There’s good reason some of these high payers have to train new, the pressures on some of these jobs to keep up is high, i work with some lads who have got away from one headline payer mentioned here, as well paid and no pressure at all now, neither will be going back.
trevHCS:
Considering we usually hear about companies paying £20K for class 2 and £23K for class 1, I am rather surprised with some of the figures bounced around here, although whether these companies take on new drivers is another matter.Benjie83 - if you get that and need holiday cover, can I apply (assuming the rate is a portion of the £35K)?
I’m a hunting for it…be a while yet coz erm I need me tickets
But aye when I finally get too ■■■■■■■■ the golden goose, my seconds/and spoils shall be scattered amongst my noob brethren, for i shall be living like a king, and paying like a prince for those who wish too serve me.
Got a feeling it’ll all go Macbeth though…so I pm ya nearer the time fella
Terry T:
Benjie83:
so surely your 50plusser could spare a thought for lads like me??Not a 50plusser mate.
But not far off
.
I’ll cover your holidays for the value of the G&T your paying on that badboy salary 
But hey if you have worked up, and hard then for a job as demanding as this then the money should reflect it.
And yes that’s hopefully my plan, out 10 hard years in, then see if I can find a goose of my own…
fudgekin gandy pigeon will be closer I’m betting but it will be my pigeon none the less
MASSIVE THANKS AGAIN TOO ALL who are chipping in 
But does anyone feel the training schemes mentioned in my original post are worth it??
I know Connor above mentioned his non haulage firm are doing it, another avenue to explore one day for sure…thanks fella…
I’ve said on this board before that I wouldn’t be looking at leaving agency and going back to full time - until the wages were north of £30k AND it wasn’t a 48+ hour week.
I started FT on the artics at Brakes 4 weeks ago. Fussy-standards satisfaction achieved.
Remember Stobarts were offering the OP’s kind of money for Eurotrampers a few months back…
I put in an application at the time for Sittingbourne - but got told only the Eurotrampers (abroad 11 days out of every 14) got the £38k.
“Midweek Nights?” enquired I…
“£8.10ph” I was told. "Your assessment at Aveley is next wednesday"…
No it bloody wasn’t 
- I cancelled it. 
Where you are with your proximity to London you could probably get £10/hour for class 2 work. Whether you would want it or ot is another matter
Benjie83:
Terry T:
Benjie83:
so surely your 50plusser could spare a thought for lads like me??Not a 50plusser mate.
But not far off
I’ll cover your holidays for the value of the G&T your paying on that badboy salary
But hey if you have worked up, and hard then for a job as demanding as this then the money should reflect it.
And yes that’s hopefully my plan, out 10 hard years in, then see if I can find a goose of my own…
fudgekin gandy pigeon will be closer I’m betting but it will be my pigeon none the lessMASSIVE THANKS AGAIN TOO ALL who are chipping in
But does anyone feel the training schemes mentioned in my original post are worth it??
I know Connor above mentioned his non haulage firm are doing it, another avenue to explore one day for sure…thanks fella…
In my mind, the bad thing about these “training firms” is that they imply that someone who’s only just passed - can go right in at the top. The same hopes and dreams are sold to the worker seeking training in other lines of work as well of course.
To get the big money - you’ve got to be able to do a job that others senior to you cannot do or do not want to do (imho)
This means you get to jump the queue as a freshly-minted driver - if you are prepared to work nights, do stupid O’clock starts in particular, work weekends & bank holidays (you do get the extra pay)
and even be prepared to be shunted about as sick cover whilst working FT.
I’d argue that this latter “flexibility” may well have given me the edge over the competition when I put in for the job I now hold.
This time a year ago, I was working flat out at the agency covering a guy at fedex who’d resigned suddenly at this time of the year… They kept me on until January, and a complete outsider got the job over me in the new year, when I was expecting a coronation into it myself, having already got my feet under the steering wheel at the agency and all. 
Still, all’s well that ends well - THAT job was barely £30k and involved working until 6am monday-friday - the whole night thing.
When I wanted 48 hour weeks - I was hoping those 48 hours would include the breaks of course. 
F-reds:
Where you are with your proximity to London you could probably get £10/hour for class 2 work. Whether you would want it or ot is another matter
I was getting £12-£18 for C2 work at Surrey Quays 3 years back. That was multidropping around Boots Chemists in central london though, and the £12ph was for weekday nights. Day rate was rubbish, and when I said I didn’t want less than the £12ph - I got a couple of shifts of what I wanted to do - and that was it.
