Hi i am currently still a serving soldier and my trade is Tank Transporter, but soon to be medicaly discharged from an injury from Afghanistan 
. Im 23 at the moment but by the time im out i will be nearer to 24. Been in my trade since 2011 and before some of uses say army drivers are crap im not a DROPS driver 
i drive everyday in an arctic or a Oshkosh HET when im in work. 
Just wanted to know back in Civvie street if i would be better trying to go down the heavy haulage route which im used to doing , or going down the other trucking routes curtain side, iso containers ect.
In my resettlement i will be able to get my HIAB,ADAR in tanks aswell as out and a full CPC course ( think its 35 hours) so this will help me out alot i hope.
Cheers.
Sorry to hear you are being discharged, where are you planning to settle? Midlands and Northwest are good areas for general distribution work. Not sure about heavy haulage but expect somebody will be along soon with some advice. Good luck with your resettlement.
Cheers
Joe
Hi Joe,
Im from Manchester and currently at home. Ive seen a company called Bennets of Wilmslow who do heavy haulage but not contacted them yet as not sure what route to go down. Suppose its all about the money with what area of work id go for.
cheers Taylor.
The problem you may have in ‘civvie’ street, is that many hauliers specify a minimum age of 25 due to insurance. With your background, I think you should be inclined to look at plant hire, or abnormal loads as you obviously experienced in transporting very heavy equipment.
Good luck with whatever route you take.
Hi Liberty Guy,
Yeah i thought that but ive worked for driving agencys over chrismas and summer leave and stuff before and they didnt have a problem with my age, but they proberbly pay alot hire insurance maybe?
cheers taylor.
As an ex pat living in the US I can,t help you with any info but here is an AMERICAN saying…
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
over here that’s said to past(vets) and present military and good luck with your endeavours.
Thank you Flyer747 i really appreciate it.
Your age might be a problem, but if you’re interested in staying on the tanks then I believe KBR are always looking for drivers.
On a pretty decent wedge too in comparison to the RLC, plus you don’t have to worry about a crap capbadge 
If you’re getting your ADR then there a few companies around Manchester who might be willing to give you a chance on the tankers, I believe Suttons and Isotank are the ones nearest.
Hi I which sqn were you as I served at 16 the problem is most heavy haulage won’t touch you as your military expearance means nowt but for the heavy side of life a lot of people start on carting steel but it’s down to you to sell your self good luck I left 3 1/2 years and been imployed as a driver since day 1
Angus25:
Hi I which sqn were you as I served at 16 the problem is most heavy haulage won’t touch you as your military expearance means nowt but for the heavy side of life a lot of people start on carting steel but it’s down to you to sell your self good luck I left 3 1/2 years and been imployed as a driver since day 1
Why does the military experience count as nowt?
Just wondering really
Hi Andi_cardiff
Yeah most of the blokes who work at KBR are ex army lads but they also wont look at me unless im 25 plus most of the lads who work for them are sold out to agencys then brought back to Bulford every now and then for work. Just looked at the tanker companies websites so will keep them in mind once i get my ADR license.
Hi Angus 25
im at 19 sqn just been on h18 with keith beddingfield but hes changed his name now you proberly know him. Ive not heard of any steel places near me more north est work that i think.
Cheers taylor.
Hi bazza 123,
Proberbly because priti much every driver in the army apart from me drives DROPS and even then they only do it on operations and cant drive for [zb]
The rule is that you type it, then leave the auto censor to do its work. Thanks. dd.
Could approach the heavy firms with a view to start as a mate and work your way up(prove yourself). You can also see if it’s for you and it’s you already having your license you might find you’re not a mate for very long if you can prove you won’t be a liability.
taylor91:
Hi bazza 123,
Proberbly because priti much every driver in the army apart from me drives DROPS and even then they only do it on operations and cant drive for [zb]
I know a chap who rolled his DROPS in Iraq, bet that didn’t go down well!
Hi ollienotts,
Yeah thats a good idea well worth a look just hope they dont say it would cost more in insurace just having me there tho.
cheers taylor.
We started an army lad a couple of months back down at our Southern depot, who isn’t 25 yet. Mostly curtainside, occasional low-loader. He was on agency for a company we know, they knew he was looking for a job and we were looking for a driver. They said he was a good worker, so job sorted for both of us. Agency work can be a route to employment and at least it gives you experience!
Re the insurance for under 25s, for us it’s an additional £500 on the excess, so the warnings have been made clear about him having an accident If you find someone that is interested in taking you on but is worried about the insurance side, ask them if it would just be an increase in excess; I think some firms think there will be a large increase in the premium, but that isn’t necessarily the case.
taylor91:
bazza123:
taylor91:
Hi bazza 123,
Proberbly because priti much every driver in the army apart from me drives DROPS and even then they only do it on operations and cant drive for [zb]
I know a chap who rolled his DROPS in Iraq, bet that didn’t go down well!
my point exactly ha
Not all of us DROPS lads were that bad haha!
The reason the army part don’t count is a lot of lads have only driven class 2 and then don’t drive enough but as I said you have to sell your self and yeh I know Keith I did telic and heric with the transporters fun