I decided after a break of twenty years to return to driving. This should give an idea of what I found.
First - getting the licence back…
I was told by many people and a number of brokers (don’t go there…) that as my licence had expired so long ago I would need to retake everything again. It even states on my old paper licence that it can NOT be renewed if it has lapsed for 5 years. But thanks to this forum this fact was proved wrong, and a couple of calls to DVLA confirmed this. All I needed was a medical and send off the forms, and as I was changing to a photo licence this was free.
A couple of weeks later and the shiny “new” licence arrived with all categories intact, showing that I had held this for over 30 years. All I needed was a job.
Agencies
Hey ho… some good, some bad. Some said I had no recent experience and would not touch me, others listened to me and took the chance. Actually one agency called me the day after I registered and offered me work.
Now very nervous!!!
So first job was taking a load of waste cardboard from Crewe to Alconbury.
“There is the unit and that’s the trailer”, so do the checks and in I get. It is a 2011 DAF, but IT HAS NO GEAR LEVER OR CLUTCH!!!
As a driver for advice and he points out the go switch, it works!
Couple up to trailer and look for the Tr brake, it used to be a cable with a big lever on it, nowhere to be seen. Again ask for advice which is given freely.So away I go and its like I have never been away, the driving and reversing was fine, if a little slow in the reversing, but no real problems. All in all good fun.
Two days later same agency offer me a night at Stobarts. So off I go and find I have a Scania with a semi auto box, at least it has a clutch!
Again advice sought about gearbox, once again gladly and freely given. 15hrs later I am on my way home knackered but pleased. A couple more Stobbies shifts in Scanias followed by a night in a Volvo FH, another new gearbox, absolutely lovely to drive.
Now two months on and I have plenty of work at various Stobarts depots under my belt, and offers of shifts every night. OK, the hours are long but the work is easy. No more chasing KPI’s and writing reports for senior managers, no more hassle with staff going off sick, or politics of business. Guess what… I am enjoying work again. Self employed and looking forward to more of the same.
Almost without exception I have found other drivers to be a friendly and helpful lot. Lots of advice given and gladly taken on all sorts of points.
So getting back to driving was a much better experience than I expected.
Lots of local firms contacted now I have some experience and my confidence has returned, so hoping for a full time job locally.
No regrets 
