I will cut to the chase. I gained my class 1 + 2 licenses in 2006 when I was 24 but could not get a driving job for love nor money. At the time there was supposedly a “driver shortage” but I think this was just a marketing ploy by the training firms.
I got very depressed as I so wanted to be a proffesional driver and was very proud to have passed my tests and without being arrogant I know I am a very good driver. (Even the examiner said so!)
Anyhow now the economy is picking up I’m trying to decide if it’s worth trying again to get into the drving proffesion as I don’t have much work on.
I would be happy to do class 2 or even 7.5 t work, the only thing I have driven since passing is gritting lorries for a short time!
So is it worth going for or should I look elsewhere for a career, I don’t think I could stand a 9-5 office job. I live in South East Wales btw.
And now I’ve been told by an agency I need 35hrs cpc training.
Well, I got class 2 work within 1 week of passing my class 2 test, so I’d say there is deffo jobs out there, given that newbies like me are getting offered work, albeit with agencies.
As far as CPC goes, it depends on when you passed your test. If you have grandfather rights, you’ll need to do the 35 hour periodic training. If not, you’ll have to do the initial CPC, which is modules 2 & 4. Mods 2 & 4 are pretty easy and straight forward.
Endgame:
Well, I got class 2 work within 1 week of passing my class 2 test, so I’d say there is deffo jobs out there, given that newbies like me are getting offered work, albeit with agencies.
As far as CPC goes, it depends on when you passed your test. If you have grandfather rights, you’ll need to do the 35 hour periodic training. If not, you’ll have to do the initial CPC, which is modules 2 & 4. Mods 2 & 4 are pretty easy and straight forward.
He said he passed his test in 2006
You will need the 35 hr cpc yes before you can drive commercially also a digi card would be an advantage
There is work out there but you might have to go & look for it visit all the local haulage companies or others that have there own vehicles
You could also go to some agencies if you want but dont believe everything they tell you
Endgame:
Well, I got class 2 work within 1 week of passing my class 2 test, so I’d say there is deffo jobs out there, given that newbies like me are getting offered work, albeit with agencies.
As far as CPC goes, it depends on when you passed your test. If you have grandfather rights, you’ll need to do the 35 hour periodic training. If not, you’ll have to do the initial CPC, which is modules 2 & 4. Mods 2 & 4 are pretty easy and straight forward.
How the hell did you manage that! I must of applied to 200 companies and agencies following my test. All I ever got was the same old bull…you need 2 years experience!
I have got a digi tacho card and I asked my local training centre and they said I need to do the cpc periodic course which will be £350 plus vat…more frigin expense.
What i really want to know is what is your honest opinion of the job because all the things I seem to read are doom and gloom. long hours, low pay, treated like ■■■■■ etc…
Welshlad32:
What i really want to know is what is your honest opinion of the job because all the things I seem to read are doom and gloom. long hours, low pay, treated like [zb] etc…
Yep been like it for a while now although things are on the up apart from road works red tape & car drivers
Up here for CE the average is £8.00 pr hr some pay a little more some a little less
Welshlad32:
What i really want to know is what is your honest opinion of the job because all the things I seem to read are doom and gloom. long hours, low pay, treated like [zb] etc…
As Animal has put £8 per hour for CE (some drivers will come on here saying they get 25 don’t believe it companies pay what they need to) but you can work 84 hours per week ok if your single not much if you have a family. The firm you work for don’t want you the places you go to don’t want you, you will be told how to do the job by someone who maybe won’t have a car license let alone a truck one but he can sit all day watching you on his computer so must know more.
You have your c license so if no other work comes up use it, but try to find something else.
Welshlad32:
What i really want to know is what is your honest opinion of the job because all the things I seem to read are doom and gloom. long hours, low pay, treated like [zb] etc…
As Animal has put £8 per hour for CE (some drivers will come on here saying they get 25 don’t believe it companies pay what they need to) but you can work 84 hours per week ok if your single not much if you have a family. The firm you work for don’t want you the places you go to don’t want you, you will be told how to do the job by someone who maybe won’t have a car license let alone a truck one but he can sit all day watching you on his computer so must know more.
You have your c license so if no other work comes up use it, but try to find something else.
For the responsibilty and skill needed to drive an artic, £8 seems like a joke to me. I’ve seen asda delivery driver vacancies on that money - doesn’t make sense.
So you are all saying don’t bother with this career then ?! Surely some of you drivers enjoy it?
Welshlad32:
I have got a digi tacho card and I asked my local training centre and they said I need to do the cpc periodic course which will be £350 plus vat…more frigin expense.
