Truckers: Life on the Road

Newly qualified driver Laura may have her HGV test behind her, but she still has challenges to overcome. Today she is facing her nemesis: the most complex intersection on the British road system, serving 18 routes on five different levels – aka Spaghetti Junction. Can Laura face her fears to become a master of the pasta? Having recently taken over as MD, Ian has the tough job of steering the company safely through troubling times. Luckily, his dad and company founder Huw is on hand with a surprise visit and some sage advice. Despite the challenges, Ian is planning an ambitious move into the Welsh capital. And the hunt is on for another recent recruit: warehouse cleaner Adrian - aka the hide-and-seek champion.

Unlike many big haulage firms, Owens has remained 100 per cent family-run and owned. From its founding in 1972 by Huw Owen, with just one van, the company has grown to over 1,000 employees. To mark 50 years in business, Huw’s son Ian, the new MD, has decided to hold a fun day for the entire workforce and their families. With expectations sky high, Vicky in marketing has been put in charge of making sure everything goes smoothly on the day. But for Ian, there is still the matter of that all-important speech to write. Before they can get the party started, it’s business as usual for the 650 drivers powering up and down Britain’s motorways. Trucker Matt has a 500-mile round trip ahead of him. He is heading to a Scottish forest to collect felled logs to be turned into garden fencing. Matt is one of only three drivers in the company trained to do this forest run. With tricky terrain to navigate, one wrong move could send his truck careering over the edge.

Long-time trucker Andy has been in the lorry game for three decades. He’s a specialist driver, trained to transport extra heavy loads of steel. After a 3am start, he’s picking up from a titan of the Welsh economy - Tata Steel in Port Talbot. Today he’s hauling a particularly hefty load. Work environments don’t come much more hazardous than this, as massive furnaces burn throughout the day and night, breathing sparks, steam and fire. Andy needs to watch his step.

Night driver Dai is another veteran trucker who followed his dad into the industry. After a 40+ year career, he’s now content to follow the same regular nightly route to Burton-on-Trent. The solitude and peace of the night is time to reflect on the happy memories of trucking, as well as some really difficult times. But there are also the recent recruits to the industry, like newly qualified driver Laura. She’s loving the life of a trucker, whatever the weather.

Long- time trucker The Donk has taken charge of a very special cargo: a supersized birthday card for company founder Huw, who turns 70 in a few days’ time. There’s a surprise party planned for him at HQ - but the surprise might just be on MD Ian when his dad turns up early for the first time ever.