I’m always surprised about the amount of moaning about the job on here, I wonder why so many do it in the first place. Then the same guys turn up saying how good it is! The job, like any job, is what you make it. If you want to do all the hours, heavy graft, dirty job then that’s fine crack on. If you’re not happy doing what you’re doing then change it, or start to work towards changing it. Over the years I’ve had some jobs I hated so I moved. I’ve now got one that I really like but it’s taken a while to find it. As the saying goes, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince.
Olog Hai:
How on earth is someone who is not a HGV driver, has no HGV license and no knowledge of the industry supposed to just automatically know that lorry driving in the main entails working massive hours?
It’s not hard these days to do a bit of research, in fact it’s easier than it’s ever been.
The problem is that so many people see the job as an easy option where they’ll drive around all day sunning their right arm, look how many times people ask on here how you can do 13/14/15 hour days when you can only drive for 9/10 hours, it seems clear that a lot of people enter the industry with little or no knowledge of what to realistically expect.
It’s not a question of trying to trump anyone, the simple fact is that if people did just a bit of simple research before spending hundreds or thousands of pounds on training they would know what to expect.
BillyHunt:
I’m always surprised about the amount of moaning about the job on here, I wonder why so many do it in the first place. Then the same guys turn up saying how good it is! The job, like any job, is what you make it. If you want to do all the hours, heavy graft, dirty job then that’s fine crack on. If you’re not happy doing what you’re doing then change it, or start to work towards changing it. Over the years I’ve had some jobs I hated so I moved. I’ve now got one that I really like but it’s taken a while to find it. As the saying goes, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince.
Totally agree ^^^^
money isn’t the be all and end all. I imagine a lot enjoy trucking, and if you can earn a crust doing it then even better!!
I’m not a trucker and i earn 29k/year for 39 hours with as much overtime at £17/hour as i could possibly do, but i don’t enjoy my job any more and actually want to get out on the road and get my HGV licence.
My point is, if you dont like it, and can get out, then go do something else.
anon84679660:
Any driver in this industry getting paid per day or set weekly/monthly salary needs to have his head checked.
Why’s that then?
I’m on an excellent salary for my averaged out 48hrs per wk.
So joker, now you’ve found out that those “crazy hours” aren’t actually that unusual in the industry and that compared to many you’ve got off lightly with the start times, what do you think of your choice of a new career?
Just a FYI, the RHA did a survey some years ago and the conclusion of that is that the average working week in haulage is 55hrs excluding breaks.
waynedl:
mac12:
This is now on to 3 pages and nobody has agreed that maybe drivers are working to many hours. No wonder drivers get treated like they do when they cannot see how many hours workers in other jobs work, drivers come on here saying how long they are waiting at some rdc but all the staff there do 8 hours then go home, same with the office staff at the firms drivers work for 8 hours then home.
Drivers have got to stop thinking it’s right to be working all these hours.Do they heck like.
How many 8hr jobs do you think there really are, and doing an 8hr job, what do you think you take home per week?
I’ve done a few driving jobs that are ‘8hr jobs’ (usually 9 because they dock 1hr dinner) and they pay [zb], but they are around, so if that’s what the driver wants, then go and get one, but if you get a job as a tramper, you’ve GOT TO expect to be either maxing out your hours, or near to it.
Don’t get me wrong, if I was a salaried tramper, I’d rather be parked up on 12hrs or so, but that’d be unlikely, and as an hourly paid tramper, I’d rather EARN some extra money than be parked up spending it.
If you’re willing to graft you can earn very good money without putting in silly hours. My last P60 was around 32k. I averaged around 43 hours a week Mon to Fri. The company are crying out for drivers because the job is so physical and few can put up with it. I’ve actually left it now but not before paying off the mortgage and putting a few quid in the bank too. I can finally look for something easier on my body. Personally, I preferred the physical aspect of the work as it kept me fit, it also meant I got good money and still had a social life.
mac12:
This is now on to 3 pages and nobody has agreed that maybe drivers are working to many hours. No wonder drivers get treated like they do when they cannot see how many hours workers in other jobs work, drivers come on here saying how long they are waiting at some rdc but all the staff there do 8 hours then go home, same with the office staff at the firms drivers work for 8 hours then home.
