World’s Oldest Trucker Still Going At It

What differences have you yet to understand?

This forum is loaded with experienced and highly knowledgeable drivers covering virtually all aspects of trucking in North America, and we can help.

I am curious about an intercontinental lorry drivers' hours of service (HOS).

 

How could a fella eat bangers n beans at 6am , no musical fruit in the AM.

 

Or, how do they switch from left-side driving to right-side driving going to France? I would think there would be a lot of wrecks if they didn't drop the trailers and let the French drivers take over.

 

I will reply to all your comments later in the day, but at the moment I have an urgent hospital visit to do, leaving with a neighbour in half an hour.

 

Good job you said Hours of Service there, otherwise that would have been one of the things I puzzled over. We all thought HOS was the American word for horse.

But I will ask for the current answer from a mate who knows and get back to you. I have been out of the game for 21 years and things might have changed. Basically though, they are the same throughout the EU and it is only when you cross the Bosporous into Asia that things might get a bit 'elastic'.

@broke down plumber How could a fella eat bangers n beans at 6am , no musical fruit in the AM.

No idea, wouldn't be for me.

@JC 1971 Or, how do they switch from left-side driving to right-side driving going to France? I would think there would be a lot of wrecks if they didn't drop the trailers and let the French drivers take over.

Sheer skill mate, in any case the Brits did not create the largest empire the world has ever seen without knowing how to show the natives on which side of the road to drive. We just keep left all the time and everyone else has to get out of the way and follow suit. Just ask the Aussies, there are a few on here, when I landed in 1964/5 they had watched American films and all drove on the right. I soon should them the errors of their ways and, as you can see, they all politely keep left now.

Let French drivers take over? Are you mad? The French as a nation have endless patience, they don't know how to queue for instance and while we are tearing our hair out they calmly wait for an eternity, and then gossip for another. But when they get behind the wheel they are monsters. Like the Italians, if they get in a traffic jam, they keep their hands on the horns thinking somehow that will magically clear it.

More seriously though, it becomes 2nd nature with care taken for the first few miles, most of the 'wrong side' accidents are holidaymakers with a car full of screaming kids who then lose concentration.

I did experience some confusion when back in England though. The worst, and hardest to avoid is at T-junctions. If you are turning right the tendency is to keep right. Hopefully no-one is approaching at high speed, and Brits are very polite having an inbuilt sympathy for anyone who has had the misfortune not to have been born British.

 

That's sorted it, I think, I've dissed the Yanks, I've dissed the Frogs, I've dissed the Aussies and I've even dissed the Poms/Limeys, just for good measure. Satisfaction.

 

What is the longest load you have ever delivered?

 

If you discount the 150 foot B61 + 3 road train in Oz, I suppose the longest single load was 75 foot beams on a 70 foot trailer with rear steering operated when needed by my 2nd man. More normal was the 60 foot trailer Ipictured somewhere here on which I had regular loads, beams, cranes etc up to 70 feet long. As we always had headboards and in any case no room between cab and trailer, that would have meant a 10 foot rear overhang. Permissable with the right signage and lighting at the tail and sometimes a police escort. That was in the days when private pilots were not permitted in the UK.

BTW, a bit further up on this thread I touched on my American education on here. But I wonder if you would be up for a bit of the other side of the coin, understanding the British. The following is also a perfect example of the British habit of taking the piss out of themselves:

 

I do enjoy most things English. Not a fan of the Royal Family, but all the rest is usually quite intriguing to me; the history, the lexicon, and the islands themselves.

Enjoyed a three week vacation in July 1996. We went as far east as one could go in England, which is the town of Aldeburgh.

Then west to the port town of Southampton. Saw a British aircraft carrier. Visited Duxford. Yes, I do have an interest in military history.

We were going to visit Stonehenge, but that was canceled. Instead, we visited John's farm. John once worked with my stepfather. At dinner, John introduced me to the tastiest potato I have ever eaten. So flavorful on its own, it required no salt or butter. I cannot recall which variety of potato it was, though.

Visited London, of course. Due to the tube strike, I couldn't see everything I really wanted to. But I could live 50 years in London and not see everything.

Had to use those double decker buses to get around. I regret not seeing Gibraltar Square and the square block of London left as it were from German bombing. Again, the tube strike.

There were warnings around London warning of bags and parcels being left unattended as they might be an unpleasant surprise from the IRA. I recall a backpack left on a bus stop bench. I left the area and returned shortly not seeing it there any longer.

I'm also fascinated by castles. The ones from the late 1200s to the early 1600s interest me the most.

I meant to ask what was the longest distance you have ever hauled.

 

My dad was stationed in Thailand for a year, where they drive one the "wrong" side. When he came back he would veer to the left side at 1st and I'd have to say something.