Posts belonging to Category Around the World Truckers

Trucking in Europe

I’d like to share my small story with you about how I got my view into trucking.

When I was old enough to understand that my uncle, who we had close contact with, was a trucker, I wanted to know more. This was around the early to mid 80′s.
I had always been interested in anything with an engine, anything from a moped puffing blue smoke to a big rig puffing black smoke.

My uncle drove all over Scandinavia, from the snowy North down to the sunnier continental Europe. Eventhough he doesen’t speak anything else but Finnish, he still managed to work things out when being out there. This was way before cellphones and internet, so all communication was done either over CB or if he used a phone along the way.
He once said, sometimes you get tired in your arms when you talk to someone and you don’t understand eachother with spoken language. So, wave and point. It worked, and still does today.

The company he drove for when I went along with him had installed phones in all rigs, which made things easier when getting orders and things of that nature.

Every chance I got, I went with him when he was scheduled on a run. By this time he was only doing domestic runs in Finland, running dairy products from a mid-western city down to the nations capital, Helsinki and any place in between, Tampere and Turku being two of them.

Sometimes my cousin came along and when uncle was loading the rig, me and my cousin played around with pallet jacks we found in the warehouse. Standing on them, riding around the warehouse. Dangerous – yes, could have been. Fun – definitely! Those times there was no one around, we had the whole hall for ourselves – big space to roam.

I listened to his stories and thought, ‘I want stories like that of my own’. Stories I can tell on when I get older. Stories like when we sometimes stopped at truckstops for coffee, he used to flirt with the waitresses. Something like, “how about you sit in my lap and we talk 2 words about the weather and 3 about romance”. Sounds a bit cheezy but, being a little boy back then, I liked the fact that he had the guts to say that. During summer we sometimes stopped to buy strawberries at stands along the way.

The vendors were often young women, so naturally my uncle put his charm face on and made up something witty when we walked over to the stand. And the strawberries were very good!

The truck I remember he had at that time was a Volvo FL12 with a one bunk sleeper. I don’t remember the amount of horsepower in it, but I could take a guess and say around 320.
We once had to take the truck to the shop when something broke down. I stood by listening when my uncle spoke to the mechanic… The mech said, “this is a good truck, isn’t it?”

To that my uncle said, -No, when you climb uphill with it, it starts asking which direction to go. Volvos have had some reputation to be lazy, that’s why they started using gear splitters.
Anyway, the mechanic then said, “Yeah, you’re right, it should be a Sisu. Which is a Finnish made truck. ” Uncle said, -No, it has to be a Scania, their V8′s have power.
So, there I got an idea which truck to look at. To this day I still prefer Scania over their main competitor, Volvo. It feels more like a truck while Volvo feels a bit more like a car.

I noticed he didn’t have blankets or pillows in the sleeper, so I once asked him why and he told me he didn’t have time to sleep, the truck has to roll. The times he stopped to rest, he just leaned over the steering wheel, took out the tachograph disc and took a nap sitting up. I guess that was not a good thing to see for a boy who’s taking his first bites of trucking. But it was reality.

I don’t think the graphs/logs were used back then for anything else than to see how much work the trucker had done so he/she could be paid accordingly.

350-400 hours a month was not unusual, and this was domestic in Finland, which is not a very large country. The union eventually made a surprise visit to the company and said that if the hours are not cut down for the drivers, they will close the business down. The hours were dropped and the company is still active today.
Today there are more rules and regulations and authorities make sure they are followed, placing us truckers under close scrutiny sometimes. That’s something all you truckers know.

There were unfortunate situations as well in his trucking. One of which I remember was that he broke his foot when he jumped out of the cab. Never jump! Not from the cab, off a flatbed, nothing.

One other was a when one of the rear, left side air ride bags blew and his trailer swerved over into oncoming traffic. The trailer hit a car there and two people in it lost their lives. There of course was an investigation into what had happened. A motorist that had been driving behind my uncle over a period of time told police that the rig had not swerved prior to this accident. So drunk driving (with breathalyzer) and sleeping behind the wheel could be ruled out. This was an unfortunate mechanical failure at the worst possible time.

What I probably liked the most when I was out there with him was the solitude while driving, especially at night when much else dies down except the rigs that keep this world turning. Add comradery among drivers to that and it’s all good. You have friends out there but still get to be alone with your thoughts and be somewhat independent in your work.
You “just” load – drive – unload, yet still, it makes a difference.

