Hi every one had enough of uk thinking of oz canada australi

[flat_to_the_mat]

thatbrit:
The world and his wife know that Maritime trucking pays monkey food,so why go there in the first place?Either stupid or you didn’t do your research properly.Nobody to blame but yourself.
This comment I find very offensive and I’m sure there are others out there that feel the same way.
To say that the folks who moved to the East coast did not do any research and deserve what we get is so wrong, in my case and in the cases of others that I have spoken to.
Firstly in my case I went out to Winnipeg and yes I was offered a job doing the miles BUT I felt that we my wife and I could not live in a place that has no character and is as flat as a mirror,in fact if a moose ■■■■■■ 500 mile away given a short time you could smell it as theres nothing to stop it coming at you. Not even a hill. We then spent a small fortune travelling back and forth to Nova Scotia over a 5 year period sometimes twice a year to get a feel for the place and see what it was like at different times of the year. This was also done with the visits to emigration shows held at Sandown racecourse. Here we were told by an official from the C.H.C that Canada was the place to be better work relations/opportunities, more free time, more money in your pocket to spend on what you want, better and safer lifestyle.
Here I have to state that when we moved here 10 years ago I had NO wish or want to drive a truck again having spent 20 odd years doing that in the UK.
So going on what we were told by the people that were supposed to be telling the truth we came thinking that getting jobs would be fairly easy and and I could use some of my other skills instead of driving. 3 months later I managed to get a job driving a panel van earning min wages and being told be greatfull for what you got, my wife on the other hand having held down a good postion in the MOD sent out over 80 applications and received not one reply. She managed to get a part time job through some one we knew close to a year after we landed. I ended up doing just what I didn’t want to driving again for a wage wouldn’t class it as a living, yes I know that I could earn a bit more tramping across North America BUT I don’t live for trucks I don’t want to live in one, the whole system here is corrupt work like a dog and we will pay you a pittance but we will give a big shiney motor so you will look like you are doing well while you spend every day of your miserable life thinking you are better off here than you would be in the UK.
The biggest thing I notice here is that drivers have no time for each other at least when I was driving in UK and Europe we had a bit of a social life as well as doing the job and working hard it was a bit of fun too.
The bottom line is a lot of untruths are told to get people to come to Canada and no amount of research that you do will uncover all the down side because in most cases you are blinkered and only see what you want.
So if any one posts what they have found out good and bad it should be taken as just more research and not open a door for some one to shout their mouth off just because THEY have found their perfect life, some peoples expectations are a lot lower than others.

Well I’m sorry to offend you,best grab the tissues before you read on.
You mention traveling out for 5 years prior to moving over,sometimes twice a year on recce trips,then when the big move happened you couldn’t find work.Did it not occur to you for a brief instance to possibly get the jobs sorted out during on of your many sorties,or was that tiny detail not part of the research .

[thatbrit]

Yes we did do the job hunting bit like you would’nt, would you but like nearly every thing esle we and many others were told at the time it all turned out to be B/S.
And look pal just because you have found your ideal life living in a truck, stop getting all defensive, myself and others are just trying to give a other view of the the whole move to this place. If we can stop one person coming to this part of Canada and making the same mistake as us it will be a good thing. As I said I NEVER wanted to go back to truck driving when I moved here and if this province hadn’t sucked all my money out of me we would be packed up and back in the UK now. end of

[flat_to_the_mat]

thatbrit:
Yes we did do the job hunting bit like you would’nt, would you but like nearly every thing esle we and many others were told at the time it all turned out to be B/S.
And look pal just because you have found your ideal life living in a truck, stop getting all defensive, myself and others are just trying to give a other view of the the whole move to this place. If we can stop one person coming to this part of Canada and making the same mistake as us it will be a good thing. As I said I NEVER wanted to go back to truck driving when I moved here and if this province hadn’t sucked all my money out of me we would be packed up and back in the UK now. end of

Pal ,why on earth do you think I’m getting all defensive ■■? You must be confusing me with someone else.I work 4on/4off,although this last shift was 5 on,hooray a day at time and a half,and still only slept in my truck for one night.Should net me roughly $1500 +night out allowance, but let’s not start the willy waving scenario
You were quite happy to jump onto this thread and now admit the place (Maritimes) is a joke ,which basically quotes my original post,if you don’t like it change it,simples .Off to chill by the pool for a few days,cheers

[bobthedog]

thatbrit:
Yes we did do the job hunting bit like you would’nt, would you but like nearly every thing esle we and many others were told at the time it all turned out to be B/S.
And look pal just because you have found your ideal life living in a truck, stop getting all defensive, myself and others are just trying to give a other view of the the whole move to this place. If we can stop one person coming to this part of Canada and making the same mistake as us it will be a good thing. As I said I NEVER wanted to go back to truck driving when I moved here and if this province hadn’t sucked all my money out of me we would be packed up and back in the UK now. end of

Christ, if you can’t quit moaning then give it up. I work 7 on and 7 off. Suits me well as I get to spend time with the lady and kids and still earn damned good money. I also get the tax breaks, although not as much on meal allowances. I still live in MB and still get to see other places.
You chose to live out there and, no matter what you say, you can’t have really done your homework or you simply have a bad attitude.

