East bound and down, loaded up and trucking
Discussion
Firstly if this is in the wrong forum mods please move it – cheers.
Secondly sorry to anyone who thinks this thread was going to be about Smokey and the Bandit
.
I am at 28 looking at making a pretty drastic career change I’m currently in an aerospace engineering job (for how much longer I don’t know as there are 1300 on our site and they are getting rid of 899, though our department has a 1 in 8 chance of an individual being made redundant), anyway that’s by the by. The other problem is I am bored, my job isn’t what I wanted it to be when I started as an apprentice nearly 10 years ago and there is no scope for it (here at least) to ever be what I wanted now so I am thinking about a change of career.
I am thinking about all sorts of stuff, ideally I’d like to start my own business but making and or doing what I don’t know what I could do, that needs even more thought.
I am really thinking about taking my HGV licence and becoming a professional driver, I know roughly after browsing the net at what is involved in getting a C and then a C+E licence – but any tips would be welcome
.
But more importantly I want to know what it is like or if anyone else has tried the same thing and succeeded or failed miserably and realised it was a serious mistake.
My general thoughts were, get a cat C rating and drive rigid bodies for a few years, then go back and do my C+E or I could do both one after the other (might be more sensible to do both straight away) and then do a refresher course on the C+E when I have enough experience (I assume employers are keen on that).
I’m not afraid of a hard days work or long hours if need be so that won’t put me off, neither am I under the slightest impression that the work is easy.
I know I need to do a lot of research before I even think about pushing the button on this, but this is part of that research. So over to you the truckers of PH (I know there are truck drivers on here); what do you think?
Other comments are welcome but please [i]try[i/] and keep things constructive. Oh and please don’t think that by the thread title that I am under the impression that driving a truck will be anything like Smokey and the Bandit
Secondly sorry to anyone who thinks this thread was going to be about Smokey and the Bandit
. I am at 28 looking at making a pretty drastic career change I’m currently in an aerospace engineering job (for how much longer I don’t know as there are 1300 on our site and they are getting rid of 899, though our department has a 1 in 8 chance of an individual being made redundant), anyway that’s by the by. The other problem is I am bored, my job isn’t what I wanted it to be when I started as an apprentice nearly 10 years ago and there is no scope for it (here at least) to ever be what I wanted now so I am thinking about a change of career.
I am thinking about all sorts of stuff, ideally I’d like to start my own business but making and or doing what I don’t know what I could do, that needs even more thought.
I am really thinking about taking my HGV licence and becoming a professional driver, I know roughly after browsing the net at what is involved in getting a C and then a C+E licence – but any tips would be welcome
.But more importantly I want to know what it is like or if anyone else has tried the same thing and succeeded or failed miserably and realised it was a serious mistake.
My general thoughts were, get a cat C rating and drive rigid bodies for a few years, then go back and do my C+E or I could do both one after the other (might be more sensible to do both straight away) and then do a refresher course on the C+E when I have enough experience (I assume employers are keen on that).
I’m not afraid of a hard days work or long hours if need be so that won’t put me off, neither am I under the slightest impression that the work is easy.
I know I need to do a lot of research before I even think about pushing the button on this, but this is part of that research. So over to you the truckers of PH (I know there are truck drivers on here
); what do you think?Other comments are welcome but please [i]try[i/] and keep things constructive. Oh and please don’t think that by the thread title that I am under the impression that driving a truck will be anything like Smokey and the Bandit
It might be worth researching job opportunities and average wages for qualified drivers before making a decision. The barriers to entry are quite low (bar finding the money for the training course) so there's a lot of competition, and when competition is high, rewards tend to be low.
You may need to speak to Cock Womble who is a member on here, he drives HGV's and could help you out.
Just, do not repeat do not look up any of his previous posts on certain subjects like the use of covert cameras and girlfriends and the like
It may give you an unfair opinion of his ability to provide sound input
Just, do not repeat do not look up any of his previous posts on certain subjects like the use of covert cameras and girlfriends and the like
It may give you an unfair opinion of his ability to provide sound input
Grey Ghost said:
You may need to speak to Cock Womble who is a member on here, he drives HGV's and could help you.
I don't actually know how much help I would be. I got quite lucky; paid to get my Class 2, walked into an agency to see what they had and was offered "Temp to Perm" at Wickes. Five years later, I applied for the position of "Relief Class 1 Driver", got the job any they were kind enough to pay for me to get my artic licence.It's a great job and I love it, but as I said, that was over 6 years ago and the economic climate is a lot different now. But, if you can afford it I would go for it - as it's a good investment - but I wouldn't expect to walk into a decent, well-paid permanent job straight away.