I stuck with this ever since and when the time came to “choose profession”, the choice was pretty easy. So, after finishing 9th grade I applied to an “upper secondary technical school” with the direction to road transport. This was an entry point into the business, my licence(s) was/were free and I got experience from school to do what I wanted and I got a job the same day I graduated. My uncle had a great impact on my choice of career and I have later told him that.

I’ve been driving for over 15 years now and have not felt the need to change profession. Truckers will always be needed! Without us, things stop moving.
The times I see him nowadays we can still discuss trucks and things around them. Talking about them with my cousin feels natural, he too started driving and is still active today, while uncle has retired.

Would like to finish off by saying, the times I’ve been nervous about backing a rig was when I ran Finland-Sweden. I had loaded up for my first trip from Finland and came to the harbor to take the 9 hour ferry ride over. I parked in line and there were a couple of rigs in front of me. Went into the office, reported my arrival and went back to my rig.

The ship finally came, they unloaded it and we started rolling. To my amazement the rigs in front turned around… We were going to back onboard! That’s when I got a little nervous…
The whole ship and other drivers are waiting for YOU! You have to fix it! Was a really sweaty feeling, but it worked, I got the rig in where it was supposed to.
I don’t know if that ship is still in use, it was the Finnlink company. The other big shipping companies, Viking Line and Tallink have RO-RO ships, roll on – roll off. So there’s no backing involved.

Thanks for reading and be safe out there on the road! I’m on Twitter under   Roni    twitter.com/sentenced1979 if you want to say hello.

Like Mr. Jerry Reed once said, “Chauffeur, so good”.

How to Be a Lorry
Driver

While those in America know them as “truck
drivers,” the terms mean the same and refer to those who are responsible
for delivering goods to various parts of the country. The qualifications vary
according to the size of the lorry, but one thing is constant: you have to pass
a written and driving test as well as meet certain medical requirements in
order to obtain a license to become a lorry driver whether it’s over the road
or local haulage work. It would be impossible to list all the requirements
here, but we will highlight some of the more important ones.

General Overview

While most people think of lorry drivers as being
overweight, middle-aged white men, that stereotype is quickly changing.
Currently approximately 1% of drivers are female and 2% for from minorities.
Many companies are starting to target younger people, both men and women both
of whom are looking for the freedom being a driver offers. With so many modern
conveniences today, drivers are no longer hesitant to take their spouses and
children along with them, an added plus to being a haulage driver. How many
employers would actually allow you to take your spouse and children on a
business trip? When you learn how to be
a lorry driver, hat can become one of your fringe benefits.

In addition to the freedom the job offers, there is the
salary that ranges between £26,000-£34,000 annual, a figure that
is substantially above the national average. Of course, this depends on many
factors including your location, experience, type of vehicle, what you are
hauling and the company for which you work. Even those who are self-employed
will have varying salaries since what they earn will be based on the contracts
they obtain less the expenses they incur. With the current state of the economy,
having a job that offers countrywide—and even worldwide if you so
desire—opportunities is important. Once you learn how to be a lorry driver, it
is easy enough to transfer your credentials anyplace you happen to go.

There are several opportunities that are available once you
learn how to be a lorry driver. The general job duties for this occupation
include but may not necessarily be limited to the following as posted on Driving for a living:

• Deliver supplies and other materials to shops
  and buildings
• Drive box container or curtain-sided vehicles
• Drive tankers containing various liquids
• Drive tankers containing dry materials or
  powders
• Transportation of farm animals
• Delivery of goods that require temperature
  control such as foods, flowers and other perishable goods

Licensing
Requirements

The type of license you need after you learn how to be a
lorry driver depends upon the load the vehicle is capable of carrying. For
example, if you are driving a vehicle that has a maximum authorized mass MAM)
of more than 3.5 tons but not over 7.5 tons, you will need a C1 license, and a
C license if the vehicle you drive has a capacity of more than7.5 tons.

