Follow the diary of a new recruit in a UK traffic office as they navigate jargon, near-miss disasters, and the surprising joys of haulage life.
Monday: Overwhelmed is an Understatement
First day on the desk solo. Phones ringing. Radios buzzing. Everyone’s shouting postcodes like I know where Warrington is. I nodded a lot and prayed.
Lesson: The panic fades after hour six.
Tuesday: Lingo Bingo
“Tramping,” “double manning,” “POA” — I need a glossary and a stiff drink. Made the mistake of asking what ‘backload’ meant. Got laughed at, then handed five to plan.
Highlight: Driver offered me a KitKat. That’s a win in this world.
Wednesday: Found the Rhythm
Started to understand the flow. Even helped chase a late truck and rebook a timed delivery. Felt borderline useful. Team said “good job” without sarcasm.
Moral: Survival starts at day three.
Thursday: One Mistake, Two Phones
Accidentally double-booked a curtain sider. Dispatcher gave me “the look.” Driver called me a “keen bean.” Not a compliment. Fixed it — just.
Win: Didn’t cry in the loo.
Friday: Feeling Legit
Wrapped the week managing half a shift solo. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. Celebrated with a lukewarm Greggs and a tiny sense of pride.
Takeaway: The chaos becomes familiar. Eventually.
Final Thoughts
Traffic office life is a crash course in resilience. It’s loud, unpredictable, and sometimes hilarious. One week down. Ready for the next? Ask me after tea break.
See more ‘Trucking Diaries’ here – Subscribe to Trucking Magazine here.
