Bare in mind I’ve only been driving class 2 for about 5/6 weeks and recently passed my class 1.
So basically I’m torn between staying where I am and getting a sort of pay rise of basic salary 530 a week plus every other sat at £13 p/h, this is what the class 1 drivers are on at my place and they’ve offered to pay me that whilst still on class 2 until a class 1 position becomes available…or go for the stobarts job in Immingham and get paid there hourly rate plus whatever allowances they pay too.
Also the stobarts job is a bit more of a commute think it’s about 20 miles each way from my house whereas my current job is less than 10. I know neither are best paying but you’ve got to start somewhere I suppose and I don’t know what good it’s going to do posting on here as I know it’s only myself that can decide but I’ve racked my brain enough today and think the missus has had enough of me going on about it so I’m just curious if anyone has any thoughts or opinions please…
liam6226:
Bare in mind I’ve only been driving class 2 for about 5/6 weeks and recently passed my class 1.
So basically I’m torn between staying where I am and getting a sort of pay rise of basic salary 530 a week plus every other sat at £13 p/h, this is what the class 1 drivers are on at my place and they’ve offered to pay me that whilst still on class 2 until a class 1 position becomes available…or go for the stobarts job in Immingham and get paid there hourly rate plus whatever allowances they pay too.
Also the stobarts job is a bit more of a commute think it’s about 20 miles each way from my house whereas my current job is less than 10. I know neither are best paying but you’ve got to start somewhere I suppose and I don’t know what good it’s going to do posting on here as I know it’s only myself that can decide but I’ve racked my brain enough today and think the missus has had enough of me going on about it so I’m just curious if anyone has any thoughts or opinions please…
Personally if where you are is ok I would stick there.
Stobarts will always be there and if this doesn’t work out or you fancy a change you can move on there. If you jump now your current place may not take you back
Devil you know mate, you already work there so know what’s expected to earn your basic.
Also, and this isn’t usual, your gaffer is going to pay you class 1 money for class 2 work, so he sees something in you worth investing in and seems to me to be trying, that is not to be sniffed at.
Other than that, do you like it there, if so with the shorter commute and some sort of guaranteed wage…and no the wage isn’t fantastic but then far as i know the area isn’t a high payer except for specialised work.
Juddian:
Devil you know mate, you already work there so know what’s expected to earn your basic.
Also, and this isn’t usual, your gaffer is going to pay you class 1 money for class 2 work, so he sees something in you worth investing in and seems to me to be trying, that is not to be sniffed at.
Other than that, do you like it there, if so with the shorter commute and some sort of guaranteed wage…and no the wage isn’t fantastic but then far as i know the area isn’t a high payer except for specialised work.
Devil you know that’s what the missus said to me haha yeah it’s been ok so far I just want to get onto class 1 though it’s mainly class 2 at my place so it’s a case of waiting until a position comes up, as far as I’m aware I’m the only class 2 driver who has class 1 aswell and yeah I’m quite impressed they’ve decided to offer me a class 1 drivers wage to stay.
Don’t let your class one burn a hole in your pocket no point driving a bigger vehicle just for the sake of it . Same money for driving a class two id stay where you are
Stay where you are, learn what you can from those there, you may well get a chance as holiday/ sickness cover to drive a bendy. Other options may become available in time to come, you’ve only been doing the job 5 minutes, might as well see how the full hour goes before jumping ship.
Vid:
Stay where you are, learn what you can from those there, you may well get a chance as holiday/ sickness cover to drive a bendy. Other options may become available in time to come, you’ve only been doing the job 5 minutes, might as well see how the full hour goes before jumping ship.
Vid beat me to it, He just wrote what I was thinking. You have only been driving 6 weeks which is nothing, The firm you with is willing to help you learn the trade. Work or a huge company like stobarts and you will be left to sink or swim and end up with your confidence wrecked. Remember the phrase " learn to walk before you can run"
Put it this way if our lot had rigids and were going to give me the same money as Class1 my feet wouldn’t touch.
Nothing good or clever about driving artics mate…, and why would you leave a steady job where your employer obviously values you (a rarity these days…trust me) to go to somewhere like ■■■■ Stobarts , where you are just a number and a arse on a seat dressed in green…and a further 200 mile extra a week commute (if on days) into the equation.
No brainer, stay where you are.
Another thing…driving a small vehicle gains you confidence and is easier to find your way around while making balls ups, not to mention turn8ng around after wrong turnings.
I started by doing a year tramping in a Transit pick up believe it or not, by the time I got my Class1 I knew my way right through London (pre M25 and sat nav days) invaluable experience was that.
You’ve done the job for 2 minutes, take this opportunity to learn it propely with less pressure in terms of driving a smaller manouverable vehicle and from one of Stobart’s legendary planners.
