Hello all my names Thomas and Im from Plymouth Devon.
I have finally decided to learn to drive HGVs. I currently work for a supermarket and sometime deliver food in the home shopping vans.
I am getting older now(28) and have decided that I need to do something with my life.
I have been out in Artics before and am keen to start learning.
I have downloaded the medical form and have also requested a provisional licence form.
I finished work at 3pm today and went to Waterstones and picked up some books and a hazard dvd.
Is there any other literature I need?
Also I hope you guys dont mind me bending your ears from time to time.
Everything you need should be in them books and dvd.
When you get you’re medical don’t use your own doctor, there normally quite a bit more expensive than the one’s that specialise in doing medicals.
Make sure the D2 and D4 forms are filled in correctly, as if not it can delay you’re provisional application by quite a bit.
When you book any training make sure its not a broker, theres quite a few good trainers on here that come recommend.
Have a read through the sticky post at the top of this forum, all the answers you need should be in there.
Good luck on you’re journey, any questions just ask
Everything you need should be in them books and dvd.
When you get you’re medical don’t use your own doctor, there normally quite a bit more expensive than the one’s that specialise in doing medicals.
Make sure the D2 and D4 forms are filled in correctly, as if not it can delay you’re provisional application by quite a bit.
When you book any training make sure its not a broker, theres quite a few good trainers on here that come recommend.
Have a read through the sticky post at the top of this forum, all the answers you need should be in there.
Good luck on you’re journey, any questions just ask
Des
Thankyou I really appreciate it.
I must admit im hoping to go one to one as I wouldnt feel right training with 2 people.My view is their attention would be 100% on me rather than 50%
Welcome aboard Montytom.
When I did my training it was 2 to 1. I found it pretty good as I would drive for an hour or so, by which time the head was full, then I could sit back, relax and take in what the other guy was being taught. If I’d had a bit of an ‘off’ drive I was able to calm down, have a wee think about where it went wrong and be back on form when my turn came again. Sometimes if I was driving well my instructor would just let me get on with it, giving directions occasionally, while he told the other guy tall stories. That seemed to help me just relax and get on with driving and planning ahead. If I did something daft he was on it though, so don’t think they’re not watching.
I daresay there are pros and cons to either method, and it’s what you feel comfortable with that counts, but that was my experience of it. Get a few assessment drives before you choose a training provider and make sure you get your driving hours put towards the CPC. Good luck with it all and you’ll find them a right helpful, friendly bunch on here.
Richienic:
Welcome aboard Montytom.
When I did my training it was 2 to 1. I found it pretty good as I would drive for an hour or so, by which time the head was full, then I could sit back, relax and take in what the other guy was being taught. If I’d had a bit of an ‘off’ drive I was able to calm down, have a wee think about where it went wrong and be back on form when my turn came again. Sometimes if I was driving well my instructor would just let me get on with it, giving directions occasionally, while he told the other guy tall stories. That seemed to help me just relax and get on with driving and planning ahead. If I did something daft he was on it though, so don’t think they’re not watching.
I daresay there are pros and cons to either method, and it’s what you feel comfortable with that counts, but that was my experience of it. Get a few assessment drives before you choose a training provider and make sure you get your driving hours put towards the CPC. Good luck with it all and you’ll find them a right helpful, friendly bunch on here.
Thankyou Richienic it does seem very friendly on here.
On Friday I will be booking my medical and hopefully have the theory test form back by then. Once thats done ill get the theory booked and hopefully pass then get some assessments in.
Thanks again Thomas
mac12:
Apart from going out in artics what else do you know about the job?
I know how to strap up cages etc but truth be told thats about it.
Sorry if it seems im not up to speed
Why should you be up to speed?
Before you spend £3000 getting your license find out if there’s any jobs for a new driver in your area and what you may get paid, I don’t know what you get now but you may be driving for £7.50 per hour and could be working 80 hours a week or away all week not good if you have a young family.
mac12:
Apart from going out in artics what else do you know about the job?
I know how to strap up cages etc but truth be told thats about it.
