Hi everyone,
I passed my class 2 a couple of years ago and have been driving for various agency’s, I am thinking of taking my class 1 but not sure if it’s worth the extra initial cost. Am I right in thinking class 1 work will be a little easier? Any help and advise would be much appreciated
Hi,
I had the same decision to make 2 years ago and decided it wasnt worth it,
but that was a mistake if you have the money do it and just be patient but dont be under the impression its any easier lol
rick
I think that you should go for it if you can afford the cost about £1,000 if you pass first time.Its been said on here that prices are a lot cheaper in Belfast so you could check that out.
34 years since I took mine, so I don’t really know too much about the costings nowadays, but in my opinion sometimes you need to ‘invest in yourself’ … once you have passed it, you then have that qualification for a long long time, and I am sure you will at some time recoup your costs. Best of luck
Something to take into account is that you will still fall into the 2 years experience trap, your couple of years class 2 work will not count
Thanks guys.
I passed my class 1 many moons ago and have driven artic’s for lots of years. However, for the past 3-ish years I’ve been on rigids and to be honest, you can stick artic’s where the sun doesn’t shine, as far as I’m concerned!
I’m on the same rate as our artic lads with none of the hassle. No getting caked in grease from suzies, no buggering about swapping straps and chains, no 60 foot loads, and a lot less hassle by and large.
And when I have the greedy bar out, I reckon it needs a lot more skill to steer it around. If you find that hard to believe, watch some of the class 1 muppets trying to back into a bay at the services…
In 2002 I paid £580 for my C then the agency paid for my C+E. I now have something I can (and am) falling back on as and when needed. Granted I gained my experience during a time when you could throw a stone and get HGV work fresh out of training. I’m not sure how expensive it is to do artic now. Maybe it’s a fortune.
Perhaps you could find a firm who have rigids and artics that offer in house training for artic thus circumventing the experience dilemma? I just rang them all to ask for advice and air my name before I had even set foot in a truck.
Recently quoted £850 from East Coast Training which I think is quite reasonable. Good, professional outfit as well.
i passed my class 2 and couldn’t get a job even with loads of agancys went the next month and got me class 1 and had 2 interview in 2 days and offered a full time job
Don’t know that class 1 work would be any easier or harder than class 2, all depends on the job, what you want, and what you invest to get it.
Class 1 will always give you more choice and make you more employable, generally artic work is better paid though exceptions in everything.
It might not be worth it now, but in a coupe of years or so things could pick up,
So…
Do it now! in 2 years the price will have gone up, also if you do it now you will have that “magic” 2 years experience
Yes, believe it or not that includes if you don’t use it for 2 years
Bigger is not always better, but in this case it is.
If you work for a agency, getting your class 1 gives you more chance of getting work, plus if you are in a place where they have rigids and artics and you have a good reputation, I’m sure they would have you in, with under two years experience.
Top2tow:
'…Am I right in thinking class 1 work will be a little easier…?
Dunno about easier - although probably less hassle than shoehorning one of gazzilions of rigids into multidrop nightmare zones.
I’m guessing that there’s a greater opportunity to get work 24/7/365: How many class 2 on the roads at 03.00 hrs, etc?
Thus, Class One possibly provides greater flexibility for start-times (?)
Maybe do it until the/any extra wedge has paid for the ticket & then decide a way forward
I’ve just this minute paid and booked my Class 1 training which starts next week. It’s took me about 5 months to take the plunge tho lol.
Good luck with the Class 1, I think it would be a good move myself
Wanted to drive an artic since I was a nipper, drove one for a week and got a licence out of it.
Place I work at has no artics, but it’s ok there at the moment, and a few minutes away from home. Not had my class 2 for 2 years yet, and gone from driving a Renault van to being the only full time HGV driver.
Maybe in time we’ll need an artic, maybe not. I may decide to move on.
But that licence is mine for keeps, and the clock keeps ticking away!
Big Roy:
Something to take into account is that you will still fall into the 2 years experience trap, your couple of years class 2 work will not count
I disagree i like many others got out there and met potential employers we didnt just sit around the jobs wont come to you so experience aint always an issue
It’s easier work in someways but today for instance i was doing a blindside reverse out the gates of a builders merchant with cars and vans everywhere and I thought to myself, I wish to ■■■■ I was in a rigid. Lol. Got out eventually without hitting anything but it does cross my mind sometimes, then I remember having to do 25 drops a day in town centres and hand balling and soon snap back out of it.