Change of career. But is it worth it?

Seriously giving a change of career some thought, earlier this year I gave it serious thought but was always looking at a loss on the income if I switched jobs, as other similar roles would be at less pay. My current income is around 22k take home after tax. I recently applied for a promotion in my current job only to be told I was too good at what I do now that I can’t really be moved up as they’d be at a loss. So having working hard to get where I currently am, I’m at a complete stale mate within the company as I’ll never get promoted as I do too much in my current role. So a change of career is needed. I love driving an the thought of being out on the open road. I previously looking into hgv work several years ago, but got stung by sterling hgv an never recovered my initial outlay 400£ an went off the idea as I was out of pocket an at that time out of work.

My reason for thinking is it worth it, having read previously threads is that would I be able to find work being newly passed? The company I’m thinking of doing my training with also own their own company an chances of work through them after trained is a possibility but not a certainty. I’ve looked over afew job ads an afew do say they may take newly passes drivers?
Will I find work?
Will I top my current income as a hgv possibly class 2 to start with?

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Firstly, welcome to the forum.

You’re asking some of the most common questions which I’ll answer honestly.

Getting the first job can be tough and some folks resort to agencies which will often promise the earth but not deliver as anticipated.

The situation is not helped if you only have CAT C. CE will always open more doors.

Pay varies enormously eg on a recent thread someone with CAT C has been offered 50 hours @ £17. On the other hand, some are on coppers over minimum wage. A good salaried job will make just over £30k. A poor hourly paid job might be nearer £18k. The differences are huge.

It’s worth mentioning that truck driving is known as a vocation. Another word for this is “calling”. It’s what you’re meant to do (or maybe not). Only you know the answer to that one.

Loads of folks will tell you it’s nigh on impossible to get a start. And that those who have are on appalling wages and are treated like dirt. (But they don’t do anything about it and keep on going to work - - a bit odd?) The balance is that there are as many folks who have got a decent job within a month, are properly paid and are respected at work.

As a very old established trainer with huge overheads and one of the finest reputations in the UK, I am obviously interested in folks wanting to learn. But I will not mislead anyone so the truth is above.

Training with a company that may or may not offer work afterwards sounds attractive but be wary of “tie - ins” which could reduce your pay dramatically.

If you choose to go for it, you might do well to look at our Christmas Offer. This will save you several hundred pounds and potentially save you the lot if you win the prize draw.

Details are at the top of the threads but any questions, just fire away.

All the best, Pete :laughing: :laughing:

You’ll always find work it just may not be you preferred type of work to start with. The longer you do the job the more doors open and that’s how you progress in transport.

As for money it depends where you are in the UK but I’d be confident that in most parts of the country you’ll beat 22k. Companies like Brakes give new passes jobs on Class 2 and in my company you’ll easily clear 30k a year for Class 2 general haulage with Class 1 coming in about 33/34k a year for something like 50 hours a week (sometimes more sometimes less) and very few nights out

I’ll give you my experience. I left a well paid job to become a trucker because I hated office work. I passed cat C and the work was extremely restricted. I had to sign up with an agency and was doing van work most of the time which is a horrible, horrible thing. The few cat C jobs I got was all multidrop through agency. Delivering 60kg+ gym equipment solo was one job. Customers would want the things bringing inside which was just a pain.

I hated cat C work so much it raised doubts in my mind if trucking was something I wanted to continue with.

Then I decided to do my CE. I can honestly say after passing it last week I have been offered 6 jobs, 4 of which clear £30k a year and 2 clear £35k. I’m a new pass with limited experience and could have a new job every week if I wanted.

It all depends on location though. I’m fortunate to live near multiple industrial sites and a big port. Cat C work in my area was mostly minimum wage. In other areas you could be earning more than an artic driver.

If trucking is something you want to do then just go for it. Get your C license and apply directly for some local employers for a job you think you will enjoy, just avoid agencies.

I’m a new pass and found work with one of the food service suppliers. Those companies brakes, p&h, bidvest are known to take on new passes. The other common route in is agency work.

I will say that what I’m doing is multi drop work, a lot of class 2 is. It’s hard work it’s perhaps not for everyone.

The good news my basic pay is more than 22k and with bonuses quite a lot more.

I appreciate I’ve found finding work very easy. Not everyone does. But it’s definitely possible.

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Thanks for your quick replies. I could be in luck with the chances of a possible class 2 going by what has been said. I have several supermarket and food warehouses not to far from where I live in st.helens. An brakes is one of those. So chances of a start are possible.
I get what your saying Peter, driving isn’t for everyone an I’d Definitely say driving in general is a calling for me. Currently doing my motorcycle training as I just love being out in the road, but the motorbike is more for the thrill of being on the road also.
I have today contacted a trainer. EPL training in Liverpool as that’s pretty local to me which is handy. An been asked to call back tomorrow for a better chat.
Think they are offering class 2 then class 1. For around the £2000. Which seems a good price considering I’ve seen some well in excess of 3k.

Maybe this is the start of a new journey for me where the roads will be long an winding [emoji16]

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EPL LGV training site looks ok

Does not seem that we have had any reports on that company so would appreciate feedback on them if you train with them

Price for dual C/CE 2x20 hour courses looks very good at £1900 (+test fees :question: )

Does not seem that we have had any reports on that company so would appreciate feedback on them if you train with them

Really?

There was a whole thread about them a while ago. Not got time to find it at the moment. But I’m glad I’m not them.

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Quote from Pete Smythe
‘‘It’s worth mentioning that truck driving is known as a vocation. Another word for this is “calling”. It’s what you’re meant to do (or maybe not). Only you know the answer to that one.’’

By the way when choosing a trainer, remember the above chap, Pete Smythe, didn’t try to fill you with the idea of glory and riches beyond your dreams…i have no association with Pete Smythe, have never met him, but have come to have great respect for the man’s ethos in the world of training.

That line in quotes should be at the top of the page in flashing letters.

Lorrying isn’t a career as such, its not like moving from white goods selling to car sales to working in a bank, its a whole different world, some will take to it like a duck to water, others won’t.
You won’t know till you try it, it’s nothing like car driving at all.

Not trying to put you off, just be aware that this is a whole different game to what you have done before, yes it may be the making of you, but equally you may find it isn’t for you.

You might fall on your feet and do well, many do.

Look at yourself honestly, are you prepared to graft, do you mind ■■■■■■■ boxes of drinks and food on a pallet or sack barrow into shops, do you mind about getting dirty, are you happy to leave your house in the dark and get home (unless you are away from home 1 to 4 nights a week) in the dark for 4 months of the year, do you mind getting messed about, have a decent control of your temper (you’ll need it), but balance this with will you stand up for yourself (you’ll need to now and again).

Not trying to put you off, far from it, those prepared to muck in, who don’t have some idea they are above a bit of graft (the new i’m a bit special culture), can make decent life and living out of lorrying, it has a vast array of different segments which as you skill up you will get a sense of what you want to do.

Everyone is different, there is a job for everyone in transport, but every one who does has to put up with endless bloody traffic and the millions of utter morons who infest the roads, and those two problems are escalating for various reasons at high rate, hence patience and the ability to take everything thrown at you in your stride is an important attribute.

As for money, yes it has a ceiling, if you stay behind the wheel you should be able to knock up over £30k present rates, more choice if you get an artic ticket and i would advise you to do so at the earliest opportunity if you really think this job is for you.
If you progress and specialise in the game you can comfortably knock up £40k present rates plus (not including night out pay) but the better end of jobs require several things, skill or muck or long hours or hard graft or shifts or pure luck to land the holy grail and often a combination of all.
It might take you years to get to the better end, it took me around 11/13 years before i got my big break into the better end of things, a few hiccups since as jobs have gone bust changed contracts etc along the way.

Much of it will be down to you, if you have some nous, it sounds like you have, then the job can be very very good.

EPL is the company that screwed me over. They put me with an agency driver who wasn’t qualified for the job. It wasn’t until I was £2k+ in and after another failed test that he told me he hasn’t trained anybody for 10 years. The DVSA examiner told me to find a new trainer as I was “being taught bad habits”.

I thought the owner Brad was a good fella at first as well. It was after I emailed him to complain about the training I received he turned sour. Refused to accept blame but instead told me to grow some balls and stop blaming others for my failed tests.

I went with another training provider and the difference was night and day. Passed my cat C with them first time and done my artic with them. There are so many good trainers around, don’t get stuck with them.

This all happened in June/July of 2017, so it is recent by the way.

ItsJoe:
EPL is the company that screwed me over. They put me with an agency driver who wasn’t qualified for the job. It wasn’t until I was £2k+ in and after another failed test that he told me he hasn’t trained anybody for 10 years. The DVSA examiner told me to find a new trainer as I was “being taught bad habits”.

I thought the owner Brad was a good fella at first as well. It was after I emailed him to complain about the training I received he turned sour. Refused to accept blame but instead told me to grow some balls and stop blaming others for my failed tests.

