FAO Truckers

[Taita]

Hello,

I was wondering what bits and bobs are in the cab of a modern truck? I've just watch an episode of Ice Road Truckers and the trucks looked very 'basic' on the dash, although with more gauges. Was there a lot out of camera shot?

I guess it depends on the type of truck, but are there TV's etc in the back. I think they have cupboards in the back cab bit? I saw a post by someone about ratchet strapping the doors shut at night to keep thieves out! WTF!

Incidentally, how do you go about becoming a trucker, and where is the money located in the industry? Do companies still pay for the training on the proviso you drive for them for X years? Long haul international stuff?

Thanks!

Edited by Taita on Monday 8th September 22:01

[Bushmaster]

You need to wear a vest and be good at fighting.

[sniff diesel]

Bushmaster said:

You need to wear a vest and be good at fighting.

And not see the problem with overtaking another truck 0.01mph faster.

[pgilc1]

Not being bothered about washing for a week at a time is another prerequisite.

[IforB]

You need to be good at committing murder and hiding bodies. Well according to Viz anyway.

[wavey]

You must love trucks cos the money is ste and constantly short your wage packet,you are constantly being shafted by the management who dont give a fk about there staff.
You also need a time machine because you have to be in several places at the same time.

[B17NNS]

Long-distance Clara drives a juggernaught
way down the motorway
to the busy port
Long-distance Clara - nothing's too far away
Picking up and dropping off, load after load

Long Distance Clara, shifts the gears
Long Distance Clara, she safely stears
Long Distance Clara, slams on the brakes
Long Distance Clara, accelerates
Long Distance Clara driving round the bend
Hot dinner waiting at her journeys end
Long Distance Clara, driving down the road
Always on time and never late

Long Distance Clara, well, she could drive,
across the Sahara....

Pole to pole, east to west
nothing's too far away
for Long-distance Clara

[philthy]

Taita said:

Hello,

I was wondering what bits and bobs are in the cab of a modern truck? I've just watch an episode of Ice Road Truckers and the trucks looked very 'basic' on the dash, although with more gauges. Was there a lot out of camera shot?

I guess it depends on the type of truck, but are there TV's etc in the back. I think they have cupboards in the back cab bit? I saw a post by someone about ratchet strapping the doors shut at night to keep thieves out! WTF!

Incidentally, how do you go about becoming a trucker, and where is the money located in the industry? Do companies still pay for the training on the proviso you drive for them for X years? Long haul international stuff?

Thanks!

Edited by Taita on Monday 8th September 22:01

I'll be the first sensible answer.
Normal dashboard has all relevant guages: Fuel, oil pressure, temerature, air pressures, ride height, voltage etc Plus of course tacho. The trip computers give detailed info, but rarely get used (I used to set mine to external temerature). The "living section" of the cab depends on the driver, but I had: fridge, TV, video, DVD, laptop (used to connect using GSM at first, then put an external WIFI antenna on), electric oven, gas hob, electric kettle. The cab does of course have a night heater, and more usualy, will have air con (if you run the engine). You make it as comfortable as you like. The bunks are very comfortable nowadays, and generally, you will be able to stand up. There are lots of lockers for you to hide your kit away. Hygeine is taken care of, showering in truck stops, or washing in your cab. While most motorway services are disgusting in this respect, independants tend to be very clean.
Security is an issue, but depends where you are. I'm a pretty big lad, and didn't have any problems, but did hear some horror stories of drivers out east (Russia).
You have to take two tests, if you are new to the game. Firstly you will have to pass a rigid licence, and then take another test to pull a trailer. It costs a small fortune, and is not easy. There are firms that will train you up, but will want their pound of flesh back in the form of some contract stating you will pay them back if you leave before x amount of time. One thing for certain, there is no shortage of work.
Pay is a difficult question. If you want to do 9-5 pottering about locally, don't expect much. If you don't mind "nights out", you can earn some good tin. I was making circa £30k on a tanker (not fuel) 6 years ago, and home every weekend. If you want to go abroad, or specialise (good dosh on car transporters), you can do much better.
If you are just in it for the money, get your licence, get some experience (not easy), and then go the car transporter/hazpac route. If you enjoy travelling (which is why I did it), go "over the water", and have a ball in foreign climes.
I'll presume you are single? If not, it can be very hard leaving family/girlfriend/wife/kids at home if this is the choice you make. If you are single, it can be lots of fun depending where you get weekended On the plus side, single, with a good wage, and (possibly) very low outgoings at home, you can save a good wedge living in the motor.
There are lots of downsides though.
You will experience the complete ignorance of a large majority of car drivers about driving ability (strangely, not bikers though?). Every official with a high vis vest and a chip on their shoulder has the right stop you and take a big lump off your working day for fk all. Stupidly low speed limit on A roads, that will ensure you witness lots of accidents (40mph). This of course makes you an ideal target for any scumbag with a laser to fill his/her quota for the day.

It's not a job, more a way of life.

I'm out of it, but I'm hanging on to my C+E, because it is very hard to get nowadays, and guarantees an income, should something go wrong.

cue trucker flaming from those that have never even sat in one........