Canada has been very good for virtually everyone that moved here. Most of those that went back were simply not cut out for the necessary changes. Strikes me you are of that ilk.

[newmercman]

To stokey, yes mate, I am very happy doing what I do out here. I have a decent work/life balance, I pay the bills & have a few luxuries. I get enough time off, I may sleep in a truck more than my bed at home, but that is not a situation exclusive to Canada, I did that in The UK. My family are also happy, that is enough for me.

[mickfly]

bobthedog:
Canada has been very good for virtually everyone that moved here. Most of those that went back were simply not cut out for the necessary changes. Strikes me you are of that ilk.

B.S. I still have 3 yrs worth of emails from digruntled Brits (and a few european lads) who worked at the great H&R in the Prairies, and did not get the miles or paid layover when they were forced to park up! The majority of these are family men who simply could not get a living wage due to the way the company treats people… and it’s not much different now.
Single men can look after themselves and survive on very little, but family men NEED to provide for their families!

Whilst I was complaining on here about the company I was being called a loser, liar, and lazy etc etc, but I am now back here with my missus and earning plenty with an average of 600 miles a day and sometimes into the 700 plus (all legal and on e-logs). This company is now being referred to as the H&R flatbed division due to the number of ex drivers employed here, but some have gone back due to the e-logs I believe.

Family men beware of all the well know companies.

[newmercman]

bobthedog:
You chose to live out there and, no matter what you say, you can’t have really done your homework or you simply have a bad attitude.

Canada has been very good for virtually everyone that moved here. Most of those that went back were simply not cut out for the necessary changes. Strikes me you are of that ilk.

To me it sounds like the Canadian version of Benidorm or Marbella over there in The Maritimes

The consensus of the majority of the posters on here, that live over there, is that long haul is no good and those that do it are wrong Well that is a complete load of ■■■■■■■■, everyone is different, has different ideals

You don’t hear the posters out west telling them that they’re mugs for doing the jobs that they do, they may question why they went out there if all they do is moan about it, but I haven’t seen a lot of posts asking why they choose to live their lives they way they do and then telling them they’re wrong

I think you’ve got it dead right BTD, they’re just a bunch of opinionated whingers, they couldn’t make a go of it in The UK, not that it was their fault, it was everyone else, from Maggie Thatcher to the Poles Now they can’t make a go of it in Canada, again, it’s not their fault, it’s us, the people who don’t mind giving a good day’s work for a good day’s money, or it’s the fault of the companies, blah blah blah

One of them would return to The UK, but the Province sucked them dry What a load of tripe, if you want to go back, put your big boy trousers on, get off your lazy arse and be a man, do whatever you have to do and change your life instead of playing the victim and blaming everyone for the state of your life

Nearly everyone of us over here has had something happen that meant we had to change our strategy, BTD and Mickfly being two prime examples. Guess what, getting on with things and not ■■■■■■■ and moaning about how unfair things are produces much better results, just ask either one

[robinhood_1984]

newmercman:
The consensus of the majority of the posters on here, that live over there, is that long haul is no good and those that do it are wrong Well that is a complete load of ■■■■■■■■, everyone is different, has different ideals

I dont think you or any one else is wrong for doing long haul. We all do what we want to at the end of the day. Like I said earlier, I didn’t come to NB for a better life, my life in England wasn’t that bad at all, I was just a bit bored and fancied a change. All I wanted at the time was a company in Canada that would offer me the chance to travel and a good base to work from living out of the truck and Donnelly Farms fit that critera. Had I wanted to come across with a family I’d never of come here in a million years. Unfortunetely many have done just that and stuggle to stay above water now. Yes you’d have thought they’d plan such a move much better but sadly many do little or no planning at all and then get in a right pickle. All I’m trying to do is tell people who are thinking about NB, to think twice and consider something in AB, SK, or MB instead. Having said that, I dont think the western provinces are perfect and there’s also a chance of falling foul out there if you chose one of the well known bad companies which dont sound any better than the worst that NB have to offer, but ofcourse thats where the planning comes in. I have after all met dozens of drivers over the past 5 or 6 years in the UK with horror stories from H&R, Yanke and Big Freight that rival any bad experience in the Maritimes.

My advice to any one asking me about Canada would be to avoid the Maritimes, especially with a family and go west, but only to one of the less well known companies that dont recruit foreign drivers in bulk and after doing much research. If like me they’re just single men looking to travel about then it really doesn’t matter as chopping and changing isn’t an issue.

