Identify as experienced lol…brilliant. Well they can’t argue as it will offend you.
hugh_lorry:
This is all sensible, honest and helpful. And thanks for not flaming me - I was expecting “bloody noobs, taking all the jobs from the old guard” (forgetting that everyone was a “noob” at one point!).
But you’re all lovely people. And thanks for the link to that other thread, Toonsy. Lots of thoughts there from people on the frontline, even if a bit depressing.But I’m so unsure about what to do next.
A: Take the bin lorry job via an agency and hope that if a future class 1 job says “6 months LGV driving experience”, that they don’t ask which class it was!
Pros: Experience, and at least SOME income.
Cons: Bin lorries are rigid - no reversing experience.B: Go back to doing what I hate and wanted to move away from, but being grateful that I DO have an alternative skill, even if work is rapidly dwindling there, too. Keep searching and do 1-2 days occasional class 1 driving work each week, even if poor pay, just to keep my hand in and hope things improve.
C: Sell the house, pay off the ex and my debts, take what remains of the capital and ■■■■■ it all on travelling as much of the world as I can, without a backup plan, on a assumption that we’re all gone to die either in civil unrest or via Putin.
The last option is a little nihilistic, but looking at that other thread, probably the most likely!
The sensible option is probably B, with A as a fallback.The problem is, I don’t have the luxury of savings while I ponder. I’m 51 and everything went wrong a couple of years back, and I went from “had some savings” to “I owe £23k”, which is a real motivator.
Another thought: I could “identify” as experienced, even though I’m clearly not. Everything is trans- this or that these days.
I could self-identify as “trans-port” and then demand everyone respect my nonsense. It would be very 2022, after all.The other thing is that I used to do voiceovers, training videos, and even a little standup and long time ago, and what the world REALLY needs right is yet another new pass starting a trucking vlog on Youtube and giving their opinion on the state of the industry and trying to be funny. Said no-one, ever.
(That said, I found some of them really useful to give a window into my potential future, like the SalmonSlap crew, and particularly Trucker Hayley.)
Anyway, enough waffle. Got a few more places to try in the morning… thanks for all the thoughts and listening to me braindump!
You need to get your mindset away from billybigrig I dont wanna drive a small lorry. Driving a rigid bin lorry not only is bringing a wage in, it’s also getting that magical experience under your belt. If, for example, you go on the bins for 2 years and then apply for a job elsewhere and they ask the question…“Do you have 2 years driving experience” you can answer truthfully that YES you do have the experience.
Further more I can guarantee you will be a far better driver after 2 years on the bins rather than plodding up and down a motorway all the time. The spatial awareness will be enhanced more negotiating back roads and alleyways.
I can agree with that, driving buses for 3 years has given me spacial awareness that helped me massively when driving an artic. I surprised myself many times thinking wow did I really just go through that without thinking lol.
The buses gave me motorway, A roads, crazy busy high streets (Shirley), and residential road experience. Add to that doing it at night with saloon light glare so all I can see is the passengers reflections, steamed up in the rain etc. And a bin lorry is very much like a bus as in you sit Infront of the wheels low down.
For my 2pencce, Take the bin lorry job. We all had to start somewhere and as others have said its a “baptism of fire” job re getting in and out of of places not designed for wagons. The advantage is though that you’ll have help from the loaders as extra eyes and traffic control if needed. You won’t get that as a newbie in an artic all you’ll get is grief and hassle for everyone as they will expect you to inch perfect first time! All thst will do is stress you out and thats when mistakes happen. Good luck in whatever you decide
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Lots on indeed. Not sure how mid Wales you are though. uk.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=07a4 … 0LbzkdCdPP
The other thing is that I used to do voiceovers, training videos, and even a little standup and long time ago, and what the world REALLY needs right is yet another new pass starting a trucking vlog on Youtube and giving their opinion on the state of the industry and trying to be funny. Said no-one, ever.
You’ll need a sense of humour in this game…
Anyway if I may give you a bit of advice do the bin work (or similar) first as said because every day is a school day for all of us - the artic stuff will come in time.