Long distance lorry driver - AMA

[firsttimedad79]

Like the title, but boring I know, but ask me anything :)

How often do you have to sleep overnight in your cab?

Do you ever worry about being robbed/attacked/murdered ( sorry I am a true crime fan and so have wondered this often) when you sleep in your cab?

Is it still the case that you can pocket your overnight allowance if you sleep in your cab instead?

What’s the worst motorway?

Do loads of truckers really go dogging?

what facilities do you have when you have to sleep in your cab?

@ItsCovidOutThereThisChristmas

How often do you have to sleep overnight in your cab?

I sleep in there 4-5 nights a week.

It's quite a comfy bed though. When you work out I often do either 13 or 15 hour days when I finish it's often food then bed, so space isn't an issue.

@chaosisaladder

Do you ever worry about being robbed/attacked/murdered ( sorry I am a true crime fan and so have wondered this often) when you sleep in your cab?

Lol, we do do have a fear of being robbed. Having loads stolen and trailer curtains slashed is quite a common occurrence, as well as having fuel stolen I've also heard of drivers being gassed in their cabs so they won't wake up when this is happening. I haven't come across any violence personally so haven't had the worry of being attacked or murdered :)

Have you ever stopped to help at an accident? Witnessed a suicide?

@Hangnailing

Is it still the case that you can pocket your overnight allowance if you sleep in your cab instead?

What’s the worst motorway?

Do loads of truckers really go dogging?

Yeah, we get paid our night out rate whenever we stop out. We also get reimbursed any parking costs, so it's become more of a incentive to stay out. Worst motorway would have to be either the M25 (just one long queue sometimes) or the M40 (never seems to end, just one really boring motorway!)

@Hangnailing

Is it still the case that you can pocket your overnight allowance if you sleep in your cab instead?

What’s the worst motorway?

Do loads of truckers really go dogging?

As for the dogging you sound just like my mrs!

Nope, no dogging that I've seen lol

@finisterreforever

what facilities do you have when you have to sleep in your cab?

In the cab itself I have just a fridge and bed as well as storage space. I do have a night heater though which is great in this weather, keeps the cab at a nice balmy 20 deg :)

Services have showers, some have washing machines as well for those out for longer than a week :)

Which is your favourite services and why?

It's gonna be Tebay. Obvs

@wizzbangfizz

Have you ever stopped to help at an accident? Witnessed a suicide?

No to the suicide.

But I have had to block a lane on a motorway because someone had run of fuel with her kid in the car :(

@blazinglightonthehill

It's gonna be Tebay. Obvs

The weirdest thing I have ever seen was at tebay south.

Do you know do migrants get into moving lorries? I had assumed that if a vehicle was moving (or even if not) the rear doors would be automatically (electrically) locked but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Presumably when parked up with rear doors open or curtains lofted that is to show no load and not rob worthy?

@IDoAllMyOwnStunts

Which is your favourite services and why?

Favourite services would have to be Abingdon on the A74M as it has a Maccles you can use your meal voucher at :)

@finisterreforever what happened?

@blazinglightonthehill

It's gonna be Tebay. Obvs

Never actually stopped there!

@Boomboomboomboom

Do you know do migrants get into moving lorries? I had assumed that if a vehicle was moving (or even if not) the rear doors would be automatically (electrically) locked but that doesn't seem to be the case. Presumably when parked up with rear doors open or curtains lofted that is to show no load and not rob worthy?

Back doors are just normal handles. Sometimes they have a security cord through them but the migrants have gotten clever and learnt to glue them back together.

They slow the lorries down by putting obstacles in the road and then use that time to get into the lorry.

Yes when you see the back door open or the curtain open a bit it's to show either empty, or non valuable load.

What do you do about going to the toilet when sleeping overnight in your cab? What do female drivers do?

What are you meant to do if you suspect/know that migrants have got into the back? Do you call the police? Are you meant to carry on driving?

There were a group of young men, presumed to be on a stag do, and one was naked apart from underpants and was handcuffed and blindfolded with a dog lead on him. That took some explaining when the children saw him.

Is drug use rife to stay awake and do long journeys (as per ice road truckers)?

What and how do you cook when you’re away for several nights.

What about toilets and showers, especially during the first lockdown.

Do you need sat nav or do you know all the motorways and main routes?

Are you UK only or do you go abroad too?