europe?

There was a time when Netherlands Dutch drivers had excellent wages because many of them spoke three languages and were adept at border crossing. Then the Common Market made border crossing easier, and Eastern European drivers brought wage competition similar to what we expect from the Mexicans. Drivers from the former Soviet Union often free-lanced in Western Europe in violation of whatever cabotage rules were in effect.

I read recently that the wage pendulum is swinging back to the mid point. However, why would anyone want to be a driver in Europe? They are required to run on-board electronic recorders. Many highways have restrictions on truck passing. It is follow the leader no matter how slow he is. There are also restrictions on weekend hauling, etc. All trucks are cab-overs due to the length restrictions.

 

I think it is the whole getting paid for waiting to get unloaded!

 

why work in europe???


CAUSE IT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE USUAL i-40,1-90,i-85 BS we deal with. Weekends no driving, you know what that means, you are probably home or at home terminal on weekends, EUROPEAN companies are very orientated to employee happiness, and most likely treat employees better than most companies here...


K

 

Do you speak from a position of experience or knowledge? i ask because you are so far off the mark.
"They are required to run on-board electronic recorders."
True, is that a bad thing? some people love them, some hate them. Your opinion of them isn't really relevant.
"Many highways have restrictions on truck passing."
Most highways in Europe have 3 lanes, trucks generally are not allowed in the 3rd lane, this leaves 2 lanes for trucks which is pretty much the same as here.
"It is follow the leader no matter how slow he is."
Totally not true due to the reasons posted above.
"There are also restrictions on weekend hauling"
Absolutely none that i know of but i was only there for 40 years.
"All trucks are cab-overs due to the length restrictions."
Again, not true, when i left there 2.5 yrs ago there were a lot of Volvo "conventionals" purely guesswork i admit but i would guess around 10% and becoming more popular.

I can think of a thousand reasons not to drive in Europe but i like to stick to facts when giving an opinion to someone asking for help, none of you answers are even close to factual.

Andy (English, living in Canada, driving mostly in the States)

 

My information comes from the international members on Hank's forum and the foreign participants on American Truck Historical Society forum. These truckers such as Rolf who is presently relocating from Germany to Canada tell it like it is. It is not possible for me to search these forums to back up the opinions I have formed from years of reading first person accounts. One of the comments I did find on Hank's by a European driver: "You can drive a Conventional or a US-Truck in Europe if the Trailer is registered as a special trailer and it´s used as a show truck and not carrying general cargo."
Perhaps, I can run your questions by my friend Ronnie at
http://www.midnightrunner.nl/e107_plugins/forum/forum.php Here is his opinion about on-board recorders. "yep, in europe we have the "tachograaf" and the logbook who is still be used in the states is something that a lot of drivers here in europe remember very well.
i think it is more possible to fraude with a log book then fraude with a tachograaf altough fraude with a tachograaf is happening on a large scale troughout the european-union.
i think it will be better for north american drivers to have equipment that log than let them log by themselfs."

 

Here is a comment from a web site administrator: "I was reading a truckers journal at TRUCKNET.UK and see that there are many weekend driving restrictions. There are overtaking bans ( I think that means no passing) as well. There isn't the same GET 'ER DONE attitude in Europe that there is here."

A Dutch trucker commented: "For overtaking bans , see page 7 at my European truckpictures collection.

At least I know for sure there are weekendrestrictions in Germany, France, Luxemburg. Even on bankholidays. This means that is is forbidden for trucks on all roads from 0:00 hrs till 22:00 hrs on Sunday in these countries! Only reefertransport and hauliers with an ( expensive ) authorisation are allowed to drive that day!
In Germany it is even worse. During the summerholidayperiod ( July-August ) all trucks are not allowed on most German highways on Saturday. That means you can take the "touristic" route with your rig, and the holidaytourist may use the highway. Looks like the German goverment cares more about the tourist than the truckers................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

Truck driving is something that is easy to learn, so my guess is Europe has plenty of truck drivers to fill demand already. Given this, I don't think you, as an American, could get a work visa in the EU. Maybe you could, but I seriously doubt it.

If you can't, one way you may get around the hurdle is by going to Europe, marrying a native, and getting the EU spouse visa. That may allow you a driving job in Europe.

But why Europe? It's is too crowded there. Think about it. Over half a billion people, maybe even 750 million, in an area about the size of the USA east of the Mississippi river. I'm pretty sure they have traffic cameras in a lot of the countries there as well, meaning speeding is ultra risky. Also, moving from country to country may be a #####, and you'd be doing that a lot, considering how small some of the countries are. Maybe you can sail right through borders with no checks, though. I seriously doubt it.

Of course, there is always the tax issue as well. You may have to pay half your payroll in taxes if you work in Europe. I wouldn't have a problem with this, but maybe you would.

 

A few years back I was looking into imigrating to australia. However we apparently are not considered skilled workers there since we don't meet the requirments for a skilled worker visa.

Oh and it took me a few hours to realize a "tipper" was a dump truck!! lol there is definatly a learning curve

 

Your age may be a factor if you're going to Europe. Don't know for sure. I DO know Australia used to have an age limit on the work visa, as for once, for a day or two, I got a burr and was toying with the idea of going there to drive. Come to find out I was too old. The age limit is 30, or at least it WAS. It may be higher or lower now. Europe may have the same rules in effect. Be sure to ask any company you want to go to work for before you go to Europe. You WILL have a job lined up before getting on the plane, right?