First step to becoming a HGV driver

[gus607]

I retired three years ago (health problems). The amount of stress nowadays is a killer, believe me.
Years ago I really enjoyed the job & you could move about until you found what YOU liked best, these days things are crap. I wouldn't wish that life on anyone.
Whatever you decide, best of luck !

[callmedave]

gus607 said:

I retired three years ago (health problems). The amount of stress nowadays is a killer, believe me.
Years ago I really enjoyed the job & you could move about until you found what YOU liked best, these days things are crap. I wouldn't wish that life on anyone.
Whatever you decide, best of luck !

GUs, thanks for the comments.

I currently work as a project co-ordinator, this is stressfull enough. I dont think that LGV driving will be more stressfull. Plus As i will be starting with agency I can pick and choose (a little) who i work for, and hopefully find a company that is not too stressfull to work for.

[carmadgaz]

Reading this with interest as I'm in the same boat. Was originally going to do my license but hold on the CPC until I needed it (long story) but the situation has changed now so I'm going all in. Done my theory and hazard back in Dec. Got my CPC Case study on Saturday and then my training and test at the end of this month.

Never driven anything this big before so it should be interesting, biggest to date is a Range Rover and trailer rig at about 5ton!

[callmedave]

carmadgaz said:

Reading this with interest as I'm in the same boat. Was originally going to do my license but hold on the CPC until I needed it (long story) but the situation has changed now so I'm going all in. Done my theory and hazard back in Dec. Got my CPC Case study on Saturday and then my training and test at the end of this month.

Never driven anything this big before so it should be interesting, biggest to date is a Range Rover and trailer rig at about 5ton!

First off, Best of luck to you! Im a bit jealous that you are doing this so soon! Now that the wheels are in motion (pun intended!) I am starting to resent my job, as I can only think about "I would rather be a lorry driver"

Its like waiting at home for a courier to deliver something!

Please let me know how you get on with it all!

[carmadgaz]

callmedave said:

First off, Best of luck to you! Im a bit jealous that you are doing this so soon! Now that the wheels are in motion (pun intended!) I am starting to resent my job, as I can only think about "I would rather be a lorry driver"

Its like waiting at home for a courier to deliver something!

Please let me know how you get on with it all!

Cheers and the same to you bud

Yeah I got the wheels in motion back in October so it doesn't seem like soon enough! Will do

[brrapp]

Sorry for the hijack of the topic, but I'm also looking to get my C+E licence.
I'm old so already have C1+E and have 30 plus years of experience in driving vehicles up to 7.5t with trailers, and also a fair bit of driving (agricultural)tractors with large trailers on and off the road with weights of up to 31 Tonnes. I've also worked delivering a range of unplated vehicles within the commercial vehicle industry (from coaches to eight wheeler tippers) which before plating can be driven on a 'normal' car licence.
I'm looking to expand into manned plant hire so need my licence to deliver my own excavators etc.on a 38 Tonne low loader.
I'm looking for advice on the best way to get my licence. I'm not cocky enough to think I know everything, but I'm probably more experienced than many fully qualified LGV drivers on the road so just looking to find the cheapest easiest way to get my licence and any shortcuts I can take. I don't think I need to sign up with one of these all singing, all dancing training schools but happy to be told otherwise if I'm wrong.

[PowerslideSWE]

All that jazz said:

Talk to a Stobrat driver and he'll tell you he's on £40k a year as well. Take what drivers tell you about their earnings with a large pinch of salt.

I was actually going to ask that question what a driver in the UK makes. Day/night job, no sleeping in the cab kind of deal.

By base salary for the company I work for is £2400/month. On top of that I have a minimum of 10 hrs overtime a month due to the fact that I get picked up where I am after my shift rather than drive the truck all the way back to the yard for shift change. We work 2 shifts, one week is 06.00-15.00, the other week is 14.00-23.00, but I'm usually at home in my house at 22.00, we still get payed to 23.00 however. In Sweden we get payed for something that translates to un-comfortable working hours between 1800-0600 so I get alot of those, around 60 hours/month the last few months. So my average wage before taxes the last 3 months is 38000 Swedish or around £3450/month. I'm happy'ish with that. It will go up maybe £150-£200 come April aswell.

