Malachi is played by Stephen Tompkinson, Glen is played by Harry Treadaway, Steven is played by Ashley Walters, Martin is played by John Dagleish, Wendy is played by Sian Breckin, Michelle is played by Jenn Murray.

 

Episode 1
Thursday 10 October 2013, 9pm

Malachi is trying to accept his marriage has ended, especially when he interrupts his ex-wife having a culinary-themed affair with her new fiancé. After some soul searching and help from his son, he comes to terms with the break up in his own inimitable way.

Trying to create a new life isn’t easy, especially when the new boss Martin, old enough to be his son, is revolutionising the working day with a new advanced telemetrics system and revised rosters designed to increase productivity. The other truckers Wendy, Steven and Malachi’s son Glen are equally unimpressed with the new system – with the transport manager Michelle Martin’s only source of support.

Glen decides the best way to turn the situation around is a night out in Nottingham, which Malachi duly accepts. Far from making the situation better, Malachi’s introspection grows and the rest of the team can only watch the aftermath.

 

Episode 2
Thursday 17 October 2013, 9pm

Martin is trying to establish himself as the boss after his charismatic father Big Tone passes away, leaving the business to him. Supporting his mum, Roz, and running a business isn’t easy, but he is making the best of the situation.

The truckers are a tough crowd, used to a certain way of working which isn’t what you would call completely professional. As well as resistance from his employees to the new efficiency measures he’s put in place, he is also taking criticism at home from his girlfriend. While Martin is at the yard, she is honing her glutes trying to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a professional sports model.

After a series of revelations, Martin learns to step out of his father’s shadow and do things on his own terms, once and for all.

Episode 3
Thursday 24 October 2013, 9pm

The trucking life suits Steven down to the ground – he isn’t interested in commitment. When Steven learns that his ex-wife Danielle has lied to him about moving to Spain, and has in fact been living with their sons in nearby Derby, he is incensed. Despite a promise to Malachi not to do anything hasty, Steven dives straight in seeking to make up for lost time.

After surreptitiously collecting his kids from school, the three of them go off on an adventure. When he returns back to find Danielle waiting, he’s exhausted and uneasy. As much in punishment as kindness, she agrees to let him mind the kids for the weekend.

The next day’s trucking is not quite as much fun for Steven, or for his sons. He has to catch up on the work he missed the day before and is suddenly confronted with the full reality of caring for two young boys; they’re bored, they need the toilet at inconvenient moments, they find his on-board porn collection…

Needless to say it doesn’t quite work out as he intended, and leaves him fighting for his job, family and ultimately his self-respect.

Episode 4
Thursday 31 October 2013, 9pm

Wendy accompanies her hypochondriac mother Judy to yet another doctor’s appointment. There is nothing wrong with her, as always, and Wendy is fed up. After some prickly words from Judy about Wendy’s ‘alternative’ lifestyle, Wendy leaves to join the other Truckers at the pub quiz.

After a few non-alcoholic beverages, she starts chatting up Steven, and embarks on a passionate yet challenging relationship with him. After attending an AA meeting, she gains the clarity and courage to go back to Judy and challenge her on her cruel, ‘maternal’ approach. Wendy can’t stop herself as years of bottling it up comes pouring out. Judy thinks Wendy is hard to love, and blames Wendy for her marriage breakdown. Wendy is devastated.

She drives to Steven’s house and on his doorstep admits that, at 35, she has never had a boyfriend for more than six weeks. Her insecurities sent her off the rails, but she is sorry and begs for a second chance. With Steven’s help, she learns that she can be loved.

Episode 5
Thursday 7 November 2013, 9pm

Glen wakes from another bad dream. Malachi thinks the dreams are a manifestation of his guilt for cheating on his girlfriend, Caroline, and this is all part of the experience of growing up. Glen, however, knows deep down that he can’t make excuses for his duplicitous behaviour.

Things get even worse when Malachi reluctantly introduces Glen to Pauline, a colourful outgoing woman he met at an evening class. A trip down memory lane gives Glen a chance to think, and he decides it is time he grew up and accepts responsibility on his own terms. Glen does the only honourable thing he can think of – he panics and proposes to Caroline. Following this revelation, things go from bad to worse for Glen.

He decides to come clean but the damage is done. Malachi reassures him that the path through adulthood is rocky, and that we all make mistakes, but it doesn’t help Glen.

The series finale sees Glen grow from being a boy to a man. With the support of his family and fellow truckers he learns to accept what he has lost and look for a fresh start.

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