Most mine a while back and just thought it’s worth saying a replacement doesn’t last another 5 years. I never got a reminder through and (perhaps stupidly) assumed itd have more than a month left on it. Ended up without work for 2 weeks.
Renewed mine at the start of the month, it kicks in on Wednesday. I don’t see the problem. If you don’t want to pay for CPC training, medicals et al, get a nice cushy job driving the Gloucester trunk every night for XPO. If you want to do more than the same run every day or something which requires a bit more talent than a well trained monkey then yes, go agency, get variety but accept that you will need to spend a little money to keep it up.
Medicals are less than £50, CPC training can be found for £40ish a day and your Digi is £19 at renewal. So all told, being able to do what we do costs one days wages a year, and that allows you to do a good 300 days paid work. No-brainer really.
nsmith1180:
Medicals are less than £50, CPC training can be found for £40ish a day and your Digi is £19 at renewal. So all told, being able to do what we do costs one days wages a year, and that allows you to do a good 300 days paid work. No-brainer really.
This. I used to be a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer years ago. That required several Microsoft Professional certifications and they would be retired by Microsoft every few years and needed to be retaken. That involved an exam for each certification with a minimum 85% pass mark. Not done it for a while and all of mine are retired but you were effectively spending the equivalent of the cost of doing a HGV license every few years to get a bit of paper which proved you could do what you’d been doing. The cost of a digicard and DCPC every 5 years is a bargain by comparison.
Lots of jobs have costs associated with them in order to be able to continue to do the job and most are more costly than we have to pay.
Conor:
Bluey Circles:
its not just the cost of the card though, doctors opticians, dcpc … these expenses just seem to be never ending, and for what, a job that barely pays more than the minimum with everyone treating and talking to you as if you were some sort of numpty.So don’t pay it, sod off and go do something else instead.
Sadly that is probably where I’m headed - I had always thought on retirement I could do some driving on a very part time basis, just enough to raise some money for a descent holiday. But the costs of getting involved are just stupid, and for what a job of massive responsibility that pays 8 or 9 quid an hour. As I said above I could easily get 15 for digging holes (and get paid during my breaks) only qualification needed is a strong pair of shoulders, its a no brainer really!. And above all that, after listening to what many in here are saying about the job today, and after to talking to many in the real world I am coming to the conclusion that the job is not what it used to be, the good bits are getting less and less and the bad bits are getting more and more, so yep, and with a heavy heart I probably will be, as you put it, ‘sodding off’ 
Bluey Circles:
Sadly that is probably where I’m headed - I had always thought on retirement I could do some driving on a very part time basis, just enough to raise some money for a descent holiday. But the costs of getting involved are just stupid, and for what a job of massive responsibility that pays 8 or 9 quid an hour. As I said above I could easily get 15 for digging holes (and get paid during my breaks) only qualification needed is a strong pair of shoulders, its a no brainer really!. And above all that, after listening to what many in here are saying about the job today, and after to talking to many in the real world I am coming to the conclusion that the job is not what it used to be, the good bits are getting less and less and the bad bits are getting more and more, so yep, and with a heavy heart I probably will be, as you put it, ‘sodding off’
Or only drive analogue tacho vehicles. There are enough still out there.
Bluey Circles:
Conor:
Bluey Circles:
its not just the cost of the card though, doctors opticians, dcpc … these expenses just seem to be never ending, and for what, a job that barely pays more than the minimum with everyone treating and talking to you as if you were some sort of numpty.So don’t pay it, sod off and go do something else instead.
Sadly that is probably where I’m headed - I had always thought on retirement I could do some driving on a very part time basis, just enough to raise some money for a descent holiday. But the costs of getting involved are just stupid, and for what a job of massive responsibility that pays 8 or 9 quid an hour. As I said above I could easily get 15 for digging holes (and get paid during my breaks) only qualification needed is a strong pair of shoulders, its a no brainer really!. And above all that, after listening to what many in here are saying about the job today, and after to talking to many in the real world I am coming to the conclusion that the job is not what it used to be, the good bits are getting less and less and the bad bits are getting more and more, so yep, and with a heavy heart I probably will be, as you put it, ‘sodding off’
You live in a city or town/country??
Plenty of Agri Contractors/Farmers about the country take on a man PT for a decent rate at busy times of year.