Anyone else like to disclose their salary? Just for comparison between countries in this case.

Edited by PowerslideSWE on Tuesday 7th February 10:02

[Super Slo Mo]

brrapp said:

Sorry for the hijack of the topic, but I'm also looking to get my C+E licence.
I'm old so already have C1+E and have 30 plus years of experience in driving vehicles up to 7.5t with trailers, and also a fair bit of driving (agricultural)tractors with large trailers on and off the road with weights of up to 31 Tonnes. I've also worked delivering a range of unplated vehicles within the commercial vehicle industry (from coaches to eight wheeler tippers) which before plating can be driven on a 'normal' car licence.
I'm looking to expand into manned plant hire so need my licence to deliver my own excavators etc.on a 38 Tonne low loader.
I'm looking for advice on the best way to get my licence. I'm not cocky enough to think I know everything, but I'm probably more experienced than many fully qualified LGV drivers on the road so just looking to find the cheapest easiest way to get my licence and any shortcuts I can take. I don't think I need to sign up with one of these all singing, all dancing training schools but happy to be told otherwise if I'm wrong.

Get your medical and provisional sorted, then approach some of your local trainers. I am sure one of them will be able to accomodate you.
I am pretty sure that although you will be fine with the handling of the vehicle (as was I back in the day), it's the 'roadcraft' that will get you. There's quite a bit of detail and finnesse to take into account, and you will likely have a number of bad habits to be ironed out.

[callmedave]

Super Slo Mo said:

brrapp said:

Sorry for the hijack of the topic, but I'm also looking to get my C+E licence.
I'm old so already have C1+E and have 30 plus years of experience in driving vehicles up to 7.5t with trailers, and also a fair bit of driving (agricultural)tractors with large trailers on and off the road with weights of up to 31 Tonnes. I've also worked delivering a range of unplated vehicles within the commercial vehicle industry (from coaches to eight wheeler tippers) which before plating can be driven on a 'normal' car licence.
I'm looking to expand into manned plant hire so need my licence to deliver my own excavators etc.on a 38 Tonne low loader.
I'm looking for advice on the best way to get my licence. I'm not cocky enough to think I know everything, but I'm probably more experienced than many fully qualified LGV drivers on the road so just looking to find the cheapest easiest way to get my licence and any shortcuts I can take. I don't think I need to sign up with one of these all singing, all dancing training schools but happy to be told otherwise if I'm wrong.

Get your medical and provisional sorted, then approach some of your local trainers. I am sure one of them will be able to accomodate you.
I am pretty sure that although you will be fine with the handling of the vehicle (as was I back in the day), it's the 'roadcraft' that will get you. There's quite a bit of detail and finnesse to take into account, and you will likely have a number of bad habits to be ironed out.

Just to add to this, Make you go with a HGV Trainer and not a broker. There are plenty of companies out there that just refer you to a trainer and take a cut of the cost.

You can check out http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/index.php for a list of trusted trainers, then just filter it down to those within a distance you are willing to travel to.

[carmadgaz]

Update from my end.

Cleared my CPC theory on the 11th and had my first session yesterday.

Did all the walk around bits and had my first session in a 6spd manual Volvo FL.

Getting the lines around corners (getting rather close to the inside curb/line with the back tyre) and my approach speeds (slowing down waaay before the roundabout/ junction seemed alien) are where I'm still getting used to the vehicle but it's not too bad and my reverse exercise was nailed by the second attempt.

Got a 90% on my CPC practical test. Lost one point on the walkaround (exhaust emissions check) and one on the checking for immigrants (I'm sure I covered it all but clearly didn't convey it to my assessor.)

Another practice tomorrow followed by my test on Thursday. Trainer seems happy with my general driving but still need that bit more arse in seat time to polish myself up.

[callmedave]

carmadgaz said:

Update from my end.

Cleared my CPC theory on the 11th and had my first session yesterday.

Did all the walk around bits and had my first session in a 6spd manual Volvo FL.

Getting the lines around corners (getting rather close to the inside curb/line with the back tyre) and my approach speeds (slowing down waaay before the roundabout/ junction seemed alien) are where I'm still getting used to the vehicle but it's not too bad and my reverse exercise was nailed by the second attempt.

Got a 90% on my CPC practical test. Lost one point on the walkaround (exhaust emissions check) and one on the checking for immigrants (I'm sure I covered it all but clearly didn't convey it to my assessor.)

Another practice tomorrow followed by my test on Thursday. Trainer seems happy with my general driving but still need that bit more arse in seat time to polish myself up.

thanks for the update, Glad to hear its going well, Are you actually enjoying it? do you feel like its something you could do for 8 hours a day?
How do you find the gearbox? I assume its like a regular 6 speed?

got any pointers for me?

[truck71]

PowerslideSWE said:

I was actually going to ask that question what a driver in the UK makes. Day/night job, no sleeping in the cab kind of deal.

By base salary for the company I work for is £2400/month. On top of that I have a minimum of 10 hrs overtime a month due to the fact that I get picked up where I am after my shift rather than drive the truck all the way back to the yard for shift change. We work 2 shifts, one week is 06.00-15.00, the other week is 14.00-23.00, but I'm usually at home in my house at 22.00, we still get payed to 23.00 however. In Sweden we get payed for something that translates to un-comfortable working hours between 1800-0600 so I get alot of those, around 60 hours/month the last few months. So my average wage before taxes the last 3 months is 38000 Swedish or around £3450/month. I'm happy'ish with that. It will go up maybe £150-£200 come April aswell.

Anyone else like to disclose their salary? Just for comparison between countries in this case.

Edited by PowerslideSWE on Tuesday 7th February 10:02

I'm about to start an airside role at LHR on a four days on two days off basis. This equates to five days worked in every seven, 40hrs basic @ £13 p/h. There is the opportunity to do 24hrs O/T a week @ the flat rate (wtd doesn't apply due to not being on the road). So for 64hrs @£13 x 52 weeks equals £43k p/a. This is class 2 and confined within the airport so no ballache of dealing with traffic, fixed shift pattern, home every night.

[carmadgaz]

callmedave said:

thanks for the update, Glad to hear its going well, Are you actually enjoying it? do you feel like its something you could do for 8 hours a day?
How do you find the gearbox? I assume its like a regular 6 speed?

got any pointers for me?

Thanks

Spent 3 hours on the road on Wednesday and I was rather tired by the end of it but that's as much to do with the constant "scrutiny" (for want of a better term, my instructors were both brilliant) and the fact that (like when I started on my 'bike) I've been rather rigid rather than relaxed in my seat. Like my 'bike I'm sure that will improve

Yeah the 'box is essentially a boggo 5spd with a crawler gear. Only used 1st once and that was an error . Was a little stiff compared to the 'box in my car (but I'm spoilt by the MX-5) but as long as I took my time it wasn't an issue. They also had an Auto DAF there as well. As long as you have a manual B license you can do your C in an auto and get a "full" C license (which I thought was strange).

Take your time and almost live in your mirrors. Make sure you look left as you pull out of a left hand turn (on one tight one I got collared by my instructor about that as the front overhang passed over the line and I hadn't done a final look as I came out!). At the same point remember you are on top of your turning wheel, found that a bit odd on my first tight left as I was convinced I was going to hit a bollard. Instructor just told me to get on with it and he was (as always) right.

Take as much room as you need without getting greedy. Stop if you need to, it's NOT a race (as I was repeatedly told ). I ended up with sidewall marks on my OSR tyre by going to tight on roundabouts at the be

I went out today and was limited to 40mph on the main drag by that Doris bird that's been causing havoc today but it settled down by the time I came to do my test.

Did the show me, tell me bits (easy). Did the reverse test (easier than the BE version) and then out onto the road. Came back to a pass cert with 2 minors (stopped too close to a car in front and misjudged a left turn and got rather tight to the curb).

License and DQC are now in the system and I'll post off my digital tacho card application shortly (they insist on a cheque so need to get one off my mum as I don't possess a chequebook). Already got some leads on work that I'll begin chasing next week (I think I've earned a day off this week!)

A pic of the truck I've been using. Once I'd figured out how to stiffen the seat (on Monday it could of made ya seasick ) it was a lovely torquey thing to drive around in

[gus607]

Congrats & good luck !