I went with another training provider and the difference was night and day. Passed my cat C with them first time and done my artic with them. There are so many good trainers around, don’t get stuck with them.

This all happened in June/July of 2017, so it is recent by the way.

Found the thread about EPL and your experience = viewtopic.php?f=5&t=148833

It is a nightmare getting into work after passing the tests.You must have 2 years blah blah .You must have patience and put up with some very poor firms ,who pay minimum wages ,When you are new some of these people will try to give you the worst most stressful jobs they have .
It is not all about driving lorries and eating yorkies !Go into this with eyes wide open .
it is a serious expense to start with and then you are liable for fines and more training every 5 years etc etc.
If you live near to Sutton in ashfield then Peter is your man .
sorry to give the negatives and believe me that there are more negatives than positive in driving lorries in 2017 for a living .

I recommend Peter Smyth Transport Training.

I passed first time with them and was over the moon with the way they treated me from beginning to end.

I also got the accommodation package because i live more than 70 miles from Pete at no extra charge.

Can’t fault a single thing about the whole experience, they are a great bunch of people.

I went on to find permanent full time employment direct with a company within 3 weeks of passing.
.

ItsJoe:
EPL is the company that screwed me over. They put me with an agency driver who wasn’t qualified for the job. It wasn’t until I was £2k+ in and after another failed test that he told me he hasn’t trained anybody for 10 years. The DVSA examiner told me to find a new trainer as I was “being taught bad habits”.

I thought the owner Brad was a good fella at first as well. It was after I emailed him to complain about the training I received he turned sour. Refused to accept blame but instead told me to grow some balls and stop blaming others for my failed tests.

I went with another training provider and the difference was night and day. Passed my cat C with them first time and done my artic with them. There are so many good trainers around, don’t get stuck with them.

This all happened in June/July of 2017, so it is recent by the way.

Joe could I ask who you eventually went with ■■

After reading your previous thread that was brought up. It has seriously given me second thoughts about going with them. Don’t fancy stumping up a good amount of money to get poor quality training or not upto standard training.

Can anyone else recommend a northwest hgv training provider?

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Jmarks1227:
Can anyone else recommend a northwest hgv training provider?

Chevron LGV training immediately springs to mind

ROG:

Jmarks1227:
Can anyone else recommend a northwest hgv training provider?

Chevron LGV training immediately springs to mind

Thanks ROG.
I’ll have a quick look over there website now.
Think the worst things about the searching for training providers. They all have really good looking websites most very professional well written and sell their courses to you, which is the whole point I guess haha

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Jmarks1227:

ItsJoe:
EPL is the company that screwed me over. They put me with an agency driver who wasn’t qualified for the job. It wasn’t until I was £2k+ in and after another failed test that he told me he hasn’t trained anybody for 10 years. The DVSA examiner told me to find a new trainer as I was “being taught bad habits”.

I thought the owner Brad was a good fella at first as well. It was after I emailed him to complain about the training I received he turned sour. Refused to accept blame but instead told me to grow some balls and stop blaming others for my failed tests.

I went with another training provider and the difference was night and day. Passed my cat C with them first time and done my artic with them. There are so many good trainers around, don’t get stuck with them.

This all happened in June/July of 2017, so it is recent by the way.

Joe could I ask who you eventually went with ■■

After reading your previous thread that was brought up. It has seriously given me second thoughts about going with them. Don’t fancy stumping up a good amount of money to get poor quality training or not upto standard training.

Can anyone else recommend a northwest hgv training provider?

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You should seriously consider Peter Smythe. I commuted daily from Birmingham to train with him. Top notch site, vehicles and staff. Can’t fault his operation.

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Has anyone any information about expert training academy, deeside?
I messaged them before joining the forum an have received a quote back for 1600 for class C with everything in that price cpc medical theory.

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Jmarks1227:
Has anyone any information about expert training academy, deeside?
I messaged them before joining the forum an have received a quote back for 1600 for class C with everything in that price cpc medical theory.

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That is only a few miles from Flint where Chevron is based … I know which I would choose …

ROG:

Jmarks1227:
Has anyone any information about expert training academy, deeside?
I messaged them before joining the forum an have received a quote back for 1600 for class C with everything in that price cpc medical theory.

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That is only a few miles from Flint where Chevron is based … I know which I would choose …

Yea looking at it chevron seem the better company. Have their own test centre which is handy an cpc also onsite.
Will contact them to get more details

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