Hello everybody.
I am new to this forum.
I am 20 years old and work at Morrisons retail as a sales assistant. I would really like to become a Tank driver. I have lots of questions to ask.
How can I get started.
Cost of training, included length.
Will I be employable as such a young age.
hourly rates for new and experience drivers.
Hours pw. etc…
Thank you
BUMP 
100106822:
Hello everybody.I am new to this forum.
I am 20 years old and work at Morrisons retail as a sales assistant. I would really like to become a Tank driver. I have lots of questions to ask.
How can I get started.
Cost of training, included length.
Will I be employable as such a young age.
hourly rates for new and experience drivers.
Hours pw. etc…Thank you
Hey, welcome aboard.
Just to clarify, you do mean ‘tankers’ and not tanks?
For tankers you will do well to start here…viewtopic.php?f=5&t=44667 ROG has fabulous info for you.
Personally I’ve always wanted to drive tanks, just never wanted to join the forces. 
TheMissus:
Just to clarify, you do mean ‘tankers’ and not tanks?
I think so, because of this from another forum…
100106822:
Hi everybody,I am very interested in becoming a tanker driver. I am currently working at a retail Morrison, as a shop floor assistant age 20. I currently hold a full driving licence, however I haven’t been driving since I passed my driving test which was 18 months ago now.
Because I am working at Morrisons I think there could be some sort of advantage as a can move into logistics. However, I am unsure on how to get started where to training etc… I live in Manchester.
Also what is the minimum age to get a job? can I go straight into it ones I have been fully trained or do I have to start of driving small vans? Also what is the minimum pay hourly and for those who work very hard can they earn up to 45 - 55K
Many thanks
dieseldave:
I think so, because of this from another forum…
There are other forums!?
If you can’t help the bloke Dave no one can
Hi
The cost of the training obviously varies. For us, the TOTAL from car to CE (Class One) is £3200. This includes EVERYTHING from medical to driver cpc. If you look around you’ll get loads of cheaper prices - ask why.
Just at the moment you can save a handsome lump off that if you pm me with your name and address and ask for a discount voucher.
TBH you’re not likely to get work on ADR driving CE as a 20 year old new driver. But you will get work, maybe on C, probably on skips or tippers to get a start. You may just scrape a start on CE but this is more likely once you’ve done a bit of time on C.
Money. This varies so much it’s unreal! Most driving jobs will pay well enough if you’re prepared to put the hours in and, possibly, do nights out. This applies more on CE - nights out on C are not so common. Hourly rates for C you can expect £7 rising to £8.50. CE you should get £8 rising to £11. This is very vague and has to be as it varies between types of work, hours of work and class of vehicle. But a living wage can be had normally for around 50 hours. Few people have got rich driving trucks!
It is not unusual to get an enhanced rate (often time and a half) after, say, 40 hours. But there are dozens of variations and pay is anything but standard within the industry.
If you have the time/money, my advice would be to go for it. You have nothing to loose in the long term as you will, eventually, get work. But if you have committments (hp on the car and expensive girl friend) I would never suggest going into debt for it unless you have a very firm job offer.
All the best with whatever you decide.
Pete 
Thank you
TheMissus:
dieseldave:
I think so, because of this from another forum…
Plenty go to the Index page or at top of page Board Index click there you go
1 step at a time as Peter has already started then no need for me to tell you
Then the hard part is finding a job as not all companies like to take on new young drivers although there are some that do
Tankers not the easiest as it is know as "dead man shoes ’
It depends on where you live & if they require tanker drivers in your area
The 1st thing is to start gaining your licence
The rate for my area is approx. £7.00 per hr ( yep there are some slight variations in that )
TheMissus:
Oh yes, there are quite a few to choose from.
I see that you’ve found one of the other forums already. 
100106822:
I am very interested in becoming a tanker driver. I am currently working at a retail Morrison, as a shop floor assistant age 20. I currently hold a full driving licence, however I haven’t been driving since I passed my driving test which was 18 months ago now.
Given your age and lack of driving experience, I’d say that I think you’ll really struggle to get a tanker driving job.
A tanker is a bit more complicated than an ordinary truck due to the extra equipment, such as a compressor or a pump. Also, the load tends to slosh about in a tanker, which calls for a different style of driving.