Thanks for the response guys, evidently there is a lot more research needed but it does look like it could work. I understand that it won't be well paid initially but not being permanent could be an issue.
Cock Womble, are you a long distance driver or relatively local?
Is it worth going for HAZMAT for tanker driving etc?
Cock Womble, are you a long distance driver or relatively local?
Is it worth going for HAZMAT for tanker driving etc?
Have a look at driving for some of the big bakeries, mostly class 2 work and usually well paid (c.25-30K depending on the firm)
Always a good way to get some driving hours and most of the firms will have opportunities to drive trunkers (if ya wanna drive a tractor unit) to regional distribution depots. It's safe work to, people have to eat don't they? Surprisingly tough work so you'll need to be ready for a hard days graft and the start times are usually very early, around 3 or 4am.
I went from 6 years in an office to full time HGV work, did 2 years on the road gritters to keep my hand in, as they say. (very good gig if you can get it, well it was for me considering the last 2 winters) Haven't looked back. Just avoid to temptation of roadside fry ups and you'll be fine
Always a good way to get some driving hours and most of the firms will have opportunities to drive trunkers (if ya wanna drive a tractor unit) to regional distribution depots. It's safe work to, people have to eat don't they? Surprisingly tough work so you'll need to be ready for a hard days graft and the start times are usually very early, around 3 or 4am.
I went from 6 years in an office to full time HGV work, did 2 years on the road gritters to keep my hand in, as they say. (very good gig if you can get it, well it was for me considering the last 2 winters) Haven't looked back. Just avoid to temptation of roadside fry ups and you'll be fine
Edited by v8will on Friday 9th December 21:11
Edited by v8will on Friday 9th December 21:13
liner33 said:
Yes its another string to your bow but experience is key , thats the first step
cheers, it was more a do the test and get it done and then I have it for the future sort of thing v8will said:
Usefull stuff....
Bakeries, hadn't thought of that, there is a Jacksons bakery not far from me and their yard is always full of trailers being loaded, I guess supermarkets are another option too.I am more than willing to put in graft and the hours, I am used to getting up early though I might have to get a quiet daily hack and consign the mustang to pleasure only duties as I don't think the neighbours would be too happy me going out that early in something that isn't really very quiet
Strangely that was the first thing my mum said to me when I mentioned it the other day - "but you'll get fat"
I would have to avoid those I think.Edited by mattmoxon on Friday 9th December 22:39
You'll not get fat doing drops to supermarkets etc, I dropped 3 stone in 6 months...
You'll learn more about Tacho laws later but just bear in mind that there is restrictions on working/driving hours etc. Willingness to get stuck in though is half the battle.
It ain't mentally taxing work, just a case of good record keeping and sticking to the rules. It can be rewarding in it's own way, especially if you really enjoy driving. I spent last week using a splitter box for the 1st time in months (most our wagons are auto now) and I found it good fun.
You'll learn more about Tacho laws later but just bear in mind that there is restrictions on working/driving hours etc. Willingness to get stuck in though is half the battle.
It ain't mentally taxing work, just a case of good record keeping and sticking to the rules. It can be rewarding in it's own way, especially if you really enjoy driving. I spent last week using a splitter box for the 1st time in months (most our wagons are auto now) and I found it good fun.
mattmoxon said:
Cock Womble, are you a long distance driver or relatively local?
It varies. I could spend the week collecting trailer-loads of appliances from Electrolux in Milton Keynes (about 30 minutes away), or I could be trunking up to our depot in Errol, near Perth (getting on for a nine hour trek), staying there overnight and returning the next day.That's the "relief" part of my job description - it means I can be asked to do anything and everything going. I've been increasingly "farmed out" to other branches of the Travis Perkins group - I spent a month or so earlier this year "tramping" (sleeping in the cab at Lymme Services for 4 nights a week) and delivering for the big TP depot in Warrington. That was quite fun, in a "in at the deep end" kind of way (some of the TP branches are pokey little places to swing an artic around in) but great experience.
mattmoxon said:
liner33 said:
Yes its another string to your bow but experience is key , thats the first step
cheers, it was more a do the test and get it done and then I have it for the future sort of thing i'd say go for it.
it can be hard graft, but you sound like you have the right attitude.
i passed when i was 23, but was lucky as was already driving vans, so the gaffer was prepared to insure me on the wagons and get me the experience i needed, and on the whole i've never really looked back. the job has pretty much taken me around the whole of europe, scandinavia, even russia, and the view from the office window can be pretty cool. i drove up yesterday from milan, to zurich where we do a gig tonight, the views along the way were stunning. i mainly work on the music stuff these days, so its pretty interesting.
good luck if you go for it!
it can be hard graft, but you sound like you have the right attitude.
i passed when i was 23, but was lucky as was already driving vans, so the gaffer was prepared to insure me on the wagons and get me the experience i needed, and on the whole i've never really looked back. the job has pretty much taken me around the whole of europe, scandinavia, even russia, and the view from the office window can be pretty cool. i drove up yesterday from milan, to zurich where we do a gig tonight, the views along the way were stunning. i mainly work on the music stuff these days, so its pretty interesting.
good luck if you go for it!
