To those that are not lucky enough to be approaching retirement its still a good job.
Red tape & Health & Safety is everywhere now & I believe it making the best of what you got on your terms. Money could always be better but that`s the same everywhere. It always seems to be someone else, some friend of a friend that makes a fortune somewhere.
Very few jobs allow you to do that nowadays. Always some job`s worth breathing down your neck. Fortunately driving gives you the freedom once you leave yard/ depot.
I’ve made more money, I’ve also put in more effort for it. All these who moan about long hours and stress need to go try something a bit harder than truck driving, it’s a very easy way to make money.
I also get to tear around in a blinged up V8, visit countries and places I never would otherwise and I get up every day looking forward to working which is more than can be said for the majority of the population.
commonrail:
I couldn’t earn the money doing anything else.
Really?
If you work enough hours in any job you could earn the money, especially working the same ridiculous hours as in this job.
I used to love it, but it was chalk and cheese to what it is today.
Got a decent little number at present that suits me, not hassled or pushed as I don’t allow it.
However I was on more money 10 yrs ago.
If 21 would I do it today?
Restrictions, bullcrap, dcpc, cameras, over complicated rules, ridiculous legal hours, crap wage structures, little parking facilities…not a chance in hell.
So if you were now in the 25-35 age bracket with a mortgage and possibly a family to support and either stuck in a dead end retail job or facing redundancy as they can outsource your job for less or any other similar, what would you do?
That’s a genuine question as if you can’t afford to take 6-12 months out to do an apprenticeship there are not many options out there these days if you have no skills or qualifications. Also looking at at least 40 years to retirement.
I went to college but dropped out as picked the wrong course. My weekend job gave me a trainee manager role and I never bothered doing something else as you could work your way up and it was a “job for life as people will always want food” 20 years ago that was the case but not anymore. Even the jobs that are still there I’m not sure I would want with everything that comes with them
I’m fairly new to the job, and I’m on the younger end of the spectrum at 22 but lets face it it’s a cushy enough job and the pay is fairly decent as well, I’d struggle to earn what I do now without retraining or doing a higher education course. I look at it as an honest way to earn a living and I’m better off financially than 99% of my friends (Including those that went to university). I’m tramping at the minute and in a sense it suits me because I’m young and don’t have a family of my own yet but don’t want to be doing it forever, I have an end in mind and like others have mentioned it’s a means to an end. I’m putting a large portion of my wages into an index tracker fund for a passive income and as this grows I could see myself dropping down to a 4 day working week in a few years time.
I quite often enjoy the job and don’t get pestered by planners or watched over while working. I’ve worked in factories before and hated it and I couldn’t see myself doing an office job either. I’m not totally sure what I want to do if I get bored of driving but I’m happy enough doing what I do at the present moment.
Redrum:
I’m fairly new to the job, and I’m on the younger end of the spectrum at 22 but lets face it it’s a cushy enough job and the pay is fairly decent as well, I’d struggle to earn what I do now without retraining or doing a higher education course. I look at it as an honest way to earn a living and I’m better off financially than 99% of my friends (Including those that went to university). I’m tramping at the minute and in a sense it suits me because I’m young and don’t have a family of my own yet but don’t want to be doing it forever, I have an end in mind and like others have mentioned it’s a means to an end. I’m putting a large portion of my wages into an index tracker fund for a passive income and as this grows I could see myself dropping down to a 4 day working week in a few years time.
I quite often enjoy the job and don’t get pestered by planners or watched over while working. I’ve worked in factories before and hated it and I couldn’t see myself doing an office job either. I’m not totally sure what I want to do if I get bored of driving but I’m happy enough doing what I do at the present moment.
Good to hear from someone with there head screwed on…crack on lad…you be fine
commonrail:
I couldn’t earn the money doing anything else.
Really?
If you work enough hours in any job you could earn the money, especially working the same ridiculous hours as in this job.
I used to love it, but it was chalk and cheese to what it is today.
Got a decent little number at present that suits me, not hassled or pushed as I don’t allow it.
However I was on more money 10 yrs ago.
If 21 would I do it today?
Restrictions, bullcrap, dcpc, cameras, over complicated rules, ridiculous legal hours, crap wage structures, little parking facilities…not a chance in hell.
