Hi all,
I would welcome any advice good or bad etc
I am just about to start my practical for hgv class 2,then hopefully onto class 1.
I am leaving a steady job to retrain to hopefully earn a bit more and get a bit more time with the family. I am based in the north west (chester),I would welcome opinions on how easy it would be to get work once I have my licence. I am a realist and know I would probably only get the dregs to start but in time could achieve a better job.
Thanks in advance to anybody who replies.
bluenose33:
I am leaving a steady job to retrain to hopefully earn a bit more and get a bit more time with the family.
Reef:
bluenose33:
I am leaving a steady job to retrain to hopefully earn a bit more and get a bit more time with the family.
i think he meant
What job are you doing now to think that driving will give you more time at home?
mac12:
What job are you doing now to think that driving will give you more time at home?
And more money!
That was my next question
A long standing postman who has an offer of voluntary redundancy!!
Earning appx £20k
I am not dreaming of 50k wages but the same if not more, and just a local job would suffice.
Apparently there is plenty driving work out there, not too sure myself what the money is like, suppose its down to how much work you are offered, and how much you can take on.
according to the professional drivers forum they seem to be getting much more than 50 k a year 
Sorry I meant I want to earn 20k or more not 50k.
I am realistic enough to know to go and earn big money means nights and weekends out,that is why I said I would be happy with a local job.
How many hours a day do you as a postman? I am guessing standard shift is 8hours with OT maybe 10hours max?
Work 40 hours per week, biggest drawback for me is the fact I only get sundays off.
I can walk away with a nice redundancy package and hopefully a job with more Saturdays/sundays off on roughly same money.
Seem to be getting no positive vibes on my plans so far!!
Id be happy with agency work for first few months and then hopefully something permanent comes up.
probably a good investment with some of your redundancy, ive heard of a lot worse, im sure there are grants etc for people made redundant, ask the dole if you have to sign on unemployed.
not sure if i works with voluntary redundancy, and personal savings would come into it over 16,000
maybe worth checking out, dont be put off with the neg comments, but at the end of the day it is down to the person.
do a bit more research before you go spending, and read all the stickies on here so you dont get took in along the way.
as for prospects of work, ive got no idea, but some seem to find it no prob, and others seem to struggle .
the agencies work you will have a choice whether you take it or not.
Thanks, at last a positive comment.
I am booked in at chevron training for a driver assessment, it will give me an idea of what i am up against.
Work wise,im not to far from ellesmere port,deeside Liverpool so may be some agency/firms that would take a chance on a newbie.
do you have pre 1997 licence (aquired rights), or car test after that , as there are different ways to get into it.
good to go for assesment, will help you decide.
i would imagine plenty work where you are , van work is a good start.
Chevron will look after you ( He is a member on here btw )
You could do better but could do worse 20 k is doablle in your area might be a bit higher or bit lower then take off you tax & NI
Will the post office not train you up & take you on as 1 of there drivers 
passed in 1995?
no chance of being trained up where i am,if only though!
Apart from agencies how many jobs have you seen advertised in your area and what are they paying for the hours you want to work.
animal:
Chevron will look after you ( He is a member on here btw )You could do better but could do worse 20 k is doablle in your area might be a bit higher or bit lower then take off you tax & NI
Will the post office not train you up & take you on as 1 of there drivers
They will not train you up. Well at least not where I work. I am an employed by royal mail (working for a courier company/member of RMG) Do only nights and to be honest money is not bad but its monkey job, I am an indoor staff. We get no incentive yet we are required to work hard and put the finger out. Before being offered a job there during the interview stage I specified I am interested in driving and explain my plan, which was enthusiastically received. After a year of work I tried to do some van deliveries during christmas peak time and I was turned down nasty way. Not because I have no experience or whatever, purely because they get a driver in a minute willing to drive but to get idiots doing night sorting it is not that easy, I mean people who can last some time, we had people coming and going, rotation was suprisingly high, agencies can sometimes not last a shift!
@To the thread starter.
If you’re offered good redundancy money, take it. Get trained for LGV but unless you will limit your availability only to 2-3 days a week what means agency work as you can be more flexible there. You will be out in a truck for at least 10-12hours, I am not a driver yet but bare in mind any delays with loading/unloading add traffic and general work load means you might not be back after 13-14hours. If you’ve always wanted to do it then go for it. I am sure there are jobs with more steady or shorter hours but I think to compete for them you need at least 1-2years experience and they are rare anyway.
When I get my licence Im gonna speak to my bosses if they will let me go out in a 7.5t if not I am leaving. You could try the same but dont get too positive because if turned down it wont hurt you that much. Good luck mate.
In my own case I passed my class 2 in mid September and my module 4 CPC on the 1st October and 2 days after passing was offered work in a large high street store distribution centre 10 minutes from me in Peterborough. £13 an hour days and £15 Saturday’s and £16 Sunday’s. Have been there a couple of months and even though I’m only agency I’ve been treated very well and have had plenty of work. Plenty of drivers say there’s no work round here but even with a new licence I got sorted with one phone call so I’d say go for it.
Thanks for the more positive comments.
We have a big aldi distribution centre nearby so may enquire their once I have licence.
All I want is £20k ish per yr and generally mon-fri with the odd sat worked.
Is this realistic?