A lorry driver has explained to his 5,400 YouTube subscribers why he has quit doing jobs between the UK and the EU, saying that Brexit “has now knackered this job right up.”
Before the end of the transition period, some observers, including experienced freight-forwarder John Shirley, commented on how many European hauliers and drivers would no longer wish to do UK-EU work after January 1st.
The noticeable drop in freight volumes that has occurred since shows that this has been true to some extent. However, naturally there are also some lorry drivers from the UK who have been put off trips to the EU.
One of those who has decided to give up European work is vlogger Stevie Blokes_Vlogs, whose channel has over 320 episodes and 5,400 subscribers.
In two of his most recent uploads, Stevie opened up on why he would be giving up European work after 7 years of delivering goods across the continent.
In episode 321, the experienced trucker said he would remain with his current employer but only do work within the UK. During his explanation, Stevie cited Brexit as the main reason:
I have retired myself from European work for now, because I’m tired of it. I really cannot hack all the rubbish that goes on with it. Basically because Brexit has now knackered this job right up.
Stevie also revealed his frustrations over Brexit in the previous episode of his vlog, saying that “the job’s played out” and that the UK leaving the EU had caused himself and other drivers aggravation, stress and mental health issues:
If only all those idiots that are all tucked up in bed that voted to leave the EU and don’t get involved with any of this rubbish knew. If only they knew the aggro that they’re causing, and the stress and the mental health – not just me, loads of people. There’s loads of drivers that’s been at this for longer than me, this European work. I’ve been driving for 40 years, not European obviously, I’ve been doing this European stuff full time for the last seven years. And it’s been great. I’ve been to some fantastic places. But the job’s played out now. I think specialized car transportations have played out as well. They used to be some fantastic jobs. It’s just boring rubbish now. It’s done. We’ve had the good times me and Angie, I don’t think it’s ever going to come back. I think that’s it now, it’s just done for now, and with covid risk as well, I can’t be putting myself through this.
Admittedly, not everybody in the UK road transport industry shares the same view as Stevie on Brexit. One of those is Pete White of White’s Transport Services, who believes some British hauliers could potentially benefit from the change – despite the challenges the industry is facing at the moment.
Are you a lorry driver operating between the UK and the EU? If so, please let us know in the comments about how much your experience of the job has changed since the end of the Brexit transition period.
Photo credit: Helmut Zozmann / Geograph UK
