Becoming a HGV driver?
Discussion
Oh yeah, they’re all marked on google maps etc, and I’ve even got a link to a google map that has a pin for every dairy farm in the uk too.
You also need to know where the dairy door is, as that’s where the farm tank is. Wandering round farm yards in the middle of the night looking for them when you’ve never been before is interesting at times!
Remember though, just because you can see it on a map, it doesn’t mean it’s easy to get to
You also need to know where the dairy door is, as that’s where the farm tank is. Wandering round farm yards in the middle of the night looking for them when you’ve never been before is interesting at times!
Remember though, just because you can see it on a map, it doesn’t mean it’s easy to get to
Reading around some forums I note there are report of the recent driver wage increase is being cut back. Agencies are cutting rates but employers too, some are saying the increase wasn't a wage increase but a temp uplift.
I have noted a couple of agencies reducing rates bt last couple of weeks have been offering lots of work too.
I have noted a couple of agencies reducing rates bt last couple of weeks have been offering lots of work too.
Armchair Expert said:
Reading around some forums I note there are report of the recent driver wage increase is being cut back. Agencies are cutting rates but employers too, some are saying the increase wasn't a wage increase but a temp uplift.
I have noted a couple of agencies reducing rates bt last couple of weeks have been offering lots of work too.
True, sainsburys cut its agency rates 3 weeks agoI have noted a couple of agencies reducing rates bt last couple of weeks have been offering lots of work too.
I passed my class 1 end of Feb and started my first job last week direct with a large company on fridges. They gave me the days I wanted to work and the hours are there if I want it.
I have come from a middle management job in the food industry so have thick skin from all the rubbish that comes with that. 15 years and I had enough of the politics.
I guess it is area depending but I applied for several direct jobs and had 3 offers within 48 hours. Only 1 would do the shifts that I wanted so went with them.
Am thoroughly enjoying it so far and have already pissed in a bush once but even if it doesn't work out it is a licence to work and if decide to go back into education to learn another skill I can do part time work on the weekends to keep me topped up.
I have come from a middle management job in the food industry so have thick skin from all the rubbish that comes with that. 15 years and I had enough of the politics.
I guess it is area depending but I applied for several direct jobs and had 3 offers within 48 hours. Only 1 would do the shifts that I wanted so went with them.
Am thoroughly enjoying it so far and have already pissed in a bush once but even if it doesn't work out it is a licence to work and if decide to go back into education to learn another skill I can do part time work on the weekends to keep me topped up.
BricktopST205 said:
I passed my class 1 end of Feb and started my first job last week direct with a large company on fridges. They gave me the days I wanted to work and the hours are there if I want it.
I have come from a middle management job in the food industry so have thick skin from all the rubbish that comes with that. 15 years and I had enough of the politics.
I guess it is area depending but I applied for several direct jobs and had 3 offers within 48 hours. Only 1 would do the shifts that I wanted so went with them.
Am thoroughly enjoying it so far and have already pissed in a bush once but even if it doesn't work out it is a licence to work and if decide to go back into education to learn another skill I can do part time work on the weekends to keep me topped up.
What sort of money? The market seems to be all over at the moment, with plenty of proper HGV jobs being advertised for £11-12ph, whilst there are C1 van jobs being advertised at £14+ with proper time and a half overtime rates.I have come from a middle management job in the food industry so have thick skin from all the rubbish that comes with that. 15 years and I had enough of the politics.
I guess it is area depending but I applied for several direct jobs and had 3 offers within 48 hours. Only 1 would do the shifts that I wanted so went with them.
Am thoroughly enjoying it so far and have already pissed in a bush once but even if it doesn't work out it is a licence to work and if decide to go back into education to learn another skill I can do part time work on the weekends to keep me topped up.
944 Man said:
What sort of money? The market seems to be all over at the moment, with plenty of proper HGV jobs being advertised for £11-12ph, whilst there are C1 van jobs being advertised at £14+ with proper time and a half overtime rates.
