Totally New....Aiming for a New Career...maybe

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
21

V40LLY:

mrkazman:
Hello good folk of T.N. UK!

So to cut a long story short, Ive been sitting behind a desk for 9 years… time I got out behind the wheel I feel. Ive been in telecommunications for over 10 years. looking for something new to do. a new job… a fresh start.

Its been a long time since I thought about trucks… but theres always been something else.

I love driving… and ive been looking around to see what options are available for training to become a trucker… that includes training and employment with Eddie Stobart…or any other companies. I then came across this forum and I am so glad I didnt look any further at some of the websites that I came across out there.

So, on totaljobs.com there was this ad: totaljobs.com/JobSearch/JobP … d=62895514

Can anyone vouch for these guys?

Secondly, Eddie Stobart… would you train with them to take up employment? I think I can compare them with the AA of Driving schools right? charge you an arm and a leg for training so that they cover their over heads and then you join them as an ADI (approved driving instructor)…by this time you’ve spent 3k and need work desperately to make up what youve lost…

Thirdly, is there anyone in the London Borough of Hillingdon who is on this forum that could recommend anyone local for training and test.

Know this… I know nothing about this industry and nothing about driving a truck… heck never sat in one either. The closest ive ever got to it was doing Furniture removals back in 2000 with my cousin because I didnt have a job… and that was a Man and a Van. lol

Final question, which im sure has been asked plenty of times already so pardon the repetition… Is it worth it? does it pay well? or is that just a rumour that truckers get paid good money… and what is good money exactly? 30k annually for 60 hours a week? or are you restricted… gosh i just realised, ive asked more questions in that one sentence than the whole thread lol. hope you guys dont mind.

Look forward to being part of the forum on here.

Dear Sir,

I have to agree with Alder. This is a con in it’s entirety. It’s basically inviting you to pay for an HGV training course, whereby, upon you passing your test (however many you need to take to pass), you are rewarded with a job. No you’re not! They sign you onto their agency list of bodies and claim to offer you around to perspective customer’s. The catch is; there’s not many transport firm’s out there who want to take someone on who has no experience.

You’ll be told time and time again that there’s no work for you. But as you’ll be employed by this agency, whilst not actually earning anything, who will have honoured their promise. There is a chance you could get the odd call from them one day, with them asking you ‘can you do a handball job for them tomorrow in a 7.5 tonner for minimum wage’. You’d obviously decline and then remember that V40LLY on TruckNet, who was right.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Cheers mate. I ACKNOWLEDGED THE WARNING

lol [emoji6]

22

Bach home:
As I’ve said before, the only way to know if you like truck driving is to actually do it for a while.

The phrase “truck driving” covers quite a broad spectrum of activity so it is difficult for anyone to give an average kind of description of what an normal day or week is like.

Container work/fridge work/multidrop/trunking/Tramping/European etc all have their own dynamic.

I feel I must avoid saying anything “negative” about the job as on here, it seems only positive experiences are to be valued.

Trucking for a living CAN be a job but usually due to the nature of the beast it would be more accurate to describe it as a way of life.

The novelty factor will keep you interested for a few years like it did for me then I got mind rot from the same British roads and moved abroad, now I have the novelty factor again! Keeps my brain fresh, I hope!

It would be a leap into the unknown for you but that is life is it not…you must taste it to know it.
Good luck.

Thanks mate. Much appreciated

23

alder:
What about keeping your job, doing the qualifications/tests part time maybe in holidays? Then just doing agency part time until you get rid of the dreaded novelty value, yes we have all been there big shiny truck and all that but it wears off most of us :smiley: then if after several months you really do like it more than your present work going full time? Is that feasible?

excellent advice +1

24

The number of scam’s out there for all sort’s is phenomenal.

25

V40LLY:
The number of scam’s out there for all sort’s is phenomenal.

Based on what i have read…totally agree. Thats why ive had a look at local schools. Only one more to check out and thats Wallace.

26

When thinking about training mate also look in to the companies its not just about the price, go down there book an assessment drive ( these are usually free! ) see what trucks they have see a face of the company ect then make a decision :slight_smile: and if you book your class 2 and 1 together you usually get a discount and booking cpc with your training company is also advised.

27

ash 001:
When thinking about training mate also look in to the companies its not just about the price, go down there book an assessment drive ( these are usually free! ) see what trucks they have see a face of the company ect then make a decision :slight_smile: and if you book your class 2 and 1 together you usually get a discount and booking cpc with your training company is also advised.

Nice one mate will deffo kwep it in mind

28

I have decided to start the process of getting an LGV licence. Will have a bit of a taster to see how things go. If I dont like it, I will drop the idea.

I have been advised by Wallace as follows:

In April 2014 the law changed. Drivers with a Manual Car Licence can now pass LGV driving test using an Automatic Lorry to get a Manual LGV/HGV licence.

Correct me if I am wrong…but driving a Manual is VERY different to driving an Auto… but if the above statement is true, then it should surely be alot easier and all I then need to do is train with them to learn to drive a manual correct?

29

mrkazman:
I have decided to start the process of getting an LGV licence. Will have a bit of a taster to see how things go. If I dont like it, I will drop the idea.

I have been advised by Wallace as follows:

In April 2014 the law changed. Drivers with a Manual Car Licence can now pass LGV driving test using an Automatic Lorry to get a Manual LGV/HGV licence.

