When I used to drive HGVs
As you're probably aware, driving a big truck is a pretty lonely job most of the time - but there was this one time I remember a few years ago when that sort of changed for a while.

I'm not even sure what triggered it, though there had been what seemed to be an inordinate number of traffic plod and VOSA inspectors around on this particular morning, which was winding everyone up and leading to altercations on weigh-bridges and over tachograph records etc.

Anyway, a few of us decided to ignore the polite requests to pull into lay-bys for another metaphorical ass-reaming by 'The Man' and started looking for alternative routes away from the inspections. At the time, there weren't mobile phones so use of CB radios was fairly prevalent, and when one driver spotted a checkpoint, he'd contact others, who would contact others out of range of the original message and so on.

The overall effect was to funnel lots of lorries onto fewer roads, so we ended up bunched up together, much to the annoyance of car drivers who were stuck behind us, who tried to leapfrog their way past the ever-growing column of HGVs. If we were feeling charitable, we might let the odd one in - if it was a pretty girl driving or, in one case a hand-painted VW camper full of crusties.

With the radios in our cabs, we took the opportunity to indulge in some all-too-rare banter about the traffic and one-another, which further bonded our little group. Unfortunately, as the day progressed, the wagons on these alternative routes were too numerous for the police to ignore so they started trying to divert us back to the trunk routes. This led to more antagonism from some of the hard-liners (no, that's not the opposite of a curtain-sider) who decided they weren't going to be told where they could and couldn't drive and started kicking off.

The upshot was that it all ended badly, with arrests and all sorts. Although it took place a good many years ago, you may have heard about it. It all started under the dark of the moon on the 6th of June.
( Snappyuk gets BIGGER with free sample., Thu 14 Jul 2011, 23:17, 6 replies)

I remember that
I was in a GMC lorry moving some pigs around. On the I-10, right?
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Thu 14 Jul 2011, 23:51, closed)

We Got Us A Convoy!

( Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Fri 15 Jul 2011, 4:30, closed)

Not true.
Needs more rape and murder of prostitutes.
( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Fri 15 Jul 2011, 7:22, closed)

that's a negatory, good buddy.

( janet aylia y'all motherfuckers need jesus, Fri 15 Jul 2011, 9:12, closed)

I remember you
You were driving a Peterbilt with the cab built over the engine and towing a refrigerated trailer iirc.
( His Popiness the Hole Invaded Poland on, Tue 19 Jul 2011, 22:14, closed)

Knowing a few truckers
the VOSA-avoiding bit is true and happens more often than you think.
(FirstBendBunching All four back please..., Wed 20 Jul 2011, 10:56, closed)