Hi, I’m 22 years old and I’m ex army and now I have a full time job with a supermarket, been there about 4 months. I have my ADR as well but getting experience on the road (was in the army for year and a bit got my licences and left, so no experience) but I really do love driving and I hear a lot of the guys moaning and I’m doing the same thing? I guess they don’t know a bad job lol. Don’t get me wrong the reversing is super tight sometimes but that’s all good experience in my eyes. I know most jobs want minimum 2 years so I’m lucky to be in this job and at such a young age but I think I’d like the idea of petrol tankers? Or even, if there is such a job nuclear waste? Not really about the money just the fact of the dangers, it would keep me on my toes and it’s interesting. What else can I work towards?? What’s job that everyone would love to be doing? Could I even take myself to America?? Any help is much appreciated. As the saying is, if you don’t ask you don’t get.
Still young enough to look abroad if you wish not only America but others a look in the ex pats forum might help
Working in America you need a Green card visa.
Many UK drivers work for Canadian trucking firms that travel to and from the USA.
Petrol tanker work in the UK is dead mans shoes,as it is highly paid and they never leave.
Did the army sort you out with your driver cpc?
You are young enough to go to college and get a ‘proper’ trade. Driving seems glamorous, but the reality of being stuck in your tenth long term traffic hold up that week, wondering if you are ever going to get home soon puts the kybosh on any dreamy thoughts folks have about driving.
I would look at electrical or fitting work, as you’d be on 35K plus and be home every night.
LIBERTY_GUY:
You are young enough to go to college and get a ‘proper’ trade. Driving seems glamorous, but the reality of being stuck in your tenth long term traffic hold up that week, wondering if you are ever going to get home soon puts the kybosh on any dreamy thoughts folks have about driving.I would look at electrical or fitting work, as you’d be on 35K plus and be home every night.
+1
LIBERTY_GUY:
You are young enough to go to college and get a ‘proper’ trade. Driving seems glamorous, but the reality of being stuck in your tenth long term traffic hold up that week, wondering if you are ever going to get home soon puts the kybosh on any dreamy thoughts folks have about driving.I would look at electrical or fitting work, as you’d be on 35K plus and be home every night.
“learn a trade now and you could be earning ■■■”
building services are my companies bread and butter and i know for a fact even the subbies don’t earn that. one of the most over saturated markets going is the building trade, my boss gets calls daily off people scratching round for work.
not to say it can’t be done but don’t expect to be on anything like that, especially if you’re an employee, closer to 25k than 35k. i know theres a company in london that pay their plumbers upwards of 60k but can’t remember the name. They did a documentary on them where everyones pay was disclosed some were on 80k!!
I was thinking more of industrial rather than building site work, as site work is too sporadic and you still end up spending hours on the road commuting to different areas. I currently contract to a multi national and earn just under 35K, but some of the regular guys earn well over 40K and that is reflected in the expensive motors on the car park they drive around in… 
The WTD ruined the chance to earn good money driving trucks anymore.
LIBERTY_GUY:
The WTD ruined the chance to earn good money driving trucks anymore.
I do not see how as a driver can still do in excess of 70+ hours a week and be legal but that’s probably a longer discussion for a new thread …
toby1234abc:
Working in America you need a Green card visa.
Many UK drivers work for Canadian trucking firms that travel to and from the USA.
Petrol tanker work in the UK is dead mans shoes,as it is highly paid and they never leave.
Petrol tankers is no longer dead mans boots they are always advertising for drivers at both isle of grain and the one in Essex
maga:
LIBERTY_GUY:
You are young enough to go to college and get a ‘proper’ trade. Driving seems glamorous, but the reality of being stuck in your tenth long term traffic hold up that week, wondering if you are ever going to get home soon puts the kybosh on any dreamy thoughts folks have about driving.I would look at electrical or fitting work, as you’d be on 35K plus and be home every night.
building services are my companies bread and butter and i know for a fact even the subbies don’t earn that. one of the most over saturated markets going is the building trade, my boss gets calls daily off people scratching round for work.
not to say it can’t be done but don’t expect to be on anything like that, especially if you’re an employee, closer to 25k than 35k. i know theres a company in london that pay their plumbers upwards of 60k but can’t remember the name. They did a documentary on them where everyones pay was disclosed some were on 80k!!
I remember that it was plumco plummers.
toby1234abc:
Working in America you need a Green card visa.
Many UK drivers work for Canadian trucking firms that travel to and from the USA.
Petrol tanker work in the UK is dead mans shoes,as it is highly paid and they never leave.
I packed up working for fina in 1998 after them constantly attacking our terms and conditions and could walk into a far far inferior job tomorrow if i wished on tankers.the golden days are long long gone
Petrol tanker work can get boring after time, same loads to the same places. im doing it around 7 years got a lucky start when i was 25 staying at it now because money is prob the best i will get and am home every night.
most lads i work with are 50 plus and doing tanker work 30 plus years. Best chance to get a start is look to get in with some of the smaller lads as when the main lads hire they look to take drivers from the smaller places as they have the experience they want.
Realistically what is the take home for tanker work per month?
How about a driver in the RAF.Get to see the world.
As a MT trade,training for FLT and ADR and cargo handling which is good for a job on civvy street.
Or a movements trade to load cargo/passengers on all types of aircraft around the world.
Go in as a reservist,get paid for training at weekends.
If called up or mobilized,your civvy employer by law must keep your job if away for 6 to 9 months.
4624 Squadron at Raf Brize Norton are recruiting now for aircraftmen and women.
While training you get to go river rafting in the South of France.Ardeche valley gorge.
Skiing in Winter and hiking in Californua.You pay nothing for that.One lad on my course got his yacht skippers licence paid for.
Hi, thanks for the help guys, I didn’t do the cpc in the army no but the company I work for do it in house and on one rest day each week till it’s done and I get paid for the hours that I’m there doing, I’m on 5 on and 3 off. Work nights and start at 10.30, I know I’m young enough to do what I want and I have tried a few jobs and I really do love driving, I don’t get stressed and when I do get pressured I see it as a challenge, improving my driving. I do hear about adverts for fuel tankers in Essex and I live in Chelmsford Essex. I was just wondering what/how long it would take me to get to tanker/specialist jobs? I’m already guessing it’s a case on who you know not what you know, that’s how Iv already got this break with enthusiasm. And what’s to stop me becoming transport management? Or even one day owning my own fleet of trucks? In reality I’d just like to be able to save up a mortgage and a nice car and for a 22 I don’t seem to be doing to bad.
You will need your ADR of course to do most tanker jobs if you ask Diesel Dave he will be able to help you on that as he is the Oracle
JamesO’Connor1991:
I didn’t do the cpc in the army no but the company I work for do it in house and on one rest day each week till it’s done
Just out of interest, when did you pass Cat C / C1? Was it before Sep 2009? At 22 you won’t have passed prior to 1997, so won’t have grandfather rights. Someone more knowledgeable will be along… but, shouldn’t you be doing initial CPC, rather than periodic ?
Chris1207:
JamesO’Connor1991:
I didn’t do the cpc in the army no but the company I work for do it in house and on one rest day each week till it’s doneJust out of interest, when did you pass Cat C / C1? Was it before Sep 2009? At 22 you won’t have passed prior to 1997, so won’t have grandfather rights. Someone more knowledgeable will be along… but, shouldn’t you be doing initial CPC, rather than periodic ?
I passed my test 10.12.08. But i did do my ADR in the army, but It needs renewal as it is now past the 5 year mark.