As the rest have said stay where you are ,they must value you to offer you a pay rise , plus if a class 1 driver goes sick you could be called on to drive his wagon and they get class 2 agy in
Considering moving to a small family firm to do class 1 then yeh, go for it.
Moving to Eddie as a rookie you’ll get eaten alive. Bum shifts, crap lorries and the yard skivvy. They’ll run you ragged.
Stay where you are and get some miles under yer belt. Learn the major routes so you can get from one end of the UK to the other without a Satnav. Find out now about tight delivery places, non existant addresses, grumpy security staff, ignorant goods in punkawallahs, crappy MSAs whilst driving something you’re already confident and familiar with.
Pretty unanimous i’d say, and not just cos no bugger with any sense would suggest you go work for the green death either, but cos your gaffer is showing (with his wallet) what he thinks of you.
As pointed out in his inimitable way, Robroy makes a valid point, many of us of the older school started on vans and then moved onto 7.5 tonners before we were old enough to take our HGV licences.
I too covered hundreds of thousands of miles, and loads of London multi drops, in Trannies and Ford A/D Series motors, where i learned valuable lessons without having a monster of a motor to make all my many balls ups in, the Ford D’s in particular shod on Michelins also taught me how little grip lorry tyres really have in the wet, something else the new drivers of electronically stabilised vehicles miss out on.
If I was being paid class 1 money for the prospect of handballing 10 tonnes on and off, there is no way I’d be chuntering at the bit to step up to the privilege of 26 tonnes or more to handball for exactly the same money! I’d drive a Mini pick up by preference if the money was the same. Even disregarding the rarer occasions of handballing, a four wheeler’s curtains are a lot easier to handle in the wind than those on a full length trailer.
My mouth would be very firmly shut about wanting all the hassle attached to the bigger vehicle.
So you are on £30000 ish per annum with what sounds like a very fair and understanding boss, I would thank him very much for his offer and crack on with it. Like others have said just drive the class 2 and get some miles and experience under your belt.
liam6226:
Bare in mind I’ve only been driving class 2 for about 5/6 weeks and recently passed my class 1.
So basically I’m torn between staying where I am and getting a sort of pay rise of basic salary 530 a week plus every other sat at £13 p/h, this is what the class 1 drivers are on at my place and they’ve offered to pay me that whilst still on class 2 until a class 1 position becomes available…or go for the stobarts job in Immingham and get paid there hourly rate plus whatever allowances they pay too.
Also the stobarts job is a bit more of a commute think it’s about 20 miles each way from my house whereas my current job is less than 10. I know neither are best paying but you’ve got to start somewhere I suppose and I don’t know what good it’s going to do posting on here as I know it’s only myself that can decide but I’ve racked my brain enough today and think the missus has had enough of me going on about it so I’m just curious if anyone has any thoughts or opinions please…
Damned fool!
The only apparent explanation for why you’re considering this move is cos you’re itching to get straight on Class 1, and that’s understandable, but if your current boss is credible when he says he intends to get you on Class 1 and you’re happy enough as a whole with the setup where you are (and you’re getting Class 1 money in the meantime), then stick with it.
Even just that extra commute you talk about, when you drive all day anyway commuting becomes a grind. Another 10 miles each way is at least another 20 minutes driving a day and a significant amount of fuel. And the attitude towards drivers at Stobarts is generally appalling.
Unless there’s something you’re not happy about in the firm you’re at, I think you’d be crazy to move - especially to a firm like Stobarts, for whom the only good thing that can be said is that their equipment is always in good order. Their pay, their shifts, their attitudes, the rest of it is terrible.
Thanks everyone for their input and it helped because I’ve decided to stay where I am. Yes it’s true i would like to get on to Class 1 as soon as I can but that was mainly due to the money factor, I was on £86 a day on class 2 and when I started doing 12/13 hour plus shifts it was depressing me when I worked out the hourly rate, was relying on a few nights out and the every other Saturday shift to make up a decent wage but the new offer was certainly enough to keep me I don’t think I could’ve stayed for £430 a week though that was the main reason I started looking about for class 1 work anyway.
liam6226:
Bare in mind I’ve only been driving class 2 for about 5/6 weeks and recently passed my class 1.
So basically I’m torn between staying where I am and getting a sort of pay rise of basic salary 530 a week plus every other sat at £13 p/h, this is what the class 1 drivers are on at my place and they’ve offered to pay me that whilst still on class 2 until a class 1 position becomes available…or go for the stobarts job in Immingham and get paid there hourly rate plus whatever allowances they pay too.