[The Black Duke]

I would have loved to be a trucker when I was a kid.. I really wanted to be a train driver too.

[Taita]

philthy said:

Taita said:

Hello,

I was wondering what bits and bobs are in the cab of a modern truck? I've just watch an episode of Ice Road Truckers and the trucks looked very 'basic' on the dash, although with more gauges. Was there a lot out of camera shot?

I guess it depends on the type of truck, but are there TV's etc in the back. I think they have cupboards in the back cab bit? I saw a post by someone about ratchet strapping the doors shut at night to keep thieves out! WTF!

Incidentally, how do you go about becoming a trucker, and where is the money located in the industry? Do companies still pay for the training on the proviso you drive for them for X years? Long haul international stuff?

Thanks!

Edited by Taita on Monday 8th September 22:01

I'll be the first sensible answer.
Normal dashboard has all relevant guages: Fuel, oil pressure, temerature, air pressures, ride height, voltage etc Plus of course tacho. The trip computers give detailed info, but rarely get used (I used to set mine to external temerature). The "living section" of the cab depends on the driver, but I had: fridge, TV, video, DVD, laptop (used to connect using GSM at first, then put an external WIFI antenna on), electric oven, gas hob, electric kettle. The cab does of course have a night heater, and more usualy, will have air con (if you run the engine). You make it as comfortable as you like. The bunks are very comfortable nowadays, and generally, you will be able to stand up. There are lots of lockers for you to hide your kit away. Hygeine is taken care of, showering in truck stops, or washing in your cab. While most motorway services are disgusting in this respect, independants tend to be very clean.
Security is an issue, but depends where you are. I'm a pretty big lad, and didn't have any problems, but did hear some horror stories of drivers out east (Russia).
You have to take two tests, if you are new to the game. Firstly you will have to pass a rigid licence, and then take another test to pull a trailer. It costs a small fortune, and is not easy. There are firms that will train you up, but will want their pound of flesh back in the form of some contract stating you will pay them back if you leave before x amount of time. One thing for certain, there is no shortage of work.
Pay is a difficult question. If you want to do 9-5 pottering about locally, don't expect much. If you don't mind "nights out", you can earn some good tin. I was making circa £30k on a tanker (not fuel) 6 years ago, and home every weekend. If you want to go abroad, or specialise (good dosh on car transporters), you can do much better.
If you are just in it for the money, get your licence, get some experience (not easy), and then go the car transporter/hazpac route. If you enjoy travelling (which is why I did it), go "over the water", and have a ball in foreign climes.
I'll presume you are single? If not, it can be very hard leaving family/girlfriend/wife/kids at home if this is the choice you make. If you are single, it can be lots of fun depending where you get weekended On the plus side, single, with a good wage, and (possibly) very low outgoings at home, you can save a good wedge living in the motor.
There are lots of downsides though.
You will experience the complete ignorance of a large majority of car drivers about driving ability (strangely, not bikers though?). Every official with a high vis vest and a chip on their shoulder has the right stop you and take a big lump off your working day for fk all. Stupidly low speed limit on A roads, that will ensure you witness lots of accidents (40mph). This of course makes you an ideal target for any scumbag with a laser to fill his/her quota for the day.

It's not a job, more a way of life.

I'm out of it, but I'm hanging on to my C+E, because it is very hard to get nowadays, and guarantees an income, should something go wrong.

cue trucker flaming from those that have never even sat in one........

Brilliant, just what I was after! Any recommendations of companies to do the training with, then pay them back later? I assume big outfits like Stobart run their own programs?

[philthy]

Taita said:

Brilliant, just what I was after! Any recommendations of companies to do the training with, then pay them back later? I assume big outfits like Stobart run their own programs?

As I said, I'm out of it, but I'm sure a few well written letters to the big names would yield results.
There is a massive shortage of HGV drivers, especially good ones. Do it right, and I'm pretty sure you choose whatever direction you want to go.

Good luck.

Edit to add:

http://www.eddiestobart.co.uk/Careers/Driver_Train...

Not my cup tea, but each to their own,

Edited by philthy on Monday 8th September 23:31

[TheEnd]

An interest in trailers and trailer design can be quite useful.


















'cos you'd be spending hours staring at the back of one stuck at 56mph!!!

[EDLT]

philthy said:

Taita said:

Brilliant, just what I was after! Any recommendations of companies to do the training with, then pay them back later? I assume big outfits like Stobart run their own programs?

As I said, I'm out of it, but I'm sure a few well written letters to the big names would yield results.
There is a massive shortage of HGV drivers, especially good ones. Do it right, and I'm pretty sure you choose whatever direction you want to go.

Good luck.

I thought truckers were one of the bigger groups of people complaining about Polish workers "stealing" their jobs?

[philthy]

TheEnd said:

An interest in trailers and trailer design can be quite useful.




'cos you'd be spending hours staring at the back of one stuck at 56mph!!!

Very true.
Perhaps the single most stupid piece of legislation to be implemented.

Removing speed limiters will stop "elephant racing" in a single stroke, thus relieving congestion. It will also prevent some drivers falling asleep, as we used to concentrate looking for plod when we were "flying" along at 65mph.

