Redundancy: Career change to lorry driver or something else?
Discussion
I've just been informed I'll be redundant by the end of September. The problem is I don't know where to go next. To give you some background, at 18 I started in a main dealer parts dept. (hence my username) and I've worked at a few different dealers and at a couple of independents, usually in a supervisory or management capacity. However my most recent job started as parts manager in 2017, but, just 9 months in, I was made redundant. At the last second I had a reprieve and ended up in the advertising department photographing stock cars and advertising them online. Following Covid and some company streamlining, I took on many new roles, including site management, lease and sold car handovers, part ex and lease return inspections, tracker installations, tyre fitting, site maintenance and lots of other bits and bobs.
Unfortunately the site I work out is now closing and I'm about to be out of a job. I'm faced with a dilemma in what to do next and I thought you lovely people might be able to give some advice. As I see it, I have five options:
1) Go back to being a parts manager. I'm not keen and it feels like a step back but I know I could do the job with my eyes closed.
2) Find a job related to my advertising experience. The problem is most dealerships and traders don't employ someone to photograph their cars, preferring to get the sales people or valeters to take the photos. A couple of people have mentioned I should go self employed and offer my services to dealers and individuals but I'm not sure if it's a viable option.
3) Find a job with the skills I've picked up during lock down though I'm not sure what.
4) Bin the motor trade off and become a lorry driver. If anyone here has experience then what is it like?
5) Something I haven't thought of that you guys might suggest.
Unfortunately the site I work out is now closing and I'm about to be out of a job. I'm faced with a dilemma in what to do next and I thought you lovely people might be able to give some advice. As I see it, I have five options:
1) Go back to being a parts manager. I'm not keen and it feels like a step back but I know I could do the job with my eyes closed.
2) Find a job related to my advertising experience. The problem is most dealerships and traders don't employ someone to photograph their cars, preferring to get the sales people or valeters to take the photos. A couple of people have mentioned I should go self employed and offer my services to dealers and individuals but I'm not sure if it's a viable option.
3) Find a job with the skills I've picked up during lock down though I'm not sure what.
4) Bin the motor trade off and become a lorry driver. If anyone here has experience then what is it like?
5) Something I haven't thought of that you guys might suggest.
Train driver? - there is a thread on here somewhere - good money once trained, and most people who do it seem to love it.
If you wanted to carry on doing the photography thing - there might be some mileage is doing some fancy photos/videos for dealers. 3D interactive interior photos appear to be a thing - clamp the 3D camera between the seat headrests and take a photo remotely.
If you wanted to carry on doing the photography thing - there might be some mileage is doing some fancy photos/videos for dealers. 3D interactive interior photos appear to be a thing - clamp the 3D camera between the seat headrests and take a photo remotely.
PartsMonkey said:
I've just been informed I'll be redundant by the end of September. The problem is I don't know where to go next. To give you some background, at 18 I started in a main dealer parts dept. (hence my username) and I've worked at a few different dealers and at a couple of independents, usually in a supervisory or management capacity. However my most recent job started as parts manager in 2017, but, just 9 months in, I was made redundant. At the last second I had a reprieve and ended up in the advertising department photographing stock cars and advertising them online. Following Covid and some company streamlining, I took on many new roles, including site management, lease and sold car handovers, part ex and lease return inspections, tracker installations, tyre fitting, site maintenance and lots of other bits and bobs.
Unfortunately the site I work out is now closing and I'm about to be out of a job. I'm faced with a dilemma in what to do next and I thought you lovely people might be able to give some advice. As I see it, I have five options:
1) Go back to being a parts manager. I'm not keen and it feels like a step back but I know I could do the job with my eyes closed.
2) Find a job related to my advertising experience. The problem is most dealerships and traders don't employ someone to photograph their cars, preferring to get the sales people or valeters to take the photos. A couple of people have mentioned I should go self employed and offer my services to dealers and individuals but I'm not sure if it's a viable option.
3) Find a job with the skills I've picked up during lock down though I'm not sure what.
4) Bin the motor trade off and become a lorry driver. If anyone here has experience then what is it like?
5) Something I haven't thought of that you guys might suggest.
