Becoming a HGV driver?
Discussion
caterhamboy said:
I'm a new pass class 2 and got a job through an agency, this is my 3rd wk. 1st 9 days i was double manned to learn the routes as mainly dropping in town centres.
So far really enjoying it, and don't think the work is hard even tho some moan, god some drivers love to moan,
Going to do my class 1 sometime next year.
You will meet world champion moaners in this job. my god can they moan. they'll moan about anything. So far really enjoying it, and don't think the work is hard even tho some moan, god some drivers love to moan,
Going to do my class 1 sometime next year.
last job i was in they were bringing in temporary driver on an adhoc basis. so their wage was higher than our which was understandable.
that triggered the biggest moaning ever. we're not loading their trucks for them we're not doing this we're not doing that.
MadMullah said:
Thanks for the offer Andy i've just seen this. I'm waiting for a start date with Asda in Rochdale - went for an assessment yesterday so just waiting for a start date.
I do have a mate who might be interested. he's struggling a bit with reversing so if its curtain side work it might be his cup of tea.
No problem! Your mate would soon get the hang of reversing on this job. Not a ridiculously tight yard at one end, but still a bit crap at times at night when pissing down.I do have a mate who might be interested. he's struggling a bit with reversing so if its curtain side work it might be his cup of tea.
One of the main differences at our firm compared to the likes of Asda, is that you're actually treated like a human being rather than a driver number. And I wouldn't ask or expect one of our drivers to do a job that I wouldn't do myself, as I still go out and do a bit to get the feel for new work.
One Amp Andy said:
No problem! Your mate would soon get the hang of reversing on this job. Not a ridiculously tight yard at one end, but still a bit crap at times at night when pissing down.
One of the main differences at our firm compared to the likes of Asda, is that you're actually treated like a human being rather than a driver number. And I wouldn't ask or expect one of our drivers to do a job that I wouldn't do myself, as I still go out and do a bit to get the feel for new work.
I've sent you an email. One of the main differences at our firm compared to the likes of Asda, is that you're actually treated like a human being rather than a driver number. And I wouldn't ask or expect one of our drivers to do a job that I wouldn't do myself, as I still go out and do a bit to get the feel for new work.
MadMullah said:
GC8 said:
Im not sure that you could convince me that anything at Asda will be as good as this.
lol i'm thinking that too. I’d bite Andy’s arm off. I don’t moan but I am reasonably experienced in a highly specialised field and also as cynical AF.
Asda will still be there next week, next month and next year. Sadly it’ll still be the same…
At least ring him up and go and have a look.
GC8 said:
My advice would be that Asda will always be there, and always be churning drivers.
I’d bite Andy’s arm off. I don’t moan but I am reasonably experienced in a highly specialised field and also as cynical AF.
Asda will still be there next week, next month and next year. Sadly it’ll still be the same…
At least ring him up and go and have a look.
Yeah i've got in touch with him. Negotiations for the amount of PH sacrifices needed are under wayI’d bite Andy’s arm off. I don’t moan but I am reasonably experienced in a highly specialised field and also as cynical AF.
Asda will still be there next week, next month and next year. Sadly it’ll still be the same…
At least ring him up and go and have a look.
Either you'll piss it, or it isn't for you. I have worked nights in a specialised field where I earned similar money but only had one load and either did 3hrs or spent a few hours asleep, and I liked it. I realise that this is a little different to that, but also WAY easier and the £900+ top line for the first week will probably make your mind up if you are on the fence.
If it works out then you owe me a Yorkie bar.
If it works out then you owe me a Yorkie bar.
One Amp Andy said:
I've just took on a new contract, usually we do plant and heavy haulage, but this is just curtainsider stuff. Which is why I'd happily take on a new pass. One of the jobs is pretty much just shunting between two sites using the same trailer. C+E £18 per hour nights. Time and a half Saturdays if they want it. Even loading and tipping is undercover. It's a full time permanent job too, not some short term b
ks from an agency. Guaranteed 10 hours per shift, paid breaks. Usually if all goes to plan they're done in 6-7 hours and home.
Just seen this, and you are local to Preston I think aren't you?ks from an agency. Guaranteed 10 hours per shift, paid breaks. Usually if all goes to plan they're done in 6-7 hours and home.I'm currently doing plant / heavys and tramping. After Christmas break I'm thinking I don't want to be away all week. Can you PM me more info?
I am curious, is there still a HGV driver shortage?
Finally got the go ahead that I can drive HGVs from DVLA, although they have not sent me a licence yet.
Been applying for jobs and noticed the rate has gone down a lot, from £16 to £18 per hour to £12 to £14 and no one is replying. If someone does reply this is a typical, this is from an agency
Thank you for your application for the position of HGV Class 1 Driver.
