Yet I still can’t seem to work out why you’re in a crap job that you’re not happy with! 
P.S. Nice Avatar, it suits you… 
[/quote]
I like to explore the negativity amongst my counterparts. Anyone, who has the opposite opinion to mine, gets slagged off.
I still can’t understand why you want to defend the long hours, low pay culture for what is; a responsible job. You can’t kill people by accident, whilst stacking the shelves in Tesco, can you!
V40LLY:
I like to explore the negativity amongst my counterparts. Anyone, who has the opposite opinion to mine, gets slagged off.I still can’t understand why you want to defend the long hours, low pay culture for what is; a responsible job. You can’t kill people by accident, whilst stacking the shelves in Tesco, can you!
I don’t think you do explore negativity amongst your counterparts or peers, as every post you make is deliberately negative and tries to paint the industry in the worst light possible. Yes there are some drivers is certain parts of the country that earn only a little more above the minimum wage, but that is supply and demand i’m afraid. There are also drivers making 1.5 to 2 times the minimum wage, so I get a little tired with you constantly saying you could get the same money stacking shelves. I agree that the industry is underpaid and undervalued for the responsibility we have, but again that is supply and demand.
As for the long hours, yes you can complain about those, but at the same time you could argue that the hours are there if you want to make more money. You don’t have to work 60 or 70 hours, week in week out if you don’t want to. There is a certain amount of personal choice in that, with different jobs with varying shift patterns to suit the individual.
I’m going to make the assumption that you have always been a driver, and don’t know the realities of a lot of other peoples jobs. You just see the best bits that make you envious and bitter towards others, and for that i feel sorry for you… I worked previously in IT, and I can assure you that you don’t have a clue about how stressful that can be at times, but I’m guessing you just think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. It isn’t!!!
So can you please stop taking out your disappointment and anger with how your own life has turned out, and stop trying to ruin other peoples lives. No one on here thinks they are going to earn a fortune driving trucks, just an honest living that keeps a roof over their heads. Yes the industry is in a crap state, and pay should be high, but no other driver on here is directly responsible for that, so why take your anger out on them?
I’d suggest you try to look on the bright side of things a bit. Yes you have a job (other don’t) Prospects are slowly starting to look up, as there seems to be more vacancies advertised, and in turn (with a bit of luck) wages will start to reflect this. However they are never going to be amazing, as at the end of the day driving is (at best) considered a semi-skilled job that the majority of people could do. So if you’re looking for a cushy easy number that pays mega bucks, you sadly picked the wrong trade and industry. And if you didn’t work that out before you became a driver, who’s fault is that?
You may have missed it, but i did actually agree with 1 (only one!) of your previous posts. Where you told a youngster that driving wasn’t a good industry to choose a career in. But the way/tone you chose to do it in left a lot to be desired, as there was an aggressive and bitter undertone to your post. So feel free to give your opinion, but how about dropping the attitude and bitterness? You may end up a happier person… (just a though)
However, if you choose to continue to be aggressive, condescending, splenetic, and generally think you’re better than everyone else. Then you’re going to continue to ■■■■ heads with people on this forum, and I’d ask you to consider to yourself why that is…
Personal question now, which you can obviously ignore if you choose to , but why did you leave your job in IT ?
I doubt that you will earn as much as you did in IT in a truck and its obvious that you are an intelligent person from your posts ?
I have always fancied a driving job but I won’t take a pay cut for it , which is what it looks like I would have to do to at least get my foot i 
n the door
i am from IT as well, and making things short it can be quite stressful, you can be on call 24/7 depending on your role, you have to focus and do multiple things simultaneously, no luxury of doing something in a quiet environment and personally i find it boring and unhealthy sitting in front of a pc for 12 hours a day for the last 10 years. I can’t complain the pay is good, again depending on the role you might find it you live to work and not the other way round and you cannot really mentally escape from your work, it is a bit hard to explain though.
But probably i am one of those “the grass is greener somewhere esle” lads 
Truth:
Personal question now, which you can obviously ignore if you choose to , but why did you leave your job in IT ?
