Anyone a HGV driver?

ian-83

ian-83

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Anybody on here a HGV driver? Looking into a possible career change and this is one avenue that has taken my interest? Is the pay good and the hours ok or is it all unsociable stuff and bad pay?

Currently work in the motor trade as a mechanic for a main dealer which pays peanuts for what the quality of car actually is.
 
I gave this up many years ago, as it was a s*** job then.
Some places pay good money, but I'm not sure that it'd match your salary.

Do you really fancy sitting on the M25 ( and other M-ways) for hours on end, with deadlines,
not to mention your tacho hours to "beat" ?
Not quite sure if you'll make it home that night, if you run out of driving hours.

Night work is not quite so bad traffic wise, but can still turn into a nightmare,
To my mind those are the good points ;)


If you really fancy it, and you can afford it, why not take your test,
and work for agencies at week-ends, your'll certainly start to get a feel for it,
even if your week-ends are screwed up.
 
Just to add to what Cobra has said, it's not the easy life people think it is these days.
Many companies will only employ experienced drivers so go with agency work for a while to gain that
it will help in the long run
I've had a few mates go down that route recently, perseverance has got some of them decent jobs
but others have found it hard going
 
many agencies will only take on experienced drivers as well ,,,,so it can be quite difficult to get on the " yes ive got experience " ladder ,,
i did 4 years on day work ,,,meaning i started in the morning then went home in the evening ,,,hated it ,,im not working at the moment but when i get of my arse next month to look for a job it will be one where i can do 2 or 3 nights out each week .if you get a job like that ,your marriage if you have one has to be very strong and forget seeing any kids you have as much as you'd like to.
 
you cant go driving an artic until you have passed your test in a rigid ,,,,,,and you have to get a drivers cpc to allow you to use the licence ,and you have to have 35 hours of in the classroom training every 5 years to keep the cpc ( currently about £ 350 for the course ) but a good employer should pay for that .then you have to be prepared for vosa to stop you and go over your truck and try to find the smallest fault with it so that they can fine you ( and put points on your licence ) because thats how they are funded ( self funded ??? )so the more fines thay can get the more money they get ,,,and they dont miss a thing when they go round and under the truck so its got be be perfect ( fairground atrraction )
 
donut said:
you cant go driving an artic until you have passed your test in a rigid ,,,,,,and you have to get a drivers cpc to allow you to use the licence ,and you have to have 35 hours of in the classroom training every 5 years to keep the cpc
Click to expand...
Another good point. TBH I'd forgotten about that, it never existed when I was driving,
well that is to say that a CPC was only for "transport managers"
 
Cobra said:
well that is to say that a CPC was only for "transport managers"
Click to expand...

Yes I did my CPC with the intention of going into transport management.. had to pay for it myself and it was around the same price 350.. but that was over 20 yrs ago and 350 meant a lot more then... it was when tachos hadn't been in long.. it showed you how drivers tried to beat it.. It also showed you how drivers can make a decent effort to beat a drink drive stop...? idea being that a transport manager should know these things.. lots of health safety and business side of things.. not much driving side.. You also needed a CPC if you intended to park in same place (not depot- home i think) for more than x days a week .... like I say.. long time ago.. different life :)
 
Get a job stacking shelves or delivering shopping to houses, better pay but less hours so your pay packet will be lighter.

You need a CPC which is an absolute comedy sketch, you will need 2 years experience or 180 hours on your driver card to get into a half decent job. You will be expected make deadlines that a chinook pilot would struggle to make and then take the wrath of booking in clerks who seem to think they hold more power than the good lord himself. Driver defects are a hot topic due to the self funding VOSA who now target drivers to meet their own targets rather than for road safety.

Bosses who think that you are now employed, your sole purpose in life is to dedicate every breath in your body to the company and if you want time off then it should be when they are closed.

It takes a different type of driver to cope with the barrage of poor driving from other road users who seem to think that they own the tarmac and will claim any space you give them or steal it anyway as you move too slow: take up too much room: get in the way of them, unless you are delivering their shopping.

Forget any social life outside of work or truckstops, you become invisible as you will not make parents evening, barbecues, parties, doctors appointments, visiting friends, even taking the dog for a walk.

Unless you get a decent job with a decent company, then the above is your life.

I will be starting at 5 in the morning, driving my truck ;)

Phil.
 
phil8139 said:
Get a job stacking shelves or delivering shopping to houses, better pay but less hours so your pay packet will be lighter.

You need a CPC which is an absolute comedy sketch, you will need 2 years experience or 180 hours on your driver card to get into a half decent job. You will be expected make deadlines that a chinook pilot would struggle to make and then take the wrath of booking in clerks who seem to think they hold more power than the good lord himself. Driver defects are a hot topic due to the self funding VOSA who now target drivers to meet their own targets rather than for road safety.

Bosses who think that you are now employed, your sole purpose in life is to dedicate every breath in your body to the company and if you want time off then it should be when they are closed.

