>That's it really. Just want to get some real life information on what it involves.

You thinking of taking it up, CL?

I used to ride shotgun with my "cousin-in-law":

Long tedious trips, enlivened by the practice of flashing and indicating, accepting such help from motorists, etc. to tell you you've passed him and can move in.

Sleeping in the bunkbeds in lay-bys, or in company digs in town that's a regular destn.

Having to keep an eye on your speed and duration cos the old tachygraph is Big Brother in the cab with you. Thus having to take statutory breaks.

Lots of eating in greasy spoons

At the delivery point, sometimes having to wait ages for your turn to unload.

Getting the arm that hangs out the cab sunburnt :-)

Big risk of getting the old "farmer Giles". My brother drove long-haul for the British Army in Germany, then with a German firm. He knew a guy whose constant aid was a strategically-placed twist of hessian, on which he'd wriggle to relieve the itch :-)

The obvious separation from family (more esp. in the USA I guess, what with the huge distances and slower speed limits)

The tedium of long hauls: I knew of a guy whose week's work, every week, was to pick up a container, from Ireland, at Liverpool docks, drive that across country and take the ferry to Europe, thence to a particular factory in Switzerland then home again light. D'you know what was his cargo? - plastic cups to fill up the vending m/cs in the factory. It's not ALL glamour, you know.

A cameraderie of the road with other lorry drivers, but proximity of your cab mate (and his night habits)

Of course, you DO get to see places you've never visited for free, but mostly it's in industrial estates or docks - no time for site-seeing the nice places.