Becoming a HGV driver?

[Vipers]

944 Man said:

Class 1? Do you have a time machine is that ended a quarter of a century ago?

How many still say "Road tax". I still think of class I, II, III.

[Smint]

Any and every transport yard not staffed entirely by school leavers refers to classes 1 and 2.

[Vipers]

Smint said:

Any and every transport yard not staffed entirely by school leavers refers to classes 1 and 2.

How many housewives have a Hoover!

[944 Man]

What about Class 3?

[Vipers]

944 Man said:

What about Class 3?

What about it, is that a question

[944 Man]

It is a question which demonstrates the stupidity of referring to old Class 3 & 2 vehicles as ‘Class 2s’.

The licence structure was completely different. Repeated by ‘Class 1 Captains’ and other fools in ignorance.

[Vipers]

944 Man said:

It is a question which demonstrates the stupidity of referring to old Class 3 & 2 vehicles as ‘Class 2s’.

The licence structure was completely different. Repeated by ‘Class 1 Captains’ and other fools in ignorance.

Tks never heard of the term Class 2’s, I have only called them 1,2 and 3.

[944 Man]

People doing it right, referring to the groups correctly; are beyond the scope of this gripe.

It doesn’t really work though as Class 2 & 3 holders were all given acquired rights C+E licences.

[r3g]

Nobody cares. It's class 1 and 2 and has been since the licence changes about 100 years ago. Everybody knows what class 1 and 2 means. Stop creating arguments for argument sake.

[Triple Six]

I run a transport training school.

I'd say around 5% of customers refer to it as C1/C/CE - the remainder still use "old" terminology such as Class 1/2, PSV, HGV etc.

[944 Man]

r3g said:

Nobody cares. It's class 1 and 2 and has been since the licence changes about 100 years ago. Everybody knows what class 1 and 2 means. Stop creating arguments for argument sake.

Only fools like you are arguing. I’m stating an unarguable fact.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Very interesting and informative thread on the whole (once I'd skimmed through the pages of adult men endulging in embarrassing playground name-calling and bickering).

Anyway, I've recently been made redundant as my office is relocating a significant distance and I don't wish to follow. I'm 32, fully qualified accountant, and don't think I could tolerate another couple of decades of doing that same role. I can afford to take a few months out of work if needed but it seems a golden opportunity to jump into something completely different and rekindlng a dormant interest I had as a young boy - HGV driving.

I've obviously got my 'B' car licence, and also did my 'A' bike licence a few years back, therefore am well aware of other idiots on the road.

I'm in Essex and seem to be getting quoted circa £2,000 for the C+E (or is that Class 1 ) training, or £2,200-£2,300 if I want them to take care of the theory test booking and medical etc. but all that seems easy enough to take care of myself, and there is plentiful training material online/apps anyway.

Any of the new drivers care to share an update of how you're getting on?

[MB140]

Koyaanisqatsi said:

Very interesting and informative thread on the whole (once I'd skimmed through the pages of adult men endulging in embarrassing playground name-calling and bickering).

Anyway, I've recently been made redundant as my office is relocating a significant distance and I don't wish to follow. I'm 32, fully qualified accountant, and don't think I could tolerate another couple of decades of doing that same role. I can afford to take a few months out of work if needed but it seems a golden opportunity to jump into something completely different and rekindlng a dormant interest I had as a young boy - HGV driving.

I've obviously got my 'B' car licence, and also did my 'A' bike licence a few years back, therefore am well aware of other idiots on the road.

I'm in Essex and seem to be getting quoted circa £2,000 for the C+E (or is that Class 1 ) training, or £2,200-£2,300 if I want them to take care of the theory test booking and medical etc. but all that seems easy enough to take care of myself, and there is plentiful training material online/apps anyway.

Any of the new drivers care to share an update of how you're getting on?

Commenting because I’m coming to the end of 30 years in the RAF and if I never have to fix another aircraft again it will still be too soon.

My wife and I have our own company but in reality my wife does all that but it involves living all over the country 18 month in each place.

I quite fancy driving for agencies. In effect following my wife around the country driving for agencies.

Quick question for people in the know and probably outside the scope of this thread but;

There is a good chance of us moving to Spain in about 5 years time. I’m assuming that any licence earn’t here would allow me to drive in Spain for a living subject to work visa etc.

[D1on]

MB140 said:

Commenting because I’m coming to the end of 30 years in the RAF and if I never have to fix another aircraft again it will still be too soon.

My wife and I have our own company but in reality my wife does all that but it involves living all over the country 18 month in each place.

I quite fancy driving for agencies. In effect following my wife around the country driving for agencies.

Quick question for people in the know and probably outside the scope of this thread but;

There is a good chance of us moving to Spain in about 5 years time. I’m assuming that any licence earn’t here would allow me to drive in Spain for a living subject to work visa etc.

Interesting. I'd also like to know would their be much scope for work for a British hgv driver living in a different country?...

[Its Just Adz]

The way the weather has been this month, I've also been wondering what my job prospects would be like in Italy.

[Its Just Adz]

Also I must add to the newcomers, it's the best thing I've ever done so go for it.
I did my test aged 37, wish I'd done it younger.

[944 Man]

It can be a rough arsed job. HGV driver has always been regarded as a job for people too stupid to do anything else and this continues; and you will frequently be talked to and treated as though it is the case. Even the village idiot is schooled to talk down to drivers and this can be difficult to deal with. If you come from a white collar background it can be harder still.

[bongtom]

Don't they call it "LGV driver" now? (just kidding)

There's nothing worse than getting into a conversation with a load of truckers in the tea room after a day on the road. They all bh about the company, the manager, the office staff, warehouse staff, the trucks/trailers, their route, other drivers, the load, the shunters, the traffic and their wives. Same every day for years on end.

I loved it being just me on the road and maybe you would see another company truck on the opposite side of the M25 and you would flash them. That's the only interaction I needed!

the best job I had was in a wagon and drag with bins for a waste paper company. Nice trucks nice easy route and good pay. I also had a free pick of all the latest mags before they were shredded.

Are the majority of drivers thick? Compared to other unskilled jobs I don't thing so. Same as the warehouse staff. God are they slow, and they load the truck wrong. Oh, and the office staff are useless. No idea what route to give, and don't start me on the manager.....

[r3g]

bongtom said:

Don't they call it "LGV driver" now? (just kidding)

There's nothing worse than getting into a conversation with a load of truckers in the tea room after a day on the road. They all bh about the company, the manager, the office staff, warehouse staff, the trucks/trailers, their route, other drivers, the load, the shunters, the traffic and their wives. Same every day for years on end.

I loved it being just me on the road and maybe you would see another company truck on the opposite side of the M25 and you would flash them. That's the only interaction I needed!

the best job I had was in a wagon and drag with bins for a waste paper company. Nice trucks nice easy route and good pay. I also had a free pick of all the latest mags before they were shredded.

Are the majority of drivers thick? Compared to other unskilled jobs I don't thing so. Same as the warehouse staff. God are they slow, and they load the truck wrong. Oh, and the office staff are useless. No idea what route to give, and don't start me on the manager.....

[bongtom]

That was the joke.

Is irony and sarcasm still a thing on PH?