I’m currently working in IT for a very large company, pays well, buts thats as far as it goes. Like most others who work in IT, the threat of out-sourcing/off shoring etc is worrying (companies can get 4 or more IT workers in India for the same money). Further to that the job is highly stressful, you can never walk away at the end of the day and forget it, the hours are very long too.
As a result I’d interested in investigating the potential to have a career change or some backup plan. Truck driving has always had an appeal, but after reading some of the posts here, it seems to have put me right off. But I’d thought I’d ask anyway, as you seem a friendly bunch
Anyway I have uncle who has been a truck driver (currently BP tanker driver) for as long as I can remember and I’ll get around asking him for his advice too.
PS I’ve had experience of being hated by other road users, was brought up on a farm so driving tractors puts me at the top of the most hated people on the road (but I loved it).
I’m currently working in IT for a very large company, pays well, buts thats as far as it goes. Like most others who work in IT, the threat of out-sourcing/off shoring etc is worrying (companies can get 4 or more IT workers in India for the same money). Further to that the job is highly stressful, you can never walk away at the end of the day and forget it, the hours are very long too.
As a result I’d interested in investigating the potential to have a career change or some backup plan. Truck driving has always had an appeal, but after reading some of the posts here, it seems to have put me right off. But I’d thought I’d ask anyway, as you seem a friendly bunch
Anyway I have uncle who has been a truck driver (currently BP tanker driver) for as long as I can remember and I’ll get around asking him for his advice too.
PS I’ve had experience of being hated by other road users, was brought up on a farm so driving tractors puts me at the top of the most hated people on the road (but I loved it).
Firstly welcome to Tnet JAH
We do have at least one member who has done exactly what you you have in mind and for him at least, as far as I am aware has never looked back but everybody’s situations are different and my best advice to you is gather as much information as you can. Look through the forums and use the chat room to talk to people I’m sure you will find that the good people here are only to willing to answer any questions. So make yourself at home and I’m sure the others ill be along soon with their two pen’narth!
I don’t hate it, I love it, but then i’m lucky in that i’ve never had to drive full time week in, week out.
I’m not driving just now & missing it…a LOT!
Its only as stressful as you make it & the hours are now reducing due to the implementation of the Working Time Directive which states you can only work an average 48 hour week. But note “working” & being AT work are not the same thing. i.e. Don’t only expect to be at work 48 hrs a week.
If you read some of Coffeeholics diaries in here you’ll see that it doesn’t have to be stressful…although Neils work is on the easier side. (I’m sure he daren’t argue with that ) BUT he’s with the truck & the job all 5 or 6 days a week. i.e. not walking away from it & forgetting about it at night. Some jobs, say supermarkets, you can do that.
hi JAH welcome to TRUCKNET UK , you say that you are considering a change of employment ,okay it seems that from what you say your working long hours allready so this one small problem that you are used to as a lorry driver can/will/maybe doing long hours as welldepending on what type of work SHE/HE is doing.
the social life is nearly all ways veryx different to those who you now mix with as when employed it maybe that you work longer hours aaaare away from home more return from journeys (international.work) at illregular intervals,
ALL new drivers will be haveing to take a much harder and wider based test-written exam as directed by the EU from Brussels,
dependinghow old you are due to what some if not most of the insurance firms require that drivers are 25+ ,but this is not by every firm true.
when going for a job they willsay have you got any experience normally
they like 2-3years,
now tothe nitty gritty wages depending on where and what type of firm takes you on will also depend how much you will earn,
NOW THAT I HAVE DONE THE BLACK side of job I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE BETTER HALF OF THEJOB
WHEN yoUHAVE PASSED YOUR TEST TRY FIRST OF ALL BY WORKING FOR A AGENCEY as this will give you a very varied and hard work experience
which will be BENIFIT WHEN YOU START AT A FIRM;
OR you try to get in with one of the following type of fims as these dotake on young/NEW DRIVERS TO TRAIN TO WORK AS THEY WISH YOU TO DO;
HOYER;STOBARTS;SHIRLEYS:PETER LANE:SAINTS;WALTERS; or try to start
by one of the supermarkts like…TESCO,s.SAINSBURY:ALDI;MORRISONS:
etc etc
If you do become atruck driver depending on what you do ie,ADR/HAZERDOUS inroadtankers, or SILO; etc this will effect how much you can earn,
nOW WE COME TOTHE BIT WHERE IF YOU HAVE READ THIS FARthen you
willhave realised that the job does have its ups and downs butand this is abig BUT, the JOB IS GREAT as you willyourself experience when you take it up it is not a bed of roses but its a wonderfull way tosee places,meet various types of people from bad —to–fantastic , my own personal attitude is take every day as it comes and every day is a holiday for for whichsome pays me to do, all the best in what ever you do as you alone can take the next step,
I know exactly how you feel, I was in IT for 11 years in a small company - almost constant worry that the company was going to go under and that I would have the wrong skillset to get a job that I would want in IT. Sleepless nights and ended up making myself ill with worry until finally I got the chance to take redundancy - by then I had had enough and jumped at the chance.
Did my class 2 about 3 months back, and then signed up with agencies - driving rigids that ranged between old bangers and nearly new with all the bells & whistles. Best thing about the job is that, whilst the hours are long you can switch off as soon as you close your tacho - unlike in IT. Just done my class 1, and it gets even better. If you are thinking about it then why not try a course and see how you go ■■ You can always do agency work whilst you are still in IT to see what you want to persue !?!?
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