MADBAZ:
gogzy:
driving an artic is skilled, rigids are sorta semi skilled cause its not that hardTHIS IS WAR
Trundling from RDC to RDC in an artic along mways and trunk roads requires a lot less skill than the rigid driver doing urban multi-drop, we get into places you’d be scared of putting a mini into
.
Quite agree! also has he ever tried driving a bin wagon? Like driving backwards through a maze full of squirrels
Have I been hooked, lined and sinkered?
gogzy:
driving an artic is skilled, rigids are sorta semi skilled cause its not that hard
If thats true it begs the question …why do some artic drivers not like driving rigids, or as i’ve witnessed myself flatly refuse to?
Mike-C:
gogzy:
driving an artic is skilled, rigids are sorta semi skilled cause its not that hardIf thats true it begs the question …why do some artic drivers not like driving rigids, or as i’ve witnessed myself flatly refuse to?
Because they make a ■■■■-up of it, Mike, it’s a different type of skilled innit?
As from next year Skilled at the moment Semi, i just don’t understand why you put yourselves down, it is not a job anyone can do, and do you class yourselves the same as someone working in a warehouse picking stuff and putting it in a box.
Mike-C:
gogzy:
driving an artic is skilled, rigids are sorta semi skilled cause its not that hardIf thats true it begs the question …why do some artic drivers not like driving rigids, or as i’ve witnessed myself flatly refuse to?
one word for you
MONEY!!!
it`s blatantly obviouse that artic drivers are run of the mill, i mean anyone can drive in straight lines and turn on a sixpence.
rigid however is skilled with no other trade to compare to it 
especially real drivers such as mixer drivers that have to reverse on site whilst sliding on mud and clay,ensuring they don`t get stuck or slide into a footing or knock down a newly built house (especially one that has just been wired by a semi skilled sparky ) 
gogzy:
Mike-C:
gogzy:
driving an artic is skilled, rigids are sorta semi skilled cause its not that hardIf thats true it begs the question …why do some artic drivers not like driving rigids, or as i’ve witnessed myself flatly refuse to?
one word for you
MONEY!!!
no, i mean even when they get the same rate.
Skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled, I think there have been some good cases for them all. I can see all three sides.
However I still think the job overall is definitely skilled. It’s just the levels that change. E.g. the rigid driver on urban multidrops skills are put to the test moreso than (me) the artic driver trunking from A2B and back to A. The driver on car transporters, low loaders etc has a case that he/she is even more skilled.
Those who don’t think the job is skilled consider this.
Young people coming into this industry this time next year who want to drive artics,will be faced with the costs of licencing,medical,theory, hazard perception, C1 C C&E & CPC. Oh and a digicard.
All that money, time and effort to then be regarded as unskilled? Or semi-skilled at best?
If we all believe that we are skilled could it and should it go some way to raising the profile of truck driving?
Those who think it isn’t skilled might also want to consider who looks at these threads. They aint all drivers.
Those who feel we aren’t skilled might have something to do with why we struggle to improve our lot and get better pay & conditions etc.
Dafman:
As from next year Skilled at the moment Semi, i just don’t understand why you put yourselves down, it is not a job anyone can do, and do you class yourselves the same as someone working in a warehouse picking stuff and putting it in a box.
why are you semi skilled now but skilled in a year?
Mike-C:
gogzy:
Mike-C:
gogzy:
driving an artic is skilled, rigids are sorta semi skilled cause its not that hardIf thats true it begs the question …why do some artic drivers not like driving rigids, or as i’ve witnessed myself flatly refuse to?
one word for you
MONEY!!!
no, i mean even when they get the same rate.
usually less work to do in an artic
plus driving an artic is more fun that driving a rigid around town and getting p`d at car drivers and cyclists etc.
why are you semi skilled now but skilled in a year?
CPC