Hoping to pick the brains of some of the more experienced of you drivers out there, would any of you help with these,obvious to some but not to me,questions?
Although I’m pretty sure at some point I will be faced with a closed door that’s telling me I can’t go any further, I am still toying with the idea of becoming a owner driver,in as far as hiring a tractor and trailer rig that is, and doing sub work.I must add that I haven’t even driven in anger an artic yet apart from passing test. Jumping in at the deep end doesn’t deter me,“silly man” I can hear some of you saying.
So apart from any constructive!!advice anyone may want to offer,
Say I’ve hired my rig and hauling for someone. With it being my trailer, would it cut down greatly the amount of times I would need to couple and uncouple? And would it mean that I would never leave the trailer anywhere to be loaded without it being attached to my truck or having eyes on it myself?
Is there a safety element that would suggest that on a regular basis you need to detach your trailer for checks?
I know the vary serious consequences of being caught for anything nowadays by DVSA. When working for someone as a newbie or for agency and where ever they send you, so has anyone come up against transport mangrs wanting you to take their truck out without bothering to do checks?
And when you have done your checks do you legally have to carry a copy in the truck with you?
How should you play it with your tachograph card. When should you first put it in head unit, when you first move wheels or when you start work?
Also, when you come to drive off with your load, how can you be sure you are not over weight?
Do all yards have a weigh station and should you always weigh your unit before going on road?
Finally, does anyone reading this contract hire for themselves and could they give me any tips or tell me what that closed door I mentioned at the beginning might be?
kitozz1 MEMBER Posts: 2Joined: Mon May 25, 2015 11:24 am
Road to nowhere FAST! !!!
Do at least a min of 3yrs truck driving 1st as employed driver (best maybe 5yrs!!!)
SAVE money like clean fe-----ck (as you’ll need it!!!) then ponder the move to O/D.
I subcontract, and it’s a condition of my terms that I’m engaged to provide traction only, and that I pull their trailers. Although I have to pay trailer rental, that doesn’t come to any more than the cost of running my own trailer, and I have the advantage of being able to do changeovers with pre-loaded trailers.
Big Truck:
Road to nowhere FAST! !!!
Do at least a min of 3yrs truck driving 1st as employed driver (best maybe 5yrs!!!)
SAVE money like clean fe-----ck (as you’ll need it!!!) then ponder the move to O/D.
+1
Looking at your posts you seem very naive not just about running your own truck, but also about the haulage industry in general.
Also to cover your interest in Maritime and others who advertise for subbies, just put maritime pr maybe subby in the search bar of this website, you’ll get loads of information about subbying for them and why they need to advertise.
You really need to go and drive for a company somewhere before you even consider going into business. With your lack of experience within the industry you would come unstuck very very quickly. Subcontracting is generally poorly paid and you may well find being on the cards as a driver will pay better, have far less stress and give you valuable insight into the business should you try to go it alone later on. I had been driving for 13 years before I started my business and was only because i was given a lucky break which allowed enabled me to enter a specialist sector of the industry which pays good rates, even so, it can still be a complete nightmare running trucks as I’m sure many of the other small operators on here will agree.
Go get your experience, get to know the industry and then look at it in a few years when you are a bit older and hopefully a bit wiser.
Hi I done 28 years in general haulage,flat work,the best days has gone, you need ropes,straps,chocks for paper reels,
& also you wont make a fortune out of it,I suggest you go solo with yr tractor unit & pull the firms trailers,you will get charged for that,i did"nt do bad in the 80s,its hard work,
i suggest u drive for sumone first to get yr experience in first,theres alot to learn,i started in the 70s driving for a haulage firm,i went on my own in 1982 & jacked it in at 1995…
Have u got plenty of money to waste,CPC,Operators Licence,Tax,Fuel,Goods intransit Insurance,Repairs,
Tyres,Service yr vehicle,As soon as yr money comes in,it goes straight out again,
so i advise you to tread carefully,If i was you,i would"nt even bother!!all the best to you…
Norman croad,Devon…
kitozz1:
Hoping to pick the brains of some of the more experienced of you drivers out there, would any of you help with these,obvious to some but not to me,questions?
Although I’m pretty sure at some point I will be faced with a closed door that’s telling me I can’t go any further, I am still toying with the idea of becoming a owner driver,in as far as hiring a tractor and trailer rig that is, and doing sub work.I must add that I haven’t even driven in anger an artic yet apart from passing test. Jumping in at the deep end doesn’t deter me,“silly man” I can hear some of you saying.
So apart from any constructive!!advice anyone may want to offer,
Say I’ve hired my rig and hauling for someone. With it being my trailer, would it cut down greatly the amount of times I would need to couple and uncouple? And would it mean that I would never leave the trailer anywhere to be loaded without it being attached to my truck or having eyes on it myself?
Is there a safety element that would suggest that on a regular basis you need to detach your trailer for checks?
I know the vary serious consequences of being caught for anything nowadays by DVSA. When working for someone as a newbie or for agency and where ever they send you, so has anyone come up against transport mangrs wanting you to take their truck out without bothering to do checks?
And when you have done your checks do you legally have to carry a copy in the truck with you?
How should you play it with your tachograph card. When should you first put it in head unit, when you first move wheels or when you start work?
Also, when you come to drive off with your load, how can you be sure you are not over weight?
Do all yards have a weigh station and should you always weigh your unit before going on road?
Finally, does anyone reading this contract hire for themselves and could they give me any tips or tell me what that closed door I mentioned at the beginning might be?
kitozz1 MEMBER Posts: 2Joined: Mon May 25, 2015 11:24 am
hi
think you really need to get some actual work experience first,which will give you an idea of what jobs to do , and what not to touch with a BARGE POLE, and while you’re doing that you can study for your CPC , which will then let you apply for an o licence.
EVENTUALLY