No one still doing the job is ever going to tell you it’s no good are they! I did the job for years, had three lovely new lorries but found myself always fighting the overdraft. Not having proper holidays and never really being way from the poxy job or the related paperwork that goes along with it. The penny dropped for me last autumn and I decided to sell the lorry and get a job. Do I feel better for it? You bet i do!!
There needs to be a serious rethink of the rates tippers are working for otherwise the big firms will have no option but put fleets of trucks on the road themselves and employ drivers otherwise orders simply won’t be delivered. They’ve brought what used to be a good job to its knees in my opinion.
The big companies have in my opinion employed accountants to gear the franchise system earnings to “just” allow you to earn enough to pay your bills and pay yourself a “not” very good wage. The rates need to be increased by a huge margin to allow hauliers to put money aside for truck replacement or to face the cost of a possible major breakdown. I began to worry when my lorry was getting towards the end of its warranty because even after all the years of hard work and long hours I realised a major component failure would bust me, simple as that!!
If you decide to have a go I wish you well but be very careful of what rates you work for, you can make a living but you won’t make any money on todays rates.
BB
blackie:
Just started on a tipper job, average weekly earnings £3240 + VAT.
Only do 5 loads a week, Monday to Friday, all motorway work, only a
bit off road to tip.
Blimey Blackie, you’re on £648 + vat per load on those figures. How many miles a week are you doing to earn this £3,240 for just 5 loads?
BB
CruiseControl:
SCANIA730:
Are there any on here and what is it like to be one money etc
I have a good friend that operates an old ERF (E10) before it became EC and the old girl keeps going strong. My preference would be to go for an ERF EC11 (better on fuel) or a Foden 3325 (good pay load).
Robert
Haven’t seen one of those 8wheelers about this neck of the woods in maybe 10yrs 
Big Truck:
CruiseControl:
SCANIA730:
Are there any on here and what is it like to be one money etc
I have a good friend that operates an old ERF (E10) before it became EC and the old girl keeps going strong. My preference would be to go for an ERF EC11 (better on fuel) or a Foden 3325 (good pay load).
Robert
Haven’t seen one of those 8wheelers about this neck of the woods in maybe 10yrs
Pop down to Flax Bourton Quarry and you’ll see she’s alive and well - owned and taken care of by one of the ‘legends of the quarry’.
Basilbrush:
No one still doing the job is ever going to tell you it’s no good are they! I did the job for years, had three lovely new lorries but found myself always fighting the overdraft. Not having proper holidays and never really being way from the poxy job or the related paperwork that goes along with it. The penny dropped for me last autumn and I decided to sell the lorry and get a job. Do I feel better for it? You bet i do!!
There needs to be a serious rethink of the rates tippers are working for otherwise the big firms will have no option but put fleets of trucks on the road themselves and employ drivers otherwise orders simply won’t be delivered. They’ve brought what used to be a good job to its knees in my opinion.
The big companies have in my opinion employed accountants to gear the franchise system earnings to “just” allow you to earn enough to pay your bills and pay yourself a “not” very good wage. The rates need to be increased by a huge margin to allow hauliers to put money aside for truck replacement or to face the cost of a possible major breakdown. I began to worry when my lorry was getting towards the end of its warranty because even after all the years of hard work and long hours I realised a major component failure would bust me, simple as that!!
If you decide to have a go I wish you well but be very careful of what rates you work for, you can make a living but you won’t make any money on todays rates.
BB
Yes, as you say it’s a very fine line - those that have the mechanical knowledge to maintain their own units stand a far greater chance for making a few quid whilst killing themselves in the process…
Basilbrush:
blackie:
Just started on a tipper job, average weekly earnings £3240 + VAT.
Only do 5 loads a week, Monday to Friday, all motorway work, only a
bit off road to tip.
Blimey Blackie, you’re on £648 + vat per load on those figures. How many miles a week are you doing to earn this £3,240 for just 5 loads?
BB
Hi BB
We do about 1900 mile’s a week, around £1.70 per mile
