Trucking With Long-Haul Driver Biggi - what does it take to drive long distance?

Just after 4:00 AM in law from Bogan Marine, everyone is asleep, but rigada more. She's already up. Early mornings are part of a trucker's job. No problem for biggie, as everyone calls her. I've always been an early riser. As soon as the rooster crows, I'm awake, you know, biggie is 58 and has been a long haul trucker for more than 30 years, and it's taken its toll. 

Trucking With Long-Haul Driver Biggi - what does it take to drive long distance?

My morning ritual, hills, hills, pills. She has diabetes and has had a stomach reduction. Biggie struggles with her weight, for which he blames her job. Just before 5 she sets off for the depot. Her car is small, but it has something in common with her big truck. Chapman, I'm fortunate. Automatic, because my truck is an automatic. And every time I got into the car, I forgot to shift it. through shut down. She thinks she broke her little tone last night. They are one monthly. Well, it's easy to break your toe without even noticing someone. Just have to watch it. I don't know how come we are eating. Come on, but I can't put a cast on it. It's better to put a bandage on to immobilize it.

 The trucker didn't think for a second about going to the doctor or skipping work, even though as a permanent employee, she could have simply taken sick leave. Good morning. She greets Eddie her truck. It belongs to the company, but only biggie is allowed to drive it. Biggie will live, eat and sleep in the truck's five square meters for the next five days. Before starting off, she fills up at the depot. Biggie never trained to be a professional truck driver. She got her driver's license more than 30 years ago, and that was enough to get her started. 

Dickie leaves the yard at 5:30. Truck drivers working hours are strictly regulated in Germany. More than ten hours of actual driving time is prohibited. But the entire shift, including preparation, fueling and loading and unloading, is often much longer. It can be extended to 50 hours today. It's only 12 hour shift, because we're only driving. only 12 hours, but that is still a very long shift. Biggie first has to drive 50 kilometers without a trailer because she has to pick it up from another company. And the access road is blocked on my edge. I don't know. Damn. I have to go another way. What can I get through? I can't get through some positions. Can I get through there or not? It's a tight squeeze, but biggie knows her eddie. First problem solved and time for the next. Ohh, this ensure my blood. Ohh, they're already unloading straight down. It's getting away through the mob after it's coming. Now we have to wait. It's internal. I can't get to my trailer. Big is trailer to the left. Another truck to the right. She's really blocked I have to turn around.

 I was at one point. I'm back in through the warehouse. Reversing through a warehouse full of obstacles is precision work. A bit more maneuvering because she has to meet the trailer precisely. with the trailer. Biggest truck is now complete. Check everything and raise the Jacks. It's not easy. No way. It's crooked. You guys come here. Ohh, my God. Yeah. Good tack colored. And what who needs a gym? So hello is industrial paint. She backs out again and into the parking lot before going further. Vicky wants to make a coffee while the water heats, she takes care of the formalities. Do you think that's even a little? It's at 7:00 o'clock and we were here before 7.

 So this is when we finished hooking up. She saves everything for her employer in the on board computer. But she is more old school and keeps a regular log book two. Katarina Boyler is the shipping company's junior manager. The trucks modern on board computer see exactly where biggie and Eddie are at anytime. Here you can see there was very heavy traffic last Monday. She could only drive four kilometers in 50 minutes. So she was badly delayed from this. We know what to do next And I have a very good monitoring system. you know, you cannot see nothing wrong, and we can see that she field up this morning before leaving. Did the normal pre-drive check all through the on board computer model? So we don't have to call a 1000 times. We can see it right away. And of course, and of course, if she arrives later, we know what the problem was. We see immediately that she was stuck in a traffic jam since those fine. bleak. Keeping track of it all is important for the haulage company. They have 160 trucks on the road. And several locations across Germany, the headquarters is a large container terminal in Vile Amurai. In all, 180 drivers work for Boylan. Another 17 employees look after the garage and office. The shipping company is an important employer for the region. Martin Boyler is the 4th generation head of the family business with 35 million euros in annual sales and well filled order books. He should be satisfied that he has one problem. There's a shortage of good drivers like Ricardo Marshall. Young truck drivers are in short supply. He goes through the applications with his daughter Katarina and his wife. 