I doubt that you will earn as much as you did in IT in a truck and its obvious that you are an intelligent person from your posts ?
I have always fancied a driving job but I won’t take a pay cut for it , which is what it looks like I would have to do to at least get my foot i
Not a problem Truth. It was age, stress levels, loss of interest in the job, needed a change, etc…
Yes I would/could earn more money in IT, but I got sick of it. You are never off the clock as you COULD always be working, you just need to boot up the computer, and your back in the office even at midnight while you’re sat in your undies! 
It’s a case of the grass always looks greener when you’re stood the other side of the fence, but the reality of a job is often different. I’ve been there and done it, and therefore know it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I just want a job now that when the day is over, I don’t have to think about it again until the next day. It doesn’t work like that in any IT related job anymore, as there will always be those thoughts in your mind that you need to do X, Y or Z, and that nagging thought that you could be getting those done when you’ve supposedly clocked off for the day. Normally everything is done to a deadline, and as such you have to hit that deadline. A company will always say/claim that it’s a work-life balance, but the moment the crap hits the fan that goes out the window. So after you have worked yourself to death for the last few weeks to hit a deadline, you would think you could get that time back… But sadly that doesn’t tend to happen, as another deadline would appear on the horizon…
No job is stress free, they just have different types of stresses, and I got fed up with never feeling I could just relax and forget about work.
Hope that helps!
Priest:
i am from IT as well, and making things short it can be quite stressful, you can be on call 24/7 depending on your role, you have to focus and do multiple things simultaneously, no luxury of doing something in a quiet environment and personally i find it boring and unhealthy sitting in front of a pc for 12 hours a day for the last 10 years. I can’t complain the pay is good, again depending on the role you might find it you live to work and not the other way round and you cannot really mentally escape from your work, it is a bit hard to explain though.But probably i am one of those “the grass is greener somewhere esle” lads
I think we said the same thing - You were just more concise! 
I didn’t bother with the details like explaining things to managers that didn’t have a clue how to do your job, as that is a whole new conversation…
TWO perfectly reasonable answers
With two young kids (Old Dad I am , 46 with a 2 and 10 year old 
) and a mortgage to pay though I feel I like I can’t take the “gamble” of jacking in a job that gives me a comfortable life to TRY and become a concrete truck owner driver as much as I would like to …
Truth:
TWO perfectly reasonable answers
With two young kids (Old Dad I am , 46 with a 2 and 10 year old
With your commitments pal, I wouldn’t take the risk if you need to earn more than the average wages (for your area) to make ends meet. Also the hours and your family will be a big factor, and puts you in a completely different situation to me. I’m 44, single with dependents, so I don’t have the restrictions you have. I wouldn’t be bothered about tramping, working nights, or filling in on a shift at the last minute. Where you have a lot of other factors to consider…
As for owning a concrete wagon, that’s a big investment and trying to negotiate rates with clients is a stress I KNOW I wouldn’t want to deal with. i just want a quite life with minimal stress and enough to live on. My time in IT taught me that there is more to life than money…
Evil8Beezle:
Truth:
Personal question now, which you can obviously ignore if you choose to , but why did you leave your job in IT ?
I doubt that you will earn as much as you did in IT in a truck and its obvious that you are an intelligent person from your posts ?
I have always fancied a driving job but I won’t take a pay cut for it , which is what it looks like I would have to do to at least get my foot iNot a problem Truth. It was age, stress levels, loss of interest in the job, needed a change, etc…
Yes I would/could earn more money in IT, but I got sick of it. You are never off the clock as you COULD always be working, you just need to boot up the computer, and your back in the office even at midnight while you’re sat in your undies!
It’s a case of the grass always looks greener when you’re stood the other side of the fence, but the reality of a job is often different. I’ve been there and done it, and therefore know it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I just want a job now that when the day is over, I don’t have to think about it again until the next day. It doesn’t work like that in any IT related job anymore, as there will always be those thoughts in your mind that you need to do X, Y or Z, and that nagging thought that you could be getting those done when you’ve supposedly clocked off for the day. Normally everything is done to a deadline, and as such you have to hit that deadline. A company will always say/claim that it’s a work-life balance, but the moment the crap hits the fan that goes out the window. So after you have worked yourself to death for the last few weeks to hit a deadline, you would think you could get that time back… But sadly that doesn’t tend to happen, as another deadline would appear on the horizon…
No job is stress free, they just have different types of stresses, and I got fed up with never feeling I could just relax and forget about work.
Hope that helps!
well said
I have had nothing but good advice on here in fairness.
I need to go away on holiday in a couple of weeks time and have a good think…
The other option I suppose would be to pass my test and then pick up weekend work just to earn a few quid? As people have said though perhaps I would be better off stacking shelves for some extra dosh…
Evil8Beezle:
V40LLY:
I like to explore the negativity amongst my counterparts. Anyone, who has the opposite opinion to mine, gets slagged off.I still can’t understand why you want to defend the long hours, low pay culture for what is; a responsible job. You can’t kill people by accident, whilst stacking the shelves in Tesco, can you!
I don’t think you do explore negativity amongst your counterparts or peers, as every post you make is deliberately negative and tries to paint the industry in the worst light possible. Yes there are some drivers is certain parts of the country that earn only a little more above the minimum wage, but that is supply and demand i’m afraid. There are also drivers making 1.5 to 2 times the minimum wage, so I get a little tired with you constantly saying you could get the same money stacking shelves. I agree that the industry is underpaid and undervalued for the responsibility we have, but again that is supply and demand.
As for the long hours, yes you can complain about those, but at the same time you could argue that the hours are there if you want to make more money. You don’t have to work 60 or 70 hours, week in week out if you don’t want to. There is a certain amount of personal choice in that, with different jobs with varying shift patterns to suit the individual.
I’m going to make the assumption that you have always been a driver, and don’t know the realities of a lot of other peoples jobs. You just see the best bits that make you envious and bitter towards others, and for that i feel sorry for you… I worked previously in IT, and I can assure you that you don’t have a clue about how stressful that can be at times, but I’m guessing you just think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. It isn’t!!!
So can you please stop taking out your disappointment and anger with how your own life has turned out, and stop trying to ruin other peoples lives. No one on here thinks they are going to earn a fortune driving trucks, just an honest living that keeps a roof over their heads. Yes the industry is in a crap state, and pay should be high, but no other driver on here is directly responsible for that, so why take your anger out on them?
I’d suggest you try to look on the bright side of things a bit. Yes you have a job (other don’t) Prospects are slowly starting to look up, as there seems to be more vacancies advertised, and in turn (with a bit of luck) wages will start to reflect this. However they are never going to be amazing, as at the end of the day driving is (at best) considered a semi-skilled job that the majority of people could do. So if you’re looking for a cushy easy number that pays mega bucks, you sadly picked the wrong trade and industry. And if you didn’t work that out before you became a driver, who’s fault is that?
You may have missed it, but i did actually agree with 1 (only one!) of your previous posts. Where you told a youngster that driving wasn’t a good industry to choose a career in. But the way/tone you chose to do it in left a lot to be desired, as there was an aggressive and bitter undertone to your post. So feel free to give your opinion, but how about dropping the attitude and bitterness? You may end up a happier person… (just a though)
However, if you choose to continue to be aggressive, condescending, splenetic, and generally think you’re better than everyone else. Then you’re going to continue to ■■■■ heads with people on this forum, and I’d ask you to consider to yourself why that is…
Very well said Evil8, I think the constant negative and demeaning nature of V4lollys posts are a clear reflection of his own lack of acheivement and general unhappiness in life. It’s sad that some people need to put others achievements and aspirations down to make themselves feel better, but I guess that’s just life and people like him should be treat with the contempt he deserves !!
sure, wages are the most important reason any of us work, if we didnt get paid we wouldn’t do it. but other things are important too. when the alarm goes off in the morning i groan to myself. there is no job satisfaction for me, i drag myself to work every day. i earn plus or minus a couple of quid 952 per week, people say why the hell would you want to give that up to drive a truck for a fair bit less money?
