Thought calor gas was all done though manpower agency
Stan, you will find class 2 work is predominately hard graft. Usually food service providers, almost always multi-drop, and running round like a blue arsed fly. Class 1 work is significantly easier work, however it is usually long hours. It can be boring, and frustrating at times.
As a general rule, I would count on £9ish per hour class 2, and £10ish per hour class 1. If you are doing nights, weekends, or tramping, obviously more.
I am a similar age to you, and my focus was on finding a job that I was quite happy in, rather than chasing pound coins. I earn between £25-£30k. Its enough for my situation, and I personally enjoy chatting to other drivers at RDC’s, and driving a class 1 around is the easiest money I have ever earned. The ADR side of things is not something I am knowledgeable about, however I know that lots of drivers have it.
I spoke to a driver from Hoyer’s(shell) a few weeks ago, and it would appear that drivers on ’ old ’ contracts earn much more than drivers on newer contracts. It seems that megabucks ADR is becoming a thing of the past. I hope some of this post helps you.
I do intend going for class 1 as soon as I can afford it, it starts getting expensive what with medical £50, HP £12 , theory £26, Mod 2 £28 Mod 4 £300, LGV 2 Training and test £1349, Digi Card at £38, LGV 1 £1349 the ADR at ■■? who knows (Money making racket for someone I’m sure)
Think I’m going to see how my LGV 2 test goes then after that approach some local haulage firms about working in the school holidays etc to see how it goes, you never know someone may take me on and pay for my class 1 for me 
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Stan, I won’t add anything about the general discussion, as i think F-reds has covered all that.
But this ADR post may be of interest to you, and answer your questions regarding ADR…
Best of luck whatever you do! 
Thanks Evil8Beezle
I will have a read now
Stan - Do your test - Do some driving and see if you like it or not. No forum can tell you any more than that.
Many people thrive in this industry and many just can’t stand it due to the hours etc etc. Give it a go and see how you feel. If like many its not for you go back to IT and you’ve lost nothing but gained your licence.
I recently passed my test and I have been driving Class 2 for the last 7 weeks my hourly pay has ranged from £9.25 to £14.50, the higher rate achieved by working on a Saturday.
Thank you everyone for all the comments,
I have decided to reject the new job offer and stay at school and to give trucking a chance in the school holidays and as much as I can at weekends then hopefully by summer next year I will deffo know which direction I want to go (although I think I already know )
Good luck. I recently left a management poison in favour of class 1 trucking, best decision I ever made, far less stressed. Even though I work more hours now for similar or even slightly less I’m a lot happier.
Mines not even a proper management position really it’s just a title on the door LOL.
Ok my friend here is my honest answer.
I started 9 months ago I work as a ltd co invoicing for my work, ok you need PLI and a accountant but I work a 60 hour week and take home £640 class 2. Take away your accountant 100£ per month and PLI it’s about 32k a year cooperation tax is now 18% and dividends are tax free I think but you need to speak to a proper accountant I just point steering wheel 
. Now I am doing my class 1 just after Christmas my agancy who I get on with very well has garunteed me a job at the beginning of the next season march 2016 at £17 per hour NO EXPERIENCE 
shortage . I have worked in retail before this and trust me trucking is a diddle compared. I don’t do nights out because I don’t like it. You have to start somewhere and graft for cheap this is the shi? Part they will physically drag you though a bush kick you and spit you out into a pond, because your new. But you need to find small haulage firms who are desperate try agricultural like plants etc as the are seasonal and recruit at the beginning of the season. It’s not a bad job a bit lonely nights out were ok but the missus did not like it as I was not home with her and the kids and caused tension and she has double ds and for £20 a night out I would rather be oiling them up 
. also think about 13 hour day 11 hours in cab then working in it again I HAVE PUT ON WEIGHT. The killer part is the lonely bit you have to be alert all the time which after 13 hours is exhausting but I am getting used to this now get spotify and a iPhone with headphones I have a aux lead on my head unit so my speakers get fully exercised and my singing vocals .the thing is the more these drivers bang on about cpc oh how much bull it is, well actually it separates the men from the boys and when all these happy happy people leave the industry it just paves the way for the new professional driver who wants to earn good money easily in your area £50k a year with overtime.
Agency’s pay the best,but you get the dog work that the regular on the books boy don’t want but that’s where you max out your hours because your slow and don’t really know what your doing do you 
lol. firms will try to take you from agency to pay less as they want to make more money, go ltd freelance don’t do umbrella these ■■■■■■■■ make so much from rainy days you can claim back more as ltd.
From Heathrow to dartford is £15-17 per hour and TBH it’s only going to get better as more retire and leave. The thing that really ■■■■■■ me off is ee drivers cutting the wage down and more than complacent driver excepting £8.50’a hour. You need to be tough always make your employer feel that there is a brighter light on your horizon.
