And you get the fun of being parked 6 inches from the truck next to you, which for me being built for comfort and not speed was always a nightmare…[emoji109][emoji109][emoji109]
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truckertang:
And you get the fun of being parked 6 inches from the truck next to you, which for me being built for comfort and not speed was always a nightmare…[emoji109][emoji109][emoji109]Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
I do wonder how some driver get out of their trucks once they’ve parked them or back into them. 
It was usually have gear ready and get out before the frogs wedge another truck next to you then wait until they’ve moved when you’ve arrived at you’re destination…[emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]
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truckertang:
It was usually have gear ready and get out before the frogs wedge another truck next to you then wait until they’ve moved when you’ve arrived at you’re destination…[emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
I’ve always managed to get in and out, but sometimes I’ve looked more like terminator 2 than a driver as I pour myself in and out of my truck.
Brittany are good with the directions though arent they? To get one door mirror against another truck and the opposite mirror against one of those posts on the Normandy is an art! No posts on the Havre boats of course, but have you been in the dungeon? No lift, its a reverse around a curve, over a lip, so you cant see where youre going, and the 2 crew are waving their arms in 3 different directions…Easy to see how they only manage one return crossing a day…
But the Thursday night out of Havre is a full break on the deck. Time for a little apero before dinner, and a decent kip. Almost civilized.
I’ve had a passenger along with me on several trips.
DFDS out of and into Newcastle, P&O into and out of Hull, Stena into and out of Killingholme.
All no problem provided they are prebooked with 2 drivers. My gaffer pays, tells me what the bill is and I pay him. They are treated exactly the same as any other driver, you share a cabin tho, which was fine. After sharing a cab for a week or so, the freedom to move in a cabin is luxury even if the cabins are not exactly luxurious.
On the Stena, coming back, we got given one of the front corner cabins. They are HUGE. Nothing in them other than 2 beds and the shower/toilet.
The last time was a couple of years ago. I think the bill was £50 each way.
muckles:
truckertang:
And you get the fun of being parked 6 inches from the truck next to you, which for me being built for comfort and not speed was always a nightmare…[emoji109][emoji109][emoji109]Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
I do wonder how some driver get out of their trucks once they’ve parked them or back into them.
i think when they build the boats,they measure them for the width of a normal truck,not taking into account the mirrors and fattys that drive them.
im sure there is prob a well hidden h&s book for loading and unloading for driver access that if followed would entail the boats running 6 hours late every sailing.ive skidded and skint my shins,hurt my back numerous times wriggling in and out on various boats.
dieseldog999:
i think when they build the boats,they measure them for the width of a normal truck,not taking into account the mirrors and fattys that drive them.
im sure there is prob a well hidden h&s book for loading and unloading for driver access that if followed would entail the boats running 6 hours late every sailing.ive skidded and skint my shins,hurt my back numerous times wriggling in and out on various boats.
I don’t see why they can’t park us in a staggered line across the boat, rather than all the bumpers in a line. We only need enough room to get A door open, either door would do. It would mean a little bit of wasted space in front of the trucks that are back a bit in the front row but not much, less than the depth of a cab. If a door will open into the space between the next cab and its trailer, that gives just enough extra room to be able to get in and out relatively easily.
damo100480:
It’s about £60. The company have to book him on as 2nd driver. Then you pay the company. He will get a meal and share a cabin with you. I take my 8 year old some times on there and I have the money taken out of my wages. But he needs to be booked on as 2nd driver by the company.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I usually just buy a foot passenger ticket as its dead cheap but they board the ferry in the cab with me.
Depending on the ferry just bluff the drivers meal or pay in the caf.
If cabin required I just tell them I didn’t sleep a wink on the last ferry because the other guy was ■■■■■■■ and snoring all night and f I don’t get a proper sleep tonight I will not even go down to the deck in the morning as I won’t pretend I am safe to drive.
Works out fine most of the time.
