As the op, i would add the reasons i opted for hgv was my age, forty ten, always enjoyed my 7.5t jaunts, the further the better and the opportunity to drive bigger and better vehicles with the variations this may hopefully bring. Encouraged by the positive comments all comments are valid and welcome because nothing is always a bed of roses. What are the really good jobs though, tippers, car transporters, fridges ? I handball wood all day at the mo and when i was younger i used to load 120 freshly slaughtered cow hides complete with blood one end and ■■■■ at the other by hand and stack them on my leyland terrier and then lay 200+ sheepskins complete with lower legs on top. I doubt many people would do that job now but you make the best of whats available 
50K can be done(legally), BUT most people dont want to put in the shifts that make that money. Specially when it comes to nights/weekends/national holidays. And as far as im concerned thats fine, more for me to snap up at the moment.
PaulNowak:
Waltham Abbey. I went in as a truck driver, and came out a MAN
Amen to that, if you are on about the same place I am thinking of…it’s a ■■■■■■■■■■
James the cat:
war1974:
why is it on this site every [zb] bellend has your stupid [zb] picture too.Because its the same person boring us all to death with the same trolling. No HGV driver shortage, lorry drivers are idiots and personal abuse. The same old topics bla bla bla. Only person that ever agrees with the troll instantly pops up like clockwork and agrees with what they say, creating a bat and ball dialogue. Bizzarely they didn’t take the slightest offence that I suggested that was suspicious. Fishy or misguided?
I agree pal,its got to the stage where i log on see the insults and same old bollox off these 2 members [or 1 agreeing with himself]and log back out because its spoiling a good forum…
If I was a young bloke. I would start out again as a lorry driver. My Dad was a lorry driver for over forty years,and it was all I ever wanted to do. Quite a few of my family are, or have been school teachers. Imagine being stuck in a classroom every day, and forget all the holidays, they have a lot of work to do preparing etc. Lorries for me. 
Pimpdaddy:
James the cat:
After 2 posts you aren’t bothered by what I said?Like I said I like paddies[emoji16]
That answers a lot. 2nd time I’ve suggested this and second time you’ve completely dodged responding.
Captain Caveman 76:
Was talking to a Dutch kid the other day as he waited 3 hours for his paperwork ( could have been longer, I left before he did). He said over there, the transport companies fine the RDC if they keep a driver beyond a pre agreed time, usually an hour. However, the RDC can fine the transport company of they miss their timeslot. He said it’s a really good system.
I know of a Dutch firm that do not pay drivers for waiting time after a certain time.
So the drivers try and counter act this by.;
After half hour the driver texts on the comp…Wait half hour.
After 2nd half hour. …On bay now.
After 3rd Tipped.
After4 (2 hours) …wait for notes.
It’s just a bluff, and it works most of time, but takes some explaining if still sat after 2 hours not tipped.
It is a lot of retail park deliveries, the odd shop, and storage warehouses so most of time it works.
James the cat:
That answers a lot. 2nd time I’ve suggested this and second time you’ve completely dodged responding.
I don’t know what you want from me drive. Have you ever tasted an Irish woman?
next week i’ll have been a hgv driver for 36 years,man and boy.much easier than working for a living 
I’ve made some really good mates over the years ,we often chat on phone even though we haven’t worked together for years , if it’s possible we will now and again park up together and have a good laugh.
When I lost my brother 3 yrs ago they were on the phone constantly checking I was ok , keeping me going really .
That’s what I say even though you’ll go your separate ways ( different jobs) don’t forget your mates , you’ll make some mates for life in this job , there more family than mates really for me
Pimpdaddy:
James the cat:
That answers a lot. 2nd time I’ve suggested this and second time you’ve completely dodged responding.I don’t know what you want from me drive. Have you ever tasted an Irish woman?
Ahhh. You’re a clever bloke. You know exactly what I mean. Twice I’ve challenged you and twice you’ve dodged the insinuation. Are you not annoyed if you’ve nothing to do with it?
I spotted when you dropped the ball on that last thread. There’s more “tells” than this but I’ll keep them to myself, for now 
James the cat:
Are you not annoyed if you’ve nothing to do with it?
Im not guilty…
Pimpdaddy:
James the cat:
Are you not annoyed if you’ve nothing to do with it?
Im not guilty…
Wondering now are we old son ? There is a lot of foot print don’t you worry
James the cat:
Wondering now are we old son
Ok. Have a word with stavro:lol:
Pimpdaddy:
James the cat:
Wondering now are we old sonOk. Have a word with stavro:lol:
I am
James the cat:
I am
He/she talks a lot of sense, they’re not on the bs wagon like most on here:lol:
Pimpdaddy:
James the cat:
I amHe/she talks a lot of sense, they’re not on the bs wagon like most on here:lol:
No, I mean. I just have.
Stavro, mm. Why do you do it? Something bit you.
STAVRO:
war1974:
yawn, if you look at some HGV jobs I bet they earn a decent wage too. maybe not 400k a year but a good wage. as the guy said she is a doctor not a trainee, working long hours for not great ££ same as teachers.No, HGV driver’s don’t earn a decent wage. Unless, you consider £10 p/h to be decent,
why is it on this site every [zb] bellend has your stupid [zb] picture too.
Pardon?
don’t worry about me am on decent money but then I went to uni and trained. but if your on £8 then £10 is decent, you and the rest of your aliases have got to be the worst trolls ever.
just a bit of input, if you are going to troll try not to spout the same ■■■■■■■■ all day long on every thread you have the misfortune to comment on.
mamil:
As the op, i would add the reasons i opted for hgv was my age, forty ten, always enjoyed my 7.5t jaunts, the further the better and the opportunity to drive bigger and better vehicles with the variations this may hopefully bring. Encouraged by the positive comments all comments are valid and welcome because nothing is always a bed of roses. What are the really good jobs though, tippers, car transporters, fridges ?
HGV driving is one of the few occupations where age isn’t taken negatively and they welcome mature applicants. This unlike some industries where you are ‘written off’ at thirty.
As to what represents a really good job that is up to the individual. I won’t do nights out any more, as like to live a more civilised life, which dictates me doing local and mid distance work, where others like to be away from home ad infinitum on tramping. Certain types of driving work you’ll sadly struggle to get an opening into without prior experience.
Depends who you talk too. There are a lot of drivers complaining on here.
I like being a driver. Not sitting at a desk all day and having to put up with office workers is a treat. The traffic on the m25 is the only real thing I hate about driving currently.
My glass is half full! !!