While we do endeavor to get in touch with every applicant, due to the high volume of submissions there is a chance that we may be unable to respond in the event that you are unsuccessful in the process.
We appreciate your interest in this position and wish you the very best in the selection process.
Edit: When I last drove HGVs I worked for the Coop on agency, pay was about a £1 above min wage but I got time and a half after 8 hours, on Saturdays and double Sunday. While basic wage has gone up many employers are paying only a £1 or two extra for weekend work, overtime after 48 hours of at all.
Finally got the go ahead that I can drive HGVs from DVLA, although they have not sent me a licence yet.
Been applying for jobs and noticed the rate has gone down a lot, from £16 to £18 per hour to £12 to £14 and no one is replying. If someone does reply this is a typical, this is from an agency
Thank you for your application for the position of HGV Class 1 Driver.
While we do endeavor to get in touch with every applicant, due to the high volume of submissions there is a chance that we may be unable to respond in the event that you are unsuccessful in the process.
We appreciate your interest in this position and wish you the very best in the selection process.
Edit: When I last drove HGVs I worked for the Coop on agency, pay was about a £1 above min wage but I got time and a half after 8 hours, on Saturdays and double Sunday. While basic wage has gone up many employers are paying only a £1 or two extra for weekend work, overtime after 48 hours of at all.
Edited by Armchair Expert on Thursday 3rd February 00:43
There's been a shortage of good competent/skilled HGV drivers for a long time, especially a shortage of good drivers prepared to work for pittance pay for working ridiculous hours or be treated how one might expect a convicted kiddie fiddler to be welcomed.
By the time the late spring has arrived the normal winter lull should be over but recruitment at the better employers won't really start again until the autumn.
There's shortages of staff now at the piss poor paying hire and reward side of things, particularly in the less industrialised areas but this is nothing new.
Pay will increase again on agency if that's what you want to do (barge pole job for me) as the year progresses but i doubt it will go back to pre Christmas bonanza, i suspect the agencies presently have too many bodies on their books due to the massive number of drivers who told the above hire and reward poor payers to stick it and followed the money at the time (always a gamble that) but i don't blame them, and i suspect some levelling back up in numbers is happening as even the most grudging/wailing of south wales style tight fisting hauliers have had to up their rates a little to stop losing every last driver.
The supermarkets and their contract transport operations directly recruited large numbers of drivers late last year following substantial pay increases in some cases, this will no doubt have some long term effects on their demand for agency staff especially in the quieter periods, this recruitment drive had a knock on effect but i suspect was a one off.
Some unknown factors for all of us whatever our industrial jobs are, how long before the govt stop the self isolating for free extra full paid holiday scam, how bad will the recession/depression be, how many more immigrants legal and otherwise will the govt allow to come here (limitless) and will this govt of fools grant an illegal immigrant amnesty thereby allowing all those illegals to enter the legal regular job market, if that happens it will have catastrophic knock on effects for the wages of the working classes of the country not as anyones bothered about them, this could cause pay issues across the whole blue collar workforce leading to those existing HGV licence holders who found equal pay away from lorries back onto those lorries and we know what an oversubscribed sector means.
The looming elephant in the room? anyone's guess what the effects will be of the planned lunacy of net zero forced suicide for what little industry that survived here.
Short answer, hopefully things will get better again later in the year for lorry drivers then suck it and see.
By the time the late spring has arrived the normal winter lull should be over but recruitment at the better employers won't really start again until the autumn.
There's shortages of staff now at the piss poor paying hire and reward side of things, particularly in the less industrialised areas but this is nothing new.
Pay will increase again on agency if that's what you want to do (barge pole job for me) as the year progresses but i doubt it will go back to pre Christmas bonanza, i suspect the agencies presently have too many bodies on their books due to the massive number of drivers who told the above hire and reward poor payers to stick it and followed the money at the time (always a gamble that) but i don't blame them, and i suspect some levelling back up in numbers is happening as even the most grudging/wailing of south wales style tight fisting hauliers have had to up their rates a little to stop losing every last driver.
The supermarkets and their contract transport operations directly recruited large numbers of drivers late last year following substantial pay increases in some cases, this will no doubt have some long term effects on their demand for agency staff especially in the quieter periods, this recruitment drive had a knock on effect but i suspect was a one off.
