Daytrunker:
Hi PP
Your half way there by wanting to drive for a living,yes the regulations are a tad confusing at first but like anything you will get the hang of it,
One way you could get a day out in a truck is if you know any transport firms by you,ok I know it’s cheeky but call in explain what your looking to do and ask if you can go out with a driver for a day or two,if you don’t ask and all that,firms like to see some get up and go and if your willing to go and ask they will know your serious not just messing about.
As for working certain days and hours as already said join an agency for experience if your able to drive 7.5T once you have your digi card.
Hope this helps
Jeff.
Hi Jeff,
That’s an idea, is a small haulage firm local to me maybe I could ask them, I’ve done that a few times, not nececcerily with haulage firms, but have asked firms if I could work for free for a day or two just to get experience/ another reference. The only barrier maybe is insurance as I’m sure drivers might not be able to carry passengers but I’m happy to sign a waiver as I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ll take my Official DVSA Theory Test book , and proof of my provisional C licence to prove I’m serious.
if you think you have what it takes then go for it.
Hi PP
Well done on getting funds,there are links at the of the newbie page about booking your course,don’t hand money over the phone for a course visit the trainer in person and look around,far too many brokers and sharks pretending to be the best I’m sure someone on here can recommend a top instructor location wise.
As I said before, it’s the hours you need to appreciate…
Newbie’s will probably be greeted with ridiculously early starts, weird shift patterns, unknown finish times and punishing class 2 handballing. Plus if you are really unlucky, they will also vary your start times, so they can really screw your body and mind up! 
Yes it can get better, but a lot of Newbies will have to deal with the crap, the experienced guys won’t touch under any circumstances!
So if you’re in a relationship, you’ll also need good understanding, support and acceptance from them regarding the job…
I was thinking of going with this training provider, Gary the owner helped me fill out the licence app form and about the medical , I think they’re an honest company not a bunch of charlatans . elitetraininglogistics.co.uk/
Evil8Beezle:
As I said before, it’s the hours you need to appreciate…
Newbie’s will probably be greeted with ridiculously early starts, weird shift patterns, unknown finish times and punishing class 2 handballing. Plus if you are really unlucky, they will also vary your start times, so they can really screw your body and mind up!
Yes it can get better, but a lot of Newbies will have to deal with the crap, the experienced guys won’t touch under any circumstances!
So if you’re in a relationship, you’ll also need good understanding, support and acceptance from them regarding the job…
Tho before I got made redundant and my then disabled husband needed more care I worked on the railway. In more recent times worked as a “bank” zero contract hours care assistant with BUPA, can’t be any more ■■■■ than dealing with pooh!!!
PottyPott:
I was thinking of going with this training provider, Gary the owner helped me fill out the licence app form and about the medical , I think they’re an honest company not a bunch of charlatans . elitetraininglogistics.co.uk/
They could be fine, just ensure you compare their deal with another…
As “a lady”, I’d recommend PSTT, as I think you may find a few firms could be a bit “blokey”. Your trainer needed to earn his money and be an ultimate professional, irrespective of his options or short comings. My trainer for both my first time passes at PSTT, was exceptional, even after I showered him in glass! 
The early starts don’t bother me. Aside from this HSE thing going on, I like where I work. The job is easy enough. So much better than doing Palletways nonsense.
Evil8Beezle:
PottyPott:
I was thinking of going with this training provider, Gary the owner helped me fill out the licence app form and about the medical , I think they’re an honest company not a bunch of charlatans . elitetraininglogistics.co.uk/
They could be fine, just ensure you compare their deal with another…
As “a lady”, I’d recommend PSTT, as I think you may find a few firms could be a bit “blokey”. Your trainer needed to earn his money and be an ultimate professional, irrespective of his options or short comings. My trainer for both my first time passes at PSTT, was exceptional, even after I showered him in glass!
