Hi,
So here is my dilemma I have been in work since the age of 16, in the same industry I am in good role a role of ok paid job, but now at the age of 45 the job is becoming very physically demanding none stop in fact shed 4.5 stone in 6 months last year , the job is to the point of almost running which is not where I want to be at , I’ve drove 7.5t years ago no problem and always had at the back of my mind HGV , the cost is 3k huge amount , what I’m not planning on doing is packing a job in for agency work on the prospect of the odd days work here and there.
I hear the work on class 1 is min of two years experience if you have not got that then you haven’t got a chance of finding full time work in a class 1.
So do I stay where I am and try weekend work around my current job gaining 7.5t experience then up to class 2 working up to class 1 where the agency has more faith in me ?
On the down side I need as a new class 1 driver driving class one straight off as its new to me 1 years time is to long I would of forgot what I’ve leaned I would need work as soon as in a class 1 to improve .
The other option stay where I’m at
Just seams what I’ve read tough as a newbie to get full time work but willing to start sat and start from there but 3K is a lot for a sat job.
What I do next will be the feedback from this site so totally honesty as I’m putting my job on the line and needs to work .
Please advise HGV training north east
Is HGV Express any good?
Hi David welcome to the madhouse,
First things first don’t seem silly asking stuff there’s drivers on here older than gods dog and some like yourself thinking of starting out,so get asking.
Right,Is it worth the £££ to do your class C?,it sounds like your mind is already made up by the description of your current job running about to get it done isn’t on no matter how old anyone is.
Like you said it’s an expensive Saturday job but by having your class C it’s what doors it can open,more than a 7.5T licence will,as a C+E will open more than a C,but 1 thing at a time.
If you do your class C do it as a Saturday job see how you get on if you want to go for it full time use the agency to try different types of work see which one you like best then apply to the company’s by you to see if they take new starters,don’t think it’s agency or nothing when your a new pass.
It’s a gamble and I can’t tell you of it’s worth it for you. I can say it worked for me. There is definitely a DECENT driver shortage, so if you get your head down and do the job properly, you should be OK. But be warned, it won’t happen overnight. It took me a year of crap jobs and even worse pay before I landed on my feet.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Cavey.
They appear to be brokers, so the question is whether you’d like to give anybody your good money for things which a ‘mainstream’ driver training provider would do for free?
A list of LGV driver training providers recommended by TN members is here:
If you google ‘HGV Express refund,’ it might help you in your decision.
The best advice is that you actually visit several LGV driver training providers and take an assessment drive to see how you feel about the place and the instructors BEFORE parting with any of your cash.
A mainstream driver training provider will welcome your request to visit and see for yourself, but a broker doesn’t usually have their own vehicles and charges you handsomely for the introduction… it’s all about asking the right questions.
£3k for just class C is easy over the top and sounds like broker prices. £1500ish all in for all training and tests seems about average direct with a training provider.
Is it worth it. I’ve just changed careers - worked in insurance due the last 20 years and I’m enjoying it. Been harder than I thought to get fully up and running and getting regular work in and has meant I’ve have to do the odd job via agencies if rather not have to get a bit of experience under my belt and to start building a reputation.
One thing that is worth bearing in mind - you say your current job is taking its toll physically. Driving can be physical too. Loading and unloading can be a fair amount of work as can the driving itself.
Depends where in the North East you are as you could try Tyne & Wear LGV training they are on the Felling by pass near Hewoth Gateshead or TTS based at Kingston Park Newcastle I think there is an independent guy who is supposed to be quite good he is called Dave sorry not sure what name he goes under but believe he is based in Sunderland
I went down to Chelmsford ( John Flair training ) for my CE but at 45 is not that old to change
Yes there are companies that take on newbies I found work quit easy after I passed my CE & this was when it was hard to find a job due to the economy
45 is a decent age to be career changing - I moved out of retail at 40, into driving C1 (7.5 ton) using grandfather rights. Never looked back since, wish I’d got into it way earlier. I did C licence through the current employer at 44 and earlier this year I upgraded to CE at my own expense.
Sure it’s a gamble, any change of job is, but if you don’t challenge yourself you’ll never know just what you are capable of. Bear in mind if you have inherited (grandfather) rights you wouldn’t even have to do the C licence to get into driving 7.5 tonners, if you want to try that first - but you would have to do the DCPC and a medical first. Then if you find it suits you well enough you can consider doing the C licence and see where that takes you.
I’d echo what others are saying about the cost of C licence - shouldn’t be more that £1500 ish depending how much tuition you need.
Hi
Thanks for all the comments
I deal in my present job with a parcel force company
He has asked for my cv so I could be on the ladder
Advice great though
I got into driving full-time at the tender age of 57 so there is no practical upper age limit. However, don’t do it for the money or you will be disappointed. A good 3.5 or 7.5 tonne driver can get £8.00 per hour & an HGV C driver will get about the same. It’s only when you move up to artics that the money can be good but to get top £££s you will need to be working long & unsocial hours (unless you are very lucky)
GO FOR IT!!!
Your not too old to change. Class 1 isnt physical at all…if you get a class 1 job where you need to handball then its the wrong job.
Dont mess about with 7.5t work,itll only show you the crap side of the industry,get your bum in a class 1 seat as quick as possible,itll take you about a year before you know most ins n outs of the industry,thats your apprenticeship, dont mess about is my advice,bypass 7.5 and class 2 work if you can,its not good paid and is the worst work out there…
Hi
Thanks again
What sort of pay is class 1 work also is the work salaried work or paid over time
I am at present in a job and earn around 28k
Need to match it
Also daft question supermarkets
Do you get a map of how to get to the goods in etc
Or is it down to you to hunt it out
Since I’ve been interested I’ve been watching roads and think that’s a bit of a squeeze getting around there
So do you get directions in class 1 advising which route gives you more of a turning circle
Etc
I’m afraid really of making wrong choice and being out of work
Daughters uni fees coming up
Normally when you get to security I say never been here before they normally tell you where it is
If in doubt on a road park up walk down as it is upto you you are driving
But to be honest think you are trying to run before you can crawl
A good sense of direction is good also of the road network is god a good map book ( we all have our own but truckers atlas with bridge nights on is well worth it
If your used to graft, check if you have a brakes yard close, I start straight in as a newbie 2/11/15 on 29K Monday Friday 06-00 15-00 salaried on the 5 days, if your in 18-00 the same, or early 13-00 you go early paid, and take the good with the bad, However Saturdays are paid overtime on top. Most drivers don’t like the cage work but its a way of getting my 2 years in and that suits me. This is Aylesford down south just off the M20 by Maidstone. I am 53 and forked out £1450 with exams for cat C. So direct starts are possible, but may have to do what others don’t want. Good luck with what you decide.
Robbo, you say your job is becoming very physically demanding, unloading a hgv could be even more physically demanding. The smaller the truck, the more demanding it tends to be. You may make it to artics eventually but you’ll have to start somewhere and then there’s the hours to think of. A fifteen hour day is not uncommon
Personally I would look in to some 7.5T work around your current job. You can keep the safety of your full time job whilst at the same time seeing what the industry is like.
Matey who’s just walked in to the Brakes job on £29k makes it sound simple but Brakes/Bidvest/3663 are very well known for working drivers in to the ground with nearly all the drops being hand balling and deliveries to crap town centre drops.
Speak to a local agency before you commit any money on a C licence and try and get some work on a 7.5T or even a van. HTH
If you google ‘HGV Express refund,’ it might help you in your decision.