Wow thanks for such a large reply! Lots of info! There definitely seems like a wage is out there for me. Don’t get me wrong 1 I’m not in it for just money but I do need to make a living. But as it stands I’m earning around £24/25k if I can start around at this I’ll be happy with that for a start just to give me a new career. I have had a chat with woodwards food services sales guy I have known for a couple of years. We get on pretty well and he told me to let him know when I’ve passed as they are always looking. It wouldn’t be my first choice but salary is around £27/28k so might be worth doing to get experience. For now I wouldn’t look into doing my own work I’d like to just get used to the driving/working environment then if I did get a salary around 25k plus I’d put in for my class 1 soon as possible. Maybe going it as my own business is something to think about one day you seemed to have done amazingly well. Will be looking at doing my assessment day soon and start things rolling. I’m guessing end of October/ November for my practical lessons/test till then it’s theory and you tube videos ahahaha
Digit369:
Ok my friend here is my honest answer.I started 9 months ago I work as a ltd co invoicing for my work, ok you need PLI and a accountant but I work a 60 hour week and take home £640 class 2. Take away your accountant 100£ per month and PLI it’s about 32k a year cooperation tax is now 18% and dividends are tax free I think but you need to speak to a proper accountant I just point steering wheel . Now I am doing my class 1 just after Christmas my agancy who I get on with very well has garunteed me a job at the beginning of the next season march 2016 at £17 per hour NO EXPERIENCE shortage . I have worked in retail before this and trust me trucking is a diddle compared. I don’t do nights out because I don’t like it. You have to start somewhere and graft for cheap this is the shi? Part they will physically drag you though a bush kick you and spit you out into a pond, because your new. But you need to find small haulage firms who are desperate try agricultural like plants etc as the are seasonal and recruit at the beginning of the season. It’s not a bad job a bit lonely nights out were ok but the missus did not like it as I was not home with her and the kids and caused tension and she has double ds and for £20 a night out I would rather be oiling them up . also think about 13 hour day 11 hours in cab then working in it again I HAVE PUT ON WEIGHT. The killer part is the lonely bit you have to be alert all the time which after 13 hours is exhausting but I am getting used to this now get spotify and a iPhone with headphones I have a aux lead on my head unit so my speakers get fully exercised and my singing vocals .the thing is the more these drivers bang on about cpc oh how much bull it is, well actually it separates the men from the boys and when all these happy happy people leave the industry it just paves the way for the new professional driver who wants to earn good money easily in your area £50k a year with overtime.
Agency’s pay the best,but you get the dog work that the regular on the books boy don’t want but that’s where you max out your hours because your slow and don’t really know what your doing do you lol. firms will try to take you from agency to pay less as they want to make more money, go ltd freelance don’t do umbrella these [zb] make so much from rainy days you can claim back more as ltd.
From Heathrow to dartford is £15-17 per hour and TBH it’s only going to get better as more retire and leave. The thing that really ■■■■■■ me off is ee drivers cutting the wage down and more than complacent driver excepting £8.50’a hour. You need to be tough always make your employer feel that there is a brighter light on your horizon.1 last thing when you get in the 18toner for the first time you will need to bring some kitty litter sand as there will be a mess. I’m not looking forward to the arctic. But now I jump in the 18toner and think what was I scared of it’s easier than driving a car.
I reversed into a archway the other day and not joking a inch either side at the top.Good luck with you choice hope this helps.
I like and agree with the gist of that, although I think to earn 50k, you would have to max your hours, and still end up a bit short…
But earning 25k isn’t difficult, I’d be way over that in a year! 
well theory, hazard and cpc in the morning starting at 8am! at last seems like I’ve waited forever!!
Good luck. Passed my theory last week and my hazard perception today. Still have to do cpc. Hope it works out for you.
yay lol passed all 3 this morning. did a lap on foot of the lowry centre in Salford because I couldn’t find the test centre ha. At least that’s out the way now.
biker10:
yay lol passed all 3 this morning. did a lap on foot of the lowry centre in Salford because I couldn’t find the test centre ha. At least that’s out the way now.
Well done fella what was the cpc like and what resources did you use?
