cover them!
We had one drop my new lorry off a few months back. He said he had come from Manchester (to Colchester) and was told there would be another lorry to pick up to go back with, always remember his face when told there was no other lorry to go back with. Often wonder how long that would take him to get back and felt quite sorry for the guy would of helped him out if i could, but then again he choose the job, I’m sure McDonald’s would of been easier and paid just as well
I’ve never picked one up, but had a couple wander over and expect a lift just because the traffic lights were red. Don’t their companies give them travelling allowances, if so why not use it? A bit like a lorry driver getting an allowance to park up in a secure area but pocketing the money and parking in a layby.
Muckaway:
I’ve never picked one up, but had a couple wander over and expect a lift just because the traffic lights were red. Don’t their companies give them travelling allowances, if so why not use it? A bit like a lorry driver getting an allowance to park up in a secure area but pocketing the money and parking in a layby.
Not enough to cover it believe it or not.
Never done the job, went for an interview, got all the information and decided it wasn’t for me.
Things like ‘paid for the expected hours’ put me off straight away.
I’ve done vehicle moving for another firm, but they paid all hours, they made damned sure you got between jobs, either by supplying the train / coach ticket or other vehicles meeting you etc.
If you had to overnight, they put you in a hotel, if it was a late finish or early start, you were in a hotel.
And yet it still paid, so when the firms say they can’t afford this or that, they’re full of crap, ok he’s not as big as some of the others, but he looks after his staff, and that’s important to me
I often pick up hikers and one evening I saw this older guy,dressed immaculately in a blazer and slacks waving a trade plate and when he told me where he wanted to go I said that was fine but I had 3 drops en-route, no problem he says, drop 1 he’s in the back watching what I’m doing, drop 2 he’s in the back helping, drop 3 and while I’m off up the lane with the horse he’s got the partitions all closed, ramp and air up and ready to roll.
Then we meet his wife in a lay-by near the M4 and she has a bottle of red for me 
Equitran:
I often pick up hikers and one evening I saw this older guy,dressed immaculately in a blazer and slacks waving a trade plate and when he told me where he wanted to go I said that was fine but I had 3 drops en-route, no problem he says, drop 1 he’s in the back watching what I’m doing, drop 2 he’s in the back helping, drop 3 and while I’m off up the lane with the horse he’s got the partitions all closed, ramp and air up and ready to roll.
Then we meet his wife in a lay-by near the M4 and she has a bottle of red for me
Karma at its finest
Equitran:
I often pick up hikers and one evening I saw this older guy,dressed immaculately in a blazer and slacks waving a trade plate and when he told me where he wanted to go I said that was fine but I had 3 drops en-route, no problem he says, drop 1 he’s in the back watching what I’m doing, drop 2 he’s in the back helping, drop 3 and while I’m off up the lane with the horse he’s got the partitions all closed, ramp and air up and ready to roll.
Then we meet his wife in a lay-by near the M4 and she has a bottle of red for me
I know we should not tar all with the same brush, but not all are as lucky as you.
Is it just me company policy says no passengers so when you drive past a trade plate on slip road he stares at you knowing theres an empty seat beside you in truck and trys to make you feel guilty as he raises his sign and plates to show he wants a lift
I have worked for two companies that have had their own trade plate division and so you were ‘expected’ to give them a lift if you saw them.
Very few of them were a trouble-free lift. I had several who complained when I had to stop for a break because it meant they would be late home. They threw their bags onto my bed without a second thought, even if it was raining and they were wet. They always expected a door to door service and generally acted as though getting them to their destination was my priority! There were some good ones, but few and far between.
They did get their bus tickets, taxi’s and trains paid. As far as I’m concerned, it’s using someone else’s good nature to save you going out of your way to do your own job just to make life easier! And yes, before anyone says it, we do all give and receive help in various ways during our working week - but we don’t expect it, and base our jobs on getting it! It’s like begging when you’ve got money.
Sorry to sound so bitter, but I’ve had my fill of them. I was once asked to meet up with one to collect some paperwork from him. I rang him to see where he was and where would be a convenient place to meet. He was totally unwilling to change his route - even though he was in a car. So he was happy for someone to help him, but not willing to return the favour. 
