Lyall Cresswell

With the current state of the Royal Mail, and all the postal delays, you may feel that a chimpanzee would do a better job than your current postie, and who knows you could even be right The truth is that animals have been working courier jobs for centuries, and as we’ve yet to see a Saint Bernard on strike it’s likely that they’ll be working a more reliable service than your average postman for many more: Carrier pigeons, or homing pigeons, are the best known animals with courier jobs and they’ve been providing this service to the public since World War One

Postman Pat is probably the most reliable, friendly and responsible postman in the world And deep down, we all wish he was the one delivering our post, particularly given the current state of the British Royal Mail

For as long as cars have been on the road, drivers have been adorning their windshields with lucky amulets designed to provide them with safety on their long journeys These amulets differ throughout the world, from the evil eyes of Turkey and the Middle East to the slightly stranger rabbit feet often used as a talisman in Europe

Ask yourself – could you spend three months driving a truck in sub-zero conditions with only snatches of sleep for days on end Could you drive that truck loaded with 88,000 pounds of haulage companies’ cargo across what amounts to a two inch thick sheet of compressed ice

With the rising cost of fuel around the globe, courier work is becoming increasingly expensive Drivers and companies are having to pay more and more per trip, which is taking its toll on the courier industry

Traditionally, the trucking industry has been a man’s world, and transport contracts have seldom been entered into by females But it is now the 21st century, and it is important to remember that women are not only entitled to, but actually increasingly do, work in the haulage industry

Roundabouts, rotary systems, islands or traffic circles, whatever you decide to call them one thing’s certain, we Brit’s have a love affair with roundabouts Whilst Americans may not understand them, Kevin Beresford’s book on the best roundabouts of Britain became an instant bestseller here in the United Kingdom

Those employed in delivery work in the United States appear to have a much better deal than us in the United Kingdom Not only do they rarely have to put up with roundabouts and Victorian road-layouts, but they also have long stretches of freeways and classic American diners in which they can take a pit-stop

Dekotora is an emerging fashion for customising trucks that originated in Japan It’s a craze that’s making motorways more interesting and truck stops brighter places to visit, as lorry drivers increasingly put aside their dull delivery work liveries and opt for artistic haulage vehicles

It seems that the humble “white van man” is being targeted by something other than just the clichéd humour of every amateur comedian from Lands End to Loch Laxford In a strange turn of events, in recent months one suburb in London appears to have fallen prey to a mysterious gang of thieves with a distinct penchant for a particular brand of van

Private clampers certainly make carrying out courier jobs that little bit harder, as you struggle against the clock to deliver a parcel, all the while praying that the clampers don’t spot your white van parked on their private driveway or office block car park However, it has recently emerged that private wheel clamping could very well be illegal and, under UK law, an infringement of our human rights

Stringing a tree with tinsel or spraying fake snow around your double-glazed windows is fairly normal behaviour when it comes to celebrating a religious festival at home However, if you spend more time on the road carrying out haulage work then you do lounging around in your living room at home, then it’s understandable that you may also want to decorate your vehicle

Try starting a conversation with most people (aside from the haulage companies) about trucks, and they’ll be asleep before you even get to discuss the merits of a mid-lift axle But it seems that there is a new guard emerging – a breed so dedicated and eagle-eyed, that they are turning the talent of high speed number plate reading into an art form

Possibly the most famous trucker of all time is Tyrone Malone And his unique haulage work load, known as Little Irvy, is equally famous in the trucking world

Trucking movies form an interesting genre of their own, with stereotypical masculine lead characters played by the likes of Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone Here is a list of 10 of the best trucking movies