Winseer:
Benjie83:
Terry T:
Benjie83:
so surely your 50plusser could spare a thought for lads like me??Not a 50plusser mate.
But not far off
I’ll cover your holidays for the value of the G&T your paying on that badboy salary
But hey if you have worked up, and hard then for a job as demanding as this then the money should reflect it.
And yes that’s hopefully my plan, out 10 hard years in, then see if I can find a goose of my own…
fudgekin gandy pigeon will be closer I’m betting but it will be my pigeon none the lessMASSIVE THANKS AGAIN TOO ALL who are chipping in
But does anyone feel the training schemes mentioned in my original post are worth it??
I know Connor above mentioned his non haulage firm are doing it, another avenue to explore one day for sure…thanks fella…
In my mind, the bad thing about these “training firms” is that they imply that someone who’s only just passed - can go right in at the top. The same hopes and dreams are sold to the worker seeking training in other lines of work as well of course.
To get the big money - you’ve got to be able to do a job that others senior to you cannot do or do not want to do (imho)
This means you get to jump the queue as a freshly-minted driver - if you are prepared to work nights, do stupid O’clock starts in particular, work weekends & bank holidays (you do get the extra pay)
and even be prepared to be shunted about as sick cover whilst working FT.I’d argue that this latter “flexibility” may well have given me the edge over the competition when I put in for the job I now hold.
This time a year ago, I was working flat out at the agency covering a guy at fedex who’d resigned suddenly at this time of the year… They kept me on until January, and a complete outsider got the job over me in the new year, when I was expecting a coronation into it myself, having already got my feet under the steering wheel at the agency and all.Still, all’s well that ends well - THAT job was barely £30k and involved working until 6am monday-friday - the whole night thing.
When I wanted 48 hour weeks - I was hoping those 48 hours would include the breaks of course.
Glad your Goose is in fella
I appreciate every word, many thanks…
I jus wanna drive,earn and learn, ideally do as many tickets as I can to broaden my prospects and be able to draw upon if the need arises as I see hgv as a tree just ripe for climbing, its my final career move now so I wanna make the best of it…
But I wont kiss or kick my way too the Goose, I shall simply graft to it.
Fingers crossed deposit down for C2 Wednesday, if I can pass I will be aiming for CE This year too…
Time too burn an earn
It’s ok saying your getting £30000 per year but it depends how many hours your doing to get it, average working hours in this country are only about 35 so if your doing 70+ for your money is it still that good.
Benjie83:
But does anyone feel the training schemes mentioned in my original post are worth it??
I looked into them a while before doing it all myself and they are good if you can’t afford to get the loan yourself, but remember they’ll lock you into a contract to work for them until at least the loan is paid, and they’ll probably want the money back fairly quickly. They can’t charge interest so it’s got no advantage for them to have to paying it back slowly. If they are horrible to work for, you really don’t want to be stuck there.
If you’ve got a semi decent credit score, there are plenty of banks offering loans around 4 - 5% APR fixed currently and your advantage is, you’re a bit more free to move where ever you want. OK, you don’t have a guaranteed job admittedly, but as long as you can get one I suspect paying yourself is still a better idea. Plus any half decent driving school wants you to pass so they can brag about their pass rate. 
In conclusion - personally I would always do it yourself simply because you’ve got the options open to you, and to be honest it gives more motivation to pass.
mac12:
It’s ok saying your getting £30000 per year but it depends how many hours your doing to get it, average working hours in this country are only about 35 so if your doing 70+ for your money is it still that good.
I think you’ll find the 35 hour a week average includes part-time work. I can’t think of many full-time jobs on 35 hours a week, many years ago I did used to have and office job that was 37.5 hours a week though.
Looking round the interweb the average for full-time employment seems to be about 42 to 43 hours a week.
trevHCS:
Considering we usually hear about companies paying £20K for class 2 and £23K for class 1, I am rather surprised with some of the figures bounced around here, although whether these companies take on new drivers is another matter.Benjie83 - if you get that and need holiday cover, can I apply (assuming the rate is a portion of the £35K)?
Immigrant - who on earth do you work for that’s paying £32K for class 2? Beats £8/hour by the sounds of things.
pcl-transport.com/jobs.aspx
Hatfield + Manchester + Ayelsbury + Avonmouth i think. Just fon upalbion - doubt any of us newbies looking for a first job would qualify, but have bookmarked this thread for a few years time…like 20 just incase you’re still paying that much!
