Slackbladder:
The best, and only, good thing about the DCPC is that instead of finishing April next year I can finish in sept instead. Woohoo.
When I left the army I never missed it, just the crack with the lads, same with driving. It’s the people you work with that make, or break, the job.
Can I ask a question regarding the DCPC I no longer drive HGVs for a living on the road but I’ve got a restored lorry which is taxed and insured as a private HGV
If I don’t do my required DCPC by September will I still be allowed to drive my restored lorry and if I did ever go back to lorry driving would I have to retake my HGV test ?
No, to drive an HGV for private use does not require a “DCPC.” Second question, also NO, but you would then need to have “DCPC” if you wanted to drive an HGV for a living again. Regards Kevmac47.
gazsa401:
Can I ask a question regarding the DCPC I no longer drive HGVs for a living on the road but I’ve got a restored lorry which is taxed and insured as a private HGV
If I don’t do my required DCPC by September will I still be allowed to drive my restored lorry
Yes, DCPC only required if you drive professionally.
gazsa401:
and if I did ever go back to lorry driving would I have to retake my HGV test ?
Slackbladder:
The best, and only, good thing about the DCPC is that instead of finishing April next year I can finish in sept instead. Woohoo.
When I left the army I never missed it, just the crack with the lads, same with driving. It’s the people you work with that make, or break, the job.
Can I ask a question regarding the DCPC I no longer drive HGVs for a living on the road but I’ve got a restored lorry which is taxed and insured as a private HGV
If I don’t do my required DCPC by September will I still be allowed to drive my restored lorry and if I did ever go back to lorry driving would I have to retake my HGV test ?
No, to drive an HGV for private use does not require a “DCPC.” Second question, also NO, but you would then need to have “DCPC” if you wanted to drive an HGV for a living again. Regards Kevmac47.
There just isn’t enough money in it for the driver in many, many cases anymore to justify it. The only way it’s really worth while is if you’re on for a great firm with plenty of wedge who don’t mind sharing it around or you’re on the agency & bumming the gaffer.
Thanks for the good wishes guys, I did step away from driving a few years back for 6 months then returned but this is definitely the end of my truck driving days, got to the stage since Xmas that I just didn’t have the passion in it anymore and started to dread Sundays as I knew it was a five day 50/60 hour slog ahead, that’s when I knew enough was enough and didn’t want to start with the stress then I’ll health that I’d seen a lot of former drivers suffer from then the heart attacks.
I’m 57 in December and been driving since I was 21, I think that’s long enough, now to take it easy and know I’ll be home around 5.00 every night and don’t need to get up for work until 7.15 as my new job is 10 minutes from home!!
Miss the big rigs, probably, regrets No.
HA!! youngster I’m 57 in November, will be permanently hanging up the keys just as soon as I’ve got some other stuff sorted out, could be April but more likely later in the year unless I’m offered silly rates to continue (unlikely). Hope everything works out for you
Been doing this job for 40 yrs now, if I hadn’t got such an easy job I would have packed up too, I hope it works out for you and you can leave this rat race behind.
Governor!:
Thanks for the good wishes guys, I did step away from driving a few years back for 6 months then returned but this is definitely the end of my truck driving days, got to the stage since Xmas that I just didn’t have the passion in it anymore and started to dread Sundays as I knew it was a five day 50/60 hour slog ahead, that’s when I knew enough was enough and didn’t want to start with the stress then I’ll health that I’d seen a lot of former drivers suffer from then the heart attacks.
I’m 57 in December and been driving since I was 21, I think that’s long enough, now to take it easy and know I’ll be home around 5.00 every night and don’t need to get up for work until 7.15 as my new job is 10 minutes from home!!
Miss the big rigs, probably, regrets No.
Just how I feel too. I do mostly European fridge work for a very good company plus agency for DHL, Wincanton and other ■■■■■ like them but now at the age of 49 and driving since 21 I’ve decided it was time to quit and get a life. While the money is very good the job for me is no longer worth doing and not for the reasons often referred to here. When I sit in the drivers lounge on the boat, of which I get 8 a week, looking around at the drivers reminds me of a TV lounge in an old peoples home. Most look older than they probably are, they look burnt out and tired, their sunken eyes tired from the long unsociable hours and despite the big talk, I think most would rather be at home. I can feel my health going down hill and I know its from sitting on my bum for hours at a time and the stress of constantly racing the clock, of trying to make the boat. The last run was to have been my last but have decided to continue for a few weeks longer.
After that I’M OUT
Reading through this thread it’s a sad reflection that a lot of the more experienced and older “real drivers” have such a low opinion of the job, and are in favour of jacking it altogether. I’d hate to think that some of the ■■■■ whits amongst us that we see driving trucks today will be soon be in the majority
Governor!:
Well after 37 years driving class One, I’ve finally decided to call it a day, so Monday will be my last week on the roads, no more 3.30/4.00am starts, no motorway jams, no suicide car drivers, no Vosa, no ignorant traffic office staff = No stress.
Taking up a nice little 8.00 - 4.30 job as storeman/ Driver for engineering firm, 5 weeks holiday & overtime if you want it, no prob if you don’t! And the money although less than my current job, which is paid on a guarantee 50 hr week still works out at just under £9 p/hr which isn’t bad for a 40 hr week.
Will I miss trucking, maybe the friends I’ve made at the various depots & the driver banter, but not everything else about the job, I’ll keep the dcpc up to date incase I want the odd sat/ sun but that’s all.
Will stay on the forum as it gives me a good laugh every day reading the posts and to all my fellow truckers out there, stay safe & don’t let the Bar stewards grind you down!!
I’ve only been doing two days a week since June. A deliberate decision that fits in with other interests I have. I can’t say that I enjoy driving lorries anymore, and I detest the industry and what it has become, but it gives me a good wage to concentrate on what I enjoy doing without the pressure of having to make a living at that.
Stanley Knife:
I’ve only been doing two days a week since June. A deliberate decision that fits in with other interests I have. I can’t say that I enjoy driving lorries anymore, and I detest the industry[/u] and what it has become, but it gives me a good wage to concentrate on what I enjoy doing without the pressure of having to make a living at that.
Stan
Well Im working out the figures, what with the wifes wage(nmw-nowt startling),a bit works pension payout,per month,im gonna see how it go’s on 3 days a week,on agencys,so I dont have have to put up with the cheapskate ,penny pinching,shaft you over ways that transport has evolved into
Good luck with the new job fella. It’s a shame that the way the driving industry is going we’re losing the older generation and with them their skills and experience
May as well give all the work to Hungarian firm Waberers.
They are buying 1000 more trucks to their fleet of 6000.
Let them have the worry of it.
I will find a job delivering car parts in a van.
I’m 57 in November, will be permanently hanging up the keys just as soon as I’ve got some other stuff sorted out, could be April but more likely later in the year unless I’m offered silly rates to continue (unlikely). Hope everything works out for you 
