So what’s it like going to the dark side and coming back? Well this is my experience as an owner-driver for four years between 2007 and 2011. I’d done my national CPC back in 2005 as I thought it may come in useful one day and then due to circumstances changing at home, I decided to take the plunge at the end of 2006. It was either that or do my motorbike test and I reasoned being an owner-driver was a safer option.
I was able to source a second hand 2001 Renault Premium from friend Mark Bailey at Conway Bailey, knowing it would have been looked after well and benefiting from mates rates. I contacted IH Jordan brick transport, having seen their advert for subbies in Truck & Driver for probably the last 10 years and signed up with them. I did a couple of weeks for a friend trunking, just to iron out any niggles with the lorry which unfortunately meant dropping the gearbox as the synchro had gone on 3rd and I wanted her right for day one.
I know brick transport wouldn’t be every owner driver’s first choice, particularly with zero experience, but with a farming background, it was far more appealing than RDCs or pallet hubs at the time.
This story is from the June 2020 edition of Truck & Driver.
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This story is from the June 2020 edition of Truck & Driver.
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