I thought saving the company money was being a good boy, like running down from VT to NYC, I would divert down US17 at Mahwah and use that small pilot and cut 50c off a gallon most fill ups, or try and last to somewhere else in NJ or PA rather than buy NY fuel but was told it wasn’t worth it because they still have to pay the extra tax so it doesn’t come out any cheaper.
Wire, that policy only works at small firms, sometimes not even then 
I worked in the office at a firm with over 100 lorries, the drivers wrecked them, they were all high spec lorries too, the radios got smashed, they got on the bunks with greasy boots on, wiped bogies all over the interior, left ■■■■ bottles under the seats, ripped the curtains out and generally trashed them 
You’re under a big illusion if you think that the mojority of drivers are clean, tidy individuals who look after stuff, they don’t, they’re a bunch of [zb]ing animals Who is that wrecks showers and toilets 
Who is it that ■■■■■■ all over the parking lot and dumps ■■■■ bottles everywhere Who empties ■■■■ bottles into window wash buckets Who puts grease on the window squeegies Drivers that’s who So why would anyone in their right mind spend hundreds of thousands of dollars buying them fridges
Pat, the whole diesel buying thing over here is quite complicated, but if you understand how IFTA works, it becomes a lot clearer, the idea is to buy fuel at the cheapest nett cost, so pump price is irrelevant, unless you’re an O/O and the company you lease on to pays the IFTA, then you go for the cheapest pump price 
Very true that about lorry drivers been savages. As you say you get out of the truck in a msa parking area and the aroma of stale ■■■■ hits you. And in the UK stinking trashed ■■■■ stained toilets existed before the eastern euro invasion.
I recently posted a picture on my Facebook of the cab interior on a truck where I work and it was disgusting and if I was buying the trucks I wouldn’t be ticking to many boxes on the option list if they were getting treated like that.
I now know about the fuel tax situation in the USA so I can see why the companies do this. At the end of the day fuel prices are only going one way and whereas previously the Canadian and USA companies never had to worry to much about fuel economy and prices in the future European thinking and business practices concerning fuel tyres aerodynamics economical driving practices are going to come in to play.
End of the day H&R have got about 1400 units which they replace evry 3 yrs I’m in a 2011 model and she already got 500k on the clock a lot of companies in the UK would be looking at getting rid of her now and it would take a lot longer then 18 months or so to puut those KM’s on the clock so I can see why they save when they can I don’t blame them.
Made it as far as Medicine Hat tonight from Winnipeg not a bad drive I would say only 2 hrs left to Calgary yard where I can dump this load off and ‘switch’ units as ill be meeting her normal driver there to hand over. Wonder if will get own unit
400 trucks not 1400
taffytrucker:
End of the day H&R have got about 1400 units which they replace evry 3 yrs I’m in a 2011 model and she already got 500k on the clock a lot of companies in the UK would be looking at getting rid of her now and it would take a lot longer then 18 months or so to puut those KM’s on the clock so I can see why they save when they can I don’t blame them.Made it as far as Medicine Hat tonight from Winnipeg not a bad drive I would say only 2 hrs left to Calgary yard where I can dump this load off and ‘switch’ units as ill be meeting her normal driver there to hand over. Wonder if will get own unit
Hope you kept your doors and windows shut tight last nite,as it not called Medicine Hat anymore, Its now Medicine Rat (LOL) Its got loads of them first time in Alberta for years they say that rats been around
neilg14:
400 trucks not 1400
Ok then 400 it just what I got told lol
Sat in Calgary now waiting for my full time truck should be here soon 
taffytrucker:
neilg14:
400 trucks not 1400Ok then 400 it just what I got told lol
Sat in Calgary now waiting for my full time truck should be here soon
What Number is it, do you know or will only find out when she arrives
Just got her now its 3470 lil bit scruffy on the front end but she is 2 yrs old so can’t complain be tidy once clean it out inside and been shopping to kit it out. Waiting to see what’s next but no US coz I need a reset before crossing back over the border.
A lot of guys who come over can’t get used to the hours where in the UK you know 5 or 6 days work and you’re parked up over here its 70 hrs rolling over 7 days or if in the US then its over 8 days so if I carry on till end of the week that’s 2 weeks straight without a day off which is the max you can do.
kr79:
Very true that about lorry drivers been savages. As you say you get out of the truck in a msa parking area and the aroma of stale ■■■■ hits you. And in the UK stinking trashed [zb] stained toilets existed before the eastern euro invasion.
I recently posted a picture on my Facebook of the cab interior on a truck where I work and it was disgusting and if I was buying the trucks I wouldn’t be ticking to many boxes on the option list if they were getting treated like that.
I now know about the fuel tax situation in the USA so I can see why the companies do this. At the end of the day fuel prices are only going one way and whereas previously the Canadian and USA companies never had to worry to much about fuel economy and prices in the future European thinking and business practices concerning fuel tyres aerodynamics economical driving practices are going to come in to play.