Be aware that your Digi card is only valid for 5yrs so you may need to replace that as well (£19 to renew) I know coz I just had to renew mine, also if you’re prepared to pay for a refresher course then that will go towards 7hrs of your DCPC
So four modules (4x7hrs) and a days C+E refresher with Commercial Operator Training (Swansea and also Carew in Pembrokeshire) will cover your 35hrs DCPC and give you a foot in the door with a lot of the agencies and employers (a lot are saying that Insurance won’t touch anyone who hasn’t driven LGV’s in the last six months)
How much? well all that just cost me £617 (actually £636 inc my renewed digi card) Am I mad? Probably, but I was a driver before I had to come off the road and its the only thing I know I’ll ever go back to, so its worth it as far as I’m concerned.
Wages, well yeah here in South Wales £8 to £8.50 p.h. is around the norm (probably a bit more with Agencies) so like Rog said, its your vocation or its not, that’s all it boils down to because you certainly won’t get rich doing it!
Well I’m not looking to millions, as long as I enjoy the job that’s all that matter to me. I like the variety and can’t stand being cooped up in one place all the time. The trouble is if I go and spend all this money on the CPC , refresher course etc and then hate the job after a month I will be really psd off! It might be an idea to help out as a drivers mate or something for a while to see if I really want to do it.
Welshlad32:
What i really want to know is what is your honest opinion of the job because all the things I seem to read are doom and gloom. long hours, low pay, treated like [zb] etc…
As Animal has put £8 per hour for CE (some drivers will come on here saying they get 25 don’t believe it companies pay what they need to) but you can work 84 hours per week ok if your single not much if you have a family. The firm you work for don’t want you the places you go to don’t want you, you will be told how to do the job by someone who maybe won’t have a car license let alone a truck one but he can sit all day watching you on his computer so must know more.
You have your c license so if no other work comes up use it, but try to find something else.
Usual doom and gloom and negativity towards the industry I see - Low pay, long hours, no social life, no family time etc.
On the other hand you can earn very good money for a sensible amount of hours, by sensible I’m talking around 45 hours or less. You can do more (a lot more) if you really want too but don’t be put off by the doom merchants who work 70 hours a week for peanuts and then come on here to moan and put off new drivers because they haven’t got the ambition or drive to better themselves.
Other factors to consider are where you live, who you work for, what type of work you are doing as there really is no way of summing up all truck driving jobs in one generic term.
I should also add that there isn’t a better time to get your licence than now if its something you want to do. If I had listened and taken notice to peoples opinions on the industry from what I read on here I never would of done mine, I decided however to find out for myself rather than someone’s opinion on an internet forum, oh that was back in 2011 in the middle of the recession and I managed to do okay for myself both workwise and financially. Times have changed since then - rates have gone up drastically, jobs are a plenty (you only have to look to see how many openly state in the ad that new drivers/no experience welcome) as this was not the case a couple of years ago. The knock on effect of more permanent jobs is the agencies are struggling to get drivers because a lot have moved to permanent roles. The CPC coming in, an ageing driver pool, less people my age or younger (31) coming in to the industry has resulted in a genuine shortage at the moment and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Companies and agencies don’t up there pay out the goodness of their heart because there nice people you know.
Well that’s the sort of thing I was hoping to hear tm! Though I haven’t seen many vacancies saying new drivers, no experience welcome .
I do get the impression there are more diving jobs out there compared with a few years ago mind. Isn’t the influx of foreign drivers affecting the amount of vacancies though? It’s funny I just spoke to an agency offering class 2 work for £9 p/hr he said if I get my CPC he will ‘guarantee’ me a job. Mmmm
Welshlad32:
Well that’s the sort of thing I was hoping to hear tm! Though I haven’t seen many vacancies saying new drivers, no experience welcome .
I do get the impression there are more diving jobs out there compared with a few years ago mind. Isn’t the influx of foreign drivers affecting the amount of vacancies though? It’s funny I just spoke to an agency offering class 2 work for £9 p/hr he said if I get my CPC he will ‘guarantee’ me a job. Mmmm
There is more and more jobs stating that these days however just because it asks for 2 years experience don’t be put off from applying. My first job I got back in 2011 stated 3 years experience needed and I applied and sent my CV off online - I didn’t even go in face to face like a lot of people advise and I got asked to go for an interview and like any job interview the key is telling them what they want to hear. I simply sold myself on the fact that what I lack in experience I make up for in hard work, being reliable, willing to learn etc. After a year I left to work on Agency as I wanted to be able to pick and chose when and where I work, again most stated 2 years experience but I never had any problems getting work anywhere with only a years experience behind me - my advice if you go for your licences is apply for anything and everything. The worst anyone can say is “no”.
