This is the way things panned out for me. I got made redundant from my old job, got a few grand, and decided to give it a go. In the meantime I got a job on 7.5s. Took my class 2 in June, and my class 1 in the October. TM where I worked had told me there was no need to do my class 2 as he already had loads of drivers, on top of the regular ones, but it was booked, and I wanted to. Pretty much as soon as I passed I was put on them here and there, eventually becoming the only full time class 2 driver. But the money was lousy, and the goalposts kept moving. Whereas class 2 had been pretty cushy doing all the bulk drops etc, it then ended up being a pain in the arse, if a 7.5 run went overweight, you’d end up doing that as a “favour” and then when you got into work in the morning, you’d find out they’d rammed the thing to the rafters, purely because they could. I regularly went out on 2 days runs with getting on for 40 drops on. Now had I not had my class 1 licence burning a hole in my arse pocket, when the local big firm decided they would start giving newbies a go, I’d still be stuck in that hell hole on not much more than minimum wage.
Very interesting to hear that - thanks.
Just to let you know I did the 14 hour course for class 2 and passed with two minors. Instructor breaks are taken out of the alloted lesson time so in reality each lesson is 3.25 and not 3.5 hours making a total of 13 hours’ tuition (even then the instructors are not receiving legal breaks). However, this appeared to have been enough and apparently their pass rate for Jan. until I started on 28th Jan was 92.5%.
Evil8Beezle:
Some will say go straight for Class 1, but personally I think working on Class 2 for a while helped me pass Class 1 first time.
It probable depends on how work shy you are, as a lot of Class 2 jobs are hard graft!
I’m with you on this one. You get a feel for the job better, if you don’t like it you haven’t spent another £1300 or so! Plus when you go for the Class 1 job you really want, you’ll have all this demonstrable knowledge. You’ll have seen artics in the yard and sat at traffic lights, and get an idea of what they are capable of (more than a rigid. 44t artic is easier to move about than an 18t rigid). You’ll know about loading already, and be able to eat a Yorkie like a proper driver (with the wrapper still on!)… 
But if you want to jump straight to Class 1, the world’s your shellfish.
Thanks for that insight. I’ve booked in for C1 straight away mainly as I see ads that want you to have had that licence for two years regardless if you’ve used it. I can see inertia setting in if I put it off. As to the experience vs bad habits argument, opinion seems fairly evenly divided. As an outsider who doesn’t know one way or the other I’ve decided to go shellfish on it 
wanderingstar:
Thanks for that insight. I’ve booked in for C1 straight away mainly as I see ads that want you to have had that licence for two years regardless if you’ve used it. I can see inertia setting in if I put it off. As to the experience vs bad habits argument, opinion seems fairly evenly divided. As an outsider who doesn’t know one way or the other I’ve decided to go shellfish on it
Good luck pal, and a C1 licence is 7.5t. So I think you mean Class 1
Haha thanks. I will write it in full from now on!!
wanderingstar:
On a separate little note I had a mock car driving test yesterday with an instructor and failed. I thought of myself as a good driver. It just goes to show how either my initial car driver training was inadequate or how I’ve forgotten elements of it. I’ve now realised I need to brush up basic driving principles as well as learning about a different vehicle. Going into LGV training without being tip top on observation and signalling, etc could eat into valuable LGV training time. A waste no matter what the hourly rate. The instructor said that most people who have been driving for years would fail a retest without refresher training.
I’m glad someone finally pointed this out. As an ADI who recently expanded into HGV training, this is the single most important thing I can advise - getting to grips with your own driving before beginning training.
For example, I have been telling a friend of mine that his driving is horrendous for at least the last 2 years. Had him out in the lorry for 2 hours, oh my god is an understatement. Late braking, no mirrors, went over the top of a roundabout when turning right. That was enough for me and had a discussion about how he feels he did and if he understands now, why I have been commenting on his driving. He practiced driving his car properly and 2 weeks later, was a much changed driver. Not just for himself but for the safety of others.
I had an additional one and a half hour car driving lesson since that message and before entering Class 2 training. I am convinced it helped me. The car driving lessons shocked me with how much I didn’t know. It was a wake up call and I had to take on board I was living in a deluded bubble about just how good I was at driving a car and how knowledgeable I was about safe driving and the rules of the road. I am now also booking in with the IAM in order to grow my general driving skills with my HGV driving skills. I did actually see Severn Trent Water mention IAM membership in one of their tanker driver ads. I guess it could help nudge me forwards when I am applying for HGV driving jobs as a still relative new comer, and probably down the road too.
First of all, I commend you for taking those steps. It’s people like you, those that actually want to learn and make that little extra effort, that make this job enjoyable. I’m sure Pete and all the other trainers will say the same.
IAM isn’t all it’s made out to be. Your driving naturally changes once you start driving HGV’s. I noticed this in myself.
FYI, waste companies are generally on the lookout for drivers because a lot of drivers can’t cope with clambering about and sheeting that has to be done. Waste companies are generally willing to give new drivers a go too.
Awesome advice thank you. Thanks for the encouragement also. There’s a massive waste transfer station at the end of my road with endless trucks that I have my eye on. I didn’t know what you said about them - that very useful to know.