I am a 37 year old ex class one driver and i have had my licence since 1997 in which i drove full time in different jobs with a mixture of class one and two work up until 2006, in which i left the industry completely and moved abroad to a different job and life in Greece but unfortunately with the crisis over there i have had to return to the UK and now need to find a job.
The only real skill i have is my HGV licence but obviously i will need retraining with a driving school as i have not driven since 2006 but i am also remembering the hours and also the stress which to be honest is why i got out, i had some good jobs which were great and earned some good money but then sadly they came to an end, but my last job was so stressful it almost made me ill a woman transport manager always piling more work on you always on the phone and by being stressed i jumped out of the cab to get something in a street and was run over,from then i did go back to work but after that i got out.
Back then there was no sat nav and i was trying to read a map but now i know you have sat nav although i know with these things you need to keep an eye on where it is taking you.
I am thinking of going back driving but in the back of my mind i have huge doubts and voices saying no but i really do not have anything else i can do.
Can any drivers tell me what is it like now?
Should i go back and would i be ok?
What are the jobs like now and would i get work after being out of it for so long?
What is the money like now?
Is the pressure worse?
Guys please help your comments would be really appreciated.
4 hours with a LGV training school and it will all come back - like riding a bicycle
You will also need to complete 35 hours of periodic driver cpc training by 09/09/2014 if you wish to continue driving LGVs commercially after that date for another 5 years
Personally I wouldn’t bother with training, I was out of the industry for 22 years then started back on class 2 until I felt comfortable enough to get back to class1.
But I guess that just a personal thing, in those circumstances some people will feel happier with a bit of training and some people will be happy to dive in.
As you don’t seem too confident about getting back behind the wheel of a lorry why not start on smaller vehicles first, try to get some 7½ t work or class 2 work for starters.
It sounds to me that you’re letting a bad experience in a bad job in the past cloud your view of all lorry driving jobs. Of course there are still firms around like the one you mention, but personally I’d be doing as has been suggested and doing some 7.5r/rigid work to start with, on an agency with a variety of clients. Then you’ll have a good indication as to which are worth working for and which aren’t.
Firms will only keep piling stuff on to you if you let them.
smiler4612:
I am a 37 year old ex class one driver and i have had my licence since 1997 in which i drove full time in different jobs with a mixture of class one and two work up until 2006, in which i left the industry completely and moved abroad to a different job and life in Greece but unfortunately with the crisis over there i have had to return to the UK and now need to find a job.
The only real skill i have is my HGV licence but obviously i will need retraining with a driving school as i have not driven since 2006 but i am also remembering the hours and also the stress which to be honest is why i got out, i had some good jobs which were great and earned some good money but then sadly they came to an end, but my last job was so stressful it almost made me ill a woman transport manager always piling more work on you always on the phone and by being stressed i jumped out of the cab to get something in a street and was run over,from then i did go back to work but after that i got out.
Back then there was no sat nav and i was trying to read a map but now i know you have sat nav although i know with these things you need to keep an eye on where it is taking you.
I am thinking of going back driving but in the back of my mind i have huge doubts and voices saying no but i really do not have anything else i can do.
Can any drivers tell me what is it like now?
Should i go back and would i be ok?
What are the jobs like now and would i get work after being out of it for so long?
What is the money like now?
Is the pressure worse?
Guys please help your comments would be really appreciated.
I’ve also noticed that some firms ask that you have some hours of CPC behind you
your location may be of help to some, as they could give better advice as to what training companies, or even jobs available
good luck mate 
it’ll all work out in the end,like i’ve allways said “there’s work out there for those who want it.”
shuttlespanker:
your location may be of help to some, as they could give better advice as to what training companies, or even jobs available
I am currently in Huddersfield at my parents house but i am looking to go south, i was driving in the south east before around Surrey and central London so will be going back down that kind of way but any where in the south really.
Learn to stop worrying and letting work stress you out and the job is a doddle.
switchlogic:
Learn to stop worrying and letting work stress you out and the job is a doddle.
+1
Let’s see…you left the UK for a better life in Greece, leaving us lot to pay off the bank collapse, pay for wars with Tom,■■■■ and Harry all the while bailing out just about
every country in Europe including Greece and when Greece goes down the pan you trot back here,well here’s the good news since you left a great number of East Europeans
have arrived and they are your competition,some of them can actually drive, sort of.Britain has also become even more crowded making a driving job the pits so maybe
your best option is to take this opportunity and try a new career,stacking shelves in the supermarkets is regularly mentioned on here as paying more than lorry driving so that
would be a good start.But do stay cheerful Greece might just rise from the ashes once again and you’ll be able to move back there.
I returned last year after nearly 30 years away. Found a small local firm explained situation asked if I could go out for a day with a driver (unpaid of course). Had a go and to be honest felt like never been away except no gears to worry about. Told firm if they ever got stuck to call me would be glad to help. Two days later someone went sick and they called. Now I work freelance for a few local firms. Choose if I work or not (mostly do though) and all is good.
Like any job it has hassles. Pays the bills.
smiler4612:
I am a 37 year old ex class one driver and i have had my licence since 1997 in which i drove full time in different jobs with a mixture of class one and two work up until 2006, in which i left the industry completely and moved abroad to a different job and life in Greece but unfortunately with the crisis over there i have had to return to the UK and now need to find a job.
The only real skill i have is my HGV licence but obviously i will need retraining with a driving school as i have not driven since 2006 but i am also remembering the hours and also the stress which to be honest is why i got out, i had some good jobs which were great and earned some good money but then sadly they came to an end, but my last job was so stressful it almost made me ill a woman transport manager always piling more work on you always on the phone and by being stressed i jumped out of the cab to get something in a street and was run over,from then i did go back to work but after that i got out.