I don’t mind being a bit “blokey” I wanted to be a train driver or a RAF pilot when I was younger, here’s me I’m just as happy wearing a long flowing dress or a boiler suit depending upon the occasion, I’m helping restore a steam locomotive. I get military humour which can be quite shocking to a civvy, got a few veteran friends . I can’t find PSTT or is that Peter Smythe, Tho I think PSTT is based in Notts, and I’m Bedfordshire?Milton Keynes borders.
Kind Regards
Louise.
From Milton Keynes, its about 2 hours up the M1.
The forum sponsor Pete Smythe, up in Mansfield…
Radar19:
The early starts don’t bother me. Aside from this HSE thing going on, I like where I work. The job is easy enough. So much better than doing Palletways nonsense.
I’ve worked on the railway ‘til I got made redundant so I’m used to stupid o’ clock start times. ON the
railway I was booked on for a stupid o’clock start the morning after Freddie Mercury had died, I’m nuts on the rock band Queen, so I remember seeing commuters with newspapers , yet one said “It’s good to see a smiling face at this time of the morning”. Last year I went to try for train driving again, I’d tried when I was 18 back in 1989, so I can get up and out at stupid o 'clock of I want to. I don’t see what a “Bourdon Test” has to do with train driving, tho in 1989 myself and Sharon went to do our train driving tests , tho the area Traincrew Manager was retiring and he was stuck in the steam days, tho I can’t prove sexism was the reason myself and Sharon failed, and didn’t have to do this Bourdon Test back then. If I can safely run part of railway station rules & regs aren’t a problem, just when new they can be a little confusing!!!
Louise
Evil8Beezle:
The forum sponsor Pete Smythe, up in Mansfield…
Yep saw there’s an open day, tho is tomorrow and is short notice, plus I don’t have the petrol to get up there, but seems a great training provider, but I feel happy with Elite, they have positive reviews . The way I use the word “■■■■” sometimes I feel I’d even make the most battle hardened trooper blush!!! Oh yes I can be mistress of a witty comeback!!!
Hi PP
I haven not had a chance to read everything on here yet but thought I would give my 2 pennies worth…
Last year I met my new partner who is a HGV driver… I started going out with him on days off and thouraghly enjoyed it. Trucking is something I wanted to do in my early 20’s when I was still in South Africa, but it all fell through and then I moved here. One day while out with the OH he joked that we should double man like a “husband and wife” team… I loved the idea! He was joking and thinks I am still mad as he says the trade is not as it used to be but is supporting my decision. I am a registered nurse with an hons degree under my belt that I studied really hard for… But at the end of the day, no matter how much I enjoy being with my patients, the job is the most stressful thing I have ever had to do. If there is one thing nursing has taught me time and time again, is that life is too short. And if there is something you want to do… Do it now as tomorrow may not be happen!
So I took the plunge, and have been heading towards this new venture since November last year. I now have my digicard, CPC and my Cat C under my belt. I am very lucky as I go out regularly with my OH and have learnt loads, coupling, uncoupling, dropping trailers, picking them up, he deals with fresh produce so has a fridge trailer and we are often doing the Markets so will find me in the back moving pallets with pump trucks… A far cry from the work I’m used to. I’m not nieve and I know it has its own stresses… Traffic problems, ROADWORKS, idiot car drivers (you see a lot of crazy stuff while in a truck) and being messed around waiting for hours to be tipped or loaded… But at the end of the day it’s something I have always wanted to do… And far less stressful than nursing, and for me it’s not about the money but the job satisfaction.
I have decided to write a journal when I start driving, as for women is it somewhat different and we are going into a mans world… So for me it’s time to man up and not allow myself to be belittled by anyone… Though I have to say, so far I have not had one negative remark or comment made my way, I have already built some good report with some of the market workers who are always more than happy to help if needed…
The only issue I have being a women in this job… Is the lack of unlocked toilets!!! I sometimes have to use the male loos and I have invested in a shewee for the nights out where the truck stops are not worth stoping at!
