Anyone here a truck driver?

[uriel]

I've often thought about what it would be like as a job, but never really considered doing it. Well, I'm now 24, about to turn 25 (dear God, I'm old ) and have a crappy tech support job and I feel that if I don't make somekind of change soon I'll go out of my mind.

I'm about to come into some money soon, enough to pay for all the training to get a full C+E artic licence and am seriously thinking about signing up. Trouble is I don't know too much about the 'industry'. Ideally I'd like to work on long haul jobs, covering the continent stuff. My Dad said he used to know someone that would get called at home and asked to drop off a load in Spain, say, and while on that job would be told to get another load from Spain and take it to Italy and then pick something up from somewhere else and so one. Could be away for a month at a time. Are there oppourtunities out there like this? I guess I need to hit some agencies website and look at the jobs going...

Just looking for some opinions or insights from people with experience. What can I expect in terms of pay?

[TripleS]

Have a look at a newsgroup called uk.rec.driving. In there you should be able to find posts by a chap called Conor.

His full name is Conor Turton and he lives at Driffield in East Yorkshire.

Conor has been an HGV driver for a number of years, and it is quite likely that he will be able to help you with some useful information.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes.
Dave.

[phil24]

i work for a transport company tho i dont drive, we have drivers that go of for days sometimes weeks into europe delivering then get a call to go somewhere else to pick up another load.

not sure how much they get paid but some of them are on a fair whack (£30k + i think) but drivers that start on newer contracts dont get that much.

[Mrs H]

This is me

but I'm not legal. It was at Currborough

>> Edited by Mrs H on Tuesday 17th February 20:24

[agent006]

TripleS said:

His full name is Conor Turton and he lives at Driffield in East Yorkshire.

And is possibly one of the most arrogant men on the planet.

Go to uk.rec.driving if you like petty squabbles the like of which you thought you'd escaped by leaving primary school

[agent006]

on a more constructive note, basic salary for a starter is usually around £20k for deliveries. Long haul stuff gets more.
Have you thought of coach driving? Goes to more scenic places, not so much lifting and you don't have to sleep in it. easier to park too.

[TripleS]

agent006 said:

TripleS said: His full name is Conor Turton and he lives at Driffield in East Yorkshire. And is possibly one of the most arrogant men on the planet. Go to uk.rec.driving if you like petty squabbles the like of which you thought you'd escaped by leaving primary school

I merely mentioned Conor as he appeared to be a possible source of helpful information. What you say about the tone of the debates is quite true, and I very much regret the fact there is so much foul language and totally unnecessary abuse between some of the participants in uk.rec.driving.

Best wishes all.
Dave.

[PomBstard]

I've done some small truck (10t rigid) driving here in Sydney and around - but bumped into a guy who was a driver for the Rugby World Cup roadshow down the east coast - he had a whale of time moving all the rigging and stuff from place to place. He could drive there, set up and then naff off to the beach.

Loads of temp driving jobs out here, no probs to be a traveller and if you can drive anything over 10t rigid or artic, and you're looking for a new life...