Conor - that’s an interesting approach to take. Never thought of the non transport companies. I’m guessing that’s either the one beginning with W who use wagon & drag a lot (forgot their name), or Magnet unless there’s other companies I don’t know of.
muckles:
mac12:
It’s ok saying your getting £30000 per year but it depends how many hours your doing to get it, average working hours in this country are only about 35 so if your doing 70+ for your money is it still that good.I think you’ll find the 35 hour a week average includes part-time work. I can’t think of many full-time jobs on 35 hours a week, many years ago I did used to have and office job that was 37.5 hours a week though.
Looking round the interweb the average for full-time employment seems to be about 42 to 43 hours a week.
So to follow that though the average wage is made up of people earning millions as well as the nmw does that mean truck drivers are on to much.
I left driving for a job working 35 hours a week for a basic of £30000.
mac12:
muckles:
mac12:
It’s ok saying your getting £30000 per year but it depends how many hours your doing to get it, average working hours in this country are only about 35 so if your doing 70+ for your money is it still that good.I think you’ll find the 35 hour a week average includes part-time work. I can’t think of many full-time jobs on 35 hours a week, many years ago I did used to have and office job that was 37.5 hours a week though.
Looking round the interweb the average for full-time employment seems to be about 42 to 43 hours a week.So to follow that though the average wage is made up of people earning millions as well as the nmw does that mean truck drivers are on to much.
I left driving for a job working 35 hours a week for a basic of £30000.
I’ve picked a few bits out of this, not to prove you wrong and me right, as it’s proved me wrong on the total hours, 
now 39.1 paid hours work per week for full-time workers, and just over 40 hours per week for men. Average weekly pay £528 p/w for all workers and £567 for men.
So that’s an average of £13.50per hour for all workers and £14.18 for men. However this is a national average, Page 21 is probably a better comparison to how a person job compares with the area they live in.
The average wage figure is based on the Median average not the mean average, so this counteracts the skewing affect of small number of very high earners. It’s also based on full-time employees on PAYE.
Finally all I can say for £30,000 per for 35hour week is Well Done and I hope its a job you are enjoying.
mac12:
I left driving for a job working 35 hours a week for a basic of £30000.
Can I ask what skill level that job is? Are you management/have a senior role? Is it Mon-Fri days or weird shifts?
In my experience if you want to earn £30K+ for a basic ‘normal’ working week outside of driving, you are either in a senior position or highly skilled/qualified. Many people in those roles will work beyond their contracted hours on a regular basis and receive no overtime payments, especially if you consider work undertaken at home.
Frankly, I don’t think a lot of us have it all that bad. I average about 50-55 hours a week, heavy perhaps, but I don’t work any weekends or evenings, on the sofa with the Mrs every night, I spend my days listening to the radio & taking naps on loading bays, the truck pretty much drives itself, I have no stress or weight on my shoulders whatsoever yet still bank more money every week than many of my friends in management roles and/or exercising university degrees.
rob22888:
mac12:
I left driving for a job working 35 hours a week for a basic of £30000.Can I ask what skill level that job is? Are you management/have a senior role? Is it Mon-Fri days or weird shifts?
In my experience if you want to earn £30K+ for a basic ‘normal’ working week outside of driving, you are either in a senior position or highly skilled/qualified. Many people in those roles will work beyond their contracted hours on a regular basis and receive no overtime payments, especially if you consider work undertaken at home.
Frankly, I don’t think a lot of us have it all that bad. I average about 50-55 hours a week, heavy perhaps, but I don’t work any weekends or evenings, on the sofa with the Mrs every night, I spend my days listening to the radio & taking naps on loading bays, the truck pretty much drives itself, I have no stress or weight on my shoulders whatsoever yet still bank more money every week than many of my friends in management roles and/or exercising university degrees.
Yep. I know this. That’s why I dont whine about my job. Im very lucky.
Thank you please
trevHCS:
Considering we usually hear about companies paying £20K for class 2 and £23K for class 1, I am rather surprised with some of the figures bounced around here, although whether these companies take on new drivers is another matter.albion - doubt any of us newbies looking for a first job would qualify, but have bookmarked this thread for a few years time…like 20 just incase you’re still paying that much!
Conor - that’s an interesting approach to take. Never thought of the non transport companies. I’m guessing that’s either the one beginning with W who use wagon & drag a lot (forgot their name), or Magnet unless there’s other companies I don’t know of.