Sorry if it seems im not up to speed
Why should you be up to speed?
Before you spend £3000 getting your license find out if there’s any jobs for a new driver in your area and what you may get paid, I don’t know what you get now but you may be driving for £7.50 per hour and could be working 80 hours a week or away all week not good if you have a young family.
Thanks I’m on £7.77 at the moment.
I will go where the work is and tramp. I have no children so I’m happy doing whatever wherever.
Welcome to the forum - and you can bend ears as much as you like!
Your next big decision is choice of trainer. You are, of course, welcome to come to us on a residential course as many have from your end of the world.
Failing which, whatever you do, have assessments and compare. Any website that mentions guaranteed work or 30+ training locations I wouldn’t trust. They are brokers who take your money and place you wherever they can get the cheapest training. Maybe it follows that this wont always be the best training.
Anything I can do to help, just pm me. BTW, Trucknet users get 10% discount with us.
mac12:
Apart from going out in artics what else do you know about the job?
I know how to strap up cages etc but truth be told thats about it.
Sorry if it seems im not up to speed
Why should you be up to speed?
Before you spend £3000 getting your license find out if there’s any jobs for a new driver in your area and what you may get paid, I don’t know what you get now but you may be driving for £7.50 per hour and could be working 80 hours a week or away all week not good if you have a young family.
Boring, Boring, Boring - Just the usual negative reply you always put to potential newbies.
As you know Mac, me and you have had disagreements about this very topic before and while I appreciate your comments I would like to be impartial and present both sides, something which you never seem to do. Your clearly a glass half empty kind of person!
You make the point that you could be working for £7.50ph and away all week working 80 hours - yes that’s true and people do that but to the OP please don’t think that’s the way it has to be or will be. On the other hand you could be working for say £12 per hour and work 40/45 hours per week with no nights out. It really depends on the job situation where you are, the companies local to you, how hard you look and how much you want to make it work. Also whether you choose agency work or permanent employment will be a factor to consider.
It also depends on what type of work you do because there is a lot a variation in the haulage industry, its not just all about actually being behind the wheel driving.
One thing all the negative people seem to forget is that people want to get into different careers and jobs for all sorts of reasons so rather than trying to put them off why not encourage and actually let the individual find out for themselves if its what they want or not.
At the end of the day people go to universities to get degrees and put themselves in 30K of debt just to end up working in a career or job they didn’t actually need that degree for or a job that doesn’t justify that level of debt. Think of the 3K for getting your licence as a lifetime investment. Even if you drift away from the industry then as long as you keep your medical and CPC up to date then you’ll be able to dip into driving as and when in the future.
I’m not exactly an old school long term driver either giving you this advice, I’ve only been in the industry 3 1/2 years and I’ve always earnt good money for a sensible amount of hours so if you want to go for it then I say do it and find out for yourself if its for you.
I dont think i’m being negative all i said was before spending £3000 check there is work and how much it’s paying. over the last few months we have had alot of new drivers on these pages who cannot get work but if they had checked before hand they would have know this. This is the same with hours at work we are getting new drivers coming on here thinking they are only alound to work a total of 48 hours per week then they find out that they can drive for 45 then have loading, breaks and poa adding another 30.
Driving can be a wonderful job if you get with a good company but for each good one there is ten bad ones.
We will never agree about this job but i know alot of drivers who hate Sunday nights because they know they have got to get back in a truck on Monday morning but they are to old to change careers.
Torpedo Training in plymouth. 1to1 training one of the better prices in Plymouth too. Robin is a great trainer he has the nhs contract i think putting the people through 7.5t to drive ambulances. I did both c, c+e and mod 4 with him and so did most people i know.
Lots of work for new drivers, gregorys are always looking to take on new people an offer to put through c+e. Im agency by choice and have always been busy in this area.
devonlad2009:
Just remember you have to do your c class first (class 2) before you can get to c+e
Thankyou Devonlad yes i know I have to do c class first, Im actually quite happy that I dont have to do 7.5 tonne first and can just go over to c class.
