seems that 90% of the hgv drivers in the uk should be in a nursing home! Not a sliegght on their driving abilties but why are there so many oldies driving and so few younger people behind the wheel??
Because we can 
Probably because most of us just seem to keep getting older; there’s nothing you can do about it 
We can’t find suitable jobs as toilet attendants or National Trust Security Guards and we can’t afford to retire, so we keep on driving.
BTW - at 53 I don’t think I’m elderly, I just have more life experience 
Perhaps people don’t see it as an attractive choice of job. Plus what does it cost now to train from car to class1 with the cpc thrown in got to be around 3k.
we are all 21 really. It’s just the job that makes us look old!!.
tortoise:
we are all 21 really. It’s just the job that makes us look old!!.
We ARE all 21 … … and a few months … … just best not to count the months, eh ■■
Roll on 2014 when I hang the keys up for good!jus kidding am doing DCPC (21hrs so far)medical permitting want to do 5years relief /part time apart from that the job has gone down hill big time!
kr79:
Perhaps people don’t see it as an attractive choice of job. Plus what does it cost now to train from car to class1 with the cpc thrown in got to be around 3k.
This is the exact reason - nail on the head there!
Based on me
Theory £30 / Haz £15
CPC mod 2 - £35
CPC mod 4 - £223
class 2 - 4 day course £787
Class 1- 4 day course £787
Digi card £38
Havent got a calculator handy but you get the idea lol Not every young person has got access to that kinda money
Especially when my dad did his class 1 for £550 all in 
haha
Because the young want it on a plate not do 60/70hr a week for a pittance like us old gits (63) 
.
Young_Josh:
kr79:
Perhaps people don’t see it as an attractive choice of job. Plus what does it cost now to train from car to class1 with the cpc thrown in got to be around 3k.This is the exact reason - nail on the head there!
Based on me
Theory £30 / Haz £15
CPC mod 2 - £35
CPC mod 4 - £223
class 2 - 4 day course £787
Class 1- 4 day course £787
Digi card £38Havent got a calculator handy but you get the idea lol Not every young person has got access to that kinda money
Especially when my dad did his class 1 for £550 all in
Don’t forget your medical thats more cost.
gardun:
BTW - at 53 I don’t think I’m elderly, I just have more life experience
Hear hear young man
fingermissing:
Young_Josh:
kr79:
Perhaps people don’t see it as an attractive choice of job. Plus what does it cost now to train from car to class1 with the cpc thrown in got to be around 3k.This is the exact reason - nail on the head there!
Based on me
Theory £30 / Haz £15
CPC mod 2 - £35
CPC mod 4 - £223
class 2 - 4 day course £787
Class 1- 4 day course £787
Digi card £38Havent got a calculator handy but you get the idea lol Not every young person has got access to that kinda money
Especially when my dad did his class 1 for £550 all inDon’t forget your medical thats more cost.
Yes very true - my GP quoted £115 but i got in done for £58 at some other place. Come to think of it, it sounds abit dodgy to me
I’m in my late twenties myself and it does seem I rarely meet anyone younger than me driving hgvs, got a couple at our place in their 30’s, the rest are in their 40’s or above.
I only have class 2, which I did pay for myself 6 years ago, but am fortunate that the company I have worked for the last 5 years for will pay for my cpc, although I have no real interest in progressing onto class 1, as I enjoy the class 2 multiidrop work I do.
Now I have my own run that I do nearly all of the time (wtd restrictions permitting) I do our longest run, 400k a day and upto 20 drops, doing the run permanently mainly due to the fact all of our older drivers want to work LESS hours and do no overtime. Doesnt bother me, my pay is actually pretty good for class 2 work, all overtime @ time and a half, may be shot at the end of the week sometimes, but it keeps me fit and more than pays the bills> Call me crazy but im pretty happy in this field of work right now
What young person in their right mind would want to be in this game. You’ll earn more stacking shelves or messing about with this internet/technology stuff that’s going on nowadays & be in the pub with your mates every weekend without fail. Either way there will never be a shortage of us old mugs willing to do the job for next to nothing…
P.s as a TM or insurance company would you trust a youngster I.e 18-21 with 44tonnes of real heavy metal…■■? 
Pimpdaddy:
What young person in their right mind would want to be in this game. You’ll earn more stacking shelves or messing about with this internet/technology stuff that’s going on nowadays & be in the pub with your mates every weekend without fail. Either way there will never be a shortage of us old mugs willing to do the job for next to nothing…P.s as a TM or insurance company would you trust a youngster I.e 18-21 with 44tonnes of real heavy metal…■■? :?:
Myself i think this all depends on the person. The bits and bobs im doing on a weekend for a family friend is happy with the way i drive / handle situations etc etc. obviously money cant buy experience but i also believe if a 40 year old passed his test same time as me (im 20) and we both went down the road together , who says hes more trusted / competant then me? he got more life experience and car drivng experience. but 2ton car is different kettle of fish to 44tons
Just a thought 
Pimpdaddy:
P.s as a TM or insurance company would you trust a youngster I.e 18-21 with 44tonnes of real heavy metal…■■?
Not all of us can’t compute what speed something will or won’t go around a corner. I think at 18 i’m a really sensible driver and have been told so by the police on a few occasions, I have passed IAM and Pass plus, Class 1 & 2.
masetheace:
Call me crazy but im pretty happy in this field of work right now
It is so good to read that, not often you hear it to be honest!
All the time it is like that, you feel as though you are not working, someone is paying you to enjoy yourself and that is what matters…It took me the best part of 40 odd years to get to where you are now.
Good for you
i got talking to an old retired driver on xmas eve whilst i was taking a break outside a shop i had just delivered to.i could`nt get away in the end,what with him recalling his memories 
he new the job was ■■■■■■ and he sympathised with us “young uns”…but you could tell he missed it…so i guess the reason so many drivers are elderly is because they enjoy it.
i certainly intend carrying on as long as possible,allbeit part time
When I started I was 26 and I was about the average age for an HGV driver, now I’m 52 and I’m still the average age for an HGV driver…
commonrail:
i got talking to an old retired driver on xmas eve whilst i was taking a break outside a shop i had just delivered to.i could`nt get away in the end,what with him recalling his memories
i certainly intend carrying on as long as possible,allbeit part time
My Dad curses it to the high heavens but admits every time he sees an artic going past he wishes he was driving it again (he got smashed into by a royal mail van last year) so has been off since.