Digs? We don't need them
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
I n reply to Bill Morris's comments regard! ing drivers and their sleeping in their cabs (CM 10-16 Oct), has this man ever looked in modern sleeper cabs or even actually held any sort of survey among drivers to assess their feelings on this matter?
Manufacturers today go to great lengths to make a sleeper cab as comfortable as possible, well insulated and warm with night heaters operating automatically. I know I and my colleagues would sooner sleep in the cab with 1V, video, a cup of coffee and safe knowledge that the truck and belongings will still be there when they wake up. Why on earth does this man seem to think we would relish the idea of running around looking for digs, only to find them all full up or no parking spaces.
I am sorry Mr Morris but unless I was driving the same run everyday and knew exactly where I was going to be at a particular time everyday, I don't want your digs. I suggest you get out and do a survey of drivers, like my colleagues and I did. We took the article with us and did a tour
around the local area, which has a fairly large truck driving community. Out of approximately 30 long-distance drivers questioned, not one driver would sooner be in digs than his own cab at night. Reasons ranged from, "can't be bothered after a day's work", "I'm not insured if I don't sleep in the cab", "Bad experience regarding dirty digs", "Frightened of getting burgled", "Just too comfortable in my own cab", 'Want to get to my delivery/collection point" and "I know I'm on the doorstep in the morning and not wound up in traffic".
Not one driver suggested it was because of money. Perhaps Mr Morris should turn his efforts from drivers personal accommodation to somewhere to park the trucks. He could lobby the government for parking facilities on the motorways and trunk roads—it wouldn't cost a fortune. We don't wont big flash motorway service station, just somewhere to be able to wash and get a bite to eat.