Correct me if I am wrong…but driving a Manual is VERY different to driving an Auto… but if the above statement is true, then it should surely be alot easier and all I then need to do is train with them to learn to drive a manual correct?

The info is correct that if you have a Manual car licence, it doesn’t matter what you take your LGV test in (Auto or Manual).

As for it being easier in auto, I’d say yes! - I had my first lesson in a manual and I detail my experience here: Newbie learning in 8 speed Manual Four-over-Four - NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE) - Trucknet UK (Edit: Got the wrong URL first time, sorry!)

After posting this and my training school reading it, when i walked in the next morning they asked if i wanted to change to an Auto? (Hinting that they had already rearranged things… :wink:) So I said yes, and believe me it’s SO much easier!!! :smiley: - You can forget about gears and can focus more on the other things you need to learn and be aware of.

Don’t get me wrong, i would have been perfectly happy staying with the manual, and i’d have cracked the initial gear change from 3rd to 5th. But because I’am an old git, who can’t help but change up and down a gearbox through every gear, i think my instructors thought I would find it hard to unlearn what i’d been doing for 20+ years. Not sure how old you are pal, so can’t say if you would have the same problems yourself.

All I will ask is: Why make things harder for yourself■■? :smiley:

P.S. I loved the fact that I’ve driven a manual, and feel no fear if my employer put me in a manual. So i think I had the best of both worlds. :wink:

As for choosing a school, I can’t recommend Peter Smythe (this forum’s sponsor) enough! They were brilliant!!!

Best of luck!

30

Evil8Beezle:

mrkazman:
I have decided to start the process of getting an LGV licence. Will have a bit of a taster to see how things go. If I dont like it, I will drop the idea.

I have been advised by Wallace as follows:

In April 2014 the law changed. Drivers with a Manual Car Licence can now pass LGV driving test using an Automatic Lorry to get a Manual LGV/HGV licence.

Correct me if I am wrong…but driving a Manual is VERY different to driving an Auto… but if the above statement is true, then it should surely be alot easier and all I then need to do is train with them to learn to drive a manual correct?

The info is correct that if you have a Manual car licence, it doesn’t matter what you take your LGV test in (Auto or Manual).

As for it being easier in auto, I’d say yes! - I had my first lesson in a manual and I detail my experience here: Newbie learning in 8 speed Manual Four-over-Four - NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE) - Trucknet UK (Edit: Got the wrong URL first time, sorry!)

After posting this and my training school reading it, when i walked in the next morning they asked if i wanted to change to an Auto? (Hinting that they had already rearranged things… :wink:) So I said yes, and believe me it’s SO much easier!!! :smiley: - You can forget about gears and can focus more on the other things you need to learn and be aware of.

Don’t get me wrong, i would have been perfectly happy staying with the manual, and i’d have cracked the initial gear change from 3rd to 5th. But because I’am an old git, who can’t help but change up and down a gearbox through every gear, i think my instructors thought I would find it hard to unlearn what i’d been doing for 20+ years. Not sure how old you are pal, so can’t say if you would have the same problems yourself.

All I will ask is: Why make things harder for yourself■■? :smiley:

P.S. I loved the fact that I’ve driven a manual, and feel no fear if my employer put me in a manual. So i think I had the best of both worlds. :wink:

As for choosing a school, I can’t recommend Peter Smythe (this forum’s sponsor) enough! They were brilliant!!!

Best of luck!

Thanks for the response. Advise is always helpful. Im in my mid 30’s mate. for me, I do the same when it comes to changing gears…change through each one. However, learning a new way of driving is not an issue for me. Im always ready to adapt.

I will have a look at Peter’s website again :slight_smile:

Thanks again

31

So looking on sending off my paperwork towards the end of this week.

Spoke to Wallace as they offer a medical and all study material for £100 along with help filling paperwork.
But when i asked them about an assesment so that i can make sure this is the right path…they said they dont do assessments. Instead they offer a 4 hour “evaluation” for which I would have to pay £240 for!! Reason they dont offer the free assessment anymore…because all their trucks are automatic so they dont need to offer it. I know it isnt compulsory…

Im sorry but I cant really justify paying that sort of amount so that i can decide if Trucking is for me or not…

Unfortunately im not in a position at the moment to be able to just jump into it… :frowning:

Nonetheless… paperwork will still be sent off…and I will see how things pan out.

32

mrkazman:
So looking on sending off my paperwork towards the end of this week.

Spoke to Wallace as they offer a medical and all study material for £100 along with help filling paperwork.
But when i asked them about an assesment so that i can make sure this is the right path…they said they dont do assessments. Instead they offer a 4 hour “evaluation” for which I would have to pay £240 for!! Reason they dont offer the free assessment anymore…because all their trucks are automatic so they dont need to offer it. I know it isnt compulsory…

Im sorry but I cant really justify paying that sort of amount so that i can decide if Trucking is for me or not…

Unfortunately im not in a position at the moment to be able to just jump into it… :frowning:

Nonetheless… paperwork will still be sent off…and I will see how things pan out.

Ok mate I would advise you to send your paperwork for your licences off your own back, and as for companies, good companies will offer assessment drives free of charge yes they may only last 30 minutes but, it gives you a chance to get a feel for the truck ect. Have a look around your area at current companies and make a call see what they can offer, but like someone has said auto is the sensible/ easy option.