OY !!! … I don’t hate my job, it’s proabably the best driving job in the USA (apart from Remy’s). I have no choice because the money is a trap so I stay with it, at least I get paid good money compared to all those twonks out there sitting around in truck stops all weekend waiting for a load that will pay them a pittance 
nobody has ever been happier truckdriving than me some of the sh…iest jobs that could be done but what you wanna be yanks are saying is there is no skill in the uk … drive a ford lorry and single axle trailer around the block pass test then drive in the states it seems " big roads eh"…
cliffystephens:
nobody has ever been happier truckdriving than me some of the sh…iest jobs that could be done but what you wanna be yanks are saying is there is no skill in the uk … drive a ford lorry and single axle trailer around the block pass test then drive in the states it seems " big roads eh"…
I am no wanna be yank or cannuk so lets get that straight to start with and its a bit more then drive it round the block.
In the Uk it ok lets go do the test hitch up the trailer and off you go job done my UK test in '95 was a lot easier then what it is over here. over here you got tot have a basic knoweldge of how the whole system works and no nice smooth ishift (or other automatic) box, it’s a crash box and if you are lucky a unit with power steering and a longer unit and a longer trailer, yes the roads are bigger but there again so are the units trailers and the cars/pick ups so the size of the roads dont really come into it. I have found it harder driving over here then I did anywhere in Europe but no where have i seen anyone thats over here saying that they/we are better then UK drivers
cliffystephens:
nobody has ever been happier truckdriving than me some of the sh…iest jobs that could be done but what you wanna be yanks are saying is there is no skill in the uk … drive a ford lorry and single axle trailer around the block pass test then drive in the states it seems " big roads eh"…
Oh, so you have an inferiority complex, that explains it 
Fact is, in the UK I passed my test in a 24ton GVW Ford D1000 with a single axled 24’ trailer, in Canada I passed my test in a Kenworth T800 6x4 with a 48’ trailer, so was a little more difficult to drive than the little puddle jumper I did my first test in 
Nobody mentioned skill levels in the UK, in fact the British drivers that come over here are far better at driving the trucks out here than most of the people that have been driving them their whole lives, even though they only have a few years experience of them at most
So please try a little harder if you want to stir things up a bit, calling us wannabe yanks is very poor, especially when you consider that we ain’t wannabe anythings, we’re actually doing it for real 
cliffystephens:
think the point is you guys all seem to think that you have all gone 3steps up the ladder when in fact we are “all” still driving lorries the mind boggles…
Not many lorries left to drive Driver they’re all trucks nowadays, I suspect a bit of Trollness about your person btw. Ain’t seen nothing in this thread that people are thinking they’re a cut above as it goes, many of us have given Taff a few bits & pieces of advice & encouragement along the way & will continue to do so, if it involves a bit of craic so be it The Lad does’nt seem to mind.
I’m a cut above now as I swapped My triples for doubles on Saturday, enjoy your evening cliffy…
Not sure exactly what clittystephens is on about!
I passed my class one in uk driving a boxed up, full size wag and drag, much more difficult than the Canadian class on I thought, where, if you never looked in your mirrors once on the road test they might still pass you, as it seemed so laid back. The only thing with the Canadian class 1 (for me) was getting the pre trip right, but I still passed first time.
cliffystephens:
nobody has ever been happier truckdriving than me some of the sh…iest jobs that could be done but what you wanna be yanks are saying is there is no skill in the uk … drive a ford lorry and single axle trailer around the block pass test then drive in the states it seems " big roads eh"…
Where in hells name did you take your test ? When I took mine in the UK it was 15-20 mins reversing through cones etc with aBedford KM, crash box included and a 40’ trailer, then the steep hill start, then 1.5 -2 hours on the road.
Over here its a 10 minute drive around a few streets allbeit with a bigger 48’ box van but roads are wider.
The hill start would be interesting here in Manitoba, Pat. 
Pat Hasler:
cliffystephens:
nobody has ever been happier truckdriving than me some of the sh…iest jobs that could be done but what you wanna be yanks are saying is there is no skill in the uk … drive a ford lorry and single axle trailer around the block pass test then drive in the states it seems " big roads eh"…Where in hells name did you take your test ? When I took mine in the UK it was 15-20 mins reversing through cones etc with aBedford KM, crash box included and a 40’ trailer, then the steep hill start, then 1.5 -2 hours on the road.
Over here its a 10 minute drive around a few streets allbeit with a bigger 48’ box van but roads are wider.