Back then there was no sat nav and i was trying to read a map but now i know you have sat nav although i know with these things you need to keep an eye on where it is taking you.
I am thinking of going back driving but in the back of my mind i have huge doubts and voices saying no but i really do not have anything else i can do.
Can any drivers tell me what is it like now?
Should i go back and would i be ok?
What are the jobs like now and would i get work after being out of it for so long?
What is the money like now?
Is the pressure worse?
Guys please help your comments would be really appreciated.
As said above, if in doubt go drive a 7.5 for a while before stepping up.
Also, get someone else to write your CV. I know I seem to be turning into the TN Grammar Gestapo but 337 words, 3 commas, 5 full stops and five question marks. There is no real paragraphing and sentences that go on for longer than war and peace! Come on guys, give us a bloody break!
nsmith1180:
smiler4612:
I am a 37 year old ex class one driver and i have had my licence since 1997 in which i drove full time in different jobs with a mixture of class one and two work up until 2006, in which i left the industry completely and moved abroad to a different job and life in Greece but unfortunately with the crisis over there i have had to return to the UK and now need to find a job.
The only real skill i have is my HGV licence but obviously i will need retraining with a driving school as i have not driven since 2006 but i am also remembering the hours and also the stress which to be honest is why i got out, i had some good jobs which were great and earned some good money but then sadly they came to an end, but my last job was so stressful it almost made me ill a woman transport manager always piling more work on you always on the phone and by being stressed i jumped out of the cab to get something in a street and was run over,from then i did go back to work but after that i got out.
Back then there was no sat nav and i was trying to read a map but now i know you have sat nav although i know with these things you need to keep an eye on where it is taking you.
I am thinking of going back driving but in the back of my mind i have huge doubts and voices saying no but i really do not have anything else i can do.
Can any drivers tell me what is it like now?
Should i go back and would i be ok?
What are the jobs like now and would i get work after being out of it for so long?
What is the money like now?
Is the pressure worse?
Guys please help your comments would be really appreciated.As said above, if in doubt go drive a 7.5 for a while before stepping up.
Also, get someone else to write your CV. I know I seem to be turning into the TN Grammar Gestapo but 337 words, 3 commas, 5 full stops and five question marks. There is no real paragraphing and sentences that go on for longer than war and peace! Come on guys, give us a bloody break!
I can’t believe you counted the words!
If you can’t bloody read something without a comma or a question mark telling you when to breath you need help!
OOooh grammer police…cv…police…did you understand the op’s post ? i did , i can see your going to be popular on here… 
The job only becomes stressful when you allow it to, the job is so incredibly easy nowadays there really is nothing to worry about, modern trucks virtually drive themselves.
You will be amazed how quickly it will come back to you, take my top tip and avoid driving anything that’s run for profit and it becomes more of a hobby than a job.
smiler4612:
. . . I really do not have anything else I can do.
Then you have no choice.
Do a half-day Artic refresher course, buy a TomTom 5150
and register with someone like Pertemps.[/b]
.
.
mike68:
The job only becomes stressful when you allow it to, the job is so incredibly easy nowadays there really is nothing to worry about, modern trucks virtually drive themselves.You will be amazed how quickly it will come back to you, take my top tip and avoid driving anything that’s run for profit and it becomes more of a hobby than a job.
This is a good reply /^\ Try to avoid general haulage and find a job driving for a firm that makes and delivers it’s own product with it’s own fleet.
Although some of these do tend to have older tackle.
Armagedon:
Let’s see…you left the UK for a better life in Greece, leaving us lot to pay off the bank collapse, pay for wars with Tom,■■■■ and Harry all the while bailing out just about
every country in Europe including Greece and when Greece goes down the pan you trot back here,well here’s the good news since you left a great number of East Europeans
have arrived and they are your competition,some of them can actually drive, sort of.Britain has also become even more crowded making a driving job the pits so maybe
your best option is to take this opportunity and try a new career,stacking shelves in the supermarkets is regularly mentioned on here as paying more than lorry driving so that
would be a good start.But do stay cheerful Greece might just rise from the ashes once again and you’ll be able to move back there.
Who the hell are you to judge me!!,you know nothing about living in Greece or abroad,at least i had the balls to do something else for a while instead of moaning.You are a complete moron and there is always people like you that have to kick people when there down,hope you never have anything go wrong in your life.
smiler4612:
Armagedon:
Let’s see…you left the UK for a better life in Greece, leaving us lot to pay off the bank collapse, pay for wars with Tom,■■■■ and Harry all the while bailing out just about
every country in Europe including Greece and when Greece goes down the pan you trot back here,well here’s the good news since you left a great number of East Europeans
have arrived and they are your competition,some of them can actually drive, sort of.Britain has also become even more crowded making a driving job the pits so maybe
your best option is to take this opportunity and try a new career,stacking shelves in the supermarkets is regularly mentioned on here as paying more than lorry driving so that
would be a good start.But do stay cheerful Greece might just rise from the ashes once again and you’ll be able to move back there.Who the hell are you to judge me!!,you know nothing about living in Greece or abroad,at least i had the balls to do something else for a while instead of moaning.You are a complete moron and there is always people like you that have to kick people when there down,hope you never have anything go wrong in your life.
Ahhhh you see you failed the first test, you would never make it. Two weeks and you would be in an asylum, if we still had them 
Seriously, just go for it mate and good luck, I left driving in 1992 for IT and have just returned took my Class 1 and it is a doddle. Little girls can drive them these days in fact they are already starting to lower the age and let anyone do it! So you have an advantage