In order to obtain a license to drive a lorry you must
usually be over 21 and hold a full category B license before you can even take
the test for either LGV (large goods vehicle) or PCV (passenger carrying
vehicle), the latter of which pertains to bus drivers rather than lorry
drivers. You will also need a trailer entitlement (+E) in order to be able to
drive those lorries. Members of the military can drive trucks that fall into
these categories at the age of 17 while others can drive them at 18 under the
following conditions:

• They already passed the driving test and the
  initial CPC qualifications
• The individual is currently learning how to be a
  lorry driver or is taking a test for either this category licensing or for the
  initial CPC qualifications
• The individual is currently enrolled in a
  national vocational training course that will allow him to pass the initial CPC
  qualification
• The individual acquired a driver’s license prior
  to September 10, 2009

You also must exercise a certain quality of conduct after
you learn how to be a lorry driver. The Traffic Commissioner with jurisdiction
in the area where you live is in charge of monitoring the conduct of lorry
drivers. If the Traffic Commissioner revokes or suspends the driver’s entitlement,
the Secretary of State will uphold that decision.

When you submit your application for a license, you must
notify DVLA (Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency) if you have any violations
for the following offenses:

• Failure to adhere to laws governing driving
  hours
• Driving record
• Mechanical problems with your vehicle
• Carrying too large a load for your vehicle

Requirements for
Becoming a Professional Driver

One of the most important things you need to know even
before you begin learning how to be a lorry driver is that you must have the
meet the guidelines for training and instruction before you are even permitted
to take the practical. This training must be conducted by an organization that
is approved by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency). Before you will be issued a
license to drive a lorry, you must pass the following tests:

• Theory and hazard perception tests
• Driving test
• Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver
  CPC) test

The theory portion of the test has two parts to it: one
section consists of multiple-choice questions and the second is a hazard
perception test. It doesn’t make a difference which portion you take first, but
it is necessary to pass both sections in order to obtain a passing grade for
the entire test. Once you have successfully completed both tests, you have two
years to pass the driving test.

Following the successful completion of both parts of the
theory test you will receive a certificate in the mail. This certificate
includes your test number, which you will need when you schedule your driving
test. If you do not take the driving test within two years after you take the
first part of the theory test it will be necessary for you to retake it in
order for you to take the driving test.

If you fail the theory test you can schedule another one
right away, but you will have to wait three full days before you will be able
to retake it. This gives you an opportunity to review the points you missed all
of which will be included in the letter you receive in the mail. Since it will
highly for you where you went wrong, you have an opportunity to review those
items before you take the test again.

Another qualification for anyone interested in how to be a
lorry driver is the Driver CPC qualification. The purpose of this qualification
for all professional drivers (lorry, bus and coach) is to help them accomplish
the following:

• Improvement in all knowledge and skills before
  even beginning your career as a professional driver
• Help drivers continue to develop knowledge and
  skills all through their professional driving careers
• Allow drivers to improve their skills in road
  safety so they can become better qualified as professional drivers

There are four parts to the initial Driver CPC
Qualification:

• Part one consists of a theory test that includes
  both multiple choice and hazard perception questions
• Part two consists of case studies
• Part three is a driving test
• Part four requires the drive to prove his
  vehicle can pass a safety inspection

In order to become a professional driver it is necessary to
pass all four parts of the test. You can save time for yourself by scheduling
the test online. In addition you must complete 35 hours of training every five
years in order to maintain your Driver CPC certification. This period training
consists of attending a series of courses involving different areas related to
professional driving. You need to make sure you only take courses that are
approved by DVLA because no others will count toward completion of your
periodic training. It is not necessary to have a Driver CPC if you are
transporting goods for your personal use.

Medical Competence

It is essential to notify DVLA if you have any medical
conditions or disabilities that might hinder your ability to safety drive a
lorry professionally. Even though you may feel you can still safely handle
learning how to be a lorry driver, the medical advisors at DVLA may feel
differently. You will need to fill out a medical questionnaire that gives them
permission to request information from your doctor if they need to do so. They
try to make decisions based on the information you provide, but it may be
necessary for the medical advisor to do one or more of the following:

• Contact your personal physician
• Require you to be examined by a locally
  appointed medical officer at the discretion of the medical advisor
• Require a driving, eyesight or driving test

While they do try to handle medical evaluations quickly, it
will depend on your individual medical condition and whether it is necessary
for them to request information from your doctor or an outside medical
professional. Following the evaluation you will be notified of the decision
regarding your license to remain a professional lorry driver.