Is artic driving a viable career option?

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
21

Thanks again Peter.

Lee: I’m glad it worked out for you, long hours and hard work don’t deter me at all. After your van jobs, did you do C+E back to back then start as an artic driver or do class 2 driving first?

Rob: I’m still young enough to be considered a kid, I’ll take that as a compliment! I accept that it’s not easy at all (easy is dull anyway), the higher paid drivers are doing pretty insane hours, that there aren’t set start and finish times and it’s not an industry to go into for the money. Luckily money isn’t my motivation for looking into this… I do really enjoy any kind of driving, artic driving has always been in my mind as an option and the red tape/structure makes sense to me, as I said before odd hours and days aren’t really a problem.

Whether it’s something I could stick with… well, you don’t know until you start but I’ll make as much of an informed decision as I can.

22

Thats based on a 5 day week,if i worked 6 days every other week like im supposed to (but not actually done yet!!) then theres almost your 2 grand a year.
And yes im doing between 60 and 70 hours per week. But like i said it doesnt bother me because this is the most money ive ever earned since leaving school and going on the fact i have roughly 5 weeks artic experience to approach companies with im not going to complain. Im happy to be in job that can offer me that many hours and as long as they are offered i will work them.
I accept its crap, to make that money you have to do the hours, but the point i was trying to make was it suits me. Im just gaining experience and think myself pretty lucky to be given the oppurtunity.
Im not trying to argue and one thing i certainly DO NOT do is bull[zb]. Im giving my personal experience and telling it how it is for me, Its not for everyone and the more experienced drivers can, im sure, recognise its not a very good wage for the hours involved etc etc, but im not an experienced driver so i have to do it.
Didnt mean to offend by the way lee27

Seems fair to me. And when you’ve got more experience you can be more fussy. But, in the meantime, I think you’re absolutely correct to get on and enjoy your new career. In time you may get worn down but don’t hasten the day. It’s great to hear that you’ve got regular work on fair money and that you’re enjoying it.

BTW, a mate of mine on Wilkinsons earns £30k with virtually no overtime and absolutely no nights out. The hours are strange. Basically he can be asked to start at any time of day or night but he only works 4 shifts a week and the longest is 10 hours. Granted, he’s got 30+ years experience and, to a point, he can call the shots. But it does show that it’s not all bad. (The downside to the job is that the only guaranteed day off is Christmas day and they even have shifts that start in the early hours of Boxing Day. Bank holidays don’t exist and your annual leave is when they tell you)

That job suits some - it would send others (including me) round the twist. But it just shows the variety that’s out there.

Good luck all. Pete :laughing: :laughing:

23

Rob K:
you’ll turn into a whinging whining [zb] after a few years just like the rest of us. :laughing:

:laughing: :laughing:

Ask my missus, she will tell you im already one :sunglasses:

24

TiJayLFS:
Lee: I’m glad it worked out for you, long hours and hard work don’t deter me at all. After your van jobs, did you do C+E back to back then start as an artic driver or do class 2 driving first?

I got my class 2 whilst driving the vans, then i gave up my job and went driving class 2 for agencies, although it was only about 4 years ago there was more agency work then there is now so maybe not the best example. But i did my class 1 pretty soon after but i never actually used it up until a month or 2 ago when i started this job. In honesty i got the class 1 done almost straight away whilst i had the money and always planned on getting plenty of class 2 done before tackling an artic job.
As said the job doesnt suite everyone, but i think the reason why im enjoying it, apart from it all been new to me, is that i have a genuine interest in the transport industry,distribution etc, (call me a saddo if you want!!) :laughing: :laughing:

25

TiJayLFS:
Thanks again Peter.

Lee: I’m glad it worked out for you, long hours and hard work don’t deter me at all. After your van jobs, did you do C+E back to back then start as an artic driver or do class 2 driving first?

Rob: I’m still young enough to be considered a kid, I’ll take that as a compliment! I accept that it’s not easy at all (easy is dull anyway), the higher paid drivers are doing pretty insane hours, that there aren’t set start and finish times and it’s not an industry to go into for the money. Luckily money isn’t my motivation for looking into this… I do really enjoy any kind of driving, artic driving has always been in my mind as an option and the red tape/structure makes sense to me, as I said before odd hours and days aren’t really a problem.

Whether it’s something I could stick with… well, you don’t know until you start but I’ll make as much of an informed decision as I can.

