Former lorry driver, 69, lives permanently in a Fiat Ducato after 42 years on Europe’s roads

After a career spent criss-crossing Europe, a former lorry driver has made his converted vehicle his permanent home.

In Lescure-Jaoul, Aveyron, the 69-year-old speaks frankly about everyday life without a conventional home. This is neither a temporary arrangement nor an extended holiday. He has lived on the road for almost two decades, building routines and friendships while managing his finances to protect his independence.

A settled life became unthinkable

Before retiring, this former transport professional spent 42 years driving on Europe’s major routes. His working weeks followed the familiar pattern of a lorry driver: leaving on Sunday evening, returning on Saturday, then taking on another load and setting off again.

He drove through numerous countries for several employers and carried every kind of cargo. That existence fundamentally shaped the way he views time and space. Once he stopped working, the prospect of remaining alone in his flat in Villeneuve-sur-Lot felt impossible.

After four decades governed by journeys, he could not imagine spending his days sitting in front of the television.

His previous career also affected his marriage. After 35 years together, the repeated separations eventually put pressure on the relationship. However, he says he remains on good terms with his former wife. The family still meets regularly, including their four children.

He does not portray this mobile lifestyle as an escape. Instead, it is a natural continuation for a man accustomed to departures, unexpected stops and conversations with strangers.

A €2,000 pension with limited fixed costs

The former lorry driver receives roughly €2,000 each month. In his view, this enables him to enjoy his day-to-day life fully, as a home on wheels removes some substantial outgoings. There is no rent to pay, no electricity bill for a large home and no annual residence tax on a flat occupied throughout the year.

His budget is nevertheless constrained by several unavoidable costs: fuel, insurance, mechanical maintenance, MOT inspections, water, gas, food and repairs. He keeps around €3,000 in reserve in case of a major breakdown. This safeguard is essential, since work on the engine, brakes or interior equipment of an older or heavily used vehicle can quickly cost hundreds, or even thousands, of euros.

Costs that do not go away

Living in a converted van does not mean living without expenses. The actual cost depends heavily on mileage, the type of place used for overnight stops and the level of comfort sought.

• Fuel is often the largest expense for people who drive long distances.
• Maintenance needs planning: tyres, oil changes, the battery, heating and watertight seals all require regular checks.
• Finding suitable service areas is necessary for fresh water and emptying waste water.
• Insurance for both the vehicle and its contents remains essential.
• Restaurant meals, leisure activities and travel can all add to the budget.

In his case, keeping spending to an absolute minimum does not appear to be the priority. He enjoys going to restaurants, dancing, playing pétanque and attending motor rallies. In fact, these outings are among the main reasons he values this way of life.

Encounters at every stop

Loneliness, often linked with life on the move, is not what stands out in his experience. On the contrary, he says he speaks every day with local residents, travellers and other regular users of stopover areas. Some conversations last only a few minutes, while others develop into lasting friendships.

He now chooses to travel mainly within France. Having covered so much of Europe during his career, he would rather take his time exploring the regions he passes through. Pétanque competitions, motoring gatherings and local festivals all provide opportunities to stop without following a rigid itinerary.

His vehicle is not simply a roof over his head: it also lets him choose his days, his encounters and the places where he stops.

He travels with Shalima, his dog. As well as providing company, she alerts him when someone unfamiliar approaches the vehicle at night. For many solo travellers, a dog offers a daily point of reference, although it also means adapting outings, periods of intense heat and the places they are permitted to visit.

A Fiat Ducato decorated to stand out

His mobile home is a Fiat Ducato purchased before he retired. He customised it with Tintin-inspired drawings, following a suggestion from his daughter. She felt the famous reporter’s adventures matched his strong taste for setting off and changing horizons.

The artwork on the bodywork catches people’s attention whenever he stops. It also makes conversation easier, as one visual detail is often enough to start an exchange with curious passers-by or fellow travellers.

Free parking does not remove the need to follow the rules

The former lorry driver says he favours free places to stop and avoids paid car parks. However, this approach requires a clear distinction between permitted parking and prohibited camping. In France, local authorities can regulate or ban overnight parking by converted vehicles, particularly near the coast, in protected natural areas or in certain car parks.

Using levelling blocks, putting out chairs, extending an awning or taking up several parking spaces can turn a straightforward stop into an installation treated as camping. It is best to check signs at the entrance to towns, comply with local by-laws and use designated disposal areas.

After almost 20 years on the road, the former driver has no intention of returning to life within four walls. He says that even a new relationship would not be enough to make him give up this mobile existence. His decision rests on a personal balance: lowering fixed costs, keeping a financial reserve and retaining the option to set off again each morning.