Some unknown factors for all of us whatever our industrial jobs are, how long before the govt stop the self isolating for free extra full paid holiday scam, how bad will the recession/depression be, how many more immigrants legal and otherwise will the govt allow to come here (limitless) and will this govt of fools grant an illegal immigrant amnesty thereby allowing all those illegals to enter the legal regular job market, if that happens it will have catastrophic knock on effects for the wages of the working classes of the country not as anyones bothered about them, this could cause pay issues across the whole blue collar workforce leading to those existing HGV licence holders who found equal pay away from lorries back onto those lorries and we know what an oversubscribed sector means.
The looming elephant in the room? anyone's guess what the effects will be of the planned lunacy of net zero forced suicide for what little industry that survived here.
Short answer, hopefully things will get better again later in the year for lorry drivers then suck it and see.
On Monday i passed my Hazard perception, LGV theory and CPC 2
Driver training starts 14th February.
Living in North Devon, Im looking at Farm feed deliveries or maybe the Milk tankers,got Gregorys nearby as well
Another think that seem to be in demand is ADR for the domestic oil& gas tankers. Any thoughts? Worth doing the ticket?
Driver training starts 14th February.
Living in North Devon, Im looking at Farm feed deliveries or maybe the Milk tankers,got Gregorys nearby as well
Another think that seem to be in demand is ADR for the domestic oil& gas tankers. Any thoughts? Worth doing the ticket?
It always goes a bit quiet after Xmas then another boom at Easter. As said above I imagine agency’s have a lot of spare bodies now as a lot of people left their low paying jobs for agency big bucks but now the work has quietened down a bit.
As for the pay/overtime it seems a lot of employers bumped up the ‘standard’ rate so it looks good but reduced overtime/upped the contracted hours so the actually pay isn’t actually increased as much as the base rate makes it seem.
My last company (Waitrose) didn’t pay any overtime rate, flat rate at all times with 50 hour a week contract. Time and a third for 10pm-6am.
Busy times Xmas/Easter when no one would do overtime they would cave and put time and half on for anything over 50 hours. Still racking up some big hours a week to get it though.
As for the pay/overtime it seems a lot of employers bumped up the ‘standard’ rate so it looks good but reduced overtime/upped the contracted hours so the actually pay isn’t actually increased as much as the base rate makes it seem.
My last company (Waitrose) didn’t pay any overtime rate, flat rate at all times with 50 hour a week contract. Time and a third for 10pm-6am.
Busy times Xmas/Easter when no one would do overtime they would cave and put time and half on for anything over 50 hours. Still racking up some big hours a week to get it though.
Thanks for replies!
I wonder how employers are getting people to work weekends and nights? Even on time and a half and double time it was hard to find people to work weekends. It was becoming hard to get people to work nights too, althoough they were paying only a £1 extra for nights.
Another scam I have noticed recently is reducing the night out allowances. I have seen agencies paying only £20 for a night out, should be min of £50
I wonder how employers are getting people to work weekends and nights? Even on time and a half and double time it was hard to find people to work weekends. It was becoming hard to get people to work nights too, althoough they were paying only a £1 extra for nights.
Another scam I have noticed recently is reducing the night out allowances. I have seen agencies paying only £20 for a night out, should be min of £50
bristolracer said:
On Monday i passed my Hazard perception, LGV theory and CPC 2
Driver training starts 14th February.
Living in North Devon, Im looking at Farm feed deliveries or maybe the Milk tankers,got Gregorys nearby as well
Another think that seem to be in demand is ADR for the domestic oil& gas tankers. Any thoughts? Worth doing the ticket?
Done farm feed deliveries with a class one, it can be daunting. Tiny lanes, tiny access points, mud, poor signage, its a challenge.Driver training starts 14th February.
Living in North Devon, Im looking at Farm feed deliveries or maybe the Milk tankers,got Gregorys nearby as well
Another think that seem to be in demand is ADR for the domestic oil& gas tankers. Any thoughts? Worth doing the ticket?
Domestic oil deliveries are easier, done them too, athough often rural the vehicle is smaller, start time was 7.30. Used to get city deliveries also into schools, fire stations and other businesses and occasional house. Used to get an occasional difficult access job, like to a phone mast on top of a hill.
Milk, never done that, but have family who own a dairy farm. If your doing collections very early starts are common (the collection from my cousins' farm is 4 am) and like feed deliveries if your using an artic getting to some of the farms can be a challenge.
I gave up my ADR as I was getting a pound extra for ADR work, which didn't cover my training costs. I was also under huge pressure to take on work transporting stuff that was dangerous, acid was one job I refused to do, hot bituman was another, they expected me to unload it too (training offered), they were ringing me for weeks trying to get me to take on the job.
Edited by Armchair Expert on Thursday 3rd February 15:47
Armchair Expert said:
bristolracer said:
On Monday i passed my Hazard perception, LGV theory and CPC 2
Driver training starts 14th February.
