Becoming a HGV driver?

[the-norseman]

Triple Six said:

No further theory tests required when upgrading from C to CE, irrespective of when you do that.

Where are you living, England or Wales?

England, MK.

I was hoping it was just a 1 week course as I could relocate up north for a week to do it if they offered Artic up there, but they said its spread across months.

[WilliamWoollard]

the-norseman said:

Triple Six said:

No further theory tests required when upgrading from C to CE, irrespective of when you do that.

Where are you living, England or Wales?

England, MK.

I was hoping it was just a 1 week course as I could relocate up north for a week to do it if they offered Artic up there, but they said its spread across months.

I run an LGV training company near you, I can get you government funded CE training. I've PM'd you.

[the-norseman]

Thanks I have just replied.

[TommoAE86]

fttm said:

They’re very complicated but it will come in time . Ours(Canada) are easy, drive 13 work 14 , can take 2 hrs off during the 14 hr work day which extends it to 16 hrs . 70 hrs in 7 days max and 36 hrs off after your 70 . Work 4/4 rota so weekly breaks are never an issue. Totally irrelevant reply sorry, we used to have a short shift option years ago where you could drive 13 , 4 hrs off , and go again for 13 , quite handy to get you home sometimes.

Sorry if this has been asked before but did you do any driving in the UK/EU and if so what's the difference like?

[BricktopST205]

TommoAE86 said:

Sorry if this has been asked before but did you do any driving in the UK/EU and if so what's the difference like?

I haven't driven abroad but the main difference is haulage in North America is basically all driving whereas in Europe it is a lot shorter distance but also a lot more demanding from the driver too when it comes to maneuvering.

Apart from stateside drivers who work in the Manhattan region I think the vast majority of North American drivers would break down and cry trying to multidrop 5-6 deliveries in London whilst at the same time a lot of UK drivers would break down and cry with the thought of driving 9 hours non stop down a huge empty motorway.

For me the perfect day is a max 2.5 hours a time driving with around 5-6 hours total drive with around 3-4 drops and maybe a collection thrown in to give a bit of variety to the day. A good 10-11 hour shift.

Sometimes I do 4.5 hours drive without stopping and it can really drag if you are not prepared with something nice to listen to. (Podcasts etc)

[fttm]

TommoAE86 said:

Sorry if this has been asked before but did you do any driving in the UK/EU and if so what's the difference like?

Yeah I drove back in Europe , not as a full time job but as part of it , also race transporters .
Main differences , here trucks are 99% long nose and a lot larger inside ie you can stand up and walk around , a lot less traffic so distances are usually referred to in hours not mileage terms , individual axle weights are strictly enforced via lots of roadside weigh scales . I run cryogenic tankers hauling the same load every time so max weights never vary .
As for city driving , London New York Chicago Dallas wherever can all be a ball ache at the wrong times , luckily most of my work nowadays is on The Prairies and generally the only large city I go to is Winnipeg .
Winter driving is a whole new experience ,an empty truck on highways covered in sheet ice with the wind howling can be a challenge , but keeping an eye on the weather stations and knowing when to shut it down come with experience , for example if you can't keep the truck straight at 30/40 kph you may as well park up and wait until the ploughs come through or the weather improves .Working with equipment at minus30/40C can also present challenges .
Would I go back to UK/Europe ? Not a chance .

[123DWA]

WilliamWoollard said:

the-norseman said:

Triple Six said:

No further theory tests required when upgrading from C to CE, irrespective of when you do that.

Where are you living, England or Wales?

England, MK.

I was hoping it was just a 1 week course as I could relocate up north for a week to do it if they offered Artic up there, but they said its spread across months.

I run an LGV training company near you, I can get you government funded CE training. I've PM'd you.

I had a look on .gov but couldn't see anything, is there any criteria for the gov funded courses? I.e. have to earn under a certain amount or similar?

I always wanted to be a lorry driver when I was little and used to go out with my dad on HGV recovery. Ended up in car sales but after 12yrs of dealing with the general public I'm starting to feel like I've had enough. Looking at job ads it seems like 40-45k so a little bit of a drop from what I'm on now but I think more enjoyable. Is that realistic earnings? Also who will take on a new pass and give them a Scania 770s?