but lets break that down. 8.50 per hour, time 1/2 after 8 hrs and double on a sunday. i work 12hrs 7 days a week, added to which time feels ten times as long as it really is because welding is mind numbingly dull. i probably wouldn’t leave if not for being made redundant in September because i am simply a slave to the wage packet. i would happily trade what i earn for a trucking job with 8 quid an hour basic if i could get the weekend rates. a few weeks ago i came very close to taking a tipper job earning half what i do now just to be doing what i enjoy without some kid of a supervisor half my age checking everything i do. but alas, i am a prisoner to a wage packet until the job ends, just knowing that it is coming to an end is all that keeps me going some days.
i would consider enjoying what you do to be just as important as the wage it brings. 8 quid an hour would be a fair wage in my opinion, which is achievable in my area. tramping would be my ideal job, which again is doable. i will adjust to the drop in overall wage. the last thing i will ever do is to take on another wage slave factory job that i hate.
jbaz73:
because welding is mind numbingly dull.
But on the bright side (literally), you can get a free suntan!
Although getting Arc eye is ■■■■■■■ excruciating (I know! 
)
However being serious; I hear you Baz, and you have to do something you enjoy. As if you don’t, life can be pretty painful… 
As for £8 an hour, it’s a low but realistic starting point, and anything above that is a bonus!
Best of luck whatever you do…
lol getting a free suntan may be the lesser of 2 evils (no pun) we are like knights of old all multi wrapped in heavy leathers all day, not too much fun in the recent heat. on the plus side the boss provided a bottomless glass of free chilled orange juice to make sure we didn’t drop dead or anything else that would inconvenience the business. probably a bit harsh, the boss is a good bloke, his son is a whole other thing :-/
i think i may be becoming bitter?
jbaz73:
i think i may be becoming bitter?
Read all of V40LLY’s posts, and I’m sure you will realise you’re fine!
V40LLY:
eagerbeaver:
No mate. I am a bit different to you pal. I encourage, you discourage.You will go away soon. You remind me of a dog ■■■■. Dreadful at first, but soon clears off.
You’re left wing, I’m right wing.
You are the definitive truck driver; fat, ugly, sweaty and brain dead!
Real life situation:
Parked up in parking place, next to me parks up another lorry. We are both on 45min stop. Other driver jumps out from cab, change his clothing to “some spandex like sportsman gear” puts on Hi Viz and goes for run. 45 min later he comes back from his run.
He is more than 2x of my size and looks like proper “gym guy”.
I’m still sitting in my cab, sat there all that time he was running, after what I saw I felt like I have completely wasted - lost 45min doing nothing of my life… unlike he…
In one of workplaces I have been working there were 7 - 10 guys that goes to gym after work and looks like proper “gym guys” and their conversations are about how much they can lift in that and this position etc…
This is not made up - it did really happen.
But yes 90% of what people see on streets in trucks are …
But it looks like a lot of new drivers that come into industry are very different…
Maybe i should join a welding forum and spill my bile on there. i could make it my personal crusade to put the newbies off the job for life. what do you think? maybe it would be therapeutic for me lol
jbaz73:
Maybe i should join a welding forum and spill my bile on there. i could make it my personal crusade to put the newbies off the job for life. what do you think? maybe it would be therapeutic for me
I’m questioning in my head if one would even exist■■? - Welder’s arn’t as sad as drivers are they? (Well, some drivers anyway… )
As for therapy, I’d say it depends what you’re looking to achieve. i.e. If your goal is to ■■■■ people off to the point of everyone hating you, then I guess it’s therapy, but I’d struggle with the argument of it being “Constructive” therapy!
Haha…kyk you have made me laugh pal.
You are right about the modern trucker. Put it this way, the beaver is a 6’ 4" ex squaddie.
eagerbeaver:
Haha…kyk you have made me laugh pal.You are right about the modern trucker. Put it this way, the beaver is a 6’ 4" ex squaddie.
Excellent, I get to call you shorty! (From the safety of my keyboard )
Hang on, that scenario sounds familiar…