You say your in South East Wales, is Avonmouth/Bristol commutable for you because a lot of the big companies and supermarket types have depots and DC’s round there and from what I read the wages/rates are better than across the bridge in Wales. Cant give an exact amount round there because I don’t live there but put it this way I’m in the East Midlands and currently on £13 per hour Mon-Fri, £15 Saturday and £17 Sunday (That’s day rate, I don’t do nights) Not saying you’ll be able to command that straight away as a newbie but I’ve highlighted it so you know what you could earn with some experience behind you and decent paying companies/agencies.
Too be honest I don’t think the influx of foreign drivers has or has ever had anything to do with wages dropping, like a lot of things in this country its easy to blame the foreigners for everything. In my experience most of them aren’t prepared to work for crap wages just like the rest of us so I’ve never bought that argument anyway.
Lastly while I don’t quite have as much of a negative opinion towards agencies as a lot of this forum I would advise never believe a statement from one guaranteeing a job because the only way of a guaranteed job is directly with a company on permanent terms.
Welshlad32:
You are right about location though, I live in a small market town and there isn’t much industry here. Perhaps I need to relocate!
I too live in a small market town in the East Midlands as I say and there is only a couple of general haulage companies tramping away all week for poor wages here. I don’t do nights away because I don’t want to and it doesn’t suit my family situation. But a 20-30 commute in every direction from where I live and I can get work at the rates listed in my above post so if you don’t mind and its a practical commute that’s something you can look at.
Thanks very much for the advice mate. I have seen various vacancies in Bristol, avonmouth but that’s quite a distance for me to commute. Within a half hour drive from me is Newport, pontypool Cwmbran etc so that’s my best bet. Did you start off on rigids and then go onto artics and do you think me having held my licenses for 8 years would be an advantage even though I have little experience?
Welshlad32:
Thanks very much for the advice mate. I have seen various vacancies in Bristol, avonmouth but that’s quite a distance for me to commute. Within a half hour drive from me is Newport, pontypool Cwmbran etc so that’s my best bet. Did you start off on rigids and then go onto artics and do you think me having held my licenses for 8 years would be an advantage even though I have little experience?
Don’t believe this myth either that just because you have no experience you have to start on 7.5t and rigids and work your way up to class 1. I’ve never driven a 7.5t vehicle and the only time I have driven a rigid was the week I did my training and test. I passed, had a week off did my class 1 training, passed then got a class 1 job about a month after getting all my stuff back from the DVLA.
Too be honest you have overcome one hurdle already by holding the licence for over 2 years even though your lacking in experience. When I’ve worked for any agency the first question is always “how long have you held your licence” not “what experience have you got” - there is a slight difference between those answers! My advice again would be if its something you have a desire to do then go for it, I’ve always lived by the believe we only get one chance on this earth and I’d rather do something and find out I didn’t like it than not do it and wonder what if. When I chose to take my licences I had the attitude that if I did it for a while and didn’t like it and I went onto another career I always have the licence to come back to (assuming I update my medical and CPC if needed). I know a couple of people who have done this - gone onto other things that for whatever reason didn’t work out and they dusted their licence of and went back to driving as a way of earning a living.
The figure I gave in my post was for up here in the North East which is normally lower paid than most although some do pay a bit more
Before you shed out the money if that is what is worrying you you could try some van driving or do that while waiting to sort everything else out
I did work agency for a while yep found it fine for me at the time I used them as well as them using me but I wanted the security of a full time job I dont have a problem with them at all
As said you have held your licence for more than 2 years which a lot of places ask although some do ask about experience
hi there on your main question you say in your first line you were 24 and that could be the whole reason you were turned away by so many companies as most transport companies have an age restriction of 25 due to insurance reasons and i hear this regularly its crap but its real and it wont change anytime soon im sure. now lets look at the job yes it can be good money but most drivers only get a decent wage due to putting in the hours and in the manchester area there are companies paying class 1 drivers (complete idiots) less than you can earn in asda or tesco stacking shelves but not all companies are like that. if you have seen the sign be a truck driver earn £600 take home per week and this is the reason you want to do the job stop and think as yes some drivers earn this but mainly trampers. in my opinion you need to enjoy driving in the first place to even think about this job. the job is great and i love it and would not go back to a warehouse/office (my opinion) but you have to also understand a lot of them in the office telling you what to do couldnt even couple up the trailer let alone drive them. you need to ask yourself these questions i think
do you like driving for long periods of time?
2)do you like to work on your own for most of the time?
3)can you stay calm under pressure?
4)can you get up early in the morning?
5)can you get your head round the driver hours and working time directive?
if you can answer yes to these question driving could be a job for you. just check out other cpc courses in your area as i got my 35 hours cpc for £325 inc vat and its so easy to get.
hope this helps you decide what you want to do in the future but dont let negative people put you off as if its your kind of job you wont want to leave trust me