Hi all I’ve been looking at the forum for some time and finally decided to join after passing my C&E on Friday, obviously I’m over the moon. I’ve held my C since 2006 and have done a concrete mixer job and a fuel distribution job, my ADR has since expired as I left the job as a friend offered me a job that was too good to refuse!!! wish I had though. So now I’ve got my class 1 it’s where do I go from here. I’m actually considering looking at getting my own truck and doing subbie work, what’s the more senior members thoughts?
can’t give any advice on ownership etc, but congratulations all the same on passing 
well done mate personnally never owned or operated my own truck no would i want to but i would say learn to walk before you run
bjd:
well done mate personnally never owned or operated my own truck no would i want to but i would say learn to walk before you run
That could be the greatest advise of all, Thanks.
squibbo:
bjd:
well done mate personnally never owned or operated my own truck no would i want to but i would say learn to walk before you runThat could be the greatest advise of all, Thanks.
+1.
You learn a lot from being employed by a haulier before going it alone.
dar1976:
squibbo:
bjd:
well done mate personnally never owned or operated my own truck no would i want to but i would say learn to walk before you runThat could be the greatest advise of all, Thanks.
+1.
You learn a lot from being employed by a haulier before going it alone.
having driving trucks all beit class 2 tankers and concrete mixers I suppose I feel like I’ve ‘served my apprenticship’ and was hoping it may be a bit easier to move on, but I’m open to any advise from all.
good luck for the future 
now you have passed the C+E part, as soon as you start with an employer actually driving the artics/w&d’s, you have basically got no experience as far as the insurance is concerned
yes, you may have had 6 years driving Cat C vehicles, but, none in C+E
as for owning your own truck, let’s leave that idea on the back burner for a few years 
As everyone else has said Try before you buy.You would need to do your operator CPC not an easy qualification to achieve.There are a lot of hurdles involved in running any sort of business these days.
Well done money well spent! your previous experience on the mixers will serve you well, driving C+E will come easily.
As for starting as an O/D take some time to learn the business, the costs involved are huge and profit margins small. good luck and “crack on”