Drivers have got to stop thinking it’s right to be working all these hours.
Office staff don’t do 8hrs thats the “from the dashboard” view.
BillyHunt:
mrginge:
What sort of house does someone have on under 15k a year?Well mines a three bed semi in Newcastle, but then again I’ve only got 1 mortgage payment of £250 left.
Obviously those of you with old mortgages that bought houses years a go are fine, but the young lads doing 8hrs in the warehouse won’t be buying anytime soon. My 2 bed flat cost me 130k 6yrs ago even with a 30k deposit and low interest rates someone that takes home 1k a month wouldn’t get a mortgage.
The OP in this thread if true has suddenly discovered the reality of living the dream.
Trucking and or driving the world over is long hours so complaining about it just does not work. Its like a diver complaining about always being wet, or a fireman about the intense heat. All logistics and freight related employment roles have lots of overtime, forwarders have to wait until their trailers have left, TM and planners the same. Think about if the industry was unregulated like in some countries it would be a complete joke.
An unqualified office worker does not earn the same top and bottom line salary like for like and region for region. Its a very singular viewpoint to have, we started off with the old forklift driver earns more PH than me, shelf stackers do too. They may well do, but you know the hourly rate and the expected hours of work so in short STFU stop moaning and if its to hard for you hand your notice in.
FLIP:
anon84679660:
Any driver in this industry getting paid per day or set weekly/monthly salary needs to have his head checked.Why’s that then?
I’m on an excellent salary for my averaged out 48hrs per wk.
Pretty much my position too. While my salary is not excellent, it is above the average UK wage. I rarely do more than 44 hours a week, don’t work weekends, don’t do nights out and seldom start before 6am. Why do I need to have my head checked?
I think the problem a lot of people have with the hours involved in lorry driving is that they aren’t optional
you can earn decent money by doing all these hours but there’s often not an option to ‘just do your 8hrs’
on the other side, most 8hr a day jobs are just that 8hrs, no overtime. so if you needed the extra cash then the option just isn’t there
the well paid 8hr a day jobs are well paid for a reason and I can guarantee the majority of truck drivers would have no chance of getting those jobs
so whatcha do?
rob22888:
LGV Driving isn’t a skilled job guys, it’s just not. It holds a certain level of responsibility thats certainly worth more than paltry wages like £7ph & our drivers knowledge is valuable but we aren’t really any more ‘skilled’ than chaps operating heavy machinery in scrap yards etc. Not these days when most wagons come equipped with automatic gearboxes and we just sit & point it. Anybody with a car license can potentially train up and become a HGV driver in a week.
The skill in the job isn’t from putting it in D and popping off down the motorway. The skill is in navigation and route planning and being able to do it on the fly all whilst making sure you comply with hours regs as things occur such as road closing accidents, The skill is in close in manoeuvring, load distribution and security, the operation of the equipment if you’re doing things like tankers, hi-ab, concrete mixers etc.
Your chap in your scrapyard has only one or two machines to operate whose characteristics never change in conditions that never vary. Your office worker processes the same forms over and over again. I take a load of kitchen units to Lockerbie to do a swap and bring back 27 tonnes of chipboard, a load whose characteristics is massively different to what I took up and requires a completely different style of driving. Likewise when I used to do Arla foods and would be driving a fridge and then a milk tanker which were two completely different beasts. And then there was the other weekend when the A66 was closed requiring a re-route on the way up and then the A69 was as well requiring a completely different route all of which I had to ensure I could do in the time I had left.
