Any hgv drivers in?

[CompoSimmonite]

One mate started with an agency and a basic (was old Class 3) HGV gained whilst in RAF. It suited him as he had a disabled son and wife was "breadwinner" so he could pick and choose when he worked to fit in with sons requirements. After a while the agency paid for him to do Class 2, then Hi-Ab and a while later his Class 1. Took a few years but no outlay himself.

 

[cocker]

Most of the people I know with hgv licences have packed in driving full time
They have other jobs now and do a bit of driving if they're a bit short

 

[dunk]

do yourself a favour dont bother with transport, the industry is changing so rapidly that the pleasure/fun of driving has long been forgotten, there`s now more waiting to get tipped/loaded, more regs than you can shake a stick at, the boredom of sitting behind another wagon at between 50-56 mph depending on your limiter for hours, the unsociable hours, traffic, routes you can not use, the list goes on, but before you can get to do any of this if its what turns you on you`ve got to get your licence, cpc, and then an agency(who will take the pee) to get you your first job, then to top it the money in most cases is rubbish for the agro,
if you still feel its for you remember you may get replaced as regards the main driver in the cab by some ruddy onboard computor which are being trialed now and look set to be the way forward for the future, i like many many other older hgv drivers are so glad to be out of it and truely do not miss this modern day way of timed delivery`s and just in time supplying,

 

[steviec_lj]

do yourself a favour dont bother with transport, the industry is changing so rapidly that the pleasure/fun of driving has long been forgotten, there`s now more waiting to get tipped/loaded, more regs than you can shake a stick at, the boredom of sitting behind another wagon at between 50-56 mph depending on your limiter for hours, the unsociable hours, traffic, routes you can not use, the list goes on, but before you can get to do any of this if its what turns you on you`ve got to get your licence, cpc, and then an agency(who will take the pee) to get you your first job, then to top it the money in most cases is rubbish for the agro,
if you still feel its for you remember you may get replaced as regards the main driver in the cab by some ruddy onboard computor which are being trialed now and look set to be the way forward for the future, i like many many other older hgv drivers are so glad to be out of it and truely do not miss this modern day way of timed delivery`s and just in time supplying,

And this is why the industry is crying out for new blood.

Because the drivers leaving the serice don't like the new methods being used...

Automatic trucks..good!
Over speed alarms..good!
CPC..good!
More training..good!

Waiting to be tipped, not a drivers problem, its because the "other trades" don't pull their thumb out.

And yes, I work in a transport role, both gatehouse, driving and unloading.

The unloading folk are where the issue lies!

 

[penfold]

Traffic officers can ask you to remove your card and they can analise what your driving has been like. It can be a minefield driving these day but some days can be a dream

You'd like the trafpol to stick your card up their bottom?

Best money

Train driving...

~£40Kpost training and mid 20s during training..

22000 people just applied for 100 new driver trainee posts at Scotrail; those odds are pretty tall.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Well I am still looking into this. I have had some good ish news in work this morning so I may not need to find another career but just a job to fill a gap for a few months, but still lookin into this just incase.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

One mate says the best driving job he had was tipper work from quarry to customer. Lorry was a military type monster truck that was tatty all round but would go anywhere as AWD. He said great camaraderie between drivers and every morning they would get together and have a big fry-up on camping stoves up at the quarry before starting work properly. Extremely dirty work and low pay but enjoyable. Another time he was driving a hook loader skip lorry (Leyland Constructor) and I went out with him a few times. Again not brilliant pay but local work, no pressure and first pickings on whatever was in the skip - you'd be amazed at what gets put in these industrial sized skips

 

[Badger1bear]

Hook loader or Ro Ro (roll on roll off) work has become a lot easier now they have auto sheet and auto box's. You can still select manual gearbox or let the truck do it all. It's now so easy and comfortable in these new trucks that it's very easy to get tired and fall asleep. We have two 32t ro ro's and they are both easy to drive. Carrying bins from 20yd muck away to 40yd General waste, compactors are easy when you get the hang of putting the bin back on the packer unit we also run 5 X 18t skip loaders and 1 X 12t skip loader for limited access. With all these trucks they keep me busy repairing their damage to the truck and the bins. Don't put all your eggs in one basket, never say no to a job even if you haven't done it before, tell em you will give it a go. I had this attitude many years ago. I now can drive hgv trucks of all sorts, haz chem loads, Hiab, 360 excavators, tracked loading shovel, wheeled loading shovel. I am also yard manager for the same company and I do the repairs of the plant and trucks as well. I never turn down a job because if you don't learn something new every day you haven't been listening. Make yourself a GO TO person and you will thrive
For me there is no start time to the beginning of the day and there is no finish time to the end of day, your done when the job is done.
I work hard and I play hard. This philosophy has made it possible to have the best in welding equipment and other tools for work.

One sentence my headmaster gave to me and inspired me consists of 10 words and each word contains only 2 letters


If it is to be, it is up to me

Follow ya dreams buddy

Mr B