>>That's it really. Just want to get some real life information on what it involves.
>
>You thinking of taking it up, CL?

That or becoming a pastry chef. I know, but I have pretty diverse interests.

>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.

I love doing that!

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

I just assumed they slept in the truck. Bunkbeds? Sweet! Can it get any better?


>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.

Good, because I hate the idea of being sleepy while hurtling down the highway with tons of steel.

>Lots of eating in greasy spoons

Yes! It can get better!

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

Ok, that would kind of suck.

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

Guess I'll just have to learn to drive sitting backwards some of the time...

>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 :-)

I sit all day now, but without the scenery changing.

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

Yeah, I was hoping for something that stayed close to home. I would hate being away more than a day or two at a time.

>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.

I would listen to audio tapes. Learn a language. Or Howard Stern. It's all good...

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

Not sure about this one. My cabmate. What would she look like?

>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.

Yeah, I guess you're on a schedule and can't just stop wherever you want.