So how would you think you job is thought about by other people or by yourself and how you feel about it.
I am a top class driver and any driver who has never said this to himself is a not a top class driver, it never means you are it’s just a moment when you do something that makes you feel like it, it’s personal thing and if you never felt it you don’t know what your missing.
As for respect, I have all the respect I need, why, because I am the one looking down on them.
Money, now that’s a hard one, I would put it down to how many hours you do, the more you do the more you should get.
Skill, your job if you look it up is up there with the likes of plumbers and welders and most skills that need a lot of school behind them, the state looks at you as a need for the country.
I think some people put HGV driving higher up than it really is,yes it’s a skilled job of sorts but the be a plumber,electrician ect you have to undertake years of training to get qualified where as a HGV licenece can be gained in a week…so although I’m a HGV driver and have been for 10 years I don’t see it as a “trade” or a highly skilled job,more a semi-skilled profession,let’s face it your only one licenece above car drivers,best to keep it all in perspective rather than getting into our heads we are sort sort of super heroes because we drive hgvs
You can become a qualified plumber in a few weeks. Sticking together bits of pipe isn’t exactly rocket science. Like truck driving it takes longer to become what is deemed a competent plumber. The initial qualification for a lot of things isn’t what makes you skilled, its the overall skills required to do the job. You can learn pretty much everything there is in plumbing in a couple of years, try doing that in haulage.
Yes the license is one step up from driving a car but driving from A to B is just a small part of the job. If you think that is all it is you must be one ■■■■ poor driver.
What’s with this obsession about how people think about your job.
Every job I’ve had, and that’s quite a few I’ve never given a thought about how that job was perceived by others.
As long as I’m happy doing the job. And it puts bread on the table that’s all that counts.
Conor:
You can become a qualified plumber in a few weeks. Sticking together bits of pipe isn’t exactly rocket science. Like truck driving it takes longer to become what is deemed a competent plumber. The initial qualification for a lot of things isn’t what makes you skilled, its the overall skills required to do the job. You can learn pretty much everything there is in plumbing in a couple of years, try doing that in haulage.
Yes the license is one step up from driving a car but driving from A to B is just a small part of the job. If you think that is all it is you must be one ■■■■ poor driver.
Or maybe you just need some perspective,I’ve driven class one for 9 years never had a bump so you opinion that I’m a “■■■■ poor” driver is,granted your own opinion that your entitled to but has no evidence to back it up.
Of course being a plumber is just sticking bits of pipe together,you krep telling yourself how important and skilled you are fella.
Conor:
You can become a qualified plumber in a few weeks. Sticking together bits of pipe isn’t exactly rocket science. Like truck driving it takes longer to become what is deemed a competent plumber. The initial qualification for a lot of things isn’t what makes you skilled, its the overall skills required to do the job. You can learn pretty much everything there is in plumbing in a couple of years, try doing that in haulage.
Yes the license is one step up from driving a car but driving from A to B is just a small part of the job.
+1
Yep. Apart from the standard (and unnecessary) insult at the end,then this is a valid point.
Anytime someone tries to make our job sound more than a bit simple you get the usual howls of Its easy,anyone can do it,its nothing etc etc and is almost always met with comparisons of its nothing like plumbers and electricans.
Is plumbing a skilled job to be put on a pedestal? Joining pipes and crawling around in the dirt and enclosed spaces? Hardly. I installed my complete bathroom from scratch. Its not difficult.
Is electritian also some job to be in awe of? Ive installed extra plug sockets,spur sockets for cookers,light switches etc from scratch too. Its not exactly difficult either. You only need to know what your doing.
Same with joinery. Some feel its a job of the shining halo but again,I installed my complete kitchen in a little over a day and a half.
So while I agree that HGV driving isnt a very difficult job and it obviously does not require years of training,its hardly to be put in the shadow of other more “important” jobs
I have both HGV and PSV licenses. Took me a few days to get both. I am also a qualified electronics and electrical engineer, but that took years at college to achieve.
Does a hairy assed neandertal steering a truck whilst blocking off the middle lane for miles when ascending an incline get due respect from the general populace, whilst drawing admiring glances from other road users for their ‘professionalism’.
LIBERTY_GUY:
I have both HGV and PSV licenses. Took me a few days to get both. I am also a qualified electronics and electrical engineer, but that took years at college to achieve.
Does a hairy assed neandertal steering a truck whilst blocking off the middle lane for miles when ascending an incline get due respect from the general populace, whilst drawing admiring glances from other road users for their ‘professionalism’.
Conor:
You can become a qualified plumber in a few weeks. Sticking together bits of pipe isn’t exactly rocket science. Like truck driving it takes longer to become what is deemed a competent plumber. The initial qualification for a lot of things isn’t what makes you skilled, its the overall skills required to do the job. You can learn pretty much everything there is in plumbing in a couple of years, try doing that in haulage.
Yes the license is one step up from driving a car but driving from A to B is just a small part of the job.
+1
Yep
+1 Anyone who thinks you can do our job one up from a car driver is living in cookoo land! Some may but the Majority prove otherwise! 47% currently pass class one of tests taken and with the amount of roll overs recently some of the 47% prove its not an easy profession!
LIBERTY_GUY:
I have both HGV and PSV licenses. Took me a few days to get both. I am also a qualified electronics and electrical engineer, but that took years at college to achieve.
Does a hairy assed neandertal steering a truck whilst blocking off the middle lane for miles when ascending an incline get due respect from the general populace, whilst drawing admiring glances from other road users for their ‘professionalism’.
Probably as much as an electrical engineer gets when there’s a power cut, actually.
The general public see us as fat 50 something scum bags who cannot drive and intentionally hold people up on motorways.
They want us to deliver their stuff, just not when they’re on their way to work/Ikea/Aunty Bettys etc. We should all work nights for no extra money so we don’t ever have to inconvenience them and their crap doesn’t cost any more money.
When it comes to this job I don’t really give one what others think of it, or me, or my driving style, or pretty much anything to do with it really. I’m in a job I like, getting paid what I consider enough for me & no matter what I do or say to anyone about it that won’t change. I can’t change anyone’s perception of me or the job or the truck or the employer so why waste time bothering or worrying about it.
Turn up on time, do the job to the best of your ability, go home, get paid. End of.
I remember reading about an actor, Lee Marvin I think, when making a film a new actor asked him " what’s my motivation for this scene?" He replied “Thursday” , "“why Thursday” asked the new guy, “because that’s payday” was the reply. That’s work, any work, in a nutshell, I don’t know anyone that goes in for nothing no matter how much you enjoy it.
