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www.TruckNetUK.com
Page 16
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TruckNet UK's Rikki Chequer finds out that the grass might not be that much greener outside of the UK...
Not everyone using the TruckNet UK forums drives in the UK or on the Continent. For example, the 'Ex-Pats' forum, while smaller than most, has a lively community of drivers who have moved on to pastures new.
Interestingly, the discussions here show that emigrating is not always the 'paradise' people expect or desire...
Of those who chose Canada, for example, as their new home, there are some sharply divided opinions. Some love it and find the standard of living far higher, while others dislike the different working environments, wage structures and struggle. They often end up returning to the UK disillusioned.
It is also worth saying, as the question comes up so often on the forums from people who dream of hitting the open roads of the US in a long-nosed, big cabbed truck, that it is virtually impossible to get a green card for the US as a truck driver, unless, of course, you have close family ties in the US.
That said, there is the opportunity to work for a short period of time during the harvests, and information on that can be found on the forum.
There are other more successful tales. A great story, complete with photos, is of a British fun far touring Indonesia and Malaysia. The complexities of moving the fun fair using British trucks, utilising barges and cranes, shows the difficulties of working in that part of the world.
The authors' recollections of the world's fastest 'side-of-the-road' tyre change spurred on by an audience of approaching crocodiles makes for some fabulous reading.
Also, there are a fair amount of people Down Under wiling to give those looking to move all that way advice on the Australian and New Zealand job markets. Going to Australia as a truck driver is difficult. The advice tends to be to make for New Zealand.
My point is that there is a wealth of experience from people who have made the move overseas, some positive and some not-so-positive. If you are considering upping sticks and making that huge change, it is worth talking with those who have gone before.