If you can handle an artic not hard to learn the workings of tractor and silage trailer or slurry tanker etc etc!!![emoji6]
Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk
lolipop:
The most anyone pays for a digi card is £38 for
(1)First application
(2)Suspended or revoked
(3) Change of Country or State
All the rest are £19 or free
Don`t be such a tight arse £19 for 5 years is absolutely peanuts for doing at most 180 hrs in 5 years
Forces or student discount available?
My licence and tacho are due within 2 days of each other in February 
Can’t you bang in on snap or your fuel card?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Plenty of Agri Contractors/Farmers about the country take on a man PT for a decent rate at busy times of year.
If you can handle an artic not hard to learn the workings of tractor and silage trailer or slurry tanker etc etc!!![emoji6]
and 10000 tangs on the grass say,amen to that…plus theres always an analogue card job on the go for the dwindling few… 
nsmith1180:
Or only drive analogue tacho vehicles. There are enough still out there.
Except that, if you’re paying for paper charts, it works out more expensive. Let’s say you work 250 days per year, and charts are £5 per box. That’s £12.50 per year in charts, or £62.50 over 5 years. So, people complain about the “high cost” of digital tacho cards, but they’re actually significantly cheaper for full-time drivers.
Now, if your employer gives you the paper charts, they also ought to be paying for your digital tacho card renewal. Employers have been using the change to digital tacho as an excuse to pass this cost onto drivers, but in reality they should be paying it themselves.
theringmonster:
LOL! The money we earn as drivers and someone moaning about a measly 32quid to keep their job for the next 5yrs…
Seriously?
It does not matter if it is 32 quid, 320 quid or 3.20, it is just yet another excuse for a tax out of our wages, and as long as drivers have ‘willing to readily put up with anything’ type attitudes like yours we will continue to be taxed in any other new way they can come up with out of the …'good money we earn. 
robroy:
theringmonster:
LOL! The money we earn as drivers and someone moaning about a measly 32quid to keep their job for the next 5yrs…Seriously?
It does not matter if it is 32 quid, 320 quid or 3.20, it is just yet another excuse for a tax out of our wages, and as long as drivers have ‘willing to readily put up with anything’ type attitudes like yours we will continue to be taxed in any other new way they can come up with out of the …'good money we earn.
How bloody true Rob. All together now, ‘And the one on the end said, roll over, roll over.’
robroy:
theringmonster:
LOL! The money we earn as drivers and someone moaning about a measly 32quid to keep their job for the next 5yrs…Seriously?
It does not matter if it is 32 quid, 320 quid or 3.20, it is just yet another excuse for a tax out of our wages, and as long as drivers have ‘willing to readily put up with anything’ type attitudes like yours we will continue to be taxed in any other new way they can come up with out of the …'good money we earn.
Whilst i agree with you, again, part of the problem we have is so many drivers who chase the lorry not the terms and conditions, they’ve got it arse backwards, a posh motor is not going to feed and house their family’s nor necessarily give them the chance to be at home to enjoy the fruits of their labours.
I’m the first to admit i’d be tempted by a properly specced for the job manual gearbox correctly engined motor, which could have any badge on the front incl Hino, in order to return some pleasure and pride that there used to be in driving a proper, to me that is not others, lorry.
Not interested in impressing others or small boys with what one might think is a good looking or desirable lorry with the right badge or the right BHP figure prominently displayed.
But none of that is going to happen in the real world for me, and yes i know i don’t speak for many here, long ago i found that chasing the terms and conditions is THE way forward.
The better jobs out there as well as paying the right money for a reasonable number of hours, also pay for all the expenses involved, from medicals, to DCPC in work time, and digi card renewals.
They usually offer new and well maintained equipment but it’s usually fleet spec stuff, not what i particularly want to drive being automated crap but whilst these jobs pay up to and over twice the rates elsewhere (when you do the all important cal of dividing top line by hours worked, not incl night out pay), plus the expenses on top, then thats where drivers should really be aiming at.
If the good drivers who can do the job reliably and trouble free seek out these jobs, and they do exist but you have to find them because they are not advertised, then other employers who want better drivers will have to up their terms and conditions including paying for all this taxation guff, instead of upping the desirability and BHP badge.
Obviously none of this applies to agency lads, apart form the odd oddball, they get given any old lorry thats handy and go and do their work without complaint, all we can hope is they are getting enough readies to cover everything.
