Hi Chaps. I’m growing very bored of my job and feel its time for a change. I’ve driven low loaders, tankers, flats, oversize, hiabs and the like in the past, but I’ve fallen into a comfortable but boringly unchallenging flour tanker role on a 4 on 4 off shift. I love the shift but the job is mind numbing. I’ve been thinking about joining a recovery company, there are a few close by, but I just wondered what the requirements are, and what the job is actually like.
Do I need mechanical qualifications? What are the hours like? Is it any good?
I miss the days of problem solving and actually having to think about what you are doing.
Any advice would be appreciated 
The thing with wrecker driving is getting called out at odd and usually inconvienient times. Even if youre happy with it, it might not fit in with ‘her-indoors’ idea of utopia. Picture the scene, youre on the vinegar stroke, and the phone goes. Just to rub it in, its ■■■■■■■ with rain, but hey ho off you go. Yes, Ive been there, I used to do car recovery before I did my classes, and yes,I loved it. Every job is somewhat different, and some are very challenging. You dont need any mechanical skills, the most youll do is taking the half shaft out of the drive axle of a truck. Youll need to be able to think outside of the box though, and very often youll find that the casualty vehicle isnt in the best or safest situation. Youll also have to ‘own’ that situation too.
Been there got the tea shirt its hard work unsocial hours and usually not the greatest money
jay.gardner1:
Hi Chaps. I’m growing very bored of my job and feel its time for a change. I’ve driven low loaders, tankers, flats, oversize, hiabs and the like in the past, but I’ve fallen into a comfortable but boringly unchallenging flour tanker role on a 4 on 4 off shift. I love the shift but the job is mind numbing. I’ve been thinking about joining a recovery company, there are a few close by, but I just wondered what the requirements are, and what the job is actually like.
Do I need mechanical qualifications? What are the hours like? Is it any good?
I miss the days of problem solving and actually having to think about what you are doing.
Any advice would be appreciated
I was in Heavy recovery about 10 years ago, if this is what you want crack on. I would say get rid of the wife 1st mine ■■■■■■ off. You can earn very good money but do you want to lie under a truck on the M/Way in the rain and cold and the snow when we have it removing a mulit bolt prop shaft, or removing the o/s half shaft with your ■■■ sticking out in the 1st lane. Or doing coaches on the M/way. If you want all the above then its a good job. if you want to work in the middle of the night etc. its a good job, if you want to get home sit down for tea, then the phone rings its your turn to go out and recover a broken down truck, you tea will end up in the dog if you have one Lol. Then be on call xmas day etc.
Cheers Welly
Agree with all the above. Been there, done it, fantastic craic, great laugh with some great lads, really got to think outside the box.
Would I do it again? Not a bloody chance, for all the reasons listed above and more!
If you have a home life, DON’T DO IT
I have to say me and my ex was not happy anyway but did not know it at the time, but one thing I was just over £40k per year and it paid my house off before she ■■■■■■ off.
So all I need was a few k to get her out.
I did heavy’s to get me off the spanners I have had enough ripping diffs and gear boxes out and doing engines up on heavy’s. Had some good times with good lads and I was well looked after, we could be out all night almost and when we would return there would be bacon butts and a brew waiting when we drove in the yard, the gaffer and his wife lived on the premises. He would also get stuck in and help out.
We also did RMSL work at the time and that was Cars on the M/Ways near us picking up ■■■■ heads that had run out of fuel and then giving us a gob full because the police said it had to move. Then there was people like the AA or RAC that could not get the broken down car within the hour, the we had to move them, more shouting at us from the people in the cars, you are not moving us oh yes we will get the police on you, go on then and then it would kick off.
The heavy’s were much better just very long hours and would I go back to it? If I was stuck for work.
Cheers Welly