I think I’ve made my feelings clear 
ST3:
Is it just me company policy says no passengers so when you drive past a trade plate on slip road he stares at you knowing theres an empty seat beside you in truck and trys to make you feel guilty as he raises his sign and plates to show he wants a lift
No mate you’re not alone. A bit like getting cash out and seeing a tramp begging.
Oh no it isn’t they just blew their cash on drink, drugs and Ladbrokes, ■■■■■■■■ to them. 
Muckaway:
ST3:
Is it just me company policy says no passengers so when you drive past a trade plate on slip road he stares at you knowing theres an empty seat beside you in truck and trys to make you feel guilty as he raises his sign and plates to show he wants a liftNo mate you’re not alone. A bit like getting cash out and seeing a tramp begging.
Oh no it isn’t they just blew their cash on drink, drugs and Ladbrokes, ■■■■■■■■ to them.
True I always find they sit right by the cash point, once drew a few notes out turned round and heard spare us some change ?
I replied sorry I haven’t got nothing, he must of thought Prick but why should I pay for there beer.
Ive never picked up a hitch hiker, and probably never will. If I pass 1 on a slip road I usually put my hand up and thumb down to indicate "sorry no can do" I once pulled off the M1 at J29 because a warning light came on and I needed to stop and switch off the ignition for a moment and restart, so I pulled up the off ramp, across the other side and stopped at the bottom of the on ramp, however I did notice there was a hicker at the top of the on ramp, but Id no intention of giving em a lift, & had fgiven him the thumbs down.
I was more interested in sorting the truck out. But you can guess what happened …yup, the hiker took it that Id stopped for him, and legged it down the length of the slip road, and the next thing I knew hes banging on the N/S door, just as I fired up the engine, and put it in gear. There was some strange gestures as I pulled away with him stood on the road.
I once did a job at wilko`s at worksop, and one day a report came in that an agency driver was seen driving through town with his missus & 3 kids in the cab. Needless to say his day was cut short
We are not allowed to give lifts to anyone.
It’s company policy & no one but company employee’s are covered by the insurance.
I think it’s now a sackable offence!!
grumpybum:
I have worked for two companies that have had their own trade plate division and so you were ‘expected’ to give them a lift if you saw them.Very few of them were a trouble-free lift. I had several who complained when I had to stop for a break because it meant they would be late home. They threw their bags onto my bed without a second thought, even if it was raining and they were wet. They always expected a door to door service and generally acted as though getting them to their destination was my priority! There were some good ones, but few and far between.
They did get their bus tickets, taxi’s and trains paid. As far as I’m concerned, it’s using someone else’s good nature to save you going out of your way to do your own job just to make life easier! And yes, before anyone says it, we do all give and receive help in various ways during our working week - but we don’t expect it, and base our jobs on getting it! It’s like begging when you’ve got money.
Sorry to sound so bitter, but I’ve had my fill of them. I was once asked to meet up with one to collect some paperwork from him. I rang him to see where he was and where would be a convenient place to meet. He was totally unwilling to change his route - even though he was in a car. So he was happy for someone to help him, but not willing to return the favour.
I think I’ve made my feelings clear
I know exactly what you mean with that post, we too had a gang of about 20 regulars who acted in the same manner, things like, I need a lift to Oxford in the morning. OK, no problem, be in the yard at 5am. I am not doing that, will you wait until 7am?
No can do, I have to be in Brands Hatch before 10am 
One particular thing I remember was a bloke who drank in my old local pub in Yorkshire, a gobby obnoxious fellow when he had a drink 
who had had many many jobs, was in the pub one day in a smart suit with a new Mercedes outside. I said you must have fallen on your feet this time Brian.
Yes I am working for a large transport company in Oxfordshire, I am in that big Merc which was supposed to impress me.
A couple of weeks later I started work at Ontime Automotive and I was planned to go to Rome, but they sent me in the morning with another driver to learn the paperwork, imagine my surprise and his shock when I walked into the office and Brian was stood in a queue at the window. He was with other smartly dressed blokes carrying trade plates in his hand waiting for some keys
It quite tickled me all the way to Rome and back
i never pick up any hitch hikers (even female ones) as you dont know what could happen too you or be accussed of
Never pick anyone up as never know