We have some right pigs working for us and then again some real gents who take pride in their trucks. A couple of guys who started within the last 3 months have taken over real dirt piles and if it had been me I would have refused to take it unless it had been cleaned. I insist all new drivers at Yonkers get new mattresses if they wish, something not many management would be keen on but all it takes is me calling head office and telling them the truck is a pig sty and within’ a day or so a new bed arrives.
One truck in particular was leased by a dirty pig who never cleaned the inside or the outside in 5 years, it was an inch deep in dust inside and the cup holders were full of mould, I felt ashamed to give it to a new guy, we have it steam cleaned inside and fumigated with new bedding and curtains and they also installed new seats… The new keeps it imaculate.
Well the latest round of interviews in the UK will be starting soon I wannna wish everyone who’s going all the best. Be straight up and honest with Lyndon he’s not a bad bloke o and Nigel Jones you’re welcome there have been so many rumours over tthe years about H&R mostly from blokes slagging the company off so thought was about time the record was set straight.
Mick was that you going through Lethbridge last night bout 18:45 ish with a load of tyres on■■?
been reading your diary with interest taff t , glad your enjoying your new life makes me wonder if a move
would interest me. see that you parked at medicine hat, now that place brings back memeries, spent
2yrs there 93-95 thanks to the army used to be a british pub behind the shopping mall if i remember right.
just wondering whats the cost of living like over there compaired to here,
do you think your better off now youve made the move?
stay safe and keep the post coming
alun
Hi Alun,
The cost of living is pretty same as in the UK as in it depends where you go etc where on the road all the time I do find it cheaper in the US then this side of the border but with the wage you earn its enough to have a comfy life even more so if the wife is working lol the only regret I have is not doing it sooner in life. If you are a hard worker and willing to put the miles in you get paid well for it where as in the UK you get the same as some lazy arse doing half the work you do.
Got just bout everything sorted in the truck now just gotta find a decent fridge and get my CB when I fill up on my way through Shelby MT en route to Lincoln Nebraska picking trailer up bout lunchtime in High River AB so if any of you lay abouts are there early - mid afternoon ill see you down there
taffytrucker:
Hi Alun,
The cost of living is pretty same as in the UK as in it depends where you go etc where on the road all the time I do find it cheaper in the US then this side of the border but with the wage you earn its enough to have a comfy life even more so if the wife is working lol the only regret I have is not doing it sooner in life. If you are a hard worker and willing to put the miles in you get paid well for it where as in the UK you get the same as some lazy arse doing half the work you do.Got just bout everything sorted in the truck now just gotta find a decent fridge and get my CB when I fill up on my way through Shelby MT en route to Lincoln Nebraska picking trailer up bout lunchtime in High River AB so if any of you lay abouts are there early - mid afternoon ill see you down there
When you come off the Highway coming from L/bridge, come to the roundabout and on the right is a little shack called the hitchin post great food if you,ve got time and you can park just round the corner
Ill have a big breakfast before leaving Leth then not stop part from for fuel till about Malta MT there’s a nice truck stop there depends if my loads ready also and what time I get to Shelby as of what I remember there’s not that many stops along US 2.could be wrong though only been along their once lol
Glad you’re enjoying yourself Taffy. Now you’ve been here a little while and are settling in, what things do you like the most about driving here and what do you dislike or find hard to get used to etc?
robinhood_1984:
Glad you’re enjoying yourself Taffy. Now you’ve been here a little while and are settling in, what things do you like the most about driving here and what do you dislike or find hard to get used to etc?
Lol that’s easy Robin gotta love the fact you can get on the road put your foot down and actually drive and get the miles in where as in the UK its stop start all the time coz the traffic don’t move anywhere, I’m left alone to do my job don’t have control asking when I’m gonna get there etc, the truckstops are clean with hot showers and helpful staff the food once you get away from the interstates and you find a small place is great and people so polite what I find hard to adjust to is filling up in certain places gets you watching the fuel gauge sometimes but after couple runs on same route you know where you’re going and where to stop
I’ll maybe see you this afternoon in Cargill, I shunt in the yard, start 1330.
Hope to be gone by then Neil lol if am still there pop over gotta cross at Sweetgrass before 16:00 coz of the meat inspection and its just over 3 hrs down from Cargillso not wanna be hanging around if I can help it
When you get to the gate take security’s tel # and keep hold of it for the future then if you’re in Calgary and get your load macro, call security with your load #, they’ll tell you if the bills are done, if they are your good to go if they’re not sit back and relax.
Or bring your m/t trl down drop it in the yard, see if your bills are ready, if not go and park up the petro in Aldersyde and call security from there, decent free showers, washer/dryers, tele etc.