Anyone with a car license can’t potentially train up and become a HGV driver in a week. They can train up and get a license that allows them to drive a truck on the road but all the rest of the things I mentioned only come with years of experience.
daffyd:
what kind of clerical work are they doing to make that kind of money for those hours? are we talking London rates?I have mates who earn that kind of money for those hours but they all have degrees
That must be London I’m doing it at the mo mid twentys for 35hrs but that’s up t north.
Sacking it off as I’m fed up of the stress, back stabbers, arse kissers and jumped up little ■■■■■ trying to tell me how to do my job that I’ve been doing since they were still wearing pampers.
Can’t wait to get my licence and get doing something I enjoy hopefully see some nice parts of the country at the same time. The longer hours are just something that comes with the job unfortunately.
Theshrew:
Sacking it off as I’m fed up of the stress, back stabbers, arse kissers and jumped up little [zb] trying to tell me how to do my job that I’ve been doing since they were still wearing pampers.
I hate to be the one who breaks this to you, but you will experience all this and more once you’ve got your license and go driving a lorry.
Conor:
rob22888:
LGV Driving isn’t a skilled job guys, it’s just not. It holds a certain level of responsibility thats certainly worth more than paltry wages like £7ph & our drivers knowledge is valuable but we aren’t really any more ‘skilled’ than chaps operating heavy machinery in scrap yards etc. Not these days when most wagons come equipped with automatic gearboxes and we just sit & point it. Anybody with a car license can potentially train up and become a HGV driver in a week.The skill in the job isn’t from putting it in D and popping off down the motorway. The skill is in navigation and route planning and being able to do it on the fly all whilst making sure you comply with hours regs as things occur such as road closing accidents, The skill is in close in manoeuvring, load distribution and security, the operation of the equipment if you’re doing things like tankers, hi-ab, concrete mixers etc.
Your chap in your scrapyard has only one or two machines to operate whose characteristics never change in conditions that never vary. Your office worker processes the same forms over and over again. I take a load of kitchen units to Lockerbie to do a swap and bring back 27 tonnes of chipboard, a load whose characteristics is massively different to what I took up and requires a completely different style of driving. Likewise when I used to do Arla foods and would be driving a fridge and then a milk tanker which were two completely different beasts. And then there was the other weekend when the A66 was closed requiring a re-route on the way up and then the A69 was as well requiring a completely different route all of which I had to ensure I could do in the time I had left.
Anyone with a car license can’t potentially train up and become a HGV driver in a week. They can train up and get a license that allows them to drive a truck on the road but all the rest of the things I mentioned only come with years of experience.
In one sentence you nailed it.
Your office worker processes the same forms over and over again.
No sorry in two sentences you nailed it
Your chap in your scrapyard has only one or two machines to operate whose characteristics never change in conditions that never vary
You must be either oblivious, naive or arrogant to what other people do for employment and to earn a living. There are many dynamics to any job title, ones which a simple outsiders or those who have not experienced it will not understand or comprehend. Truck driving is neither a skilled or non skilled role it sits nicely in the semi-skilled on the basis some elements of the job title require training and experience to be deemed professional.
The skill is in navigation and route planning
Any car driver or walker or cyclist can do this, it’s hardly a skill, in fact its taught when learning to drive a car these days.
A truck driver goes from point a to point b over and over again using the same analogy you are using for other peoples professions.
Lest we not forget a soldier, a nurse, a midwife and a police man/woman, a paramedic and a fireman/woman have a lesser salary then the drivers average. Everyone of those is a skilled job.
Olog Hai:
Theshrew:
Sacking it off as I’m fed up of the stress, back stabbers, arse kissers and jumped up little [zb] trying to tell me how to do my job that I’ve been doing since they were still wearing pampers.I hate to be the one who breaks this to you, but you will experience all this and more once you’ve got your license and go driving a lorry.
Yeah I know, I’ve worked in this industry in various positions since I’ve left school. Something like I do now is chalk and cheese to driving.
