So how hard of a job is driving a truck?

Originally Posted by Ed

Disagree that this job has any more responsibility than any other. When did you last hear of a petrol tanker wagon spontaneously exploding? Anyone who drives anything is driving a potentially lethal weapon.

Any vehicle carrying flamable material can spontaneously explode if the conditions are right, did you know instance that liquids can create a spark when in contact with other materials, so if you are loading certain materials you need to flood a tanker with nitrogen as an ignition suppressant, if the public had any idea what is being carried on the roads they would have more respret for some of these drivers.

Originally Posted by stewie

Any vehicle carrying flamable material can spontaneously explode if the conditions are right, did you know instance that liquids can create a spark when in contact with other materials, so if you are loading certain materials you need to flood a tanker with nitrogen as an ignition suppressant, if the public had any idea what is being carried on the roads they would have more respret for some of these drivers.

but how often does it happen? ......never.

40k for sitting down driving all day, i think im in the wrong job

Originally Posted by stewie

Well Im a trucker and used to drive tankers,Im also an ex shop steward with the T&G, its simple really, the average wage for a skilled person in this country is I beleive 29k for a 40 hour week, so if you are working up to 60 hrs a week wouldnt you think you should get paid a bit more ? up until two years ago I was working up to 75 hrs a week, every week, week in week out since 1986. The reason we worked all these hours was cos the basic was so poor, so basically we were working ourselves to death, then the goverment and the T.U.C. decided to accept the 'working time drective' meaning by law I couldnt work more than an average of 48 hrs a week over over a 26 week reference period, all of a sudden guys started to miss mortgage payments and many lost the homes, I dont have a pension anymore, and when we asked for support off the great british public, we got none, zero, oh its great when truckers lead fuel protest convoys, but pay us a decent wage for the hours we still work ? nah sorry mate.

Originally Posted by stewie

Any vehicle carrying flamable material can spontaneously explode if the conditions are right, did you know instance that liquids can create a spark when in contact with other materials, so if you are loading certain materials you need to flood a tanker with nitrogen as an ignition suppressant, if the public had any idea what is being carried on the roads they would have more respret for some of these drivers.

Although your belly is not big enough to call yourself a tracker I will take your word for it LOL

Don't get me wrong here! I am not saying truckers shouldn't get paid what they are asking for! I was just wondering if there is a certain aspect of the job that makes it dangerous or difficult out of the ordinary.

So now the maths! on a £41k salary per year it comes down to £16.11 per hour on a 48 hr week

I think it's time for me to re-evaluate my situation

Originally Posted by hovis

but how often does it happen? ......never.

40k for sitting down driving all day, i think im in the wrong job

Well a french tanker exploded some years and crashed into a campsite, dozens were killed, and tbh most truckers myself included are nowhere near to earning that sort of money, but if someone offered it to me or you, what would you do ? you see the crux of it is this, no one has any time for truckers at all, we just get in the way of people on motorways and spill diesel everywhere and are just generally 2nd class citizens wherever we go it seems, sad but true.

Originally Posted by 600+

Although your belly is not big enough to call yourself a tracker I will take your word for it LOL

Don't get me wrong here! I am not saying truckers shouldn't get paid what they are asking for! I was just wondering if there is a certain aspect of the job that makes it dangerous or difficult out of the ordinary.

So now the maths! on a £41k salary per year it comes down to £16.11 per hour on a 48 hr week

I think it's time for me to re-evaluate my situation

Yeah but anything over 40hrs is o/time surely ? and thanks for noticing my slimline physique

Originally Posted by stewie

...and are just generally 2nd class citizens wherever we go it seems, sad but true.

you are a biker as well so now you are twice a 2nd class citizen

Seriously though I think this is just an image that some people decide to accept. Similarly, as with bikers, if you decide to accept that Jo Public isn't really fond of you then you will feel that way.

It's all a matter of perception

Originally Posted by 600+

you are a biker as well so now you are twice a 2nd class citizen

Seriously though I think this is just an image that some people decide to accept. Similarly, as with bikers, if you decide to accept that Jo Public isn't really fond of you then you will feel that way.

It's all a matter of perception

And Im a shortar$e, Ive got nothing going for me

Did somebody mention the word Overtime???? What's that?? Don't even go there mate!!

Most of the people I know don't get paid overtime, we just work like any other day.

You are a shortar$e indeed but you have a good heart somewhere in that round body of yours so don't worry too much about it

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by 600+

you are a biker as well so now you are twice a 2nd class citizen

Does that make him a 3rd class citizen or a 4th class citizen?

[timwilky]

I did my class 1, 27 years ago and not driven for over 25 years. Would I be tempted to do it again. Never.

The pressure, boredom, stupid hour, dimwit drivers, then add the official rubbish of Hours, weights, VOSA/DVLA checks etc. Forget it. I will stick to my £600+/day doing IT