[flat_to_the_mat]

newmercman:

bobthedog:
You chose to live out there and, no matter what you say, you can’t have really done your homework or you simply have a bad attitude.

Canada has been very good for virtually everyone that moved here. Most of those that went back were simply not cut out for the necessary changes. Strikes me you are of that ilk.

To me it sounds like the Canadian version of Benidorm or Marbella over there in The Maritimes

The consensus of the majority of the posters on here, that live over there, is that long haul is no good and those that do it are wrong Well that is a complete load of ■■■■■■■■, everyone is different, has different ideals

You don’t hear the posters out west telling them that they’re mugs for doing the jobs that they do, they may question why they went out there if all they do is moan about it, but I haven’t seen a lot of posts asking why they choose to live their lives they way they do and then telling them they’re wrong

I think you’ve got it dead right BTD, they’re just a bunch of opinionated whingers, they couldn’t make a go of it in The UK, not that it was their fault, it was everyone else, from Maggie Thatcher to the Poles Now they can’t make a go of it in Canada, again, it’s not their fault, it’s us, the people who don’t mind giving a good day’s work for a good day’s money, or it’s the fault of the companies, blah blah blah

One of them would return to The UK, but the Province sucked them dry What a load of tripe, if you want to go back, put your big boy trousers on, get off your lazy arse and be a man, do whatever you have to do and change your life instead of playing the victim and blaming everyone for the state of your life

Nearly everyone of us over here has had something happen that meant we had to change our strategy, BTD and Mickfly being two prime examples. Guess what, getting on with things and not ■■■■■■■ and moaning about how unfair things are produces much better results, just ask either one

Ditto,that’s one of the best things about Canada.Life can be a ■■■■■ but sitting on your backside wailing won’t get you anywhere,this country has all the opportunities so when the school of hard luck comes knocking you don’t have to stay down.
I’ve always been a grafter,but here you seem to get rewarded for effort rather than being taken for granted,and let’s be realistic,the Canadians aren’t the most" get up and go society".Maybe that’s why I sometimes come across as grumpy sod,but I fail to see how anybody with a tad of gumption and pride can fail to make a success of the move.

[bobthedog]

I didn’t mention H&R, Mick, and had no intention of doing so. You won’t have noticed but I am not there anymore, either, but am back on decks. If you were one of the three from Watts in Sioux Falls earlier then I was leaving as the later two were fueling up.

The points about people with family failing is what is bs though. My family has gone from 3 to 2 to 6 people and I still can make it through. And that is working 14 days a month.

Mark, you’re right enough. It is all down to how you work at it. Family cohesion is vital. I remember when Dave arrived how he was the only family member that could work and the only one that had a driving license. See how well they all did.

It is attitude and aptitude that gets people by. If I were an employer listening to a prospective employee drip acid on a part of my country I think I would be disinclined to listen for long.

And we ALL came here as long haul drivers. It’s what we signed up for. When circumstances force change then we adapt or we drop. Most of us adapt and accept our lot. Some, clearly, think they can blame others.

As for Donelly, well yes, there’s travel. I think I saw one in Virginia once.

[taffytrucker]

The thing that attracted me about Canada is when compared to the UK the cost of living is less where as you have the chance to earn a decent wage for what you do. In one of my last jobs I used to do spain and back in a week as long as no hold ups I could make it home friday afternoom, other driver would make it as far as say Caen or depending where dropping Folkestone and get paid for being weekended. I put the effort in made it home and never rewarded. Over there you put the work in you get paid for it!!! Sounds fair to me

[robinhood_1984]

taffytrucker:
Over there you put the work in you get paid for it!!! Sounds fair to me

Just remember that that can work in both directions. You’ll be doing reefer work for H&R (I think its a reefer company?) and as such you’ll undoubtedly suffer lots and lots of unpaid waiting time. Its not necesarily H&R’s fault, coldstores in North America just tend to be extremely slow and think nothing to keeping you 6-12 hours on a loading dock to tip or load 20 pallets and when that does happen you’ll be faced with the choice of then going to bed because you’ve been awake all day or driving all night to compensate, your log book may allow for it, or it may not, but without driving all night you’ll be down a days wages. So yes, you can earn good money on milliage, especially if you want to push things on, but as a driver you are at the mercy of what your dispatcher gives you for miles, or even if they have work and reefer work in general is notorious for delays, especially with the bigger companies. I’m now working on dry vans and I enjoy it much more, hardly any waiting in comparison and no meat inspections at the border, FDA checks etc etc etc.

I’m not trying to put you off H&R or Canada, I’m just saying that on milleage pay, what you can gain one day, you can easily lose on the next.