Peter Smythe:
Welcome to the forum - and you can bend ears as much as you like!
Your next big decision is choice of trainer. You are, of course, welcome to come to us on a residential course as many have from your end of the world.
Failing which, whatever you do, have assessments and compare. Any website that mentions guaranteed work or 30+ training locations I wouldn’t trust. They are brokers who take your money and place you wherever they can get the cheapest training. Maybe it follows that this wont always be the best training.
Anything I can do to help, just pm me. BTW, Trucknet users get 10% discount with us.
Pete
Thankyou I appreciate your advice. I have had a couple of phone calls from training companies and they seem to talk the talk but now I know to go to a sole trainer.
Thanks again
Thomas
mac12:
Apart from going out in artics what else do you know about the job?
I know how to strap up cages etc but truth be told thats about it.
Sorry if it seems im not up to speed
Why should you be up to speed?
Before you spend £3000 getting your license find out if there’s any jobs for a new driver in your area and what you may get paid, I don’t know what you get now but you may be driving for £7.50 per hour and could be working 80 hours a week or away all week not good if you have a young family.
Boring, Boring, Boring - Just the usual negative reply you always put to potential newbies.
As you know Mac, me and you have had disagreements about this very topic before and while I appreciate your comments I would like to be impartial and present both sides, something which you never seem to do. Your clearly a glass half empty kind of person!
You make the point that you could be working for £7.50ph and away all week working 80 hours - yes that’s true and people do that but to the OP please don’t think that’s the way it has to be or will be. On the other hand you could be working for say £12 per hour and work 40/45 hours per week with no nights out. It really depends on the job situation where you are, the companies local to you, how hard you look and how much you want to make it work. Also whether you choose agency work or permanent employment will be a factor to consider.
It also depends on what type of work you do because there is a lot a variation in the haulage industry, its not just all about actually being behind the wheel driving.
One thing all the negative people seem to forget is that people want to get into different careers and jobs for all sorts of reasons so rather than trying to put them off why not encourage and actually let the individual find out for themselves if its what they want or not.
At the end of the day people go to universities to get degrees and put themselves in 30K of debt just to end up working in a career or job they didn’t actually need that degree for or a job that doesn’t justify that level of debt. Think of the 3K for getting your licence as a lifetime investment. Even if you drift away from the industry then as long as you keep your medical and CPC up to date then you’ll be able to dip into driving as and when in the future.
I’m not exactly an old school long term driver either giving you this advice, I’ve only been in the industry 3 1/2 years and I’ve always earnt good money for a sensible amount of hours so if you want to go for it then I say do it and find out for yourself if its for you.
Thanks I realise its not for everybody but Its something i have been thinking about for a while now. My current situation is making me finally get in gear and get it done
Thanks again Thomas
mac12:
I dont think i’m being negative all i said was before spending £3000 check there is work and how much it’s paying. over the last few months we have had alot of new drivers on these pages who cannot get work but if they had checked before hand they would have know this. This is the same with hours at work we are getting new drivers coming on here thinking they are only alound to work a total of 48 hours per week then they find out that they can drive for 45 then have loading, breaks and poa adding another 30.
Driving can be a wonderful job if you get with a good company but for each good one there is ten bad ones.
We will never agree about this job but i know alot of drivers who hate Sunday nights because they know they have got to get back in a truck on Monday morning but they are to old to change careers.
Thankd again for your reply.
I am not bothered what days the work comes as I am pretty flexible in times and Im actually thinking about tramping aswell
Thanks again for your reply
Thomas
m_attt:
Torpedo Training in plymouth. 1to1 training one of the better prices in Plymouth too. Robin is a great trainer he has the nhs contract i think putting the people through 7.5t to drive ambulances. I did both c, c+e and mod 4 with him and so did most people i know.
Lots of work for new drivers, gregorys are always looking to take on new people an offer to put through c+e. Im agency by choice and have always been busy in this area.
Thankyou I have actually seen them on the internet but couldnt find any reviews so now I might give them a ring and have a little chat
Thanks again Thomas