Well done its a piece of ■■■■ isn’t it
neil2402:
biker10:
yay lol passed all 3 this morning. did a lap on foot of the lowry centre in Salford because I couldn’t find the test centre ha. At least that’s out the way now.Well done fella
cpc I found a bit awkward to study on. maybe it’s in the dvla book and I missed it but as most said the theory covered it I just went for it. I got 42 out of 50 and 40 is the pass mark. questions like what name best suits the type of haulage company that’s described. One answer was cabanage? or something like that? I’m sure someone will correct me. Also questions on digital tacograph machines such as when sharing the drive where does the passenger’s card go. I said second slot and took a guess lol. my theory I got 98 out of 100 and hazard I got 86 out of 100 so they where fine and I used older study material. the actual hazard on the day is more like a computer game now. For the cpc I found most questions are straight forward I would learn about tachograph a bit more, I new the basics bit just cover yourself and find out the names for different distribution company types that and your theory and it will get you through.
ash 001:
Well done its a piece of ■■■■ isn’t it
ash 001:
Well done its a piece of ■■■■ isn’t it
I did all 3 in an hour lol hardest bit was finding the test centre lol I Did a lap of the lowry centre on foot legging it because I was running out of time hahahah.
going to sort my assessment drive at hindley green next and see how bad my driving is lol
Best of luck, don’t just have one assessment drive have a couple so you can see how the company is ect.
thanks, ive got myself booked in 9am Monday at Hindley green. Costs £35 so will look around maybe for others but dont want to do to many at £35 quid a pop. Hindley seems to have had a good write up a few times on here so fingers crossed he will be ok. Truck had a 4 on 4 gearbox with no switch so not sure how that works but im going to check out on here and any videos/tips that might help my driving ability.
Is it a slap box? just thinking with you saying it had no switch, although the Iveco I have trained in has a 4 over 4 with a switch on the collar
no he said 4 on 4 so im guessing i just knock it back into neutral then over to 5 (1) and so on.
Ill soon find out trying to watch videos and bits now till next monday.
My assessment was free
There is 1 company that charge you up here but they take it off if you book with them
how did the assessment drive go, how did you find it?
its not till tomorrow! so if anyone is near Wigan please avoid hahahahah. Been doing what I can in my picasso till then lol not much difference. Not a lot I can do really except try to clean up my driving like crossing hands, coasting, checking mirrors much more and forgetting the rear mirror. Im at work at 6am till 8am then off for my drive at 9am then back at work around 11am lol fun packed day but havent got any holidays left now till new year. Hoping it will give me some idea on how far away I am. Gear box like many will be my hardest thing as well as reversing but I bet I dont do that tomorrow. All in all im happy to push on asap but wondering if its worth waiting till after Christmas to start my actual lessons? I will know better after tomorrow, Im realistic I wont just jump in and do it as fast as possible and go for my test. Money is always an issue at the moment so I intend to be as good as possible before going for the test.
Hi Everyone, had my assessment today, went ok ish lol. I wouldn’t say it went amazing but it wasnt a total disaster. I found the gearing (4x4 or “slapside”) fairly easy after my hour. Issues I had was I need to slow it all down. I am changing gear too quick, braking too late, not looking left enough when turning left at roundabouts ect to make sure my rear is not too near the kerb. I never mounted the kerb so not too bad. However not sure if i would say I got flustered or a bit of nerves kicked in but I just felt I suddenly forgot all the basics of driving lol. looking sideways at the tyre wheel whilst going forward still to park is a bit weird. In a car they teach you to drive up to the junction or roundabout. I found today I was asked to slow down sooner, get in gear (5th for the most) then time my entry ideally so I dont need to stop. Most if not all makes sense I just remember my car instructor years ago saying "dont crawl to the junction/roundabout ect so its like doing the opposite but I understand this is due to the weight/size ect. I took some positives out of it and if I can relax a bit it will come and hasnt put me off. If I was to rate myself out of 5 id say 2.5 so lots to improve on. I am going to book a 2 hour slot next week, as it stands im struggling with time and bookings due to lack of holidays so next week is a two hour lesson and hope to see some big improvements. Quite happy to stick with Paul at hindley green he seems fine so no issues there. Only had an hour all in all driving so staying positive and on to the next, I dont give in that easy
just been looking at redrose who are close to me. They do an assessment offer for £20 so might as well give that a go too.
biker10:
just been looking at redrose who are close to me. They do an assessment offer for £20 so might as well give that a go too.
Did mine with red rose in march this year.
Initially had an assesment with stockport lgv who reckoned 20 hours. Went out with red rose for an hour and they came back with 16 
Passed first time.
You wont go far wrong with this lot.