1 last thing when you get in the 18toner for the first time you will need to bring some kitty litter sand as there will be a mess. I’m not looking forward to the arctic. But now I jump in the 18toner and think what was I scared of it’s easier than driving a car.
I reversed into a archway the other day and not joking a inch either side at the top.
Good luck with you choice hope this helps.
1 last thing
NEVER WORK FOR P AND H defo pond life
Thank you for that Digit369
It’s always great to hear from people actually doing the job and there tales of joy and woe, I’m 46 at the moment and don’t care if you are 55 or 25 if the advice is sound then it’s always welcome (your never to old to learn).
The long hours don’t really concern me to be honest and if I have to do nights to get in the industry then I will, I have never shyed away from hard work and never will, I think I have decided what I am doing as long as the lessons and test go ok at the end of October then my decision is made.
As long as the bloody DVLA can sort my Module 2 out for me so I can book it as I cant do the 5 day attendance course 
(This is because of my current job nothing to do with the DVLA).
staningrimsby:
… …As long as the bloody DVLA can sort my Module 2 out for me so I can book it as I cant do the 5 day attendance course
You do not have to take a consecutive 5 day course in order to complete your periodic DCPC, all that is stipulated is that each module (lesson) must be 7 hours in duration, you can do a 1 x 7 hour lesson on Monday, another on Friday, another a couple of weeks later, another the following year, another the year after that, so long as you have completed 35 hours within a 5 year period. Once you have completed 35 hours they will automatically send you your ‘Digital Qualification Card’… … … once you have your DQC you then have 5 years in which to gather your next 35 hours of DCPC.
I did the initial DCPC block 5 day course to give me a DQC until 2020, I then completed other DCPC accredited courses, HIAB and ADR to gain another 35 hours which now gives me a DQC to 2025.
ADR and Tanks can be accredited for up to 28 hours DCPC.
A two day HIAB course can give you 14 hours DCPC.
Plus you can also get up to 14 hours DCPC accredited when you are learning to drive Cat C, another 14 hours when you are learning to drive Cat C+E.
I understand what your saying Micky but was under the impression (please correct me if I’m wrong) I thought that was only for existing card holders and as a newbie I would have to do the full 5 days or mod 2 and 4 ■■
staningrimsby:
I understand what your saying Micky but was under the impression (please correct me if I’m wrong) I thought that was only for existing card holders and as a newbie I would have to do the full 5 days or mod 2 and 4 ■■
If you passed your driving test before 1997 you just need to complete 35 hours of periodic DCPC within 5 years and it is up to you how you choose to do it. Many opt to do it as a block to get it over and done with but there are other ways you can do it such as taking the odd one day courses, taking courses that you can have DCPC accredited such as HIAB and ADR (as mentioned in my previous post). I would recommend taking the driving hours and tacho courses as these are ‘need to know’ courses for the new driver.
That sounds better then thanks Micky as I want to do ADR anyway
Sounds similar to me. I’m a bit younger, but worked in IT, and I too grew to hate it. Opportunity of voluntary redundancy came up and grabbed it, decided to do something I’d always fancied and put myself through my Cat C license. Got a job driving milk tankers which I’ve been doing for over a year now, shifts in that particularly industry aren’t the best - but I’ve stuck it out to get the experience. Leaving tomorrow though for pastures new.
Personally, I’m a lot happier now, I think I was just bored with sitting in offices staring at walls / computers and dealing with idiots. Driving has it’s own problems though, but at least the scenery changes. You’ll get to work with some decent people, but also some idiots. As for the hours, there are Mon-Fri jobs out there, but a lot of jobs will entail working unsociable hours and weekends - that’s the main reason i’m ditching the milk tanker work.
Regarding the money, £23k is (IMO) easily attainable, even on Class 2, but don’t expect that for 37 hours - you’ll be doing 45+. As someone has already noted, agencies are a good way of getting experience, but you need to be prepared to knock back work. As a newbie, they’ll try to put you on the bottom of the barrel crap that nobody wants, for buttons per hour. You can earn more working as a contractor, but if you’re not going to work FT, it’s probably more hassle than it’s worth. If you can find a small local haulier that needs someone to do a Saturday or a Sunday, you’ll be sorted ! Note that you’ll need to comply with EU hours regs, so wouldn need to be careful with the hours you work at weekends if you’re working FT in your other job.
As for the CPC. The rules were changed after the ‘deadline’ so that anyone (IIRC) can now take Mod 2 & 4, instead of doing the 35 hours periodic, for their first time. Personally, I’d do the Mod 2 & 4 - only a cabbage could/should fail it, and it’s probably cheaper than the periodic too.
HTH
staningrimsby:
That sounds better then thanks Micky as I want to do ADR anyway
PM sent with regards to ADR.