There are some decent jobs about.
But most drivers won’t take them on for fear of being micro managed.
Col81:
Brilliant advice. Looking at it I forgot to mention i have a 50 mile commute to work and i spend a good aamount on fuel and car repairs etc. This commute takes me 3 hours a day so in actual fact I am working 60 hours a week now!!! I can drop to £30k if it meant £25k for first 2 years so be it. Where is the best place to find out the steps. I can always do lessons and the test etc. I then have another string to my bow. I will do the hours I just hate sales one month £3000 after tax the next £1400 I want a steady wage month in month out
Buy a better car and stay what ur doing
You will be struggling to see 30 grand even 25 grand but it is a nice job in some ways - particularly if you are a socially maladjusted loner who likes listening to music and podcasts all day. You just need to keep your eye out for a job that suits you. I do 6 hours a day for 25 grand class 1
Anyone looking to change their career cannot go wrong with refrigeration. Abundance of work in industrial, agencies permanently ring trying to recruit for decent paying employers. Small community, yes we all know each other, probably the same cost of training if you pay for it yourself as a class 1 licence. Stay away from aircon though, that is the same as driving in comparison. Ok to get your foot through the door but only to be used as a stepping stone. Cannot understand anyone not doing it as their first career choice,
Col81:
Hi, I currently and always have worked in sales I am 39 years old with 0 points. I have always fancied the idea of a class 2 driver job (don’t fancy the bigger stuff). I currently earn £40k I would drop to £30k if it was possible. I live near liverpool. I would be prepared to do 45 hours per week. Am I likely as a new driver to get anywhere with this is it worth doing lessons/tests etc or is it a poor job. I am a grafter I just want a change and to know what I am earning rather than commission in sales. I presume I would earn a lot less in the first year why I build up. Looking for advice. Can the class 2 be done on a crash course like a driving test??
As everyone else says wait it out, but why not get your LGV2 when you can and sign on with an agency for ad hoc weekend work? This will usually be multidrop or food delivering, you can do 1 weekend a month on top of your standard job, and see if it’s for you? That way you be got the licence not given anything up and you can go from there. I do this a few times a year for some extra dough and to keep my cpc up.
Also depends on the sales you are in also, some sales jobs are higher pressure than others at least in some of them you can control your diary. In trucks you just get told be there by then !
Both jobs can be mentally taxing in different ways, class 2 can also be physical if handballing or moving cages. Good luck whatever you do.
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I am in car sales office based. I am going to look at it as you say. I am printing the licence forms off etc and cracking on.
Been watching Luke C on youtube hes done ok from working in Currys! Enjoying the videos
Col81:
I am in car sales office based. I am going to look at it as you say. I am printing the licence forms off etc and cracking on.
I can understand you wanting to get out of car sales if its anything like what I experienced selling cars for one of Arnold Clarks motorstores based in Nottingham. Jobwise It was the worse decision I ever made. Absolutely shocking the way the GM and Sales managers treated the sales staff. I was screamed at swore at over a desk told I couldn’t take holidays when I wanted the list goes on. I’d take struggling with cages up or down a hill over that job any day of the week.
Looking to do similar myself in the coming year, but am a bit different to the op in that I’ve had my ticket 20 odd years and have done it before.
Currently on the railway (not a driver though but on the overhead repairs) earning decent, but hours have just been cut and can see pay rates going down soon too, plus there’s a lot of skilled lads out of work at the moment so its an employers market. Added to me hating the job now, circumstances took me this way and at the time it seemed a good choice with a good long term future. Not any more 
Still need to do 2 more DCPC courses to get that back, plus have my ALLMI and telehandler. More looking towards crane work ie brick and block or cabins. The drop in money isn’t a problem as the family is growing up fast and the OH is back at work so I’m not the sole bread earner anymore. Daft as it sounds, looking back I was always happiest driving. I know its more micro managed now, but after dealing with the railway for 8 years I’m well used to that and the H&S bull.
I want to be a LUMBERJACK!
Col81:
Hi, I currently and always have worked in sales I am 39 years old with 0 points. I have always fancied the idea of a class 2 driver job (don’t fancy the bigger stuff). I currently earn £40k I would drop to £30k if it was possible. I live near liverpool. I would be prepared to do 45 hours per week. Am I likely as a new driver to get anywhere with this is it worth doing lessons/tests etc or is it a poor job. I am a grafter I just want a change and to know what I am earning rather than commission in sales. I presume I would earn a lot less in the first year why I build up. Looking for advice. Can the class 2 be done on a crash course like a driving test??
Just so you’re under no illusions, your idea of a 45 hour week would get you up to Wednesday, you could still have another 39 hours to finish your week off, and as for expectations of earnings, I’m afraid you are well off from the mark, I would suggest you sit and take a very long hard look at jumping in to this particular pool of despair. Look to re-train sure, but truck driving will not be the thing to give you the money or the free time you want. I’m desperately trying to get away from road haulage and all it’s evils, so it looks like we are on opposite ends of the scale.