So if you were now in the 25-35 age bracket with a mortgage and possibly a family to support and either stuck in a dead end retail job or facing redundancy as they can outsource your job for less or any other similar, what would you do?
That’s a genuine question as if you can’t afford to take 6-12 months out to do an apprenticeship there are not many options out there these days if you have no skills or qualifications. Also looking at at least 40 years to retirement.
I went to college but dropped out as picked the wrong course. My weekend job gave me a trainee manager role and I never bothered doing something else as you could work your way up and it was a “job for life as people will always want food” 20 years ago that was the case but not anymore. Even the jobs that are still there I’m not sure I would want with everything that comes with them
How do I answer that it’s pure speculation.
I reckon if I was in my 20s now I would have done the same as I did then, took an apprenticeship at 16…but this time not make the same mistake of doing something I later found I didn’t like, and go driving, so.I would be in a trade of some sort I reckon …who knows.
As I said I would have no interest in taking my Class 1 as I did then, for all the reasons I pointed out, and being an owner driver would be a definite no no this time also.
So not sure there is any relevance in your question tbh.
commonrail:
I couldn’t earn the money doing anything else.
And I like driving.
Agree to this… how many jobs out there is the where you can take home between £500 and £600 per week. Not many. People winge about the long hours which for me isnt like working a 15 hour shift in a warehouse… its a life style.what else will pay the same unless your plumber/engineer…
I know if I went into management I’d struggle to make that and Id be working more hours and get stressed constantly. Everytime I have a issue I just phone up my boss and pass the buck. Ye the h and S can be tedious but I don’t care enough about the job for it to bother me.
That’s another thing job security… I know I could quit or get the sack and get another job the next day.
I escaped the UK ten years ago, if I ever came back I very much doubt I would be a lorry driver again. The traffic, over zealous ministry (whatever they’re called this week) “safety” cameras every half a mile, health and safety BS and RDC waiting rooms would have me going off on a Michael Douglas in Falling Down style breakdown with a couple of weeks.
I might consider a local job on tippers/skips or a Hiab delivering building supplies, but I certainly wouldn’t be doing that if I went back to London, I doubt I’d even bother with a decent car, driving there is soul destroying.
Don’t especially enjoy my job but works out about 45k a year 6-30 16-30ish Monday to Friday. Got friends who earn quite a bit less for jobs with much more hassle than what is basically driving round listening to the radio all day
This thread has made me think a bit better about the future of the job here, it appears that a lot of lads are on a lot of money for doing relatively fewer hours than most, which is all good.
If what a few say on here is true, and why wouldn’t it be, (what’s the point of lying about it ) then it can only be good for the industry, and a positive step forward at last.
I would reckon a lot depends on the area of the country that you live in and obviously type of work.
On the other hand I don’t really agree with those who think it’s ok just to do 15 hour days regularly in 2018 JUST because the job is ‘‘easy’’ …and presumably their ‘good money’ is made by 70 hours work and 4/5 nights out, so if that is the case (maybe it isn’t in all said cases) is it SO ‘‘good’’ ?
Of course it’s easy, but you are still turning up for work and should be paid a realistic rate,.and pay structure with overtime on a premium rate, as you can sure as hell bet your boss will be getting a proper job rate for taking stuff from A to B whether you consider it ‘‘easy’’ or not.
Unfortunately there are still many on the same old crap ‘going rate’ with mundane jobs, …is this still the majority would you reckon?
kr79:
Don’t especially enjoy my job but works out about 45k a year 6-30 16-30ish Monday to Friday. Got friends who earn quite a bit less for jobs with much more hassle than what is basically driving round listening to the radio all day
Hmm about £17.30 an hour for Monday to Friday day work. Good heavens I hope no naive soul thinks that is still representative of this industry
kr79:
Don’t especially enjoy my job but works out about 45k a year 6-30 16-30ish Monday to Friday. Got friends who earn quite a bit less for jobs with much more hassle than what is basically driving round listening to the radio all day
Hmm about £17.30 an hour for Monday to Friday day work. Good heavens I hope no naive soul thinks that is still representative of this industry
Location and a not just a steering wheel attendant needed kind of job and a bit of flexibility reflect the wages.
) then it can only be good for the industry, and a positive step forward at last.