[towser44]

123DWA said:

WilliamWoollard said:

the-norseman said:

Triple Six said:

No further theory tests required when upgrading from C to CE, irrespective of when you do that.

Where are you living, England or Wales?

England, MK.

I was hoping it was just a 1 week course as I could relocate up north for a week to do it if they offered Artic up there, but they said its spread across months.

I run an LGV training company near you, I can get you government funded CE training. I've PM'd you.

I had a look on .gov but couldn't see anything, is there any criteria for the gov funded courses? I.e. have to earn under a certain amount or similar?

I always wanted to be a lorry driver when I was little and used to go out with my dad on HGV recovery. Ended up in car sales but after 12yrs of dealing with the general public I'm starting to feel like I've had enough. Looking at job ads it seems like 40-45k so a little bit of a drop from what I'm on now but I think more enjoyable. Is that realistic earnings? Also who will take on a new pass and give them a Scania 770s?

For 40-45k you're going to be out 3 or 4 nights a week minimum and doing long days/nights IMO, unless you can drop lucky.

[TommoAE86]

fttm said:

BricktopST205 said:

Thanks both, I always find differences between countries interesting. Most of the drivers I work with are not fans of their multi drop work.

[Its Just Adz]

towser44 said:

For 40-45k you're going to be out 3 or 4 nights a week minimum and doing long days/nights IMO, unless you can drop lucky.

I'm earning approx £48k on days but I know that's rare to find a job paying these rates.

[WilliamWoollard]

123DWA said:

WilliamWoollard said:

the-norseman said:

Triple Six said:

No further theory tests required when upgrading from C to CE, irrespective of when you do that.

Where are you living, England or Wales?

England, MK.

I was hoping it was just a 1 week course as I could relocate up north for a week to do it if they offered Artic up there, but they said its spread across months.

I run an LGV training company near you, I can get you government funded CE training. I've PM'd you.

I had a look on .gov but couldn't see anything, is there any criteria for the gov funded courses? I.e. have to earn under a certain amount or similar?

The only criteria is that you have a full licence with no more than 6 points and you're willing to go into full time employment - that's it!

[the-norseman]

Got my theory, HP and CPC booked in November, I've been given an app to practice on, both theory and HP I have passed every time, I've got a separate login to study CPC. I've been studying but failed every CPC test on this app, the questions seem stupid compared to the stuff I have been studying.

[Triple Six]

WilliamWoollard said:

123DWA said:

WilliamWoollard said:

the-norseman said:

Triple Six said:

No further theory tests required when upgrading from C to CE, irrespective of when you do that.

Where are you living, England or Wales?

England, MK.

I was hoping it was just a 1 week course as I could relocate up north for a week to do it if they offered Artic up there, but they said its spread across months.

I run an LGV training company near you, I can get you government funded CE training. I've PM'd you.

I had a look on .gov but couldn't see anything, is there any criteria for the gov funded courses? I.e. have to earn under a certain amount or similar?

The only criteria is that you have a full licence with no more than 6 points and you're willing to go into full time employment - that's it!

We have a different scheme in Wales to the English bootcamp.

If you're living in Wales, 19 or older, in employment earning less than £30.5kpa you can access Welsh Gov. funded courses for cat C/CE.

[Triple Six]

the-norseman said:

Got my theory, HP and CPC booked in November, I've been given an app to practice on, both theory and HP I have passed every time, I've got a separate login to study CPC. I've been studying but failed every CPC test on this app, the questions seem stupid compared to the stuff I have been studying.

Are you using Theory4All?

If so, the case studies material is a lot tougher than the real test IMO. A good score on MC will put you in good stead for CPC.

[BricktopST205]

Its Just Adz said:

I'm earning approx £48k on days but I know that's rare to find a job paying these rates.

I think it depends on the area. East Midlands.

Basic rate Monday to Friday is 40k a year. Once you add in OT and Bonus you are easily onto mid to late 40's. Trampers are easily on 50+k which is a good wage around here. You are doing 50-60 hours a week however.