[s p a c e m a n]

Regarding wages, they vary as much as the job itself. I've chosen to have a life outside of work because I quite like my missus so I'm on a 50 hour day contract with a firm 15 minutes away from my house. I got £686 gross last week for 60 hours, I can't remember any long days so probably booked 12 hours a day. Artic bulk powder tanker running out of the Tilbury area.

My day consists of about 5 hours driving in total, I get homesick if I'm more than an hour away from the M25. 20 minutes each end to load and tip with 3 jobs a day (which just involves standing there drinking coffee and looking at my phone) so 7 hours 'work' a day. The rest of the time is spent sleeping, eating and annoying people Overtime usually consists of someone fking up on the last job and me being stuck on site for an hour doing nothing, so it's more hours but not more work

There's the option of living in the lorry and/or Saturday work for an extra £200ish a week, but what are you going to spend it on if you've got no free time.

Doing the same job for Cemex gets you 38k gross. You have a 48 hour week but have to do any overtime offered, for this you get hours in lieu. Most of them use that to take a couple months holiday off a year. Horrible place to work though, very hse orientated with everyone squeeling each other up for minor stuff because you get credit for it. Everyone hates each other there and your constantly one mistake away from being unemployed.

There are definitely better paid jobs out there than mine and there are also easier, I'd always like more money but the amount of work usually involved to get it doesn't balance with me.

[ezi]

PowerslideSWE said:

I was actually going to ask that question what a driver in the UK makes. Day/night job, no sleeping in the cab kind of deal.

By base salary for the company I work for is £2400/month. On top of that I have a minimum of 10 hrs overtime a month due to the fact that I get picked up where I am after my shift rather than drive the truck all the way back to the yard for shift change. We work 2 shifts, one week is 06.00-15.00, the other week is 14.00-23.00, but I'm usually at home in my house at 22.00, we still get payed to 23.00 however. In Sweden we get payed for something that translates to un-comfortable working hours between 1800-0600 so I get alot of those, around 60 hours/month the last few months. So my average wage before taxes the last 3 months is 38000 Swedish or around £3450/month. I'm happy'ish with that. It will go up maybe £150-£200 come April aswell.

Anyone else like to disclose their salary? Just for comparison between countries in this case.

Edited by PowerslideSWE on Tuesday 7th February 10:02

I work Monday-Friday, 7am start every day and normally leave the yard between 5-6pm. No nights out at all. My wage is approximately £2200/pm before taxes but it can vary slightly as most of it is bonus based. Driving Class 1 in South Yorkshire.

[lucido grigio]

What's this "immigrant checking " thing ?

Have a good look in the load area ?

check underneath for "hangers on" ?

Not really needed for a driver who never leaves the UK.

[callmedave]

lucido grigio said:

What's this "immigrant checking " thing ?

Have a good look in the load area ?

check underneath for "hangers on" ?

Not really needed for a driver who never leaves the UK.

Its part of the CPC regardless of what job you are going on to. Its also for trafficking of 'packages' (drugs) but again, only really relevant for overseas drivers.

[chilistrucker]

lucido grigio said:

What's this "immigrant checking " thing ?

Have a good look in the load area ?

check underneath for "hangers on" ?

Not really needed for a driver who never leaves the UK.

Trailers only, that are coming in from Europe on roro type freight ferries maybe?

[carmadgaz]

So a month after passing and throwing my CV at anything that is vaguely LGV related...

Had a trial with a recovery company driving C1+C wagons that didn't work out (60hr weeks I could live with but some of the rules and regs were a little more "stretched" than I was comfy with so I turned it down).

Had a pair of mates up at the local quarry putting my name about and one of them gave me a call on Wednesday night telling me to be up the Quarry at 6am the next morning. I spent Thurs/Fri double manning the wagon with him to get used to it (running it back unloaded) and I've got 3 days next week double manning it running it loaded (It's one helluva difference running at 12T to running at 32T, especially as all the routes from the quarry are steep hills ).

It may result in me running the truck of a night shift or it might come to nothing but as I'm not doing anything else atm I am taking the opportunity to grab the experience with both hands (and having an experienced hand in the passenger seat has been a bonus). Got my MQPC course on Friday so then I'll be allowed to drive on the quarry itself