Fair enough but don’t underestimate how hard it is to get a start. Pete touched on it but as always dums it down because he’s obviously got VI. Some people fall lucky and happen to be in the right place at the right time and get a start straight after passing, but the majority of folks go months (and years in some cases) without being able to get a start anywhere so be aware of this, especially as the economy is still very unstable and there are still haulage companies going pop on a far too frequent basis = a lot of already experienced drivers in the job queue. :bulb:

26

Wow what a great read. Interesting how contrastingly different peoples views can be.

Not that it’s worth a toss but my six pence worth is, I’m a trained/qualified/time served mechanic. I was bloody good at it and earned a great reputation at it. I also served 5 yrs in a vehicle bodyshop and again found I had a natural talent for painting. Now as I’m sure you will all know that sort of work can pay very well and be 8-5, 5 days a week. And as much cash as you want to earn in P.J,s!!! BUT it was my hobby as I am a real petrol head. And turning any hobby into a full time job was a mistake!!!

I was given the chance to do my class 2 by a previous employer so o course I snapped it up. And I love it there is something about being out and about that is incredible. I agree however that the fact drivers have to do 70 hrs+ is beyond wrong (another whole thread there haha)

But fair play to ya mate if you wanna do it GO FOR IT worse case you atop doing it and do something else. You will always have your licence and able to fall back on it. Keep us posted buddy hey. :slight_smile:

Bazza.

27

I’ll be sure to keep you informed whatever I choose. It’s still a serious option, need to talk to that friend-of-a-friend to find out more about RoadTrain as he trained with them, and what my immediate job prospects would be locally before making a decision.

Thanks for your advice and input so far, it’s really appreciated.

28

and what my immediate job prospects would be locally before making a decision.

And, sadly, that will probably be the end of what could have been a promising career! But bear in mind that being told you could get a job at the moment is not the same as a job offer in 8 or 9 weeks when you’ve passed your CE.

And, of course, it works the other way around as well. Being told “no chance” now doesn’t mean that will be the case in 8 or 9 weeks.

So I would advise against that line as it could be seriously misleading either way.

Pete touched on it but as always dums it down

Not aware that I dum anything down but I’ll watch out for that!

Good luck all, Pete :laughing: :laughing:

29

Peter: You’re absolutely right. Immediate was the wrong word there, replace it with “in a reasonable time frame”. :slight_smile:

30

In that case, welcome to the start of your new career!! Pete :laughing: :laughing:

31

My last word, if you do have a rich auntie and due a birthday present, go for your test, go visit some schools and pick a good one. Driver training costs will not come down, and your licence is valid until the end providing you can pass the medicals :wink:

32

Why are you asking people you’ve never met before whether its worth doing the job? Just remember when reading all of these comments about how ■■■■ the job is and dont bother etc, that no matter what job you do it will after years and years of doing it, get boring.

Personally i’d say go for it, if you dont you mite live the rest of your life wishing you’d tried it. I for one could not sit at the same computer everyday looking out of the same window watching the world go by.

33

TiJayLFS:
I’ll be sure to keep you informed whatever I choose. It’s still a serious option, need to talk to that friend-of-a-friend to find out more about RoadTrain as he trained with them, and what my immediate job prospects would be locally before making a decision.

Thanks for your advice and input so far, it’s really appreciated.

Roadtrain are pretty good from what i hear. I done rigid with ace driver training and going back to do artic in 6 weeks, i was very happy, they got both of us through in 3days. The one thing i will say about ace is that their lorries do look abit rough but dont let that put you off. Their rigid is the nuts, 380bhp 4 wheeler it really is a ■■■■■■■ animal lol.

34

Got my CE in January and two weeks later a job on nights trunking. It helped my uncle is night manager but I got the job. For me it’s much better than shop work.

Go for it and if you get a job where they leave you alone to get on with it then you’ll love it.

35

Thanks all. I have some funds I could use for driver training (not my entire savings or anything like that), like you say costs won’t come down and I certainly don’t want to sit at a desk for the next 40 years wishing I was driving a truck. :laughing:

36

Just a quick bump… I’ve just been offered a better-paid design job elsewhere so I’ll see how that goes before considering HGV driving as a career. I’m still thinking about going for the licence soon though :slight_smile:

Once again, thanks for your advice everybody. It’s much appreciated.