You wrote me to ask if we should invite him and I said yes. Catalina would like to hire more female drivers The relationships are different. For example, if there are conflicts which will hopefully always be rare. I've had women apologize the next day because they weren't in a good mood. It can happen, but I've never had that with men. So it's a different kind of cooperation But both can do the job equally well. The company offers women short haul, so they're always home in the evening. Still only three of the 180 drivers are women. The boss thinks that's too few. Of course we need more people in general. So we're glad for every person who joins in who enjoys it, who sees the job as a vocation. Their gender doesn't matter at all. To keep the employees happy, there is a fruit basket and sweet, almost like in a Berlin startup. Biggie, of course, gets none of this from 50 kilometers away. She has to look after herself. But can she do it without coffee? Me nearly no. I did at least four of these big mugs of coffee per day. for dinner quarter to see you. I can't do it without coffee. I'll pass your mail. I'd be in the mile. I saw only coffee. Did per minute. that you should. This is still too hot to drink, but I know. But if I know I have coffee, I can stay calm. Coffee breaks over. Now begins the long journey through four German states. And just as her boss envisions truck driving is not a job for biggie. But a vocation. 

You have to put your heart and soul into it, or it doesn't work. I don't drive trucks because I have to. My mother, because I want to. It's. invites me to take Eddie for example. My truck. is, of course, he's a truck. And he's also my teammate. We work together for summer when he's in a bad way. I'm in a bad way. Yeah. Just like a partnership. I'm married to my truck 3rd partner who told me I should stop driving. I'd say no, I'm not quitting. Get lost driving. is my life. My my labor A love of driving has cost biggie two marriages. That doesn't bother her, but she deeply regrets not seeing more of her 2 daughters I've just never spent time with my two girls It's not. I'm not really eats me out. She's sure at the weekends. And sometimes they drove for me, but I never saw them grow up. It's helps in the old **** I didn't really notice when they started puberty and I couldn't explain to them what was happening. It's funny. I was never there for them, except by phone. I never. I never held them in my arms. It's fascinating. That was bad.

 It's still bad. Biggie has lived in Laughlinburg Amarain in Barton Wirtenberg for about five years. The idyllic town on the Swiss border is a popular vacation spot. After just a short walk, you have left the EU and entered Swiss territory. Biggie lives just up the hill on the German side. She lives alone in an apartment owned by the freight company. Big E is under stress to improve her relationship with her daughters. She wants to move out of her low cost apartment and move to a new city 150 kilometers away from her employer. It's worth it to her to live near her daughter, Bianca. That's not heavy at all. I thought it would be heavier than one. more packed. arranging the move alone with so little free time seems too much for Biggie. I shouldn't feel a lot. Well, no, might be sure you normally. I'm always busy with work, but now I don't know if I'll get through this move. Now, my two nieces have canceled for Saturday and I don't know how we're going to do it on. here. Why doesn't Marcus hold? It's the only three of us now. I can hardly fall asleep in the evening because my head is spinning on a cup of decision. Yeah. back to the road where there are other problems. Like, where is the next bathroom? When would I shoot a pipe?

 I have to look for parking lots or rest stops with bathrooms. The men can just get out of their truck and do their business right there. I will go stay. You can close this your mother. All those kids are feeling me. Nothing. Man, just go in a bottle so they don't have to stop That's disgusting He will have to. But I've taken over trucks with a seat right here between the feet. Looked really icky. Then you click. OH-6. I hadn't. I think someone missed and it almost stamped like that. And I'll damage it. Biggie pulls into a rest stop with bathrooms. No, they're sandwich. No, it's luca. Aquatic. No, it is Samuel. There's the cell pop up beside him. Bye. Or after 4 hours driving, we have to rest. Hey, hi, Hi, Vicki dropping your bread. with everything work with the backup. Yeah, fine. I had to back in because they were loading even though you were there at 6:30. Yeah, have a good trip. Drive safely. You too. Talk to you soon. It costs €1 to use the bathroom. That adds up. back in the truck. Biggie looks at her aching toe. Ohh yeah. Ohh boy. Stupid. It's purple. I'm gonna grind it to you, but they can't do anything with the little toe. Just bandage two together, 

I think. Tell me What a pain? a plaster will have to do. Piggy waits out her required break here. She says always something she. doesn't eat regular. healthy eating is one of the big problems with hauling. How many kids pose out? No, it's my break. No, I'm not hungry I have some peppers that I eat while I'm driving and they keep my hunger away. But now in my break, I'm not hungry. That thing with truckers, eating and driving instead of taking a break and then eating. outside and walked around. He's a young guy and takes care of himself. But the old ones like me don't pay attention. They only eat when they're hungry Yeah, back on the road. Biggie gives her healthy sliced peppers a chance. Here in the truck, she's her own boss, but also very much alone. Only. Yes, sometimes. you're alone a lot, especially on long hauls. You can do what you want. You can turn the music up loud. You can leave it off. Yeah, sure. When you're allowed, 