[Glenn63]

BricktopST205 said:

Its Just Adz said:

I'm earning approx £48k on days but I know that's rare to find a job paying these rates.

I think it depends on the area. East Midlands.

Basic rate Monday to Friday is 40k a year. Once you add in OT and Bonus you are easily onto mid to late 40's. Trampers are easily on 50+k which is a good wage around here. You are doing 50-60 hours a week however.

Hgv firms love to put a wage without hours on it so £50k sounds good untill you realise it’s 60 hours and 5 nights out. £18 per hour basic with shift/weekend/OT premiums is about a decent wage I’d say.

[DaveE87]

I realise that this is the exception to the norm but my first driving job paid £18ph flat rate on days, no nights out. It was via agency but I got 5 shifts a week for most of the time I was there. I've done work for a few others elsewhere for less, but usually with an overtime rate after 8 hours which brings the average hourly rate up.

Of the 6 or 7 agencies that I've actually worked for (having registered with about a dozen) only 2 have actually been good and those are the only two I still work for. The current one, and the first one that got me work. The rest were full of false promises, and I don't waste much time with agencies like that even if they pay well.

If you get in to this decide what you're happy with and stick to it. For me it's £18 average ph and no nights out. I'll stick with agency work until I can get a permanent job with decent rates.

[the-norseman]

Triple Six said:

Are you using Theory4All?

If so, the case studies material is a lot tougher than the real test IMO. A good score on MC will put you in good stead for CPC.

So I have a combination;

1- app called HGVT , on this I can practice and study for Theory,HP. The CPC I can read case studies and correct answers but there is no study material- Theory and HP I have passed every time, CPC I havent passed yet.

2- "Driving theory 4 all" , I can study on here the CPC which I have been. The practice questions on here seem better written than HGVT.

[Smint]

123DWA said:

I had a look on .gov but couldn't see anything, is there any criteria for the gov funded courses? I.e. have to earn under a certain amount or similar?

I always wanted to be a lorry driver when I was little and used to go out with my dad on HGV recovery. Ended up in car sales but after 12yrs of dealing with the general public I'm starting to feel like I've had enough. Looking at job ads it seems like 40-45k so a little bit of a drop from what I'm on now but I think more enjoyable. Is that realistic earnings? Also who will take on a new pass and give them a Scania 770s?

Most HGV work isn't enjoyable as such, you have to find your own niche and we're all different so it might take several years before you drop into what you find enjoyable for you. Took me 13 years of general work before i got a break which took me into a better work scene and there's been a few changes and ups and down in the 30 odd years since.
The best work/pay/benefits/hours balance is to be found in the few remaining own account operations (carry their own products exclusively) where the sort of pay you want is available for overall shortish but often anti social hours, these jobs are few and far between and not easy to land as most positions will be filled by recommendation, and most drivers already there will sensibly only recommend people they themselves would employ, ie don't kill the golden goose.

Not trying to put you off, far from it, you might fall straight into something you enjoy that pays well, i'd suggest working directly for Tesco or similar (or good paying contract haulier to a supermarket) or post office if you can get in rather than go on for a general hire and reward haulier.
No you won't find a big engined Scania there, but in the real world the drivers of such machines are usually on poor money away all week maxing hours because that's how the operator can afford to splash out on such beasties.

The job and truck life can be enjoyable, if its for you and you find what suits you, but don't expect it to happen quickly, good luck.

[BricktopST205]

Yeah own account is pretty much the best to work for. As paying you to deliver the product safely and on time far outweighs the cost of logistics.

Massive firms is easy work but average pay as they are generally more organised.

Small firms with decent trucks will work you to the ground but you get a V8. Expect the drops to be really crap though as they are all fighting for scraps or jobs the big companies will not touch.

Own company/specialised is the golden ticket but will mostly be dead man's shoes. It also will be random hours for the most part.

I would say tippers and containers is the easiest followed by fridges due to the maneuvering then general haulage with curtainsiders.

Edited by BricktopST205 on Monday 25th September 10:23