Own account operators have always been the top payers, generally speaking there’s more margins in a manufacturing business than a hire and reward transport operation.
I’ve mentioned on here before that a couple of years ago I took a lad on age 24, got his license through the army but no experience in haulage. Must say I had some sleepless night but, touching wood he’s a good lad, so much so that I took his mate on, age 23. Helps that we double man so much and I get feedback from the regular drivers. You have to give new people a chance to get a foot on the ladder. I wouldn’t describe us a hyper picky, but if you don’t fit, you are out within a couple of months. On the other hand I’ve still got a driver from when I started up in '91 and 80% + stay until they decide to retire. Last time I advertised was about 7 years ago, despite a period of growth over the last couple of years.
Back to the wages, I personally think what drivers get paid is too low, especially for trampers. But as long as there are hauliers willing to work for a bad rate, then there will be bad pay. I pay nearly a £1.00 an hour more than one of my competitors and all the other markers are better too, that means that I’m at the max of what I can pay and still stay in business. There’s not a lot of difference in haulage from the late 60s when I first got in my Dads truck age 3 and now; the trucks are a ■■■■ sight nicer and easier, the job’s less physical on the whole, but there are still customers wanting to cut the rate and hauliers willing to work for it and drivers needing to get a job no matter what the pay and conditions.
rob22888:
mac12:
I left driving for a job working 35 hours a week for a basic of £30000.Can I ask what skill level that job is? Are you management/have a senior role? Is it Mon-Fri days or weird shifts?
In my experience if you want to earn £30K+ for a basic ‘normal’ working week outside of driving, you are either in a senior position or highly skilled/qualified. Many people in those roles will work beyond their contracted hours on a regular basis and receive no overtime payments, especially if you consider work undertaken at home.
Frankly, I don’t think a lot of us have it all that bad. I average about 50-55 hours a week, heavy perhaps, but I don’t work any weekends or evenings, on the sofa with the Mrs every night, I spend my days listening to the radio & taking naps on loading bays, the truck pretty much drives itself, I have no stress or weight on my shoulders whatsoever yet still bank more money every week than many of my friends in management roles and/or exercising university degrees.
You can ask, I’m not management or senior role just a signaller on the railway. It’s a responsible job but I don’t think I’m highly skilled.
Shift wise I work on a 3 week roster starting with earlys that’s Monday to Thursday 0630 start 7 hours worked each day so 28 hour week, then 5 days off so start lates Wednesday on week 2 at 1330 with 4 days of 9.5 hour shifts 38 hours worked, week 3 is Monday and Tuesday lates Wednesday and Thursday off and Friday and Saturday earlys so 33 hours worked then back to week 1. If I want to I could do a Sunday every 3 weeks on overtime for about £300.
Like you I’m home every night spend my time at work listening to the radio but I know what day I will be working next month and what time I will finish.
Only thing wrong is they are closing signal boxes so I don’t no how long I will be in work.
mac12:
Only thing wrong is they are closing signal boxes so I don’t no how long I will be in work.
Self driving trucks are on the horizon for us too so there’s no guarantee how long we’ll be in work. I reckon I’d see retirement in a truck but my son who wants to do it certainly won’t. I think we’re looking at 10 years before some trunking runs get automated and 20 years before pretty much all of it is.
Conor:
mac12:
Only thing wrong is they are closing signal boxes so I don’t no how long I will be in work.Self driving trucks are on the horizon for us too so there’s no guarantee how long we’ll be in work. I reckon I’d see retirement in a truck but my son who wants to do it certainly won’t. I think we’re looking at 10 years before some trunking runs get automated and 20 years before pretty much all of it is.
I were talking today about this, truly disgusting to think that at some point the human race will truely be extinct of service, unless its too the machine.
Soo many films predicted this, terminator with its cyborgs, Disney’s Wallee with mankind basically becoming a fat slobbering mess as automation has basically killed us of…i could go on lol but to think from what I hear it will start with box bans like a Luton on small inter depot shunts, slowly moving up to the scary possibility of a 44ton being fully automated!!
Apparently the bright idea is too trial it at night…should be a laugh.
Sad as well as like you I’d be proud to see my boy’s get a ticket an drive, but alas I’m pushing em into a more combat related role as these cyborgs are gonna need erasing before they erase us!!!
Jesus wont be long an you’ll walk into a gents for a tinkle, an a robotic hand will doo this rest, well I’m going to eat a half rotten vindaloo an see how it clears that up the barsteward…