dieseldave:
Hi DJ_Trucker, I don’t want to put a dampener on your idea; in fact, I think it’s a good idea. 
In our transport industry, C+E is usually seen as ‘the top of the pile’ as far as being a driver is concerned.
My advice is that you might consider the idea of ‘progression,’ since it’s very unlikely that anybody would trust you with a fully loaded C+E vehicle especially as you’ll have a shiny new LGV licence.
I’d imagine that that principle is something common to most jobs. 
IMHO, the biggest problems that new drivers face are:
- Driving a loaded commercial vehicle safely.
- Securing the load and driving so as to avoid damage to the vehicle and/or load.
- Finding their way to the various loading/delivery points within a time seen as ‘reasonable’ by the vehicle owner, whilst having regard to 1&2 above.
It might be that you’d need to start on vans, then go up to 7.5t, then 18t and finally move on to C+E.
The question of whether to take your Cat “C” test and then progress quickly to do your Cat “C+E” test isn’t the same as above IMHO.
It might pay you to keep those two ideas apart from each other, because there are two schools of thought on the subjects.
You did ask for advice, and I hope I’ve helped. 
Hi dieseldave, thanks for the advice/input.
I totally agree with your points. I understand that it’ll be likely that there will need to be progression i.e. van, 7.5t, c+e etc etc. Although saying that, I would love to just go straight to c+e after passing…But I fear that’ll be unlikely due to lack of experience and age (Im only 21).
I’d prefer to do cat C and then jump straight to C+E, but it all comes down to finding a job. I have money to cover both C and C+E tests, so thats not a problem. I dont want to have given up my IT career, and then struggle to find any driving work or end up being stuck with class 2/7.5t/18t driving.
bigcheese:
I say go for it pal your obviously not happy in your current job, im in the same situation as you myself, the money aint dad in driving class 1or 2 its that hurdle of getting experience but this is the same in all field of work not just driving no one would rather hire someone just qualified over a veteran i mean would you? thats what most people use agencies for. i found it hard to start with getting anthing at all mainly due to my akward shift pattern in my regular job tho. but since then i got offered two full time jobs with local firms over the phone and half a dozen interviews,athough not much from the agency as yet but they have promised that i would get work regular if i was open to take anything by full time i mean to start on a trial basis and set on after 13 weeks if all was well. so there is plently work out there esp for drivers with plenty experience.
this is just my experience and many have said this on here a new driver really has to try harder to get on that ladder from there tho only way is up!
goodluck pal
Hi bigcheese, thanks for your input also.
Your dead right, I am not happy in my current job but Im only putting up with it cos im well paid.
It all comes down to driving experience like you and dieseldave say. I cant see many people allowing a newly passed 21 year old out in a truck alone.
Like i said before, Im only really interested in class 1/c+e but I expect that I’ll have to start at the bottom.
I guess Im just going to have to think it over, and take it from there.
Thanks for all your input though, much appreciated!
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