Loving my new adventure… Even though it’s been a hard slog and a lot of time and money invested. I will this week find out what my OH company have to offer as they may be paying for the C+E and will hopefully be out on L plates next week gaining some experience driving with the OH.
So basically… If you want this got for it… Don’t let anyone stop you! It is what you make of it and determination and the go for it means you are half way there… PM if you want to know anything else x
Hi Mistiek,
Agreed I think nursing/care work can be stressful, I have done care work , and I know some nurses ex nurses. I think every job has it’s stressful moments. I hear of nurses not getting a chance to eat, on say a 12 hour shift.
I gather you’ve got your Cat C LGV up to 18t, best of luck with the C+E. I know some people have tried to put me off, employment advisor, or my Mum as she’s said “You’re not butch”. I did swee a programme a few years ago about the Royal Logistics Corps and they had some females driving army trucks in Afghanistan, and their barracks, their rooms werfe all girlie pink. I can be girlie when I want to be I’m equally at home wearing a long flowing dress or a boiler suit depending on the occasion, when I’m getting all messy polishing copper pipes on a steam locomotive,wearing a long flowing dress would be rather silly.
I don’t have the money to fund it myself, tho my Mum did eventually come round to it. Maybe I’ll end up doing a boring job that isn’t me to fund it.
yes I knoiw truck driving does have it’s own stressesbeing stuck in a traffic jam for a time can’t be helped, but hey I just play my music same as I would if I get stuck in the car. I agree that trucking won’t make me mega rich, I think wage is about £9.00ph with extra for weekends/nights, unsocial hours working. I used to work on the railway mainly on the operating side, so I’m used to a mans world (I wanted to be a train driver when I was younger), tho I still do at least volunteer on the Nene Valley Railway.
I gather trucking is quite safe at night for females (and men too) if you park at truck stops and service stations, probably safer than some jobs on the railway (as in British Rail or private train operating companies) where there’s nothing between you and passengers. I know I wouldn’t want to do European runs but hey a newly qualified driver I don’t think would be doing those runs. I think that was one of the reasons I didn’t hire a bike in Lille (went over to France/Belgium to do a WW1 battlefield tour) as I’d probably think ride on the left, tho I do think French motorists can be a law unto themselves I think it’s stop at a zebra crossing , if you want to if pedestrians are already on that crossing).
PottyPott:
I gather you’ve got your Cat C LGV up to 18t
Small correction
Cat C I believe is up to 32t (there may be rigids that weigh more though). Although weight usually has a little to do with it. As with a Cat C licence you cannot drive a 7.5t towing a trailer over 750kg, yet you can drive a 32t truck. Basically with a Cat C you can drive anything that is not articulated. So you can drive the tractor unit but as soon as you attach it to a trailer you need a C+E to drive it.
adam277:
So you can drive the tractor unit but as soon as you attach it to a trailer you need a C+E to drive it.
My OH and I were wondering about that the other day… If I was allowed to driver the unit without the trailer?!? As technically it’s not articulated until the trailer goes on. And yes I do believe you are right, it’s up to 32 ton…
Mistiek:
adam277:
So you can drive the tractor unit but as soon as you attach it to a trailer you need a C+E to drive it.
My OH and I were wondering about that the other day… If I was allowed to driver the unit without the trailer?!? As technically it’s not articulated until the trailer goes on. And yes I do believe you are right, it’s up to 32 ton…
Yep. 100% sure you can.
from DVLA
Category C
You can drive vehicles weighing over 3,500 kg (with a trailer up to 750kg), with no more than 8 passengers and a driver
Category C+E
You can drive vehicles weighing over 3,500kg (with a trailer over 750kg), with no more than more than 8 passengers and a driver
So no real weight limit for either Cat C or C+E but I think 32t is the max you are going to realistically drive as class 2 and class 1 is 44t unless you’re driving something ridiculous with a police ■■■■■■.
Oh I see it’s more about if it’s a rigid or artic rather than tonnage!!!
