Hi,
I want to get a taste for lorry driving by doing a bit of part time work around my current, full time job. I’ve had my Cat C for a couple of years and should have C+E before too long. Trouble is, looking at my rota, I think I will only be able to commit to just one Saturday or Sunday every 4 weeks.
Would an agency be able to accommodate this? Might I be better off going direct to local yards?
Also, if I got lucky, what’s the most you think I could earn for a single Sunday shift?
Cheers
I can see where you’re coming from, but it’s really going to take you quite a while to hone your skills (reversing etc) by having such irregular practice.
I’d been driving class 1 for about 3 months before I took a weeks holiday, and when I came back, I couldn’t reverse to save my life.
I think part time is the sensible option before you pack everything in and dive in head first. Do a bit to start, test the water and see if you like it.
I went against my own advise and am now regretting it.
Sorry to hear that mate 
You never know things may get better
No such thing as a part time trucker. Part time home life yes !!! :-/
bj86uk:
I think part time is the sensible option before you pack everything in and dive in head first. Do a bit to start, test the water and see if you like it.I went against my own advise and am now regretting it.
Tell us more. Not enjoying the job or just not earning enough?
PaulNowak:
I can see where you’re coming from, but it’s really going to take you quite a while to hone your skills
You’re probably right but I’d be happy for it to take a while…I’m not in any rush. If progress was so slow that I wasn’t enjoying the work, I just wouldn’t do it. I’m only in it for the thrill of it. If it turns out to be something that doesn’t come naturally to me or isn’t as enjoyable as I had imagined, I’ll forget about it. Right now though, lorry driving is like an itch that needs scratching. Quite fancy the odd Sunday shift with the footy on the radio.
I drive C+E on a casual basis around my shift pattern. I do a few weekends on the bounce then don’t drive for a 4 or 5 weeks. It does take a while to get into the routine of truck driving and to get up to a reasonable standard skills standard. As they say in Yorkshire 'ow’t is better than now’t.
You’ll need a bit of luck but at busy times I suspect the agencies will take anything they can get. I only do 5 days a fortnight and they’re okay with that.
If you can find an agency paying around £16 per hour for Sunday shifts you’ll be doing alright. A thirteen or fourteen hour shift at that rate would bring you around £200 before tax etc.
DAF_MAN what area do you live in? You might get some helpful suggestions!
Up here in rainy Carlisle I have a friend who got weekend work from an agency, initially night work doing trunking / trailer swaps. That then led led to weekend work at a well known large haulier (that I won’t name to save derailing your thread with a load of unhelpful comments) but I will say that they don’t run bent, the trucks are in good nick and they are decent to him.
Regarding the gaps between driving and skill honing etc… I often don’t drive for a few weeks at a time. It isn’t an issue jumping back in as long as you take it nice and gentle for the first few miles and it all rapidly comes back to you.
Best of luck with your class 1.
th2013:
DAF_MAN what area do you live in? You might get some helpful suggestions!
Up here in rainy Carlisle I have a friend who got weekend work from an agency, initially night work doing trunking / trailer swaps. That then led led to weekend work at a well known large haulier (that I won’t name to save derailing your thread with a load of unhelpful comments) but I will say that they don’t run bent, the trucks are in good nick and they are decent to him.Regarding the gaps between driving and skill honing etc… I often don’t drive for a few weeks at a time. It isn’t an issue jumping back in as long as you take it nice and gentle for the first few miles and it all rapidly comes back to you.
Best of luck with your class 1.
calder foods ■■
syramax:
th2013:
DAF_MAN what area do you live in? You might get some helpful suggestions!
Up here in rainy Carlisle I have a friend who got weekend work from an agency, initially night work doing trunking / trailer swaps. That then led led to weekend work at a well known large haulier (that I won’t name to save derailing your thread with a load of unhelpful comments) but I will say that they don’t run bent, the trucks are in good nick and they are decent to him.Regarding the gaps between driving and skill honing etc… I often don’t drive for a few weeks at a time. It isn’t an issue jumping back in as long as you take it nice and gentle for the first few miles and it all rapidly comes back to you.
Best of luck with your class 1.
calder foods ■■
All I know is he got it through Riverside Recruitment agency. Think it was to Derby and back but might be mis-rememebring. It was the perfect job to cut his teeth though as he said it was a massive yard the other end and he could drop the trailer anywhere!
Just a side question really. I’ve just passed my Cat C and don’t have the cash to do C+E. I also don’t want to get talked into tramping as I’ve got a young family so there might not be much C+E work I’d be willing to do anyway.
Back to my question.
If I’m working cat C 5 days a week and I want to train C+E will the C+E training have to be added onto my driving hours for that week?
Also I know most probably wouldn’t but if I was in your shoes I’d probably do a couple of weekends, if I liked it take a week off work and get it done and passed in that week. Just what I’d probably do.
When I did my training I didn’t have a digicard and I didn’t need one. I just drove the training vehicles without a card in.
It therefore seems unlikely that training will count towards your driving time. It is also unlikely that it would constitute “other work” because you’re doing it in your leisure time which you are entitled to dispose of freely as you wish.
As has been suggested, I just took a week off work as holiday and did a concentrated 4/5 day course with the test at the end.
ORC:
When I did my training I didn’t have a digicard and I didn’t need one. I just drove the training vehicles without a card in.It therefore seems unlikely that training will count towards your driving time. It is also unlikely that it would constitute “other work” because you’re doing it in your leisure time which you are entitled to dispose of freely as you wish.
As has been suggested, I just took a week off work as holiday and did a concentrated 4/5 day course with the test at the end.
I agree it isn’t driving time. But by rights, it isn’t rest either.
TO be honest as driving class 1 around for a week is pretty knackering while training the last thing I would want to do is then do a few hours paid driving, just for my own and others safety!
I agree entirely, but it is little different to driving up to Scotland and back over the weekend to visit relatives. That is your leisure time so what you do with it is your own business. You’ll be knackered and unlikely to be on top form to start driving professionally on the Monday morning, but it is perfectly legal nevertheless.
Only common sense and personal integrity stands between you and a nasty accident, not the law.
[ignore]
ORC:
I agree entirely, but it is little different to driving up to Scotland and back over the weekend to visit relatives. That is your leisure time so what you do with it is your own business. You’ll be knackered and unlikely to be on top form to start driving professionally on the Monday morning, but it is perfectly legal nevertheless.
There is also the consideration that you want to be on top form for your lessons, and ultimately for your test. You’re paying for it after all…
th2013:
DAF_MAN what area do you live in? You might get some helpful suggestions!
Leeds/Bradford/Harrogate area.