For drivers who go tramping all week, missing out on family life is one of the many sacrifices they have to make – but what is it like for those who are left behind?
Operators who need people to go out all week are struggling more and more to find drivers, and one reason cited for this is the unwillingness of women to put up with being left at home to bring up the kids without the support of their partners.
We found one such woman who, given anonymity, was prepared to tell us how it really is for her. Names have been changed but imagine a smile in her voice when you read this, as there was when she spoke to us!
“Greg wasn’t away as much as he is now when we first met 10 years ago; he was sometimes but not that often. He started being away properly when our first son was born, six years ago.
Culture shock
“I was 24 at the time. What made it particularly hard on me was I was still at university – I graduated when Oscar was two months old – [and] I lost touch with most of my friends as they were nowhere near settling down, so they moved on into their jobs and I moved into looking after the baby. It was definitely a culture shock!
“It was a change of job that triggered Greg being away. He’s always been involved with lorries – his dad was as well – but obviously there’s lorry driving and there’s big lorry driving. He’d always wanted to get into heavy haulage, so when he was offered the chance that was it. I wasn’t very happy about it because I had this tiny baby, but I knew it was something he’d been longing to do so I agreed.
“He’s normally away Monday to Friday but sometimes he does weekends as well, so it can be a couple of weeks. I’m quite used to it now but to start with I hated it.
この記事は Truck & Driver の July 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Truck & Driver の July 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Well forked Daf
Remember, we like to cover all sorts of different trucks here at T&D – like this impressive new CF rigid complete with Moffett Mounty forklift
King of the hill
Moving heavy equipment off road calls for a truck with plenty of power and traction, which is why M&J Plant chose a mighty 6x4 FH16 750
Time Machine 2015-2019
It’s the final part of our series on the history of UK haulage. Let’s look back at those innocent times before that pesky virus turned up
Original and best
There are few trucks which have been customised to the level of the Scania 143, but let’s not forget that the standard product was pretty awesome just as it left the factory, like this rare 420
GOING ALL THE WAY
Simon Rogers got behind the wheel as soon as he was able to, and nearly 30 years later, his company is going from strength to strength, with a striking all-black, top-spec Iveco S-Way 570 the latest addition to the fleet
Abnormal loads
In the distant past, when dinosaurs roamed the planet, truck drivers were a very different breed, made from sterner stuff than us mere mortals
Range change
After a gap of 13 years, Renault trucks have reappeared in the unique colours of MacRitchie Highland Distribution. T&D takes the high road to Inverness to meet owners, Donald and Catriona MacRitchie
Cutting a dash
Freshly showered and munching a healthy egg and cress sarnie in Gloucester North services, Chris has a Foden update
Air we go!
On Saturday 29 May at 6pm, 240 drivers gathered with their trucks at South Mimms Services for a parade to raise vital money for Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance
A Cutt Above
From coal to turf to fencing and loads more, there’s not much the Calcutt fleet hasn’t transported over the years
