Behind the Wheel
Name: Michael / Mikey
Age: 32
Nickname: Brownie
After 12 years serving in the Army as an Infantryman, Michael ‘Brownie’ has taken his career in a completely different direction. Now behind the wheel as an HGV driver, he has combined his working life on the road with his long-standing passion for fitness, proving that a busy lifestyle doesn’t have to mean putting your health on the back burner.
For anyone considering a career in haulage, Brownie’s advice is simple: don’t be afraid to throw yourself in at the deep end.
He believes there can be a temptation to start with a Class 2 licence simply because it is seen as the easier option, but his advice is to go for Class 1 if that is where you ultimately want to be.
“You’ve got to learn on the job,” he says. “Don’t be scared to ask for help, take your time and learn from your mistakes.”
One area he feels can sometimes be lacking is practical training, particularly when it comes to skills such as reversing. Much of this is something new drivers have to develop through experience.
Ultimately, though, Brownie believes that if you do the job properly and build a good reputation, an HGV licence can open plenty of doors.
“You can take that licence anywhere and always find work.”
Away from driving, Brownie inspires other people to make fitness part of their everyday lives.
Having previously shared his own fitness journey on social media, he began receiving messages from people encouraging him to start a dedicated channel and use his experience to motivate others.
Brownie is keen to point out that you don’t have to be an expert to start making changes to your own lifestyle. For those who are unsure where to begin, he recommends investing in a personal trainer.
A good PT can provide guidance and support, particularly for people who have little previous knowledge of fitness. Even for those with experience, Brownie believes a personal trainer can provide valuable accountability and an extra level of motivation.
They can also help create realistic nutrition and meal plans, as well as fitness programmes that fit around busy working lives.
And Brownie is certainly practising what he preaches.
Looking ahead, he hopes to continue using his social media platforms to inspire more people, particularly those working in the haulage industry. He is also currently working towards his PT qualifications, which he hopes to combine with the boxing qualifications he already holds.
From serving his country to transporting cardboard and pallets across the country, Brownie has certainly taken a different route into haulage. But with his determination, love of fitness and desire to help others, he is showing that life on the road doesn’t have to stand in the way of looking after yourself.
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Brownie has always been a naturally sporty person. Whether that's boxing, playing football, running or spending time in the gym, sport and fitness have always played a big part in his life.
While serving in the Army, a casual conversation with a friend who was working as an agency HGV driver got him thinking about his future. His friend told him that he was earning more money driving trucks than Brownie was earning in the military. It was that conversation that planted the seed for a change of direction.
Transferring across to Logistics, he spent the final five years of his military career preparing for life after the Army. As well as gaining valuable experience, he completed additional training, including his ADR qualification, giving him extra options when the time eventually came to leave the military.
Brownie has held his Class 1 HGV licence for five years and currently drives for Jack Richards & Son. Working Monday to Friday and alternate Saturdays, he spends his working week tramping, mainly transporting cardboard and pallets.
For Brownie, the job itself is relatively straightforward, and financially it has been a step up from his military wage. The hours can be long and unsociable, but he explains you soon get used to the lifestyle.
He recognised that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be particularly challenging for HGV drivers. Long hours, time away from home and limited access to gyms can all make staying active and eating well more difficult.
Rather than seeing these as excuses, Brownie decided to show what is possible.
He now shares his fitness journey across Instagram and TikTok, including his workouts, meals and day-to-day experiences of keeping fit while working on the road. His honest approach has helped him build a loyal following and, more importantly, has allowed him to encourage other drivers to make positive changes.
With the right mindset, Brownie has managed to lose weight and maintain his fitness, often using little more than the space around his cab for his workouts.
Brownie makes sure he always has a set of dumbbells, resistance bands, a pull-up bar and a dip bar with him in the cab, giving him plenty of options when it comes to training.
He aims to train outside his cab every Tuesday and Thursday. Workouts can include close or wide grip pull-ups, tricep dips, circuit training, interval training and arm workouts.
At weekends, he heads to his local gym two or three times, depending on his work schedule.
For Brownie, it’s all about finding a routine that works around the job rather than allowing the job to dictate his lifestyle.
Nutrition is another important part of his routine, and preparation starts every Sunday when Brownie heads to Aldi for his weekly shop.
By getting everything he needs for the week ahead, he can prepare his meals and avoid relying on whatever food happens to be available while he is out on the road.
His typical Monday-to-Friday meal plan includes overnight oats for breakfast, made with measured portions so he can keep track of his calorie intake. Depending on whether he is cutting or bulking, the oats can include protein powder, chia seeds, honey, banana, dark chocolate and peanut butter.
Snacks include two Rice Krispy bars and a protein yoghurt, while lunch is usually scrambled eggs and bagels with Red Leicester cheese.
For his evening meal, Brownie opts for microwaveable protein meals, with jerk chicken and meatballs among his favourites. He’ll often finish the day with another serving of overnight oats.
Depending on his breaks, he tries to eat every two to three hours, helping him stay fuelled throughout the working day.
