Moving from buses to lorries?

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

Looking for advice about how to get a start driving class 1.

Passed my HGV class 1 1992. Never used it (got an office job right after I passed).
Have experience of driving tractors with trailers, land rovers and pick-ups with horse boxes, cattle trailers etc.
Last year, got my psv, and have been driving buses since.
I am 51 years young.

So I have C+E on my license, a digital tacho card and a CPC (with CE on it), 4 or 5 months PSV experience, but no lorry experience.

I thought that I should stick to the bus driving till I have a year under my belt, so that if I have to come back to it I will have some experience. In the mean time, I had thought of approaching agencies to see if I could pick up the odd shift driving lorries as a way to build up some HGV experience, so that when I am ready to give up my full time, permanent, bus driving job, I might be in with a chance of getting something half decent on the lorries.

What do you think? Does this seem like a practical way to go? Any advice welcome

2

The biggest problem you’ll have is mixing driving hours, most bus companies won’t allow you to do other work and you still need to account for weekly rest periods. I was on the buses until January and personally believe once you’ve got your PSV license bus jobs are easy to get. If you really want to drive class one go for it now, I’d recommend approaching a local training school and booking a few hours refresher lessons before applying for jobs, then it’s just a case of getting your cv out there and convincing employers to take you on, or find an agency with plenty of regular work.

Hope this helps

3

Have a refresher on an artic for 3 hours or so. That will make you more confident when it comes to having assessments with employers.

Pete :laughing: :laughing: