Big Jon’s dad:
Update about BigJon: he has started with his new company and is getting on well. The pay is more than he thought it was but I can’t elaborate further. Due to the sensitive cargo he is moving he is reluctant to comment much in public about the job, and he has signed confidentiality agreements in any case. It would be a shame to get the elbow for blabbing on here about what he does at work, when it took him so long to find a decent job. Suffice to say he is very pleased with the work, the pay and the benefit package.
That’s good news, although telling people that he’s doing ok is hardly blabbing is it? I can’t recall anyone mentioning what they haul on here, apart from Wire’s story about bees, so hope to hear from him soon
He also says he is a bit fed up of other people arguing and back biting on the xpat drivers’ forums/fora <sp?> so he can’t see the point of posting just to be sniped at.
BJD
Arguing & back biting, different people having different views, whatever you call it, that’s a price we pay for having free speech & democracy, I suppose it would be nice if everybody agreed with everybody on every issue, would be pretty boring though, don’t you think? Sometimes listening to somebody else’s views can open your mind to things that you previously wouldn’t have considered, we can’t always be right, much as we’d like to think differently, it’s just not the case, not for those of us that live in the real world anyway
newmercman:
That’s good news, although telling people that he’s doing ok is hardly blabbing is it? I can’t recall anyone mentioning what they haul on here, apart from Wire’s story about bees, so hope to hear from him soon
BJD: Shh, I’ve said too much already…
Arguing & back biting, different people having different views, whatever you call it, that’s a price we pay for having free speech & democracy, I suppose it would be nice if everybody agreed with everybody on every issue, would be pretty boring though, don’t you think? Sometimes listening to somebody else’s views can open your mind to things that you previously wouldn’t have considered, we can’t always be right, much as we’d like to think differently, it’s just not the case, not for those of us that live in the real world anyway
I’m on about the putdowns and slagging off that goes on by those that seem to get their kicks from making other posters miserable. Free speech and coherent counter points are fine, gratuitous insults are not.
It seems to me, having lived in both Canada & the UK, that attitudes to other peoples’ success differs markedly. In Canada, someone who is doing well is encouraged and looked up to. People aspire to do as well themselves. In the UK, the attitude seems to be that it is unfair if someone else is doing better than them so they must do something to spoil the successful person’s acheivements. Instead of working to be as successful themselves, they prefer to prevent anyone being successful. This attitude is noticable to me as a small business owner in the UK. The politics of envy is definately alive in the UK. I see some expat Brits in Canada have brought their attitudes with them and haven’t adopted the Canadian attitude to success yet.
There are many here that are quick to condemn, doesn’t bother me though, after just a few posts they soon show themselves up to be the wind up merchants that they are, sometimes though it’s just debate, I think that you should only post something on here if you would say the same thing face to face, unless somebody is being a complete idiot there is no need to resort to personal attacks.
The mentality of the green eyed monster is all too common, if somebody in the UK saw a Ferrarri driving down the road with the roof down the response would likely be ‘flash git, hope it rains’ whereas in Canada it would be totally different, something like ‘wow nice car’ or more likely ‘Is he mad? it’s -50c & snowing, he really needs to put the roof up’
There is also a ‘little Britain’ mentality amongst some of the ex-pat community, much as there is in Spain, they don’t mix with the locals & live in each others pockets all the time, they usually have a Union Jack stuck on their car & their clothes & moan that they can’t get PG Tips or whatever, I don’t understand it at all, after all if Britain was so great, why on earth did they leave? However, having said that, I would like to get my hands on some Jaffa Cakes, Bloody Canadians
I know I speak for the rest of the MB contingent on TNUK when I send my best wishes for your lad in his new job
As my dad has said, jobs going great. about to start my 2nd week there today… after i get some sleep working the late shift is kinda weird, especially driving back up in the dark.
I cant say too much about the job, like my dad has said. Sensitive cargo, dealing with customs etc, cant mention too much as it could provide an insight into the way customs works with FedEx.