There are decent jobs about.
The lads that chase it,at our place are earning well over 50k.
That’s mon-fri days…early starts.
Occaisonal night out/Saturday shift.
As said though…Not happening until you’ve made a name for yourself.
Be prepared for low/mid thirties tramping or mid/high twenties on day work
“earning well over 50k” - what type of work is this then?
I went more or less straight in to a 35k job but it was early starts, long days, weekends, London driving, backbreaking handball, and constantly breathing in flour, which sticks in your lungs, the money was good but not only did you really have to work for it, you were basically sacrificing your health. Some were earning 50k there, all were divorced or divorcing as far as I could tell, some of them bad backs and lungs, sometimes the money’s not worth it.
What is the point of earning 40-50K if a few months/years down the line you have to give it all to your divorce lawyers, remember you need two of them.
R420:
“earning well over 50k” - what type of work is this then?
Pharma
Col81:
I am in car sales office based. I am going to look at it as you say. I am printing the licence forms off etc and cracking on.
This. Another string to your bow never hurts, as has been said above, keep your job at the moment and just do a couple of days a fortnight to whet your whistle. You’ll also have options if you get laid off. This way you can see if you like being a trucker. Just remember that you must adhere to the working time directive for both jobs as if you were working seven days a week and had a smash on the motorway, it would be frowned upon.
You’ll also be racking up experience.
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Silver_Surfer , I refer to your comment about having an accident on a motorway if not adhering to working time rules and in your opinion " Could be frowned upon . "
In my opinion Gary Hart was up all night chatting to a woman online then fell asleep at the wheel , crashing on to a railway line resulting in multiple fatalities .
Even though Hart was not a lorry driver but the CPS had enough evidence to convict him , I find your comment flippant and ill thought out .
The prosecution gained evidence from his computer to show no sleep in the Selby rail crash .
For someone like you who never removes their Hi-Vis vest , it doesn’t exempt anyone from a custodial sentence due to the Government having Big Brother George Orwell powers to trace a paper trail for evidence of not taking adequate rest periods .
Reference to the Boyle brother’s five year sentence for tacho fraud , bullying drivers in to 21 hour shifts with no rest then binning the tachograph head , while unaware of port cctv , bank records of retail purchases and timed CCTV , weigh bridge times , customers CCTV and delivery times .
Lorry drivers can’t work all week then be on call at the weekend for the fire brigade , or serve as a reservist in the armed forces at the weekend while they should be on a weekly rest period.
noisycarl:
Col81:
Hi, I currently and always have worked in sales I am 39 years old with 0 points. I have always fancied the idea of a class 2 driver job (don’t fancy the bigger stuff). I currently earn £40k I would drop to £30k if it was possible. I live near liverpool. I would be prepared to do 45 hours per week. Am I likely as a new driver to get anywhere with this is it worth doing lessons/tests etc or is it a poor job. I am a grafter I just want a change and to know what I am earning rather than commission in sales. I presume I would earn a lot less in the first year why I build up. Looking for advice. Can the class 2 be done on a crash course like a driving test??Just so you’re under no illusions, your idea of a 45 hour week would get you up to Wednesday, you could still have another 39 hours to finish your week off, and as for expectations of earnings, I’m afraid you are well off from the mark, I would suggest you sit and take a very long hard look at jumping in to this particular pool of despair. Look to re-train sure, but truck driving will not be the thing to give you the money or the free time you want. I’m desperately trying to get away from road haulage and all it’s evils, so it looks like we are on opposite ends of the scale.
With the risk of this becomingmlike the four yorkshire men sketch, I’ve done sales jobs similar where you may be paid 8-5 salaried but reality is on the road from 530am traveling for no extra salary and working evenings and weekends to do admin you can’t do whilst driving. Certainly whilst truck driving there isn’t 20 e mails and 3 quotes to sort once you walk in your house. Like I say every job has it’s ups and downs. Some days in (some) sales you can work from home, not easy to do that with a truck!!
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Always the same old replies. Dont do it, worse job in the world, long hours, ect ect ect.
Ignore them and do what you feel is best for you. Most of the detractor’s on here, would be lucky to get a job as a shelf stacker. And as for the money thats just like any other job. There is good pay or not so good pay. But getting some experience behind you is the first step. As another more enlightened person said on here. Get you Licence & CPC get some weekend work ( Its there regardless of what some may say ) get some experience. You sound a sensible guy you can then see if its what you want.
And do consider the owner operator route. Again forget all of the crap you will be given, its a good route to follow more freedom to work the hours and take on the work that suites you. Its not easy but then nothing of any worth comes easy. And as I said Ignore all the doubters they are not giving you advice from there own experience as owner operators. And if it is then that shows clearly that they did not do there homework.
All the best of luck to you whatever you end up doing.