Q and A with driver Tony Mitchell

DRIVERS

We chat to well-travelled RoadStar Tony Mitchell.

We love getting to know our RoadStars. Tony Mitchell has been driving trucks around Europe for 20+ years. We caught up with him at a recent Truckfest event to find out what he loves about his job and why he enjoys driving his Mercedes-Benz Actros.


Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Tony Mitchell. I am 40 years old and driving trucks has been a lifelong job for me, as I started driving trucks over twenty years ago when I was just 19. I started out on smaller vehicles, but I always wanted to drive HGVs. Seven years ago I finally decided to take my test and I passed my HGV Class 1 about five years ago.

Has driving always been a passion of yours?

Absolutely! As a young guy I knew that I wanted to work as a truck driver, so from then onwards it was just a matter of finding the time to take the tests and find a good company to work for.

What’s the favourite part of driving for you?

I enjoy travelling and have been lucky that my job has taken me to most corners of the UK, and many parts of Europe, too.

Do you have a favourite destination then?

I loved a job that took me through Sweden and Norway. The scenery was very picturesque.

Any drawbacks to all of this travel?

Not many for me, as I enjoy travelling as I said. However, most people go to Spain to soak up the sun, but to be honest it’s not as fun there when you’re unloading the trailer in 38°C heat!


Tony Mitchell showed off his truck along with other RoadStars at Truckfest 2018.


What are you driving right now?

I am currently driving a Mercedes-Benz Actros with a StreamSpace cab. The bed has been converted into a crew cab so we are legally allowed to carry 6 people.

A special touch is that the cab has been airbrushed with the characters from the film ‘Frozen’ so it definitely stands out from other vehicles on the road. We’ve also got another truck in the fleet featuring a portrait of Elvis!

Any special features to tell us about?

It has been specially designed and built for use as a removals truck featuring underlockers which have car ramps and platforms stored to make loading safer. It’s also good to know that, in terms of safety, it is fitted with a camera system and nearside sensors to alert me if there is a cyclist or car on my inside.

What are your in-cab ‘must haves’?

Aside from it being a nice comfortable working and living environment, there are two things I can’t live without: The air conditioning to keep it comfortable in the cab, and the radio to keep me entertained.


Your RoadStar stories.

Thanks for talking to us Tony! Have you got any trucking stories that you’d like to share, or a truck you’d like to show off? Get in touch via the comments section below, and you could be the RoadStar of our next driver Q and A!

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