LGV Driver is probably a good option at the moment. Because of the shortage of drivers, some of the driving agencies may well put you through the test and CPC at their expense or reduced cost. Go for C + E and you can drive almost anythingUnfortunately the site I work out is now closing and I'm about to be out of a job. I'm faced with a dilemma in what to do next and I thought you lovely people might be able to give some advice. As I see it, I have five options:
1) Go back to being a parts manager. I'm not keen and it feels like a step back but I know I could do the job with my eyes closed.
2) Find a job related to my advertising experience. The problem is most dealerships and traders don't employ someone to photograph their cars, preferring to get the sales people or valeters to take the photos. A couple of people have mentioned I should go self employed and offer my services to dealers and individuals but I'm not sure if it's a viable option.
3) Find a job with the skills I've picked up during lock down though I'm not sure what.
4) Bin the motor trade off and become a lorry driver. If anyone here has experience then what is it like?
5) Something I haven't thought of that you guys might suggest.
I was about to start a very similar thread.
I'm being made redundant soon after 15 years in financial services. I can't face more office work, I have absolutely no passion for it and I want a complete sea change. Being a HGV driver definitely appeals but I know very little about how to go about it.
How does the training work? Is it better to do Cat C training and gain driving experience before doing the C+E at a later date? Is it feasible to do the combined class 2 and C+E course or are you more likely to fail if you do it that way with no prior experience?
Any other advice/things I'd need to consider?
I'm being made redundant soon after 15 years in financial services. I can't face more office work, I have absolutely no passion for it and I want a complete sea change. Being a HGV driver definitely appeals but I know very little about how to go about it.
How does the training work? Is it better to do Cat C training and gain driving experience before doing the C+E at a later date? Is it feasible to do the combined class 2 and C+E course or are you more likely to fail if you do it that way with no prior experience?
Any other advice/things I'd need to consider?
Emeye said:
Train driver? - there is a thread on here somewhere - good money once trained, and most people who do it seem to love it.
That is another option I'm considering. I assume the pay is more but the job might be a tad boring just driving the same route all the time (Though I realise there will be lorry driving jobs that will also be the same route every day.)Ronstein said:
LGV Driver is probably a good option at the moment. Because of the shortage of drivers, some of the driving agencies may well put you through the test and CPC at their expense or reduced cost. Go for C + E and you can drive almost anything
Another reason I'm considering it. I looked into it a few years ago but the cost of training put me off. Having looked the other day, there are quite a few company's now offering lorry driving apprenticeships including all training and one was even throwing forklift into the deal. There is a part of me who feels like if I'm going to do it, then now is the best time.TCX said:
Forget hgv,construction plant operators are just as in demand,rates higher,cpcs course mostly cheaper,quicker,no traffic stress
I hadn't considered that but will now, thanks for the idea!lyonspride said:
With your past experience, unless you're REALLY good at biting your tongue, I very much doubt that driving LGV or HGV is going to work for you. You're used to at least some low level responsibility, drivers get treated like absolute plebs, by just about everyone.
To be honest I'm pretty good at biting my tongue.I'm at the start of HGV training, looking for something different after 20 years in the Office.
Passed the medical 3 weeks ago, but still waiting for my licence to be returned with the provisional HGV category and then I can book the 3 theory tests. Training place said it is currently taking about 6 weeks to get the licence back. Then, they are looking at October before they can start me on Cat C driver training (2 days driver training followed by the test) and then another 2 days C+E training followed by the test.
Passed the medical 3 weeks ago, but still waiting for my licence to be returned with the provisional HGV category and then I can book the 3 theory tests. Training place said it is currently taking about 6 weeks to get the licence back. Then, they are looking at October before they can start me on Cat C driver training (2 days driver training followed by the test) and then another 2 days C+E training followed by the test.
PartsMonkey said:
Emeye said:
Train driver? - there is a thread on here somewhere - good money once trained, and most people who do it seem to love it.
That is another option I'm considering. I assume the pay is more but the job might be a tad boring just driving the same route all the time (Though I realise there will be lorry driving jobs that will also be the same route every day.)Some of my mates are HGV drivers and they say that the reason there is such a shortage of drivers is that none of the newer drivers stay long. There are loads queuing up to take their HGV test, but then when in a job they soon pack it in, mostly because of all the rules and regulations, PCP etc that make it more bother than its worth.
LeadFarmer said:
Some of my mates are HGV drivers and they say that the reason there is such a shortage of drivers is that none of the newer drivers stay long. There are loads queuing up to take their HGV test, but then when in a job they soon pack it in, mostly because of all the rules and regulations, PCP etc that make it more bother than its worth.
Yea, that's the problem in most trades and professions, there's always some desk jockey trying to control it, but who is controlling them? what qualifications and regulations do they have? what stealth taxes are they paying just to do their job? Virtually none..........Emeye said:
Train driver? - there is a thread on here somewhere - good money once trained, and most people who do it seem to love it.
This 100% I left the motor trade 23 years ago to become a Traindriver and never looked back. If you keep your nose clean then its a well paid stable job What part of the Country are you in?
ClaphamGT3 said:
To all those thinking about a career change to HGV driving, how old are you?
If more than 10 years away from retirement, forget it or be prepared to re-train again as transition to CAV will decimate the market for HGV drivers in that time frame.
Same for trains then as well?If more than 10 years away from retirement, forget it or be prepared to re-train again as transition to CAV will decimate the market for HGV drivers in that time frame.
Chicken Chaser said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
To all those thinking about a career change to HGV driving, how old are you?
If more than 10 years away from retirement, forget it or be prepared to re-train again as transition to CAV will decimate the market for HGV drivers in that time frame.
Same for trains then as well?If more than 10 years away from retirement, forget it or be prepared to re-train again as transition to CAV will decimate the market for HGV drivers in that time frame.
If none of the available options really float your boat then I'd say go for the one that consumes the minimum amount of time and energy in the short term so you can focus your spare time and energy on transitioning to what you really want in the longer term.
Train driver? Sure, if you can get into it. Most train operating companies (TOCs) cherry pick experienced drivers from other TOCs. In the rare event that a trainee opportunity arises, hundreds of people apply for it. I'm not saying don't do it, just don't think you'll get in any time soon - you'll need an interim plan for keeping the bills paid. I applied to LNER 18 months or so ago. Made it as far as an interview and then the pandemic happened so they suddenly had a bunch of redundant airline pilots to choose from! Also, TOCs seem to like people from the armed forces, police, nursing, etc., the kind of people who are used to thinking on their feet in life-and-death people-related situations.
Train driver? Sure, if you can get into it. Most train operating companies (TOCs) cherry pick experienced drivers from other TOCs. In the rare event that a trainee opportunity arises, hundreds of people apply for it. I'm not saying don't do it, just don't think you'll get in any time soon - you'll need an interim plan for keeping the bills paid. I applied to LNER 18 months or so ago. Made it as far as an interview and then the pandemic happened so they suddenly had a bunch of redundant airline pilots to choose from! Also, TOCs seem to like people from the armed forces, police, nursing, etc., the kind of people who are used to thinking on their feet in life-and-death people-related situations.
MitchT said:
Also, TOCs seem to like people from the armed forces, police, nursing, etc., the kind of people who are used to thinking on their feet in life-and-death people-related situations.
Yep - a friend who was an armed response police officer got in easily. I suspect he is working his way through childhood dream jobs - next on the list is astronaut... 
I think the media are playing up the shortage and salaries of drivers at the moment which makes it seem more attractive, work on about a £35k a year salary for a 45hr week rather than these vastly overestimated pay you see in the papers. If the job markets gets flooded again pay will quickly drop
You earn every penny as well
I cant see automation being an issue for the next 20 years to be fair
But you are a young guy plenty of time to think about what you really want to do with the rest of your life
ClaphamGT3 said:
To all those thinking about a career change to HGV driving, how old are you?
If more than 10 years away from retirement, forget it or be prepared to re-train again as transition to CAV will decimate the market for HGV drivers in that time frame.
Most companies won’t be able to afford the technology for many years to come even if it’s legally implemented and cost effective, a lot of LGV work involves manual handling and waiting at delivery points for other drivers and space to become available. If more than 10 years away from retirement, forget it or be prepared to re-train again as transition to CAV will decimate the market for HGV drivers in that time frame.
Automation is decreasing the number of bodies in the warehouse environment, and so they are training to be drivers, Many still 20-30 years from retirement age. The limited investments companies can afford to make are in warehouse automation and in green fuel trucks, not automated trucks, either way there will always be a driver present.
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