It takes a different type of driver to cope with the barrage of poor driving from other road users who seem to think that they own the tarmac and will claim any space you give them or steal it anyway as you move too slow: take up too much room: get in the way of them, unless you are delivering their shopping.

Forget any social life outside of work or truckstops, you become invisible as you will not make parents evening, barbecues, parties, doctors appointments, visiting friends, even taking the dog for a walk.

Unless you get a decent job with a decent company, then the above is your life.

I will be starting at 5 in the morning, driving my truck ;)

Phil.
Click to expand...


Mnay yrs ago I spoke to a bloke who said pretty much the same.. everyones against the driver.. police customers road checks...he gave a simmilar story to the above and how much of a horrible job it was..

i asked him how long he had been doing it

30 years was his reply..

I laughed then walked away feeling sorry for someone who had wasted a large part of there life doing somehting they hated...
 
and then you'll get someone on here starting a thread about lorries overtaking each other and taking 10 miles to do it ,and why dont they ban trucks from all but the hard shoulder because they get in my way and i'm very important and late ,and ....and ....and :)
 
Kipax, I didn't say that I don't like my job ;) It's just not one that I would advise people to get into.

I actually enjoy the abuse as I am paid by the hour so they can keep me there all day, then I will pull out and drive home as I don't do nights out anymore :D

Phil.
 
I've got 41 years under my belt & now finishing due to ill health 3 years early.

When I first started this job it was great, but now I absolutely hate the job.

My Cardiologist said to me that truck, bus & taxi drivers kept him in work.

As all the others have said esp Donut, keep away from it, you'll live longer as well
 
So much crap to go through now before you even get a licence, yet alone a job. Thankfully I had grandfather rights on my cpc so only had to do the 35 hours training which is an absolute joke. I could have learnt more watching cbeebies for a day. As a new driver, you need a medical, a theory test, hazard test, full cpc module test and the actual driving test. Not up to speed on current prices but its got to be a round £1000 before you even drive your first shift.
How many other jobs expect you to fork out that sort of money just to start?

Then you have VOSA on your ass constantly, one small mistake and they will be all over you like a rash, once you are pulled once and an infringement is seen, your company is flagged up, so all drivers on that company will be on their hit list, so you'll get pulled far more often.

Haven't even started on car drivers making your life a misery....

Driving has to be one of the most over regulated and underpaid/valued careers going.
 
and if you havnt done your 35 hours for the cpc you cant drive as from today ,,,,,everyone up to date ?
 
Yup, just waiting for the rates to rocket due to the shortage of drivers this comedy course will provide......













I'm not going to hold my breath though ;)
 
My class 1 is still current, but I'll probably let it go next renewal.
IIRC it was £100 for the medical a few years back.
Grandfather rights on the CPC here also,
but I've not even done the "35 hours"

I didn't realise that VOSA were that hot these days.
TBH some of the wrecks (and obviously over loaded vehicles) I used see,
plus the "ghosting" foreigners (and bragging about it) etc etc I'd say its about time.
 
Cobra said:
IIRC it was £100 for the medical a few years back.
Click to expand...

I didn't bother with mine when I reached 45 (five years ago). I only just passed the uncorrected sight test last time - I doubt that my eyes have improved since then!


Steve.
 
VOSA now use ANPR and operators have OCRS, Operators compliance risk score. This is a red, amber, green system and when a truck passes the ANPR it lets them know if they need to pull them in.

A dodgy looking truck can pass by if they are too busy reading the paper ;)
 
Dear gracious - this made me do a bit of thinking

My eldest daughter was working as a part time clippie / office bod for what is now a very well known Bus Operator when at the age of 17 she took her National and International CPCs by exam . She couldn't even drive a bus then - but she passed both exams.

She's now 46 !! Still has a Bus licence [ manual !! and a 'decker ] and does drive one if necessary . Her subordinates [ desperately trying not to give away her employer here ] know that and knew it was no good saying to her , if they didn't want to do what she asked " If you want if done - I'm not doing it - you do it " as they knew she could and would and did :D
 
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phil8139 said:
VOSA now use ANPR and operators have OCRS, Operators compliance risk score. This is a red, amber, green system and when a truck passes the ANPR it lets them know if they need to pull them in.
Click to expand...
It gets worse :(
Or should that be better, though?

phil8139 said:
A dodgy looking truck can pass by if they are too busy reading the paper ;)
Click to expand...
:rolleyes:
 
ian-83 said:
Anybody on here a HGV driver? Looking into a possible career change and this is one avenue that has taken my interest? Is the pay good and the hours ok or is it all unsociable stuff and bad pay?

Currently work in the motor trade as a mechanic for a main dealer which pays peanuts for what the quality of car actually is.
Click to expand...
If you are in the Essex area, Ford may well be advertising for Prototype Mechanics for their development facility at Dunton in the next few months. Don't be put off by the word prototype it's not important. Depending on the area the jobs are in it could be day work, or double days (early and late shifts), but the pay is much better than a dealership mechanic earns and it's generally a very relaxed working atmosphere. Quite a number of the workforce have come from dealerships. Some of the work involves stuff that you probably won't have done, but again not important as no-one else is likely to have done neither and training is given.
 