[taffytrucker]

robinhood_1984:

taffytrucker:
Over there you put the work in you get paid for it!!! Sounds fair to me

Just remember that that can work in both directions. You’ll be doing reefer work for H&R (I think its a reefer company?) and as such you’ll undoubtedly suffer lots and lots of unpaid waiting time. Its not necesarily H&R’s fault, coldstores in North America just tend to be extremely slow and think nothing to keeping you 6-12 hours on a loading dock to tip or load 20 pallets and when that does happen you’ll be faced with the choice of then going to bed because you’ve been awake all day or driving all night to compensate, your log book may allow for it, or it may not, but without driving all night you’ll be down a days wages. So yes, you can earn good money on milliage, especially if you want to push things on, but as a driver you are at the mercy of what your dispatcher gives you for miles, or even if they have work and reefer work in general is notorious for delays, especially with the bigger companies. I’m now working on dry vans and I enjoy it much more, hardly any waiting in comparison and no meat inspections at the border, FDA checks etc etc etc.

I’m not trying to put you off H&R or Canada, I’m just saying that on milleage pay, what you can gain one day, you can easily lose on the next.

Yea I have been told that. Also H&R pay $100 for the 2nd day of lay over ok not great but better then nothing and $50 for border food check. I just intend to keep my gob shut (yes for a change) head down and take what’s thrown at me as I said before I’ll try and find time to do a thread of how I find it for those that are thinking of following me out that way its all first hand instead of never guess what I was told down the pub

[kr79]

I’m looking at making the move to Canada later in the year. I’m not particulary fed up of Britain I still think its a great place to live. I’ve had decent jobs and live a decent life here and any mistakes in my life have been down to my own fault not the governments or the immigrants etc.
I don’t expect to move to Canada and for everything to be perfect straight away or to be a millionaire driving a lorry. I’m not afraid of hard work and hope to in time carve out a decent life same as I have here. I’m under no illusions that it will be easy but I’m not afraid of hard work.
I’m not running away from anything or expect a free ride I just want to see more of the world and maybe say I’ve done something constructive with my life.

[fly_sheet]

taffytrucker:
The thing that attracted me about Canada is when compared to the UK the cost of living is less where as you have the chance to earn a decent wage for what you do. In one of my last jobs I used to do spain and back in a week as long as no hold ups I could make it home friday afternoom, other driver would make it as far as say Caen or depending where dropping Folkestone and get paid for being weekended. I put the effort in made it home and never rewarded. Over there you put the work in you get paid for it!!! Sounds fair to me

Hiya Chap, as You know I’ve recently returned to Canada & I think in all honesty the cost of living has risen here as it has in The UK, there are plenty of things that are cheaper here but not as many as when I was last here in 2007, its just a heads up, & I know fuel is cheap compared to The UK but you’ll soon notice how uneconomical your car/truck will be so it kind of evens out, Alberta is a tad dearer than round My 20 too. I aint putting You off your dollar will stretch a bit farther than your £ but nothing like it used to, but if like Me you spend most of your time in The USA its happy days this is’nt a ■■■■ on your chips post either Chap, just make sure you get all the offers & cards from the stores & be carefull with your sheckles…look forward to seeing you when you get let loose ttys…

[newmercman]

Robinhood, you really are a hater

You have read my maxxed out post, my trailer was a reefer Not a lot of hanging around on that trip was there It is like that all the time at my place, the trailer has nothing to do with it, the way the company is run is what makes a difference

Wire is a good example, he has a new dispatcher now and where he used to wait for a day for a reload before, now he doesn’t, although it hasn’t made any difference to his miles because before he had a 600 CAT, now he has a Daf engine, so it takes an extra day to complete a trip if there’s any hills along the way

[carryfast]

newmercman:
Wire is a good example, he has a new dispatcher now and where he used to wait for a day for a reload before, now he doesn’t, although it hasn’t made any difference to his miles because before he had a 600 CAT, now he has a Daf engine, so it takes an extra day to complete a trip if there’s any hills along the way

At the risk of getting the topic locked surely you’re not suggesting that I could be right in saying that euro based technology might not always be all it’s made up to be when compared with some good old fashioned US iron.

[kr79]

No just Dafs can’t build an engine with any ■■■■■■■■ in it every daf I’ve driven couldn’t pull your ■■■■■■■■ back.

[carryfast]

kr79:
No just Dafs can’t build an engine with any ■■■■■■■■ in it every daf I’ve driven couldn’t pull your ■■■■■■■■ back.

The old 2800 wasn’t too bad at all but then that was with a bit of help from Leyland to do it.Although at that time ‘over the pond’ 300 + horses was considered about right for a bus.

But Mercs were always guaranteed to match that description more than Dafs at least the ones I drove.

Note to mods just feel free to delete the post if it offends anyone instead of nuking the whole topic.

[kr79]

Mercs are ok now days. They found turbocharging ten years after everyone else. I believe the new straight six engines that the new actros uses are also used in freightliners.