Large fridge company- probably Culina. Standard at Culina is 40k give or take plus overtime and night out money exelero said:
Large fridge company- probably Culina. Standard at Culina is 40k give or take plus overtime and night out money
People outside the industry looking in seeing these figures need to know that the £40k stated is most unlikely to be for a normal 40 hour week, nor will the working week be what passes for normal in other industries.Very often the hours for a salary are based around anything from 48 to 53 and can be spread over all 7 days of the week, including bank holidays.
Overtime rates may not be at proper x1.5 or x2.0, and the overtime rate may not kick in until 50 or 55 hours have already been completed and calculated on w eekly or even monthly basis, so its easily possible to work 14 hour days and then towards the end of the period get some short days which wipes out the overtime you may think you've already accrued.
Some salaried jobs carry no overtime rate at all, supposedly any extra hours are banked and you can take them off as and when, in practice this means in quiet periods when it suits the company.
The devil in this game is in the detail, don't take headline gross wages at face value, don't take general figures given at interview as the truth.
In balance some companies are still very good to work for and salaries can be extremely good for much more reasonable hours, but the chances are that anti social hours (even if shortish) are going to be a feature of most well paying jobs in transport.
I'm not a truck driver but know a few and their advice is that after you get your CDL (Commercial Drivers License) don't stop there but get certified for Hazmat transports, by that it means you can transport petrol, chemicals etc. and other items classed as hazardous.
Same as every occupation it's supply an demand, plenty of CDL drivers but fewer with a Hazmat endorsement, and that's where the big money lies.
Does the UK have anything comparable to a Hazmat endorsement?
Same as every occupation it's supply an demand, plenty of CDL drivers but fewer with a Hazmat endorsement, and that's where the big money lies.
Does the UK have anything comparable to a Hazmat endorsement?
Yes the UK has ADR certification for carrying chemicals etc, also further certificates for petrol transport etc.
Whilst useful, they don't always carry an extra wage, in practice if you get a job with a reputable fuel carrier they will put you through the necessary courses.
Finding the best jobs, and yes i've luckily been in some good jobs most of my life on the lorries, requires luck, a clean licence, a good provable work history proving experience, presentable and polite, reliable loyal honest and competent whilst at work, and the sense to spot a good offer when you get one and rip their arm off.
With all these attributes some really good drivers still never get quite the break they deserve, whilst others who would be the last people in the world you yourself would employ happenchance into some of the best contracts going and then spend years taking the piss out of the job (sick notes, damage, generally useless) until inevitably the job goes mammaries up.
Never needed ADR myself, went into other specialities, and specialising is where the better terms and conditions can usually be found.
Whilst useful, they don't always carry an extra wage, in practice if you get a job with a reputable fuel carrier they will put you through the necessary courses.
Finding the best jobs, and yes i've luckily been in some good jobs most of my life on the lorries, requires luck, a clean licence, a good provable work history proving experience, presentable and polite, reliable loyal honest and competent whilst at work, and the sense to spot a good offer when you get one and rip their arm off.
With all these attributes some really good drivers still never get quite the break they deserve, whilst others who would be the last people in the world you yourself would employ happenchance into some of the best contracts going and then spend years taking the piss out of the job (sick notes, damage, generally useless) until inevitably the job goes mammaries up.
Never needed ADR myself, went into other specialities, and specialising is where the better terms and conditions can usually be found.
NMNeil said:
I'm not a truck driver but know a few and their advice is that after you get your CDL (Commercial Drivers License) don't stop there but get certified for Hazmat transports, by that it means you can transport petrol, chemicals etc. and other items classed as hazardous.
Same as every occupation it's supply an demand, plenty of CDL drivers but fewer with a Hazmat endorsement, and that's where the big money lies.
Does the UK have anything comparable to a Hazmat endorsement?
Agree with this ^ , but take it one step further and look for own account companies . Too many are contracted out to third party carriers nowadays , Hoyer etc , and the pay rates are mediocre at best .Same as every occupation it's supply an demand, plenty of CDL drivers but fewer with a Hazmat endorsement, and that's where the big money lies.
Does the UK have anything comparable to a Hazmat endorsement?
Gassing Station | Commercial Break | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff