what’s it like being a continental truck driver? my mate as just been offered a job buthe is not sure totake it or not, as he could be awwy from home up to a month. also what are the average wage for a continenal driver does anyone have any idea thanks
Short anwer is UK pays better. But if your mate is single the int. life is better. If married or wanting more dosh…stick with what he`s got…
That’s broadly true Harry.
If I had young kids I wouldn’t want to be away for a month at a time, in fact the job I do now means I’m usualy only away for 4 nights. But the choice would depend entirely on my circumstances at the time of the job offer.
A job for a local International company which expected you to be away for a month at a time might well mean the chance of the occasional night at home during the month, it might also mean 4 or 5 days at home between trips. It could also mean being paid 7 days out of 7, for the time you are away. All these little things can make the job worth doing.
Your mate will have to ask about these sorts of things Saddler and about the money. International work is almost the same as UK work, if you only go into Europe, including the money. The biggest differences these days is the distances that can be covered and the general attitude to truck drivers in Europe.
i wouldnt change it for the world…tell him to go for it…you are treated far better…the facilities are a lot better…such as showers…parking …and its free…the only difference is on the night out money …which normally averages £25-£30…
the loading -unloading is normally done on ramps or bays …something we have a shortage of in this country…and the continentals work in the modern day …unlike the uk who works 20 years in the past…
so if it suits him…if the moneys good …go for it…
Roads are ten times better than here, there are fantastic truckstops everywhere, you can get a shower anywhere including most places you load or tip at, you are treated in a totally different way.
As said, UK pay is normally higher- we earn £4 a day less on continental work but all of us are quite happy to do continental work under that term and I personally would be happy if I never did UK work at all.
Int. Is more a way of life than a job… I loved it & had great times…
The main thing about doing Europe is you need to have a supportive partner/wife … something I thankfully have!
No good doing the job if you expect to be home every weekend and wifey expects you to carry the shopping every Saturday lol
It has been about 4 weeks now since I have had a weekend at home but I accept it as part of a very fulfilling and satisfying job.
Hello Saddler if your mate does not take it let me know im looking for contintenal work, the onething noone mentions is the cost of suporting yourself in europe is alot cheaper your nightout money goes alot further than the uk =ie here in Spain you can get a 3 coarse meal for 8euros 5pounds and that includes wine where can you get that in the uk.
ps i live in spain
alf apsey. Its true that food is better quality & cheaper in Europe . I would only cook if I had to. In UK I seldom ate anything that I hadn`t prepared myself because the food is poor quality & expensive… In Spain a trucker can live like a king…In UK I got to take home most of the night -out money at the end of the week, but it just gets spent anyway .( & of course life was mind numbingly boring…)