Hi guys been lurking for a little while now just saying hi. A little about myself, I have had my class 2 for about 6 years now, and this week starting on Monday I am doing my c+e training and test with 2 start in Newbury. To say I’m excited is a understatement!
Basically my old man runs a well known recovery company near me and he put me through my class 2 all those years back and I worked there for about 3 years. The only reason I left is that I can’t hack the 24 hour call out thing. I don’t mind long hours or long drives I actually like that, it’s just the randomness and feeling like I’m chained to the lorry.
So after feeling a bit bitter about it I retrained as a arborist and enjoyed the job, but oh my god the pay is terrible for having 8+ grands worth of tickets and expertise, even a class 2 or b+e is essential just to hold your job. Anyway I was made redundant last week and decided now is the time to pull my finger out and do my c+e ticket and actually drive artics which is what I want to do. I don’t mind working nights/days/weekends but not tramping, as I have a young family and don’t want to be away all the time.
I’m anxious and excited about training, I have a lot of experience in rigids and have a b+e ticket so have been the resident tow person for years which hopefully makes reversing easiser! I’m looking at mainly doing class one work after passing as I have as many shifts as I want on the trucks part time (decent pay too).
I am a bit rubbish with taco refs so need to brush up and for arb and recovery they are mainly exempt (60 mile radius blah blah) so need to get that sorted. Also I need to do my cpc.
Also I’m a bit worried about doing agency work. Are they just going to drop me right in it? I count myself as quite confident person but you know when you just passed and you have 100k worth of truck to drive without scratching it kind of thing. Anyway sorry for the waffle, this is all good but i need that c+e ticket first!
ive 2 son inlaws from here trained as arborists…they both live near gothenburg…go and get a job in sweden and you will be 1…headhunted to death as the entire country is a forest,and 2…make a fortune…you can get a seasonal contract that will make you enough to last the year…or…if you get a seasonal contract,then get it renewed for the next year,you can claim 80% of your wages on the dole there…plus you can come home to uk and still get it…even if you only got 5 or 600 a week,its still 400 a week for 6 months on the dole in sweden…id be up a tree before id be scraping dung from an agency.if your a climber you will get well looked after.
I am indeed a climber and have been for a while, I have heard of some good rates in other places like Canada etc. I have seriously looked into many options, just this country is full of ■■■■■■, big firms who pay you nothing and treat you like rubbish (10-11hour days for 18-20k on utilities). Either way my c+e license will improve aspects even if I remained in tree work (unlikely) as there is a lot of wagon and drag stuff
no worries.pm me anytime you think you might fancy it…ad il get you an intro.over there,its a normal 8 hour type day for big bucks…completely different attitudes and lifestyle compared to the uk. you just need a job offer./contract,register for your ppe number…n insurance thing,and get on with it…absolutely a good lifestyle if you get a toe in the door…your average joe bloggs tradesman will definately have a big boat,caravan,motorhome,and wouldnt be uncommon to have a 2nd home in thailand etc for a few month in the winter…just a different world.
Thank you so much that’s appreciated! Didn’t realise tradesman had it like that where over here we are treated a bit like scum!
1 of them,got made head of co within 1 year…hes now away doing a 6 month commercial diver course as he fancies that as an option…the other one,took his groundsman job…got made up to a climber within 6 month,and now head of department in charge of a few guys…he is 21 yr old…only been there 1 year…they asked him a month ago how he could improve the co…he asked for a new truck and chipper…1 week later he got a 30k new truck,and a new chipper…different world.
This sounds like something I’d like to know more about
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Quick update I had my weeks class one training this week and test today and pleased to say I passed first time with 7 minors! The blokes at 2 start at reading were excellent
Nice one, congrats on passing, have you had any luck with work?
Got a call for a interview yesterday for fridge work with a major haulage firm, got another company asking about shunting where I live in Newbury. But can’t do anything until after Thursday due to no cpc mod 4 (didn’t need it in previous job as was not needed) just a irritating wait now
Congrats on the pass pal, and best of luck on the job front! 