Years ago, well 25 years ago, I did Turkey, Greece, Spain & Italy. The past years I have worked U.K. only but nostalgia and my Wife are urging me to do the odd International trip again. Now I am well out of contact with it all so could you folks give me directions to who is offering round trips to Spain ( don’t want to get into the one way out one way back, just want it easy to begin with ) with prompt payment. I am Scottish based but am happy to load Manchester area - groupage I suppose. Should I call DFDS/Fraans Maas types or are there others? Any tips on the regulations would be welcome too, I guess it has changed, got easier over the years.
Well, I think you will find that the scene has changed enormously since you have been away. International transport is now dominated by eastern European firms and very few British trucks go to Spain any more. Rosewood advertise for subbies to do round trips to Spain from the Manchester area but I am led to believe that the rates are fairly low.
If you do go to Spain, make sure everything about you and the truck is 100% legal, fines are eye-watering. Just last week, someone here was fined 3,300 euros because a fitter moved the truck in the UK some weeks previously without putting the card in the tachograph.
Good luck in finding something, I’m sure others will be along with advice etc.
Harry Monk:
Well, I think you will find that the scene has changed enormously since you have been away. International transport is now dominated by eastern European firms and very few British trucks go to Spain any more. Rosewood advertise for subbies to do round trips to Spain from the Manchester area but I am led to believe that the rates are fairly low.
If you do go to Spain, make sure everything about you and the truck is 100% legal, fines are eye-watering. Just last week, someone here was fined 3,300 euros because a fitter moved the truck in the UK some weeks previously without putting the card in the tachograph.
Good luck in finding something, I’m sure others will be along with advice etc.
I think the legality of the truck and driver is an absolute must pretty much everywhere in europe these days, eye watering fines are by no means limited to Spain. As to work you could try Cargo Refrigeration in Poole - they do ambient curtainsider loads as well as fridges, will pay your ferries and are prompt payers. From what ive heard I would leave Rosewoods alone, the rates are by all accounts very poor. If you fancy Gib then try Formula Freight in Feltham, or Insight Trans Logistics in Inkberrow, Worcs.
Thanks for the replies so far. I know that things have changed enormously from my days and I am sure I eran far more money in the u.k. than I could on European work. This really is an exercise in driving down memory lane, as long as the trip doesn’t cost me anything I shall consider myself happy enough. My eldest son will double man with me as he made many journey’s with me when he was a child, he drives u.k. only and so is eager to do a trip driving rather than as a child passenger.
Thanks also for the pointers for work, Rosewood always were poor on rates, they are with any u.k. loads too. I shall see if any other names pop up, I’m in no mad rush, need to uprate Insurance, etc. My trailers are over 4mts. so I need to rent one in ec. etc. I’m just being a nostalgic old fool and my son just wants to relive the adventure from the driving seat I guess.
The world of doing Spain is very different from what you will remember. Old roads bypassed by dull dual carriageways, tunnels and bridges with old eateries disappearing as a result. Parking can also be questionable too. I wouldn’t plan a nostalgic beer anywhere near La Jonquera for example
I went back to it after a break and the difference is startling. The boss refers to my trips as nostalgia tours as I wander around on the old nationals
billybigrig:
TI wouldn’t plan a nostalgic beer anywhere near La Jonquera for example
a definite no no
From my understanding, it’s where the truck breakers train their lads. These lads could probably show the scousers a trick or two and you’ll know what they are reputed to be like
I had a credit card cloned about 8 years ago at the Esso in La Jonquera. Women behind the till said my Esso card was faulty, so had to pay by credit card. Got a call a few days later from the card company asking where I was, as someone was trying to use it in Thailand. Oh and needless to say, my Esso card was accepted everywhere else on route home without problem.
Boathead,you will need a hiviz jacket for break downs,two warning triangles,a spare pair of specs if you wear them.
The fines are high,once a guy got done for no permit,or one that had been laminated,the Basque and Catalan are very severe,the Mosses traffic units.
All the waiting staff in the eateries are no longer Spanish,a Spanish truck will have a non-Spanish driver,years ago,each nation of drivers would be the same for the origin of the truck,the Dutch with giant coffee percolaters on the dash.
The Germans with big beer bellies and dungerees and beards.
La Jonquera is a hole,security said if you walk off with a towel,the cab robbers know you will be a while for a shower and break in.Padrosa Transport yard is better down the road at Figueres,good food and shop and ladies dancing club open til 4am.
Used to Spain most weeks wiht old firm was an easy trip but boring on the Motorways. As for the fines just make sure everything is 110% legal and no problems there. least you can make Irun on a days drive now and park in the TIR park
The old TIR parlk is long gone,i used to walk to the beach at Hendaye when stuck there the weekend,you can still get off the new twin tracks,the old nationals are still in use,mostly by tractors and combines.
Daroca,the village with the raw hanging hams on the racks,old medieval buildings.
taffytrucker:
Used to Spain most weeks wiht old firm was an easy trip but boring on the Motorways. As for the fines just make sure everything is 110% legal and no problems there. least you can make Irun on a days drive now and park in the TIR park
Haven’t been to Irun for quite a while.Last I heard they were going to build a concert hall on the TIR park in Av. Ipparalde.
There are 2 places in Irun to park now both next to the resperols. have to pay in both but failry cheap (cant remember how much now) the bottom one is the better as a resturant next door and will still be there as its next door to customs and the back of the industrial zone. Had a good weekend there last year
taffytrucker:
Used to Spain most weeks wiht old firm was an easy trip but boring on the Motorways. As for the fines just make sure everything is 110% legal and no problems there. least you can make Irun on a days drive now and park in the TIR park
Haven’t been to Irun for quite a while.Last I heard they were going to build a concert hall on the TIR park in Av. Ipparalde.
an exhibition centre actually long completed and in use.
The good people of Irun have asked me to pass their profound thanks to your good self for your continued absence and long may it last
Vascoingles:
The good people of Irun have asked me to pass their profound thanks to your good self for your continued absence and long may it last
had a good weekend there a while back now managed to get a spanish and austrian driver on the pints Hope to be Joining Pat & co on the other side of the pond in Oct
Hope to be Joining Pat & co on the other side of the pond in Oct