Downton Cabbie

Born and bred in trucking, Annette Stagg drives for Downton, having served time in traffic admin – but her career has not all been sunshine and roses.

 

- John Wright

Annette Stagg was virtually born in a truck. “My dad had a haulage company in Liverpool,” she says, “so I’ve always messed around in trucks.

“When we were kids, in the 1970s, I always wanted to annoy the drivers. I liked how, in the old cabs, you picked up this big engine cover between the seats and put bacon and a sausage in silver foil on it and after driving for a couple of hours that was your breakfast, the best you’d ever had.”

While conceding that trucks are better now – quieter, and airsuspended seats ensuring no more backache for drivers – Annette still seems to hanker after those chilly mornings of yesteryear.

“When the diesel froze I’d set fire to a piece of old Wellington boot and put it under the truck to defrost the wax in the engine. Now you’d get arrested.”

Although she likes the sophistication seen today, she does spot the odd design flaw. “I’ve noticed the lane guidance that sets off an alarm in case you’re falling asleep is no good in roadworks because the beam picks up the white line, even if it’s been painted over.”

Of the distance measure, which, in traffic, drivers can set at 3 metres in case anyone cuts in front, she says: “Unfortunately, some of the bridges throw a shadow. The truck of one of my friends picked up a bridge’s shadow which caused the brakes to slam on; he hit the steering wheel and broke his nose.

“So you have to be a bit careful with them. Also, it doesn’t put your trailer’s rear brake lights on so somebody can run into the back of you.”

Annette has been driving for C M Downton Ltd for two years. Downton, whose headquarters is in Gloucestershire, operates 600 tractor units and 1800 trailers out of 10 big distribution depots across the UK and employs about 1350 staff.