On my test it was about 35 mins for the walk around drop and hitch up and just under an 1 hour drive round Lethbridge and considering it was a bank holiday weekend start dont think i did to bad. As someone posted just now it was a unit you had to drive not stick in A and away you go. As for calling me a lad thanks but I’m 35 so I’ll take that as a compliment lol. Just found out one of the guys who has been following this thread to see whats involved flew out here the other day and has found it useful so least I’m doing something right. All the best with the tests Chris and dont worry it not take you to long.
Anyway back on topic
Had the weekend off due to the bank holiday gotta down the registary office and reclass my ticket on Tuesday give the office a ring then fingers crossed will have me out on my mentor runs straight away and start earning some cash. Lethbridge is a great town to spend your time had some great weather since i been here think I’ve spent about 2 days in jeans rest of the time in shorts so if anyone is on the way out pack some sun cream we are expecting about 35 degrees C tomorrow so back upto the outdoor swimming pool by the ball park $4.50 to get in not a bad way to spend the afternoon. Before any smart a$$ says anything yea I know it be a different stroy in a couple of months when I break out the thermals and snow boots lol. Thats the great thing here you still actually get your seasons and Lethbridge has when of the best climates ( so I saw somewhere) in Canada and for now I most def can’t complain. You got Canadian Tire about a 10 min walk from the Sandman Hotel and wow in there you can buy just about anything you will need for the unit or PPE so if no room in your bag due to weight dont worry about it can pick a pair of boots up for about $44.
You found Canadian Tire then, the second best toy shop in the world, wait until you get to a Home Depot then…OMG
ouch still pulling the bullets out from that one…took my test in 1973 in ERF with33FT tandem trailer couldnt find a 40FT any where didnt think of it as a puddle jumper i must admit …test was over i hour on the road plus bit at test station .ok you people have good day not to much venom now !!! ps am still driving the dam things…
newmercman:
You found Canadian Tire then, the second best toy shop in the world, wait until you get to a Home Depot then…OMG
Canadian tire is an amazing store there was 3 of us that went down and we was like kids in a sweet shop lots of little shiney treats to spend our money on lol think am gonna keep the wifey away from home depot when she gets over here 
O while I’m here and i can see plenty people reading this thread how the fudge to I post up a photo or pat might shout at me soon if I dont get some up
IF you have facebook or wherever you store your pictures, open that up, then open a new browser with tnet. Right click on the picture you want, then click properties and copy the address that comes up, it’ll be http blah blah blah, then come back to tnet and click on the img box and then hit paste and your picture appears as if by magic, sounds more difficult than it is
Keep the posts coming, good info for us still thinking about making the move over there or more to the point waiting for a job offer that looks good to convince my partner this is the right thing to do for me, anyway back on topic. What sort of gear do you bring in relation to kit for the unit to make life easier on the road or is it just buy what is required on arrival?. Good luck on your mentor trip and hope you get a clean unit you can home quickly to start your adventure/New life.
Unless you’re shipping a container over with all your worldly possessions it isn’t worth bringing anything at all. For living in the truck all week you will only need an inverter (if not already fitted) a microwave, fridge (most trucks have one fitted) a satellite radio ($100 for unit and then about the same for annual subscription) an I-pod or similar and your bedding.
ok ill have a go at the pictures later when get back from the pool. As got kit for the cab i got nothing with me get what I need here because the units have got invertors built in just got a big bag of clothes. Get down Canadian Tire or wallmart or somewhere like you can pick up a pair for bout $40 or so. Stuff for the house just gonna get when the wife gets out here. Have seen a sat radio for bout $60 so its all fairly cheap also been told there is a board in the drivers room where guys have got kit for sale so may be able to pick kit up on there.
bobthedog:
The hill start would be interesting here in Manitoba, Pat.
Ha ha … they had a specialy built ramp Bob, the examiner places a wooden matchbox behind the drive tyres before I did it, if the box was crushed you were not allowed to go any further on the test and they didn’t have the easy automatic accelerator when you lifted the clutch pedal back then mate
taffytrucker:
ok ill have a go at the pictures later when get back from the pool. As got kit for the cab i got nothing with me get what I need here because the units have got invertors built in just got a big bag of clothes. Get down Canadian Tire or wallmart or somewhere like you can pick up a pair for bout $40 or so. Stuff for the house just gonna get when the wife gets out here. Have seen a sat radio for bout $60 so its all fairly cheap also been told there is a board in the drivers room where guys have got kit for sale so may be able to pick kit up on there.
Don’t bother with sat radio mate, use ‘iheart radio’ on your phone you can listen to the radio station you want all over the USA and Canada without loosing the signal, it’s free.
I listen to 105.7 WROR Boston because its the best and I get perfect reception wherever I am.
taffytrucker:
O while I’m here and i can see plenty people reading this thread how the fudge to I post up a photo or pat might shout at me soon if I dont get some up
Send the photo to facebook, right click and save to your files then attach it to TNET