Hello everyone, this is my first ever forum appearance (although i have been an avid reader for a while, picking up lots of hints and tips) and id just like to say that today i made the first steps to a new career, i have sent off for an information pack from LTS (Lancaster) and i am fully intent on gaining the full C+E licence. I know its going to take time and patience, but this is something ive wanted to do since i was a boy (now 38 yrs old!) been stuck in the same monotonous job for to long so now is the time. I’ve read up on all the training providers and sorted the wheat from the chaff so to speak, and now i cant wait for this new adventure and challenge to begin. Even now, whilst out driving the car i find myself disregarding the rear view mirror, and driving to the white lines! as of today, i live, eat and breathe trucking…
Why Have you sent away for the info why not just go in to visit them 
Or are they a broker
i am planning a visit at the weekend, work commitments and all that.
I spoke to a lovely lady on the phone, and she said she’d send the info pack, requirements, course fee’s and such like.
Deffo not a broker, i was warned against going down that route, 50 training centres across the country, the guaranteed pass, the guaranteed job at the end!
The lovely lady at LTS had a list of all so called training firms to avoid, and one or two of the ones i was looking at on the net were on that list, one of them extremely high risk!
To be honest she was very helpful and explained a lot, i’m looking forward to going to meet them in person, if they are half as nice in real life as they were on the phone i think i’ll have done alright…
have you looked at the recommended list on here
But good you have avoided a broker
yes, checked out the list, and LTS are on it (lantrain)
So not only do they come recommended they also happen to be the closest to me (40mins drive)
I must say, that had i not read these forums i could well have gone through a broker and lived to regret it! Like people say “if something sounds to good to be true, it probably is”! because they certainly make it sound good!
I started my career change about 7 years ago, started on vans, now I’m grafting hard on general haulage in artics. It’s certainly been a rollercoaster ride, but despite the near 60 hour weeks and the rude & ignorant goods in staff and plenty of other gripes, I’ll not look back and say I made a wrong choice.
Good Luck Philbo.
Cheers Baz
I can empathise with you on the hours and rude and ignorant staff, as i deal with that in my current job!, so i guess thats a head start 
But hopefully i can look back and say the same thing as you in 7 years time…
Hi Philbo,
I started the process with my medical on 15th February 2012. By then doing everything as soon as I could (and luckily passing everything 1st time) I had my C+E licence in my hand on 23rd July.
I’ve decided to stick with my current job and agency driving on my rest days until I get enough knowledge and experience to make the decision to stay or go.
So far i’ve had 4 runs (3 class 1) and have turned 4 class 1 runs down (various reasons) all since 23/7/12, all have been real learning curves and absolutely brilliant.
Best of luck
Tazbug
hiya Taz,
thanks for that bud, its good to know that its possible to do the works in only 5 months,(assuming i can do as well as you) and it sounds like your doing well and enjoying it.
Seems like an ideal scenario, continue with your present job, and gaining experience driving on your time off, that could well be the route i follow. Even though i can’t wait to get out of my current job, i suppose its a steady income until i’m lucky enough to find full time driving work.
Anyway, my licence is now in the post, so fingers crossed in 5 months time■■?
Philbo,
Quite bizarrely, I guess by having another focus, I’m finding my normal job is not so bad. I am rather fortunate in that I work a 6 on, 4 off shift pattern, so my rest days fall on weekdays as well as weekends!
Go for it, stay focused …I think you’ll be surprised. When you succeed you’ll find the hours are long and tiring but, if you’re like me and have a sense of adventure, you’ll love every minute of it.
Tazbug
Taz,
I work a similar shift pattern, both days and nights, so once everything is complete hopefully i will have the time in which to “test the water” so to speak. I’m certainly not afraid of a bit of graft and toil, and i am more than happy to put the hours in, and most importantly my family are right behind me.
After reading your comments and realising the options, i am more focused than ever, i’m just raring to go
cheers mate