Well that's put me off the idea! Now thinking about it i don't really fancy jumping through lots of hoops to get a job, all the jobs i seen they want people with experience but no one wants to take on the inexperienced to let them gain the experience,plus sitting in traffic jams etc watching the minutes/hours ticking away possibly end up not being able to get home would be very rubbish!

Think i'll stick to what I am doing found a few other main dealers in my area are paying much better money than what I am currently on so will be having a word to see if any have jobs going. Least I know what my hours will be, when I will be home and hopefully only have to work Saturday morning once every third/fourth weekend. And i'll get to see my girlfriend and kids still!
 
ian-83 said:
Think i'll stick to what I am doing found a few other main dealers in my area are paying much better money than what I am currently on so will be having a word to see if any have jobs going. Least I know what my hours will be, when I will be home and hopefully only have to work Saturday morning once every third/fourth weekend. And i'll get to see my girlfriend and kids still!
Click to expand...
Sensible lad :thumbs:
 
donut said:
,,,,,everyone up to date ?
Click to expand...

CPC and ICPC in International transport,still had to do my drivers CPC. Is it a waste of time?...............95% yes, though it is good to keep up to date in certain areas. I don`t think 35 hours every 5 years is so bad, just don`t leave it till last minute.com, as I and many others did.
 
fracster said:
CPC. Is it a waste of time?...............95% yes
Click to expand...

Is it still only needed if driving is the main part of your job? i.e. if you needed to move equipment which you then used for your main work, it used to be considered that the driving part was not the main part of your employment so the CPC wasn't required.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Is it still only needed if driving is the main part of your job? i.e. if you needed to move equipment which you then used for your main work, it used to be considered that the driving part was not the main part of your employment so the CPC wasn't required.


Steve.
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As I understand it Steve, if you have to drive to do your job,then yes,CPC is required.

Ms Bell, the traffic commissioner up here, is telling Councils that their road maintanence guys need to do it,for example.Another example, a self employed digger driver that tows that machine behind a lorry to site,prior to digging, needs his CPC. I`m sure there are still grey areas and loopholes, but for what it costs,then if in doubt do it. The fine for not having it is £1000 for employee and same again for employer I believe.
 
fracster said:
As I understand it Steve, if you have to drive to do your job,then yes,CPC is required.
Click to expand...

Found this on the government's website:

Vehicle uses where you don’t need Driver CPC
You don’t need Driver CPC if the vehicle you drive is:
  • used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods for personal use
  • used to carry material or equipment you use for your job - but driving the vehicle can’t be the main part of your job
  • used for driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC
  • used by, or is under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order
  • used in states of emergency or for rescue missions
  • driven to or from pre-booked appointments at official testing centres
  • driven within 50 km of your base, is not carrying passengers or goods, and driving a lorry, bus or coach is not your main job
Click to expand...

The second line is what I was thinking of.


Steve.
 
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certificate of professional competence in road transport and driver CPC are 2 separate things

If you want to be a LGV transport manager and a driver you need both, if it's just a driver it's the latter

The CPC in road transport is a course and a 2 part exam or was when I did it

The driver CPC is like an episode of Please Sir , flicking rubber bands and lolling about at the back , as long as you turn up it's a pass.
 
So if you drive just to move equipment and driving isn't the main part of your job, you don't need a driver CPC (as stated in the government page I linked to) but someone will still need a Road Transport CPC to cover it.


Steve.
 
depends on size of vehicle and if you get paid for driving mate.

driving a van full of amps and guitars to a gig, then no and no.

Darren, the driver cpc has good points to it, I believe one session a year is not excessive.
 
fracster said:
depends on size of vehicle and if you get paid for driving mate.

driving a van full of amps and guitars to a gig, then no and no.

Darren, the driver cpc has good points to it, I believe one session a year is not excessive.
Click to expand...
It's only good if it's relevant, informative and achievable. Showing me pictures of asian women carrying heavy items on their head and trying to relate it to UK Health & Safety is a p***take. Showing me images of trucks (Asian again) with a whole field of hay held on with a frayed rope and the load taking up both sides of the road is a p***take.

In the 'test' of tacho rules and driving hours, I got 100%, in the three times we did the same test I still got 100%. When I refused to do another test as I really can't get better than 100%, I was labelled awkward and disruptive :D.

The fact that the only pass mark is turning up and staying for the duration, along with the possibility of doing the same section 5 times will get you a driver card shows that it has nothing to do with driver education or improving standards or safety and everything to do with bureaucratic nonsense dreamt up by some faceless boy wonder.

It also improves our national statistics of creating jobs and improving our service sector doctrine.

HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT with a passion.

Phil.
 
just to be sure, so your not keen on it then ?........
 
i got my last 7 hours in monday ,,,,that covers me ( us) until 2019 ,,,,,i could do the same course again in two weeks time and that would cover me until 2024 ( so the bloke taking it told us ) but he seems to think that they will change it pretty soon so that it will be a test or exam and harder ,,,the joke may turn a bit sour
 
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