Sod the job title I’d rather be working along side people on my level rather than the oh look I’m great because I’ve got a degree brigade ( 90% of the time translates into I know ■■■■ all but can bull ■■■■ )
Yeah they still do the back stabbing bit but it’s a completely different ball park
Spacemonkeypg:
mac12:
This is now on to 3 pages and nobody has agreed that maybe drivers are working to many hours. No wonder drivers get treated like they do when they cannot see how many hours workers in other jobs work, drivers come on here saying how long they are waiting at some rdc but all the staff there do 8 hours then go home, same with the office staff at the firms drivers work for 8 hours then home.
Drivers have got to stop thinking it’s right to be working all these hours.Office staff don’t do 8hrs thats the “from the dashboard” view.
Don’t they how many do they do? I have worked at some places where you can start with one shift then go though next one then catch last one while drivers are still on the same shift.
joker83:
Started monday 7 finish 17
Tues-7 to 19.30
Wedn-5 to 18.30
Thurs-5 to 19.30
Today 6 to [zb] knows cos im parked for second “45” at 16.40 and will get back for maybe18.30Cant see my eyes and refused to do job which i supposed to do cos they gave me two wrong addresses earlier and cocked up they pi###ed off in office cos im heading back to yard then home omfg
Sounds like an easy week so far only 2, 15’s with the longest 14.5.
They got any jobs going?
waynedl:
mac12:
waynedl:
mac12:
This is now on to 3 pages and nobody has agreed that maybe drivers are working to many hours. No wonder drivers get treated like they do when they cannot see how many hours workers in other jobs work, drivers come on here saying how long they are waiting at some rdc but all the staff there do 8 hours then go home, same with the office staff at the firms drivers work for 8 hours then home.
Drivers have got to stop thinking it’s right to be working all these hours.Do they heck like.
How many 8hr jobs do you think there really are, and doing an 8hr job, what do you think you take home per week?
I’ve done a few driving jobs that are ‘8hr jobs’ (usually 9 because they dock 1hr dinner) and they pay [zb], but they are around, so if that’s what the driver wants, then go and get one, but if you get a job as a tramper, you’ve GOT TO expect to be either maxing out your hours, or near to it.
Don’t get me wrong, if I was a salaried tramper, I’d rather be parked up on 12hrs or so, but that’d be unlikely, and as an hourly paid tramper, I’d rather EARN some extra money than be parked up spending it.
So going back to the rdc how can the man unloading live on 8 hours per day when the man he’s unloading need to work 12 to 15
It’s not about being able to live, it’s a standard of living.
My p60 for last year was around 27,000, and night out money isn’t on that, and I only work 3/4 of a year because I’m a lazy moody bugger.
Ask a forky what his P60 was…
Now, I only live in a 2 up 2 down terraced house, I drive an old car and have 2 old motorbikes, my missus has a horse, we have a house in Bulgaria and a tourer caravan, we also go out for meals and have holidays and enjoy life.
I was working for Calor Gas a while back, that was basic hours and paid around the 18k mark…
See the difference?
When I was at Co-op on nights in the warehouse I earned £26000 on my last p60 that was doing about 50h one week and 40h the following.
BreakerOneNine:
You don’t have to work these hours. You can work on multidrop and handball for 8 to 10 hours a day and earn more than a tramper. It’s very hard work and gets slagged off by other drivers on here but at least you’ll get a life beyond work. Or you can sit on your arse for 15 hours a day and not see friends or family for days on end. It’s all a matter of choice, there is variety in the industry.
Agree. Or you can do 4-5 drops a day, 52-54 hours a week and 30k a year. The joys of driving a rigid lorry when everyone else wants to drive an artic. I did do a saturday the other week to help out but only because it involved 30 minutes work for 4 hours pay and it was the onlpy weekend work so far this year so thought i had better show willing.