OT: Lorries

Adrian:

Thanks, that answers a few questions (V6 300bhp, V8 600bhp, 12+ Litre engines), tractor units costing £30Kish

But still so many unanswered questions. Come on, there must be some truckers on line!

Its not so much the cost of the unit thats the burden Madge - its the cost of running it. Fuel is the biggest cost and typically from Kirkcaldy to London and back (a 4 day trip for me when I did it a few years ago) cost nearly £400 in fuel. Thats only 4 days - imagine whay it cost per month, then 3 months for the time for customer payments to filter through. Its not a cheap business because everyone is undercutting everyone else - its horrendous. Couple that with the cost of an operator licence (you cant run youre own truck without one), storing of the vehicle overnight (you cant park up full time on the public road), tyre contracts (compulsory), breakdown contract (again compulsory). As for the gears, some are manual, some are semi and fully auto. Its possible to do block changes in them when theyre empty or have a light load same as it is in a car. Actually driving the thing is completely different from a car and takes a fair while to get used to. There are all sorts of everyday things that you dont think about while in a car but are obstacles etc in a truck - things like the old fashioned concrete lamp post that are built right next to the kerb are a hazard especially as the road camber tips the top of the trailer over towards them. Low bridges are a bit more obvious because most (but not all) bridges on "A" roads and above are signed in advance unless they are above 16ft 6" I think. Drivers hours are a nightmare especially since the EU Working Time Directive came into force. Couple all that with the fact that truck drivers are treated like scum, are at the back of the queue for everything and you get the picture.

McK.