So the gaffer has just said we will be starting euro runs.
7 weeks into lgv1 driving,
should I be volunteering?
Do I get paid more?
Is parking in Europe free?
How does the 45hr rest period work? Cab or hotel?
How long does euro trips usually last?
Do many questions, please help
Mostly “piece of strong questions”![emoji5]
Ask your boss if he’s gonna pay more.
It’ll take as long as it takes. Calais isn’t far, Athens is a long way. Multi drop or collection always makes a trip longer.
Compulsory 45 breaks are out of the can but your first weekend away need not be a 45, so can be taken in cab.
Parking easier and cheaper, often free.
.
Should you volunteer?
Yes, if you fancy a go. No id you don’t.
If you volunteer and don’t like it, will he throw his toys out of his pram? If not, what have you got to loose?
Since you’re asking the question you must want a go.
If you hated the idea you wouldn’t even be asking these questions.
[emoji5]
Bloody hell Franglais have you been on the Vino collapso, not used to seeing your smelling that bad…[emoji23][emoji23]
Yeah just ask is it more money and where would you be going, if the money is ok for you then go for it.
Most parking is free but you’ll find most truckstops/routiers/autohofs like you to eat at said establishment if your parked there.
I would still be doing it now if my personal circumstances hadn’t changed.
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He’s on holiday this week and exploring the far end of the Chateau Lafitte wine cellar.
OwenMoney:
He’s on holiday this week and exploring the far end of the Chateau Lafitte wine cellar.
Aye, not driving this week.
Working harder doing odd jobs than I even do on t’road.
truckertang:
Bloody hell Franglais have you been on the Vino collapso, not used to seeing your smelling that bad…[emoji23][emoji23]Yeah just ask is it more money and where would you be going, if the money is ok for you then go for it.
Most parking is free but you’ll find most truckstops/routiers/autohofs like you to eat at said establishment if your parked there.
I would still be doing it now if my personal circumstances hadn’t changed.
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Flailed my tost than?
[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]
[emoji485][emoji485][emoji485][emoji485]
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Cheers lads,
I am kinda interested but only if it financially benefits me, I’m not interested if it’s for the same money, I’ll ask all the questions
Thanks again
Tonymcg:
Cheers lads,I am kinda interested but only if it financially benefits me, I’m not interested if it’s for the same money, I’ll ask all the questions
Thanks again
Each to their own of course, but for same money etc, I would choose Euro work over UK every time.
Franglais:
Tonymcg:
Cheers lads,I am kinda interested but only if it financially benefits me, I’m not interested if it’s for the same money, I’ll ask all the questions
Thanks again
Each to their own of course, but for same money etc, I would choose Euro work over UK every time.
Would you? Why if u dont mind me asking? Is it better than uk driving?
I’m retired now but all I will say is I only worked for firms that did euro work! It is a totally different culture abroad for a truck driver. One job, I spent two years running back and forth between here and the Algarve. People were paying a fortune to go to places where I went for free lol The only country I have never driven to is Russia. (If you look in search, go back about 10 years, there are still ‘diaries’ on here of my escapades). If I got my licence back now, it would only be to run over the water.
Others european trampers on here will say the same as me. Once you’ve done Europe, you’ll not want to drive here again. If your boss wants volunteers, then jump at it. Do it for a month and then re-evaluate.
I used to do Athens regularly and always got a buzz when arriving there.
Edited to add: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18944
An old diary I found. Sorry about the watermarks across the photos from Photobucket.
Plus points as above.
Better restaurants with free parking for customers. Free motorway parking.
There are exceptions, but generally less traffic, better facilities, more acceptance of trucks as being necessary for all. Better restaurants!
I work UK when necessary, but although it’s OK for a change don’t much like it.
I wanted to be a driver partly to see different places. Why limit yourself to one country?
Oh, and mostly there are better restaurants over the water. [emoji5]
I loved it over the water, and it did not matter which direction you went after getting off the ferry, you must condition yourself for better conditions, food, views to die for, not all of the jobs guarantee this but that’s no different than a driving job here, and if it did not suit you, you would move on until you found one that did.
I would say plan ahead for your 24 or 45 hour weekly rest periods , and come off the beaten track , by looking at a map , i would park in a decent place , you will be amazed what you stumble on with a walk or taking a push bike to get out the cab for the day .
Exit the toll motorway or main road for a peaceful nights sleep .
I saw medieval villages and towns , lakes , rivers or see a local festival , fair or a concert , it beats sitting on a motorway for two days .
Parking on the motorway means Eastern European trucks starting and stopping their engines to charge up the batteries if they have been watching tv or on their computers . They have large dishes on the cab to watch tv from their home country , they start engines all day and all night .