Living in North Devon, Im looking at Farm feed deliveries or maybe the Milk tankers,got Gregorys nearby as well
Another think that seem to be in demand is ADR for the domestic oil& gas tankers. Any thoughts? Worth doing the ticket?
Done farm feed deliveries with a class one, it can be daunting. Tiny lanes, tiny access points, mud, poor signage, its a challenge.Driver training starts 14th February.
Living in North Devon, Im looking at Farm feed deliveries or maybe the Milk tankers,got Gregorys nearby as well
Another think that seem to be in demand is ADR for the domestic oil& gas tankers. Any thoughts? Worth doing the ticket?
Domestic oil deliveries are easier, done them too, athough often rural the vehicle is smaller, start time was 7.30. Used to get city deliveries also into schools, fire stations and other businesses and occasional house. Used to get an occasional difficult access job, like to a phone mast on top of a hill.
Milk, never done that, but have family who own a dairy farm. If your doing collections very early starts are common (the collection from my cousins' farm is 4 am) and like feed deliveries if your using an artic getting to some of the farms can be a challenge.
I gave up my ADR as I was getting a pound extra for ADR work, which didn't cover my training costs. I was also under huge pressure to take on work transporting stuff that was dangerous, acid was one job I refused to do, hot bituman was another, they expected me to unload it too (training offered), they were ringing me for weeks trying to get me to take on the job.
Edited by Armchair Expert on Thursday 3rd February 15:47
Thank you
I’ve done milk in Devon and Cornwall, it’s great fun.
I loved the challenge of getting an artic in and out of the tiny farms and villages.
If you’re doing ex farm collection the job is a lot more than just driving, don’t bother if you don’t like walking around in stty yards in the dead of night, middle of nowhere no your own.
Blind side reversing in the dark between barns and farm houses can be good, especially if you have a rear steer trailer. The places you can get in and out of some people wouldn’t believe!
It can be quite physical too, the hose when full can hold about 50 litres and can take some getting used to handling.
Then you need to learn all of the collection process including taking samples, we used to test our own too before unloading at the dairy.
If you like a challenge then go for it, if you want to sit on a motorway riding along in the dry and warm then it’s not for you.
Oh, and driving them in general is a skill to learn too, as milk tankers are not baffled, and when half loaded 13000 litres moves around a lot at the slighted touch of the brakes or steering wheel!
I loved the challenge of getting an artic in and out of the tiny farms and villages.
If you’re doing ex farm collection the job is a lot more than just driving, don’t bother if you don’t like walking around in s
tty yards in the dead of night, middle of nowhere no your own.Blind side reversing in the dark between barns and farm houses can be good, especially if you have a rear steer trailer. The places you can get in and out of some people wouldn’t believe!
It can be quite physical too, the hose when full can hold about 50 litres and can take some getting used to handling.
Then you need to learn all of the collection process including taking samples, we used to test our own too before unloading at the dairy.
If you like a challenge then go for it, if you want to sit on a motorway riding along in the dry and warm then it’s not for you.
Oh, and driving them in general is a skill to learn too, as milk tankers are not baffled, and when half loaded 13000 litres moves around a lot at the slighted touch of the brakes or steering wheel!
I have noted recently that the salary hasn’t changed at all since I was doing milk with Gregory’s nearly 4 years ago. At the time it was one of the best HGV wages you could get down here, now it’s one of the lowest.
I’ve got no idea why they haven’t put it up like everyone else did, I guess that’s why they’ve been advertising for ages!
I’ve got no idea why they haven’t put it up like everyone else did, I guess that’s why they’ve been advertising for ages!
Anther part of milk collection is learning where all of the farms are.
It’s similar to doing the knowledge in a London cab.
Sat nav is useless, a lot of the time down here you have to godown roads with signs saying not suitable for long vehicles or HGV!
The routes are mostly learnt by being shown them by another driver who knows them. You can have farms that have multiple roads that get to them, but there might be only one which you can get through in the truck. Pick one of the others and you’ll be getting into a lot of trouble!
Google street view, and satellite maps are your best friend, especially for random road closures at night, which they have a habit of doing for repairs down here
It’s similar to doing the knowledge in a London cab.
Sat nav is useless, a lot of the time down here you have to godown roads with signs saying not suitable for long vehicles or HGV!
The routes are mostly learnt by being shown them by another driver who knows them. You can have farms that have multiple roads that get to them, but there might be only one which you can get through in the truck. Pick one of the others and you’ll be getting into a lot of trouble!
Google street view, and satellite maps are your best friend, especially for random road closures at night, which they have a habit of doing for repairs down here
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