I appreciate that everyone has their opinion and people with inside knowledge willalways point out the negatives of any job, But honestly if it was that bad would people stay and do it?
Inside knowledge…?
LOL…you mean people that actually work in the industry and can tell you what’s it’s like
People stay and do it because they either didn’t work hard at school or ended up in another dead job. They do it because they have to. They break the law every day in the hope they won’t get caught just to pay their rent and put food on the table for their kids. Prove me wrong. Show me a driver with qualifications in another field who gave it all up to risk his new job working for a firm that runs bent for minimum wage after all the investment he made?
People like build5 constantly slam the job and tell you how crap their work lives are etc…but he could could see his remaining 10 years out stacking shelves like he is telling everyone to do if it was that bad, If you are that miserable then show yourself the door and stop spreading your poison please.
By all means tell people what the job includes and what you can expect but leave your hatred for it out.
People invest alot of their time and money, they come here to look for advice and all they read is that negativity, its soul destroying for someone trapped in a job they already hate and exploring options.
People like Build5…tell you what it’s really like after spending several thousand pounds of his own money. After working for large firms and local firms.
There’s a certain youtuber who I watched develop over time from a brand new driver. I got offered a job with the same firm. A very large well known firm. I walked out of “induction” on day two…lol Don’t even get me started on that little wheeze!
Yep, a large recognised company with lovely shiny trucks expecting me to haul “difficult” loads after “training” using a booklet chucked at you and then you sign a form saying you’ve been “trained” because they gave you the book.
And as it happens…they were offering less than £11 an hour for these “difficult” loads.
And yes, I still keep my options open and am looking at supermarkets stacking shelves if it pays more. I’m not so stupid I’d drive a truck if another opportunity paid me more and gave me a better work/life balance.
I keep an eye on the TC PI’s website because I just know they’re going to be in there very soon. I’m just interested to see who’s going to be pinned for it. My money is on the driver.
Are Police over worked and underpaid…YES
NHS…YES
Prison staff…YES
Your every day office staff…YES
Fire Serive…YES
the list is endless…
NONE of that list is expected to break the law or deviate from their legal duties. Truck drivers are expected to break the law daily and use the “law of averages” of getting caught. NONE of those employers would expect their employees to break or circumvent it as a natural part of their job.
Show people the ropes, tell them the best/safest way to do the job…don’t poison peoples minds…This attitude drivers have baffles me.
Show people the ropes - as you understand them?..You broke the law, so I’m showing you how to break the law?
People go on about money, I earnt £40k+ a year…did i have any more money than me earning 21K a year now…No.
Obviously some people couldnt do on my current salary but you get my point.
Your telling someone the money etc is rubbish, they may only earn 20k a year now…in which case can they make more driving a truck…Yes…Easily.
Talk about HOURS WORKED. Tell me HOW MANY HOURS you worked (including nights in the truck) to get that money. Talk about the failed marriages, the failed relationships, no social life…If you’re going to tell a story at least be honest and tell the whole story. Tell us HOW MANY HOURS (including nights out) a week to make 40k
The same youtuber talked about his ‘take home pay’…hulloo…errr I earnt loaaaddsss of munnnny as a trucker this week!!
No mate, you didn’t. You worked LOTS of hours in a week which made your take home look just above average wage without divulging the fact you cracked up 60+ hours and spent the remainder of the week sleeping in a box being an unpaid security guard for the load at the side of the road because your boss was too tight and thought that little of you, you weren’t even worth a SNAP card.
…and I’ll guarantee every time you unloaded you banged it on break.
FACT’S is what people want here in the NEW and Wannabe section…not opinions. People are trying to make important life decisions. just cause your miserable doesnt nean everyone else will be.
FACT is, people need to hear the truth from other people who gained their licences, aren’t as thick as two short planks, value their home life, have worked in the industry, aren’t willing to risk that several thousand pound investment on day one for for scummy firm (large or small) willing to throw you under the bus for a load. And yes, can tell it as it is.
not all aimed at build btw
Not all aimed at me? Aim away!
Prove me wrong mate.
Tell me or show me what I’ve said is false.
I’ve walked out of MAJOR companies and small local firms because what they were doing is wrong.
As a brand new driver, if you’re prepared to risk your licence because your driver trainer said it was okay even though deep down inside you knew it was wrong, guess who gets F£$CKED?.. YOU. JUST YOU. YOU’RE LOSING YOU’RE LICENCE…their operator licence will be fine because you signed a bit of paper saying you understood how to load that steel or concrete or other “difficult” load even though you’ve never even seen a piece of steel. You signed the form didn’t you. You agreed you were “trained” and “competent” after looking at a bit of paper.
“difficult loads” require far more than looking at a bit of paper and signing it off.
Ask an experienced driver that deals with steel or concrete. They’ll tell you it requires a high degree of skill, experience and knowledge that can’t be taught from flicking through a few pages of a manual.
Chances are, your “driver trainer” never inserted his card in ‘slot 2’ because he needed those hours to work that night.
…A lot of what I’m saying might be falling into place for some other guys!
There was a time when people used to say trainers had to be ‘made cheap’ and that was just the way it was. Then a few children’s charities got involved and pointed out that the only way we got our cheap trainers or T shirts was because people were being exploited.
I keep a very close eye on the TC decisions website. You should too.
gov.uk/government/latest?de … missioners
I want to work hard and legal. Is that too much to ask?
Comparing my hourly rate to a toilet cleaner or shelf stacker is justified. We all go to work to earn money, not to sit in a truck. If you think I’m wrong, you’re a bit of an idiot. If I paid you £50 an hour to count boxes can you honestly tell me you’d drive a truck for £11 an hour?
The job of a truck driver is hard. It has a lot of skill involved and requires a high degree of focus. It’s being sold as any old dimwit can do it if he’s willing to spend a few grand and risk it all for a load of pallets.
It shouldn’t be this way.
Truck drivers should be valued. You seem to be suggesting they shouldn’t be valued and you should be glad you’ve got a job pushing around a big truck.
If that’s what you’re suggesting, you’re an idiot of the first order. Driving the truck is the least of your worries when it comes to DVSA and regulations.
. Most of the drivers on here are thick as pig [zb] and should be ignored. Nearly all of them are trampers working for a logistics company on a salary and expected to work 70 hours a week sleeping in their tin box in ■■■■-ridden laybys. When you accept that as being the norm then the above bitter posts are to be expected as none of them have a family life - wife will be being banged by their best mate or neighbour while they’re away doing their 70 hours for £600 a week. Some will even buy them a fluffy hot water bottle to keep them company.