Now add to the above… if you want to carry dangerous goods in said tanker, you’d need to get yourself an (extra) ADR licence, for which you’d need to add around £550 to your training budget. My honest advice is that you might be trying to run before you can walk, so I’d probably wait for a couple of years and gain some experience of driving before spending such a sum of money.
100106822:
Also what is the minimum age to get a job? can I go straight into it ones I have been fully trained or do I have to start of driving small vans? Also what is the minimum pay hourly and for those who work very hard can they earn up to 45 - 55K
You shouldn’t have any legal difficulties due to your age, but some insurers don’t like those of less than 25yrs old.
As for the pay, I think you’d be doing really well if you could achieve half of what you’ve mentioned per year in your first couple of years as a professional commercial vehicle driver.
I don’t want to rain on your parade, but I hope I might have caused you to have a long hard think about a potentially expensive mistake leading to much disappointment. It’s not all doom and gloom though, because you can achieve your aim but just a little differently to the way in which you first thought.
If you’ve an CE licence I can get you work on milk tankers now. It’s good experience if nothing else.
Tipper Tom:
If you’ve an CE licence I can get you work on milk tankers now. It’s good experience if nothing else.
Hi TT,
That’s very true mate, and it’s a good first step if tankering is the aim.
I fear that it’s somewhat stacked against the OP just at this point in his/her career, because…
100106822:
I am currently working at a retail Morrison, as a shop floor assistant age 20. I currently hold a full driving licence, however I haven’t been driving since I passed my driving test which was 18 months ago now.
However, every cloud and all that…
100106822:
Because I am working at Morrisons I think there could be some sort of advantage as a can move into logistics.
IMHO, a move into their logistics would result in a structured and guided/mentored approach, which I think would be an advantage.
I do see what you’re saying chap but any move into morrisons distribution is tying the bloke up for 2-3 years before I he’s allowed to leave. I misread his post as he had CE already
Tipper Tom:
… any move into morrisons distribution is tying the bloke up for 2-3 years before I he’s allowed to leave. …
Ahh TT,
I didn’t know that bit. 
At age 20 though, 2-3 years would probably be a good solid footing for the future.
I think with most firms that are willing to pay for your LGV training they want a minimum engagement of 2-3 years.
The other issue is, do Morrisons provide their own haulage or is it subbed to the likes of Stobarta.
Also does working for Morrisons put you at an advantage or a disadvantage in terms of moving into a new area of the business.
My understanding is that most of the large supermarkets sub out warehousing and distribution to separate companies like Stobarts, K&N, Bibby etc and whilst Stobarts still consider themselves above everyone else getting into their academy wouldn’t be the easiest thing.
I do wish the OP all the luck in the world and if he has a CE milk or non ADR tanks would be a good place to start and earn whilst training
Peter Smythe:
HiThe cost of the training obviously varies. For us, the TOTAL from car to CE (Class One) is £3200. This includes EVERYTHING from medical to driver cpc. If you look around you’ll get loads of cheaper prices - ask why.
Just at the moment you can save a handsome lump off that if you pm me with your name and address and ask for a discount voucher.
TBH you’re not likely to get work on ADR driving CE as a 20 year old new driver. But you will get work, maybe on C, probably on skips or tippers to get a start. You may just scrape a start on CE but this is more likely once you’ve done a bit of time on C.
Money. This varies so much it’s unreal! Most driving jobs will pay well enough if you’re prepared to put the hours in and, possibly, do nights out. This applies more on CE - nights out on C are not so common. Hourly rates for C you can expect £7 rising to £8.50. CE you should get £8 rising to £11. This is very vague and has to be as it varies between types of work, hours of work and class of vehicle. But a living wage can be had normally for around 50 hours. Few people have got rich driving trucks!
It is not unusual to get an enhanced rate (often time and a half) after, say, 40 hours. But there are dozens of variations and pay is anything but standard within the industry.
If you have the time/money, my advice would be to go for it. You have nothing to loose in the long term as you will, eventually, get work. But if you have committments (hp on the car and expensive girl friend) I would never suggest going into debt for it unless you have a very firm job offer.
All the best with whatever you decide.
Pete
do you not have to be 21 again now to do c+e
From 10/10/2009 the age for all LGV is 18