you can do whatever you want. Bigger. You also know solitude from home. Her workmate, Hood Muller, is one of her few friends. They've known each other for about a year. Both are divorced. Both dried trunks for the same carrier. That connects them. Select for good. Drinking coffee between moving boxes isn't a problem. Can you make it? Are they good? Yummy. Yummy. Like always. No. And you know me well. Yeah, greedy guts. Just not enough. Almost two years ago, would retrained as a truck driver through the employment office. But she drives different routes that big E. I only do day trips. Why not? First of all, I still have animals at home and my. and my dad. I'm not so good with long distances because I'm not used to them. Although there are only three female drivers in the company, they don't automatically get along. I was happy when I saw a route in her truck and went right over to her. They've been glazed through. But I have to say honestly, if she'd had long painted nails or been all made up, I wouldn't have gone up to her. But she's natural. Like me. I think it's great that women drive trucks. No question. I bought them I have to be able to cope. I have to do the work, not just drive. I have to be able to unload too. If I had to change a tire on the freeway in Italy, it took me. It took me 4 hours, but I changed the tire. You can't do that with long fingernails. The battered fried apple ring start the two dreaming. Shall we drive to Genoa? Yeah. to the sea. The harbor is great. We'll tell the boss. We won't be in tomorrow. I'm like **** 

Instead of Genoa, we're back on the road in Germany. Biggie has to stop for the night So we're coming up to the Zanga house in South exit. We have to drive to the truck. Stop there. Theoretically, she's allowed to drive for another hour, but then there will be no rest area for the night. So let's see if we can find a nice spot Not showing some pets. Liverpool. I ain't gonna save that. OK, then exit and pause kernel. So, and now we can shut off the engine. The. first part in the truck stop is right next to the bathrooms. That's important for biggie. Fuel is even more expensive here than at home. 192 crazy. The truck is parked in the blazing sun. It's. 5:00 o'clock and still 30 degrees in the shade. Biggie first darkens the cab. Her truck has air conditioning, but it only works when the engine is running. That burns fuel. It is not an inviting setting for an after work stroll. The rest stops are mostly located in industrial areas. They're made for vehicles, not for pedestrians. Big E is not in the mood for sliced peppers or bread for dinner. She wants a hot meal. The food served at the rest stop is not exactly well balanced or healthy. It's been easier to when I go to a truck stop now. Every trucker sits alone at a table. Always alone. See my wife in the past. We sat and ate together. So that's what we talked. It's what we are also doing to some excessive even if we didn't know each other Think a conduct. Biggie spends the rest of her evening watching TV on her tablet in the truck. Comfortable. Yes, but she's also alone. OK, around to 8:00 o'clock she starts getting ready for bed, using the truck stop bathroom. The rest area is filling up. Every free parking spot is occupied overnight. 

Miggy takes another look at her toe. The plaster will have to do half of it. I was stupid. It's still light outside, but biggie has to sleep. The alarm is set for 3 so she can start off at 4 as planned. But the departure next morning is hectic. Vicky has slept in. It's already nearly four, and her toe has been aching all night. So how does it feel This is terrible. She quickly takes out the garbage. and brushes her teeth in the rest of bathroom. Time is tight so big, he buys a coffee from the vending machine. It costs €3 but she doesn't have time to make one in the truck, and no coffee is a no go. But the coffee isn't good. Ohh, that's awful. Ohh, I hate hot and awful without milk. Biggie had planned on one hour to start her work day, but 30 minutes will have to be enough. A quick pre-drive check. The noise is coming from this refrigerated truck. It parked behind her, and the coolers ran all night. Another reason she slept so badly. at 20 past four Biggie starts her journey. 20 minutes later than planned. They have the big house. I shut off the alarm before it rang Yeah, it's about 12. I was awake earlier, but then you forget the time. Yeah but now we have to hurry a bit. The sun slowly rises. Biggie checks the radio. The last thing she needs now is a traffic jam.

 OK, it's finished. I heard right He knows the route and knows where she can get through the fastest. And she doesn't quite stick to the 60 kilometers an hour speed limit for trucks. Well, that's fine. We're only doing 68. So nobody can say anything. now for some coffee. I won't wake up today. I didn't sleep properly. The last kilometers lead biggie through small villages. And she actually reaches her drop off point on time. She has to wear a safety vest and boots here. Big E is solely responsible for getting the paint from her trailer into the company's tax. So it's going. after the paint is out, she still has to clean the tanks. Bigger is on her way to the next job. The hectic morning is over. Let's say I've got a car over page I used to be a real hot head, driving a top speed, and now I'm only driving at 83. Take it easy You only live once. I want to make myself crazy or burn myself out. I'm taking it easy. A few weeks later, Big E sent us a message. Her toe has healed, and the move worked out too. So hello, I feel. good. And I'm near my daughter. My ex husband often comes by and helps me put out the lamps. It. really nice. Biggie is now trying to manage everything better. Long distance driving and the family.