Hi there,
I’m at the moment working in Norway as a hiab lorry (hook) driver. Gonna move down to South-Wales area next fall. I have few questions; which is the best agency to ask that kinda job and also is this good payed at all? I heard that in england is not so common to have this remote control on the hiabs…is that true? Plus all the other info is very welcome! 
here is few pics from this days jobs:
Element lifting in winter conditions
Scania 114g 380 with Fassi F240
Steel bars
30 foots boat
Thanks !
. 
Welcome jööns .
jööns:
which is the best agency to ask that kinda job
Any of them - depends what kind of work they have on their books at any one time
jööns:
is this good payed at all?
Depends on the agency or the employer - no set rates
jööns:
I heard that in england is not so common to have this remote control on the hiabs…is that true?
Over recent years, i`ve seen the remote being used quite alot. I was in the building trade for a while and from 2006-7 onwards, they became more used.
My m8 drives a MAN T18.0 flatbed, for a building supplies company and theyve just bought a new fleet with most running remote HIAB. 
BTW, i sure does look cold in your pics, South wales aint much warmer…Wot are you thinking?!
Thanks for replies. Looks like its going to be interesting time ahead by finding a good company
Norway is nice and warm place this time of year. Winter is a bit cold and challenging time for us truck drivers 
And for those u know something about the companies etc; all the info is very welcomed!
Remote control is fairly common on Hiab’s here but there are still a lot with hydraulic levers, I’m sure that any employer will be more interested in the loads you have lifted than than the equipment you have used.
The lower paid Hiab jobs will typically be for a builders or timber merchant doing local work and simple lifts of building materials, once you start moving containers and cabins and unusual loads then the money tends to increase too although this could involve longer distance work and nights out etc.
In my experience the companies doing the more specialised work are less likely to use an agency to supply drivers and often have a regular stand in driver employed on a casual basis or will recruit directly or through word of mouth. I’d advise getting started with some agencies and taking what comes along but visiting plant hire and specialist transport companies in person armed with a selection of pictures about the work you have been doing. A good driver is worth having and having one appear on your doorstep is a rare thing.
Back to the original.
Now living here in wales and haven’t got ANY job yet. Really bad time of year or something, been looking since september. Im signed into 5 different agency and rang trough all 104 haulage company’s in Wales… (also visited in few of them to show that Im seriously looking for work)
The bad thing is that my license for HIAB, forklift and other machines isn’t valid here, which cuts me off from HIAB jobs, yeah I can take saturday morning course for that but still I need an employer to make worth it.
Thinking if my nationality makes employer unsure about me or is it just that there is no work?
So if anyone knows anything to help me in my situation, write up here!
Hiyyaaa joons, sounds like you might need to try further afield. Since the financial market crashed there have been loads of redundancies & busnesses folding in different areas & many people have had to diversify. It’s a case of keep looking & you have experience ( which is a posative start) , even if you have to retake your hiab etc over hear to be cmpliant with the law. Good luck & welcome
I’d think your best bet would be to make some cards up with your name, number and experience on and visit potential employers in person. Speak to whoever is in charge of their transport and take in a few pictures of the work you have done and loads you have carried. It should show that you have relevant experience, and may open the door. There is no legal requirement to hold a certifcate or card to operate plant or machinery only that you must be safe and competent (or similar) However some companies will insist on some qualification or other, you may find a plant hire firm that will hire you and put you through the relevant courses.
My boss would never use an agency or advertise but if the right person walked through the door at the right time, what I’ve described above is exactly how I started with them 4 years ago.
Good luck
Thanks for replies all you guys! Went around quiet many companies but nothing… Anyway, problem solved so far and ticket back to home country. Only one e-mail (CV) and got job, exact the same what I’ve used to send to companies here too. Its really quiet all over here in Wales, for example one company said they fired 5 people and had to sell their lorry too, tells a bit what the situation is…!
Good luck to all of you who are still looking! I’ll report more when i get back behind the steering wheel