Note to Milodon , i am not slagging off EE drivers .
I saw a Spanish singer called Manola Garcia at football stadium concerts that were both sold out .
After reading the great diary by The Bear , it reminded me of the notorious French Doaunes or Customs , i once had a DAF , i was having a sleep in a lay by , half way between Rennes and Nantes , i was heading to Portugal .
The switch to turn of the engine , on the floor by the pedals , was broken .
I left the engine running , rather than keep stalling it and break something else , then somebody is banging hard on my door , i look out to see i was surrounded by Douanes .
They said it was not normal to have the engine running , so i was escorted to to Rennes for them to unload the whole trailer with forklifts only to find nothing illegal .They all ran off .
Another run in, in France there is no driving from 22.00 Saturday to 22.00 Sunday , it was about 23.00 on Saturday, and i always wanted to see the biggest sand dune in the world , which is Southwest of Bordeaux .
The Douanes pull me over , not for the driving ban , but to inspect my full load of groupage , by climbing all over it .
They had a Land Rover with air tanks in the back , the reason is to deflate the tyres to patrol the beach for washed up drugs thrown from boats .
Then re-inflate the tyres for road use .I have been escorted by the Douanes on motorbikes with their blue lights and sirens to a mobile X ray scanner .I think they enjoyed showing off to other motorists by doing that .
TheBear:
I’m retired now but all I will say is I only worked for firms that did euro work! It is a totally different culture abroad for a truck driver. One job, I spent two years running back and forth between here and the Algarve. People were paying a fortune to go to places where I went for free lol The only country I have never driven to is Russia. (If you look in search, go back about 10 years, there are still ‘diaries’ on here of my escapades). If I got my licence back now, it would only be to run over the water.
Others european trampers on here will say the same as me. Once you’ve done Europe, you’ll not want to drive here again. If your boss wants volunteers, then jump at it. Do it for a month and then re-evaluate.
I used to do Athens regularly and always got a buzz when arriving there.Edited to add: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18944
An old diary I found. Sorry about the watermarks across the photos from Photobucket.
Outstanding, sounds great, I think you’ve got me ‘hooked’
I concur with what toby said above.I couldn’t count the number of interesting places I’ve been and seen over the years while on a couple of days off.If you are interested in things cultural and architectural there are numerous old towns,cathedrals and castles to mooch around.Eating and drinking establishments are plentiful.People could be paying hundreds of pounds to visit these places and you get it for nowt.What’s not to like?
It all sounds great, now the big question, should I expect to get more money for international tramping?
I currently tramp uk
Tonymcg:
It all sounds great, now the big question, should I expect to get more money for international tramping?
I currently tramp uk
You’ll probably not get anymore pay but you will in the main have an easier life with less work, it is more common to get paid by the day rather than the hour as often you don’t work the hours that you do in the UK. I used to do multi drop starting in France through Spain and finishing in Portugal first drop on a Monday morning and last one on a Friday in Lisbon very rarely did more than 10 hours a day all daytime work and earned the same as the guys on UK work doing 15 hour days and alternating between days and nights.
Mazzer2:
Tonymcg:
It all sounds great, now the big question, should I expect to get more money for international tramping?
I currently tramp ukYou’ll probably not get anymore pay but you will in the main have an easier life with less work, it is more common to get paid by the day rather than the hour as often you don’t work the hours that you do in the UK. I used to do multi drop starting in France through Spain and finishing in Portugal first drop on a Monday morning and last one on a Friday in Lisbon very rarely did more than 10 hours a day all daytime work and earned the same as the guys on UK work doing 15 hour days and alternating between days and nights.
^^^^^^^^
lets not forget the " duty free" every trip… 
@ Tonymcg
Go for it !
If you have a sense of adventure you will love it. I started when I was 18, never looked back, I went all over Europe and Middle-East. Even a bad trip was a good trip when you got home. The experiences of different cultures, food, wine, languages etc are more valuable than any amount of tramping in the UK. HGV drivers are respected in other countries, unlike in the UK where we are considered a nuisance, Euro work will open your mind, you will become a “proper driver” and you don’t touch the load on CMR, at least you didn’t used to, ( I stand to be corrected) unless you wanted to, just open it up and let them tip you. Take loads of photos. Give it a go, don’t chase to get home all the time, tell him to send the loaded trailers out to you unaccompanied and turn round and go again…Driving abroad knocks spots off of UK driving, just keep it straight and make sure that all your documentation is in order, your truck is in order and that you have sufficient ratchet straps to secure any and every load. 
and post your blogs.
Good luck.
GS