Too many drivers willing to be lead by the nose always was and always will, they would not know how to speak up for themselves if there life depended on it, you only have to look on this site to know that, some of the question’s and answers belong on a joke site hard to believe they are allowed to drive a car never mind a truck and they will always work for peanuts and do long hours and its nothing to do with foreigners bringing down the wage the ticks where always there, they would not get a job anywhere else that’s why you will always be working in a industry that mostly employs rejects and you will never be considered a professional worker.
robroy:
theringmonster:
LOL! The money we earn as drivers and someone moaning about a measly 32quid to keep their job for the next 5yrs…Seriously?
It does not matter if it is 32 quid, 320 quid or 3.20, it is just yet another excuse for a tax out of our wages, and as long as drivers have ‘willing to readily put up with anything’ type attitudes like yours we will continue to be taxed in any other new way they can come up with out of the …'good money we earn.
So have you acquired a digi card, dcpc, medical, etc? It matters not if you just cough up, or ■■■■■ like ■■■■ on a forum whilst acquiring it all, if you wanna make a stand, make a stand, if you don’t, don’t make out you do!!!
stevieboy308:
robroy:
theringmonster:
LOL! The money we earn as drivers and someone moaning about a measly 32quid to keep their job for the next 5yrs…Seriously?
It does not matter if it is 32 quid, 320 quid or 3.20, it is just yet another excuse for a tax out of our wages, and as long as drivers have ‘willing to readily put up with anything’ type attitudes like yours we will continue to be taxed in any other new way they can come up with out of the …'good money we earn.
So have you acquired a digi card, dcpc, medical, etc? It matters not if you just cough up, or ■■■■■ like [zb] on a forum whilst acquiring it all, if you wanna make a stand, make a stand, if you don’t, don’t make out you do!!!
Thanks for that mate.
I was not as much ■■■■■■■■ more replying, addressing a point and giving a contradictory opinion on it, about how the o/p was evidently happy by his attitude with the situation, where as I am not as over the moon as he appears to be.
Yeh I got the dcpc and all the rest of the crap, but it does not automatically mean that I do not begrudge paying it out of my wage.
Sorry but I thought that was the idea of a forum, discussing a point made, and giving your opinion on it,… or have I got it wrong somewhere .
Perhaps you could point out the correct purpose of it for my future use and posts. 
Btw Where did I say (or imply) I made a stand exactly.?
…No, I’ve read it again and still can not see it. 
So I stand by what I posted.
robroy:
stevieboy308:
robroy:
theringmonster:
LOL! The money we earn as drivers and someone moaning about a measly 32quid to keep their job for the next 5yrs…Seriously?
It does not matter if it is 32 quid, 320 quid or 3.20, it is just yet another excuse for a tax out of our wages, and as long as drivers have ‘willing to readily put up with anything’ type attitudes like yours we will continue to be taxed in any other new way they can come up with out of the …'good money we earn.
So have you acquired a digi card, dcpc, medical, etc? It matters not if you just cough up, or ■■■■■ like [zb] on a forum whilst acquiring it all, if you wanna make a stand, make a stand, if you don’t, don’t make out you do!!!
Thanks for that mate.
I was not as much ■■■■■■■■ more replying, addressing a point and giving a contradictory opinion on it, about how the o/p was evidently happy by his attitude with the situation, where as I am not as over the moon as he appears to be.
Yeh I got the dcpc and all the rest of the crap, but it does not automatically mean that I do not begrudge paying it out of my wage.Sorry but I thought that was the idea of a forum, discussing a point made, and giving your opinion on it,… or have I got it wrong somewhere .
Perhaps you could point out the correct purpose of it for my future use and posts.Btw Where did I say (or imply) I made a stand exactly.?
…No, I’ve read it again and still can not see it.
So I stand by what I posted.
Hi!
Having a dig at people who just cough up and basically saying it’s yours and people like you’s fault is just a bit rich in my book when all you are doing is ■■■■■■■■ on a forum about it! You are bang on in what a forum is for though! Of course it is for that and I didn’t say otherwise, but if that’s all you are doing then I don’t think you’ve any right sitting on the horse. Again, if you’re not making a stand I think it’s a bit hypocritical pointing the finger at those who are not and just accepting it. The powers that be aren’t arsed what people say on a forum, so long as the uptake of the latest thing gets the numbers, regardless of who pays, they’ll carry on.
stevieboy308:
Hi!Having a dig at people who just cough up and basically saying it’s yours and people like you’s fault is just a bit rich in my book when all you are doing is ■■■■■■■■ on a forum about it! You are bang on in what a forum is for though! Of course it is for that and I didn’t say otherwise, but if that’s all you are doing then I don’t think you’ve any right sitting on the horse. Again, if you’re not making a stand I think it’s a bit hypocritical pointing the finger at those who are not and just accepting it. The powers that be aren’t arsed what people say on a forum, so long as the uptake of the latest thing gets the numbers, regardless of who pays, they’ll carry on.