I was going to do mine a few years ago but didnt in the end. Anyway at the time i looked some firms will pay for your licence and you get a job working for them you just signed up for a min ammount of time. not sure if this is the case now.
If i was to do it id do my class 1 and 2 will open up more chance of a job.
If you like driving go for it. Its not that hard to drive them once you get used to reversing a artic. Just got to use your brain a bit thinking of routes low bridges etc.
If i was to do it id do my class 1 and 2 will open up more chance of a job.
If you like driving go for it. Its not that hard to drive them once you get used to reversing a artic. Just got to use your brain a bit thinking of routes low bridges etc.
Other half got his 1 & 2 last year, tried loads of haulage companies and no one would take him on without 2 years service, he finally managed to find one (close to home) that would take the chance on him.
He's been there nearly 18 months now, went straight into doing week outs. It can be very hard on the family, and it's certainly getting hard on him being out all week.
He does say that if he had the choice, it's not something that he would have gone into, he would have stuck with just loading them. He likes the driving bit, but not the rest of it.
Truckstops and motorway services are not the best places to sleep, as an awful lot of trucks get their curtains slashed there, so that leaves you with laybys, few and far between these days. Or if you are lucky, you can sleep in the cab in an industrial estate, providing you can find one with no double yellows!
You are treated as the lowest form of life, especially by transport managers and RDC staff, you have to get used to feeding yourself while you are out, cooking stuff on a camping stove. Having to make sure you take your breaks when you are supposed to, not driving longer that you should.
Oh, and regardless to what the Sun says, there is not a shortage of drivers, even the mighty green giant Stobarts is laying off drivers, dropping hours and asking the week out guys to start doing day/night shifts instead.
But, as I say, he does like the driving bit, seeing new places etc etc, so if all that hasn't put you off, then go for it, and good luck.
He's been there nearly 18 months now, went straight into doing week outs. It can be very hard on the family, and it's certainly getting hard on him being out all week.
He does say that if he had the choice, it's not something that he would have gone into, he would have stuck with just loading them. He likes the driving bit, but not the rest of it.
Truckstops and motorway services are not the best places to sleep, as an awful lot of trucks get their curtains slashed there, so that leaves you with laybys, few and far between these days. Or if you are lucky, you can sleep in the cab in an industrial estate, providing you can find one with no double yellows!
You are treated as the lowest form of life, especially by transport managers and RDC staff, you have to get used to feeding yourself while you are out, cooking stuff on a camping stove. Having to make sure you take your breaks when you are supposed to, not driving longer that you should.
Oh, and regardless to what the Sun says, there is not a shortage of drivers, even the mighty green giant Stobarts is laying off drivers, dropping hours and asking the week out guys to start doing day/night shifts instead.
But, as I say, he does like the driving bit, seeing new places etc etc, so if all that hasn't put you off, then go for it, and good luck.
Thanks for the responses lots to take in and think about; I haven’t been ignoring the thread I have been finishing of an assignment and doing maths revision for my engineering degree .
This is clearly going to require a lot of research and thinking about, our HR1 window doesn’t close until June 2013 so I have plenty of time to think and get myself sorted.
Many thanks to speedchick for the wives and girlfriends point of view – much appreciated and very useful, I am currently single and living at home so there will be no issue with working away if needed I have done it quite a bit with my current job (when it was good and what I wanted it to be).
To be fair I don’t know what I want to do at the moment, but I like driving so I thought about going professional driving might be a good choice for me. I just feel trapped
.This is clearly going to require a lot of research and thinking about, our HR1 window doesn’t close until June 2013 so I have plenty of time to think and get myself sorted.
Many thanks to speedchick for the wives and girlfriends point of view – much appreciated and very useful, I am currently single and living at home so there will be no issue with working away if needed I have done it quite a bit with my current job (when it was good and what I wanted it to be).