Got to drive the Semi back on Wednesday night, we went down double manned, as im still in training. Was fun being let loose on my own, being allowed to think for myself without much input from the trainer. He agrees my shifting is a little rusty, but he said im definitely OK to be let loose on my own. Driving the Semi, will only be an occasional thing, as we only have 1 in Edmonton thats used by our division of FedEx, which is the Express division. FedEx Freight have Semi’s but they are all O/O’s . Still getting to drive occasionally is good for me, I will be back on the day shift next week, doing P&D work. Hopefully get my uniform soon
Thanks Jons, I can get Marmite, Hob Nobs & Penguins ok, but the JCs are elusive so far, there’s a shop in Winnipeg that orders in British stuff, I put my name down for some Jaffas in August, Octobers here & still ain’t got any, although my mate, who doesn’t come on here, had a trip to NYC at the same time as his Mum & Dad went over for a holiday so, bless him, he got Mum to bring over some Jaffa Cakes for me, I met him in Wisconsin & swallowed the things whole, mmmmmm mmmmmmmm
I sometimes venture up into Alberta, I try to avoid it though as I can’t stand running up through Saskatchewan, if I do go there it’s either to Calgary or Edmonton, sometimes both so keep an eye out for me & I’ll let you buy me a Timmies, you never know I may have some Jaffa Cakes by then
I drive this
I doubt it will be as shiny by the time I get through all the crap that’s on the roads now though
will probably have a few more things by the time shes getting ready to visit me
And this is what im driving atm (well not this exact one but almost identical apart from mine is a curtainsider)
will try get a few pics of the semi, and my own truck, and maybe the plane when i get down to the airport terminal. Im working out of the city station this week, not the airport (Holiday cover)
newmercman:
Thanks Jons, I can get Marmite, Hob Nobs & Penguins ok, but the JCs are elusive so far, there’s a shop in Winnipeg that orders in British stuff, I put my name down for some Jaffas in August, Octobers here & still ain’t got any, although my mate, who doesn’t come on here, had a trip to NYC at the same time as his Mum & Dad went over for a holiday so, bless him, he got Mum to bring over some Jaffa Cakes for me, I met him in Wisconsin & swallowed the things whole, mmmmmm mmmmmmmm
I sometimes venture up into Alberta, I try to avoid it though as I can’t stand running up through Saskatchewan, if I do go there it’s either to Calgary or Edmonton, sometimes both so keep an eye out for me & I’ll let you buy me a Timmies, you never know I may have some Jaffa Cakes by then
I drive this
I doubt it will be as shiny by the time I get through all the crap that’s on the roads now though
Nice rig,
even though you do need somewhere the size of Yorkshire to get it turned
Is it a nightmare to keep clean during the Canadian Winter
A black truck is a real pain in wintertime, especially running the US, all the salt really does a number on my shiny bits, I usually take it through a truckwash at Fargo ND on my way out, I get the tanks, steps, grille etc polished in early summer & if I find a crack head in a truckstop I may get them touched up in the winter, but it’s like painting the Forth Bridge, I try my best to keep it looking good & the company pays for it all, which is good
A black truck is a real pain in wintertime, especially running the US, all the salt really does a number on my shiny bits, I usually take it through a truckwash at Fargo ND on my way out, I get the tanks, steps, grille etc polished in early summer & if I find a crack head in a truckstop I may get them touched up in the winter, but it’s like painting the Forth Bridge, I try my best to keep it looking good & the company pays for it all, which is good
Big Jon,
Why did you have to mention Minstrels
Nope, wasn’t me!
It was Big Truck that was asking.
If I was buying a truck for use in Canada it would be either silver or krappy (zb dodge ) brown so the dirt would be less noticable.
When I was in Edmonton in January, I noticed the car washes are all indoors. I wonder if there are indoor truck washes too.
SEEMS RATHER STRANGE READING ALL THESE POSTS ABOUT BEING HOURLY PAID, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH ALL YOU GUYS YOU CANT RELATE DRIVING TO HOURLY RATES, WHEN I WAS TRUCKING AROUND EUROPE WE USED TO GET PAID TRIP MONEY ( IE- 6 DAYS FOR ROME ) IF YOU DID IT IN 5 YOU GAINED, IF IT TOOK YOU 8 HARD LUCK, KEEP UP THE DREAM AND I AGREE WHAT AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO LIVE IT,
In my view there are plenty of good paying jobs and even more worthless jobs.Without exception every good paying job I have had has gone well for a couple of years and then the rot has set in.You can almost hear the orchestra as the boss,practically weeping, wheels out the usual excuses before annoiuncing pay/rate/benefit cuts.My advice is don’t get too comfortable,keep your license clean and always be ready to jump.
Longwayround:
In my view there are plenty of good paying jobs and even more worthless jobs.Without exception every good paying job I have had has gone well for a couple of years and then the rot has set in.You can almost hear the orchestra as the boss,practically weeping, wheels out the usual excuses before annoiuncing pay/rate/benefit cuts.My advice is don’t get too comfortable,keep your license clean and always be ready to jump.
He also says he is a bit fed up of other people arguing and back biting on the xpat drivers’ forums/fora <sp?> so he can’t see the point of posting just to be sniped at.
However, having said that, I would like to get my hands on some Jaffa Cakes, Bloody Canadians 
working the late shift is kinda weird, especially driving back up in the dark.