Just to reiterate I was not ■■■■■■■■ I was giving my opinion.
(btw…Sitting on a horse? 
that has gone right over my swede bud. )
You do not know anything about me mate, or how when and where I acquired anything.
For all you know I could have blagged the dcpc, if I had I would be not so stupid as to disclose it on here, I would also not be equally, or even more stupid, than to make a desypete style one man nose to spite face stand and lose my job over it, I may even have had it paid for, who knows, who cares, it is irrelevent, and certainly does not make me a hypocrite.
As I said I was merely commenting on the o/p’s perceived subservient attitude.
In fact, you do not know how much of a stand I make on anything, but I certainly do not bend down just for any old crap.
As for me trying to influence the ‘Powers that be’ by expressing an opinion, the intention did not even enter my head.
Hope that clears things up.
Still haven’t got the horse reference though
robroy:
stevieboy308:
Hi!Having a dig at people who just cough up and basically saying it’s yours and people like you’s fault is just a bit rich in my book when all you are doing is ■■■■■■■■ on a forum about it! You are bang on in what a forum is for though! Of course it is for that and I didn’t say otherwise, but if that’s all you are doing then I don’t think you’ve any right sitting on the horse. Again, if you’re not making a stand I think it’s a bit hypocritical pointing the finger at those who are not and just accepting it. The powers that be aren’t arsed what people say on a forum, so long as the uptake of the latest thing gets the numbers, regardless of who pays, they’ll carry on.
Just to reiterate I was not ■■■■■■■■ I was giving my opinion.
(btw…Sitting on a horse?
You do not know anything about me mate, or how when and where I acquired anything.
For all you know I could have blagged the dcpc, if I had I would be not so stupid as to disclose it on here, I would also not be equally, or even more stupid, than to make a desypete style one man nose to spite face stand and lose my job over it, I may even have had it paid for, who knows, who cares, it is irrelevent, and certainly does not make me a hypocrite.As I said I was merely commenting on the o/p’s perceived subservient attitude.
In fact, you do not know how much of a stand I make on anything, but I certainly do not bend down just for any old crap.
As for me trying to influence the ‘Powers that be’ by expressing an opinion, the intention did not even enter my head.
Hope that clears things up.Still haven’t got the horse reference though
Like I said earlier, it matters not how you acquire them, you pay, your firm pays, you buy it cheap off dodgy Dave’s dcpc, or free because you’ve got something on him! You’re ticked off as a good little boy Like the rest of us!!
If you’ve made a stand tell me. Telling someone it’s their fault we have these hoops and the more that will follow because they just accept it, whilst albeit begrudgingly accepting / paying for it without actually doing anything to stop it, is hypocritical in my book.
It was a high horse reference
stevieboy308:
Like I said earlier, it matters not how you acquire them, you pay, your firm pays, you buy it cheap off dodgy Dave’s dcpc, or free because you’ve got something on him! You’re ticked off as a good little boy Like the rest of us!!If you’ve made a stand tell me. Telling someone it’s their fault we have these hoops and the more that will follow because they just accept it, whilst albeit begrudgingly accepting / paying for it without actually doing anything to stop it, is hypocritical in my book.
Yeh? Well not in mine.
We are at the stage where we are going around in circles here, I keep trying to explain and you keep chucking the same accusations at me.
I have no intention of telling you or anybody on here anything about making or not making a stand on this type of crap.
Suffice to say I did not just readily do and say as the o/p did (subject of our argument btw, not how I did or did not pay for stealth taxes) that was ‘‘Yeh bring it on, with the wages I make, who cares’’
Even a ■■■■■ or a moan as you put it, displays an element of resistance or displeasure in comparison to mateys ‘‘where do I bend over’’ stance…which is what I was commenting on
Can we call it a day on this now or what mate??