If you are using a landbridge ticket with Stena ie Ireland to Holland then the 2nd driver goes free, have never paid any extra for taking either of my children with me always offered to pay the extra to whoever I have worked for but none of them have taken any money, guess it depends on the quality of your boss.
Do was Diesel said, leave him inside the truck cab on the crossing, the trick is to get him get in the cab bunk without the ships loading crew seeing him there, use the split cab curtains and nobody will know .
I used to stay in the truck cab all the time on ferry crossings, the air below deck is stale and hot, due to the ship engine fumes, so leave a window open .
I hated sharing a cabin with three drivers, I never got a good sleep due to the noise, or some come in late from the bar .
Another issue of sleeping below deck in the truck , is if there was a fire, chemical leak, or the ship sinks, nobody will know he is down there, the lorry decks are locked at sea, so no escape .
Harwich to Hook it quite a long voyage to be cab bound, what if he needs a pee? As kids we used to sneak on to North Sea Ferries by hiding on the bunk when I used to go with my Dad. During winter months, I have been allocated 4 berth cabins to myself so being a woman should be no problem getting a cabin to yourself, pull the gender card and jobs a good un.
Dover Calais used to be fairly relaxed about sleeping in the truck on deck and was a welcome rest for those red eye trips.
The Greek ferries, I would always sleep in the truck if I couldnt get a cabin, at least sharing with another English. Breathing in ■■■■■ from 5 other drivers from Godknowswhereistan didnt do it for me at all. Sometimes was quite nice out on the top deck, reading a book and enjoying a wine whilst taking in the sunset all from comfort of my own cab.
Simon:
dieseldog999:
i think when they build the boats,they measure them for the width of a normal truck,not taking into account the mirrors and fattys that drive them.
im sure there is prob a well hidden h&s book for loading and unloading for driver access that if followed would entail the boats running 6 hours late every sailing.ive skidded and skint my shins,hurt my back numerous times wriggling in and out on various boats.I don’t see why they can’t park us in a staggered line across the boat, rather than all the bumpers in a line. We only need enough room to get A door open, either door would do. It would mean a little bit of wasted space in front of the trucks that are back a bit in the front row but not much, less than the depth of a cab. If a door will open into the space between the next cab and its trailer, that gives just enough extra room to be able to get in and out relatively easily.
i think youve answered your on question there mate…quote…a little bit of wasted space…they prob expect every truck to let the previous driver out before slotting in,but if they did that,then the ferry would always be 6 hours late.so health and insanity is forgotten when it suits the loaders.
AndieHyde:
Harwich to Hook it quite a long voyage to be cab bound, what if he needs a pee? As kids we used to sneak on to North Sea Ferries by hiding on the bunk when I used to go with my Dad. During winter months, I have been allocated 4 berth cabins to myself so being a woman should be no problem getting a cabin to yourself, pull the gender card and jobs a good un.Dover Calais used to be fairly relaxed about sleeping in the truck on deck and was a welcome rest for those red eye trips.
The Greek ferries, I would always sleep in the truck if I couldnt get a cabin, at least sharing with another English. Breathing in ■■■■■ from 5 other drivers from Godknowswhereistan didnt do it for me at all. Sometimes was quite nice out on the top deck, reading a book and enjoying a wine whilst taking in the sunset all from comfort of my own cab.
pish bottle previously supplied takes care of needing a wee…after the boat sails,the deck crew wont be wandering around untill nearer berthing when they will undo the chains from the unacompanied trailers.the decks are only locked from the outside,if you decide to bail out,then you can always go upstairs,so long as you dont want to come back down again…personally my logic is,ferries seldom have near misses.if your in your cabin,or in your bunk,your going to drown lke a rat in a trap.otherwise,your going to drown or die of hypothermia within 5 mins in the sea,so no diffrence for me.id worry about it when they start shouting and rattling off lifeboats.
the only time its been an issue for me was being in a cabin with an irish guy,who jumped up in the middle of the night and changed into his good suit,shirt and tie.he told me he was in a hurry to get to the dance…it was at that point i heard someone running up and down outside shouting…a bandon ship… 