37

Not sure whereabouts you’re based but I passed my Class 2 a couple of weeks ago and I trained with Gordon Springate who are based at Detling Showground between Maidstone & Sittingbourne on the A249.

I did test drives with Roadtrain, Gordon Springate & Kent Metro and personally liked Springates the best. I found Kent Metro nice until I said I didn’t want 5 days course all 1 to 1 (32hrs training) as I knew I’d be totally knackered. Also when I was doing my course I’d regularly see Kent Metro lorries parked up so I doubt they got the 32hrs they paid for. 2 to 1 worked well for me. You get a break by swapping over every 1.5hr ish and do still learn whilst the other person’s driving.
Springates have also got a full size replica pad for practising the reversing exercise which is handy for a few goes at the end of the day.

Roadtrain seemed ok too but I decided against the daily trip through the Dartford Tunnel in favour of a Kent school in the end.

If you’ve not yet done your medical I can recommend Dr Desai @ Swanscombe Health Centre (near Dartford). £30 cash back in Mar '11. Cheapest I found anywhere.

If you can’t decide whether it’s for you then get the licence and do adhoc agency work to see before you quit what you’re doing now - that’s my plan. End of the day it’s still a handy addition to your licence.

Good luck.

38

So negative here its unreal.

I think mate you have to take these drivers with a pinch of salt, as I am in the EXACT same position as you. One constant thing I have seen is the older more experienced drivers that have been in the industry for years is that they all slate it, moaning about hours, pay, conditions etc and saying its not worth it.

Don’t let them put you off Is what I say, my mate is 21-22? bringing home £500-600 a quid a week working for his dad, ok yeah he does have to do a few naughty things to get that, but he does nights out etc, not all week but the odd one. Amazes me people saying them wages are pure “Bullsh!t” for a young lad etc. But there are jobs out there, just cos you got 30+ years experience and still on 20-25k a year, so what? No need to get the hump, the oldies just dont like to think a young whipper snapper can drop on a job that pays loads more than them, because they dont like it.

He absolutely loves it, and theres another lad I know who hmmmmm enjoys it but he aint jumping for joy for it.

I personally think, have a crack at it see what YOU think and see if YOU like it, It’s ok asking people what its like, but they differ to you, and have different opinions.

Also the thing is about asking the oldies what its like, and they said back in the day it was a “MINT” job that paid well, and now they say its pants and it aint how it used to be…well the new lads coming into it dont know what it was like…so we cant compare to how it used to be.

You make your bed, you sleep in it.

Could the best decision you make, might be the worst, who knows? Only you can decide mate

39

Actually as far as wages go I know of a company that pays £415 for a 55 hour week, another that pays £330 per week.

But then I used to work for a tv company where if I progressed to driver I could earn £12000 a year doing 39 hours per week.

As a Lgv driver you’ll do hours but the hours add up. I don’t know how graphic design pays I’m only going by my own experiences.

40

DrewHughes:
So negative here its unreal.

I think mate you have to take these drivers with a pinch of salt, as I am in the EXACT same position as you. One constant thing I have seen is the older more experienced drivers that have been in the industry for years is that they all slate it, moaning about hours, pay, conditions etc and saying its not worth it.

Don’t let them put you off Is what I say, my mate is 21-22? bringing home £500-600 a quid a week working for his dad, ok yeah he does have to do a few naughty things to get that, but he does nights out etc, not all week but the odd one. Amazes me people saying them wages are pure “Bullsh!t” for a young lad etc. But there are jobs out there, just cos you got 30+ years experience and still on 20-25k a year, so what? No need to get the hump, the oldies just dont like to think a young whipper snapper can drop on a job that pays loads more than them, because they dont like it.

He absolutely loves it, and theres another lad I know who hmmmmm enjoys it but he aint jumping for joy for it.

I personally think, have a crack at it see what YOU think and see if YOU like it, It’s ok asking people what its like, but they differ to you, and have different opinions.

Also the thing is about asking the oldies what its like, and they said back in the day it was a “MINT” job that paid well, and now they say its pants and it aint how it used to be…well the new lads coming into it dont know what it was like…so we cant compare to how it used to be.

You make your bed, you sleep in it.

Could the best decision you make, might be the worst, who knows? Only you can decide mate

Posts 1

Nice attempt at a wind up Mr. Alias, but afraid no cigar.