[TheEnd]

We got it last year or so when 7.5t had the limiters fitted also, rightly or wrongly, it can make journeys very monotonous.

I won't say truckers are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel, but they have an excuse for it

[timbob]

B17NNS said:

Long-distance Clara drives a juggernaught
way down the motorway
to the busy port
Long-distance Clara - nothing's too far away
Picking up and dropping off, load after load

Long Distance Clara, shifts the gears
Long Distance Clara, she safely stears
Long Distance Clara, slams on the brakes
Long Distance Clara, accelerates
Long Distance Clara driving round the bend
Hot dinner waiting at her journeys end
Long Distance Clara, driving down the road
Always on time and never late

Long Distance Clara, well, she could drive,
across the Sahara....

Pole to pole, east to west
nothing's too far away
for Long-distance Clara

Is that from Pigeon Street?

[dickkark]

Unless you own the trucks or the loads on them the money in trucking is in recovering them.

I recently got in to this for myself.
a scary(for me)massive initial outlay but the returns are great,far greater than the recovery of cars.
I have a smaller wagon which makes a pittance in comparison.

I knew many years ago from friends who have been working heavy recovery that the cost to the customer for recovery is enormous and as I also deal with commercials anyway it made sense.

Had never until recently been able to afford such a massive financial risk.
But the O/H`s business really took off in the last five years,we sold our inherited bungalow and I bought the truck out right while stting myself.

besides repairing cars and commercials my workshop design and build special adaptions.
our current job is fitting a 6 wheel scania curtainsider with scaffold tube straightening equipment to be shipped to africa,the last lot were four ex army bedfords fitted with water sanitation plants.

I certainly would not want to spend my life in one as the older,long term drivers I see look shagged to be honest.
along with spine compression,bells palsy,heart attacks and general bad posture.

most motorists dont give a st that you can`t swerve round them or stop when they cut in front of you,
have absolutely no respect or even register that you are probably 40 tons and 30 foot the better of them.
you only have to search on PH to see the way people view them.
Strangely enough if I`m towing I get plenty of room and respect.

I would like to see some of the piss taking clowns on here try to drive a tractor trailer and then let them see how they get on,
It`s not quite the same as that high cube transit you drove for your mate once is it?
good luck (and backaches)

Edited by dickkark on Tuesday 9th September 03:16

[Obi Wan]

You need some porno mags on the dashboard.

[Trooper2]

Taita said:

Hello,

I was wondering what bits and bobs are in the cab of a modern truck? I've just watch an episode of Ice Road Truckers and the trucks looked very 'basic' on the dash, although with more gauges. Was there a lot out of camera shot?

I guess it depends on the type of truck, but are there TV's etc in the back. I think they have cupboards in the back cab bit? I saw a post by someone about ratchet strapping the doors shut at night to keep thieves out! WTF!

Incidentally, how do you go about becoming a trucker, and where is the money located in the industry? Do companies still pay for the training on the proviso you drive for them for X years? Long haul international stuff?

Thanks!

Edited by Taita on Monday 8th September 22:01

Driving on 40" of ice for 3 months out of the year did you think they would be driving brand new Western Stars or Kenworths?


They drive old junk on the northern ice roads.

How do you become a trucker?......... get yourself a C.D.L. and a Lobotomy.....;)

[wizzbilly]

look at at all the haters on this thread , makes me laugh you would be first to complain if he went and sat on the dole am sure , most of them have probley never even been in one let alone driven one .

to try and answer some of your questions even though i dont drive them but have my licence and have been around them since i could crawl lol

as for employment to be honest untill you have help your licence for few years pepole realy arnt going to give much mainly aggencys which then work towards a permant position .

as for training might be worth giving these pepole a call http://www.denbytransport.co.uk

as for the money its not that bad providing you are good which takes years and years .

on top of your wages wht they advertise there will be a sum of money for every night out spent about 30-40pounds depending on your contract .

trucks are quite refined these days and most tend to be automatics , cruise control and your away .

you will have to be prepared to sit in trafic jams and the uswell dick heads on the road but wouldnt worry about them , thats what the trailer is there for make them move onto the hard shoulder or force them of the wrong slip roads for been s lol most pepole will stick fingures up at you and you cant catch them due to retardrd to 56mph unless you seek employment in ireland then you do what the fook you like lol .

as for passing the actual test its much easyer than it used to be 15yrs ago ,hence why there is so many acidents , cause they just let any idiot pass with a 20ft trailer and let them out to play with big ones .

you have to be willing and happy enough in your own company and be prepared for long 15hr days , its only as hard as you make it realy .

i passed mine in 3days 23hrs was supposed to take 7days but he put me in before hand , i had been shunting around yards backing trailers onto bays etc since was 13 though ( private proptey)

i would sugest you talk to a few drivers see if you can go with them for a day or 2 see what you think before forking out thousands for your test , most are freindly enough and would be glad of the company , providing you checked it up due to insurance purposes etc

sorry about poor english not my stroing point before you all start trying to flame me .