To be fair I don’t know what I want to do at the moment, but I like driving so I thought about going professional driving might be a good choice for me. I just feel trapped
Not so sure on the bakeries thing. A mate works for one, he was a class 2 driver, perfect record and has been there for a few years, this year the chance to do class 1 (basically from depot to depot) has come up a couple of times, he's applied and lost out to less experienced, erm, foreigners. Seems that they get away with paying these guys less.. it all came to a crunch this year when they let 40 drivers go. Seems that a lot of the local shop/garage chains are distributing their own bread rather than getting the bakeries to do it for them. Luckily he managed to move across to the logistics side, I don't think he is missing the driving.
I didn't mean it to be such a negative post, guess it's just one of those bad weeks.
It's not all that bad from the 'at home' bit, not having to listen to snoring, complete control of the remote and the XBox, but then I am the one that has to deal with the kids all week, and then he comes home with a bag full of washing, and usually a stupid o'clock start on the Monday, so am stood on the doorstep in the frost at 3am waving him off.
But, he gets waved off with a bag full of food for the week, butties for the day and the knowledge he can watch whatever dvds he has taken with him uninterrupted, (when stopped for the day of course) and he doesn't have to face parent's evenings at school
I would imagine that its easier for a single man.
Until I went out with him for a few days the other month, I never realised just how much car drivers resent the presence of a truck on the roads, the have to get past the big dirty truck ones, the ones that see a truck with a nice gap in front of it, that they just have to get into, and then complain about the truck being right up their chuff pipe, oh and the ones that for some reason, their ego just can't cope with being overtaken by a truck, so they put their foot down, meaning the truck has to stay out in lane 2 longer (and so annoying other drivers)
Living in the cab for a couple of days was interesting, there is more space in there than you realise, and the bunks are surprisingly comfortable.
By all means go for it, it may be an idea to have something to fall back on if it gets to a point where you can't face being behind a wheel for 10 hours a day, but as himself says, there are some days that it all just falls into place, no hold ups, no bad weather and good drops/loads.
Oh, and it's not the best paying job out there (just in case you think it is!) a lot of drivers are only on just above the NMW.
And make sure your satnav has the truck software on it, it sure makes a difference when 'she' knows you have to take into account height and weight restrictions
It's not all that bad from the 'at home' bit, not having to listen to snoring, complete control of the remote and the XBox, but then I am the one that has to deal with the kids all week, and then he comes home with a bag full of washing, and usually a stupid o'clock start on the Monday, so am stood on the doorstep in the frost at 3am waving him off.
But, he gets waved off with a bag full of food for the week, butties for the day and the knowledge he can watch whatever dvds he has taken with him uninterrupted, (when stopped for the day of course) and he doesn't have to face parent's evenings at school
I would imagine that its easier for a single man.
Until I went out with him for a few days the other month, I never realised just how much car drivers resent the presence of a truck on the roads, the have to get past the big dirty truck ones, the ones that see a truck with a nice gap in front of it, that they just have to get into, and then complain about the truck being right up their chuff pipe, oh and the ones that for some reason, their ego just can't cope with being overtaken by a truck, so they put their foot down, meaning the truck has to stay out in lane 2 longer (and so annoying other drivers)
Living in the cab for a couple of days was interesting, there is more space in there than you realise, and the bunks are surprisingly comfortable.
By all means go for it, it may be an idea to have something to fall back on if it gets to a point where you can't face being behind a wheel for 10 hours a day, but as himself says, there are some days that it all just falls into place, no hold ups, no bad weather and good drops/loads.
Oh, and it's not the best paying job out there (just in case you think it is!) a lot of drivers are only on just above the NMW.
And make sure your satnav has the truck software on it, it sure makes a difference when 'she' knows you have to take into account height and weight restrictions
I didn’t take it as a negative post it had a lot of good points in that I hadn’t thought about.
I guess I’d still have my engineering to fall back on (why I am doing the degree really) so I am covered for a plan b if I take the plunge and it falls through.
Ohh I know all about the perils of blindly obeying sat nav, “she” doesn’t always know the best route!!
I may never end up going for it, but it was something I thought about and was after opinions on the subject (of which I have had plenty – cheers). As I said in the OP starting my own business is my primary choice but I want options
I guess I’d still have my engineering to fall back on (why I am doing the degree really) so I am covered for a plan b if I take the plunge and it falls through.
Ohh I know all about the perils of blindly obeying sat nav, “she” doesn’t always know the best route!!
I may never end up going for it, but it was something I thought about and was after opinions on the subject (of which I have had plenty – cheers). As I said in the OP starting my own business is my primary choice but I want options
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