Also the stobarts job is a bit more of a commute think it’s about 20 miles each way from my house whereas my current job is less than 10. I know neither are best paying but you’ve got to start somewhere I suppose and I don’t know what good it’s going to do posting on here as I know it’s only myself that can decide but I’ve racked my brain enough today and think the missus has had enough of me going on about it so I’m just curious if anyone has any thoughts or opinions please…
Damned fool!
The only apparent explanation for why you’re considering this move is cos you’re itching to get straight on Class 1, and that’s understandable, but if your current boss is credible when he says he intends to get you on Class 1 and you’re happy enough as a whole with the setup where you are (and you’re getting Class 1 money in the meantime), then stick with it.
Even just that extra commute you talk about, when you drive all day anyway commuting becomes a grind. Another 10 miles each way is at least another 20 minutes driving a day and a significant amount of fuel. And the attitude towards drivers at Stobarts is generally appalling.
Unless there’s something you’re not happy about in the firm you’re at, I think you’d be crazy to move - especially to a firm like Stobarts, for whom the only good thing that can be said is that their equipment is always in good order. Their pay, their shifts, their attitudes, the rest of it is terrible.
In nearly 6 months there at 3 different depots, usually driving a different vehicle each week I think I have only driven 2 units that are not damaged. I have never driven older than a 66 plate and most are 18s…
liam6226:
Thanks everyone for their input and it helped because I’ve decided to stay where I am. Yes it’s true i would like to get on to Class 1 as soon as I can but that was mainly due to the money factor, I was on £86 a day on class 2 and when I started doing 12/13 hour plus shifts it was depressing me when I worked out the hourly rate, was relying on a few nights out and the every other Saturday shift to make up a decent wage but the new offer was certainly enough to keep me I don’t think I could’ve stayed for £430 a week though that was the main reason I started looking about for class 1 work anyway.
Congratulations on that decent pay deal and well done for being new in the job.
The thing is like others already said, your boss seems to be impressed by your work ethic etc. That‘s why he pays you more bucks and he knows he’s got a reliable worker if he needs you doing Class 1 work.
Stay there for now, especially over winter and have a look around again next year.
I know one Ferry Trailer Outfit in your Area pays £12 per hour at the moment + OT but you never know what they expect and what the company is like etc. Therefore stay where you are.
Stobarts will always be around somewhere but I think you did the right thing by staying.
Out of interest > How many hours are expected from you per week or what are your contracted hours? If you don’t want to make that info public > PM (Personal Message) me.
liam6226:
Thanks everyone for their input and it helped because I’ve decided to stay where I am. Yes it’s true i would like to get on to Class 1 as soon as I can but that was mainly due to the money factor, I was on £86 a day on class 2 and when I started doing 12/13 hour plus shifts it was depressing me when I worked out the hourly rate, was relying on a few nights out and the every other Saturday shift to make up a decent wage but the new offer was certainly enough to keep me I don’t think I could’ve stayed for £430 a week though that was the main reason I started looking about for class 1 work anyway.
Right decision mate imo.
I’ve done mega bucks work both here and abroad and enjoyed it, but it’s no good getting good money if you work for a firm who either just think you are a number, treat you like crap…or worse both, it just makes the job crap for yourself.
If you get a firm who think a lot of you, are fair with you and actually treat you as a grown up (another rarity in today’s job ) it can be as good as an extra quid an hour imo for the quality of life in the job.
I was once lucky to have the best of both worlds, looked after and paid well…not so much these days, but at least I am not hassled or pushed as some of our other drivers are, mainly because I refuse to be.
Juddian:
Devil you know mate, you already work there so know what’s expected to earn your basic.
Also, and this isn’t usual, your gaffer is going to pay you class 1 money for class 2 work, so he sees something in you worth investing in and seems to me to be trying, that is not to be sniffed at.
Other than that, do you like it there, if so with the shorter commute and some sort of guaranteed wage…and no the wage isn’t fantastic but then far as i know the area isn’t a high payer except for specialised work.
Devil you know that’s what the missus said to me haha yeah it’s been ok so far I just want to get onto class 1 though it’s mainly class 2 at my place so it’s a case of waiting until a position comes up, as far as I’m aware I’m the only class 2 driver who has class 1 aswell and yeah I’m quite impressed they’ve decided to offer me a class 1 drivers wage to stay.
Class 1 is not all it’s cracked up to be. Just more hassle for the same pay in your case.
, where you are just a number and a arse on a seat dressed in green…and a further 200 mile extra a week commute (if on days) into the equation.
and Ford A/D Series motors, where i learned valuable lessons without having a monster of a motor to make all my many balls ups in, the Ford D’s in particular shod on Michelins also taught me how little grip lorry tyres really have in the wet, something else the new drivers of electronically stabilised vehicles miss out on.
) it can be as good as an extra quid an hour imo for the quality of life in the job.