Simcor beat me to it, but it’s true: a lot of drivers are trapped in the job because of the earnings. I say “earnings” because the hourly wage isn’t anything spectacular, but the sheer amount of hours most drivers work makes the earning potential relatively high.
Some drivers are even trapped as trampers, as they’ve become reliant on the extra £100-£150 per week for doing nights out and working more hours.
Most people live to their means. They and their families get used to the money earned as a driver, after which then “normal” 9 to 5 unskilled job of 40 hours a week at £9 per hour just isn’t viable.
Hence why some drivers who despise the job are trapped in it. And it is those who spit the venom.
talknonsense:
Don’t listen to the negativity too much. If it is what you want to do, go out there and do it and come to your own conclusions.
The thing with this job is that there is something to suit everyone’s inclinations. Contrary to popular belief, there are still good driving jobs out there and believe it or not decent companies too.
As someone has previously mentioned; try not to listen to the neanderthals spouting their bullsh*t as they can quite easily drag you down the their level if you aren’t careful.
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around 40 drivers at our place,no one ‘hates’ it,as far as i know anyway.only 1 big van driver,who prefers it to driving the artic’s,and is on the same money.no one gives him any abuse.i’ve been driving hgv’s 41 years and still enjoy the job perhaps i’m just a saddo
I reckon you’ve already had a lot of wise counsel from others on here regarding a possible career change. As almost all have said, you can make decent money if you put in the hours even though the hourly rates are often very poor. If you think you and your family, if you have one, feel you can cope with long days and possibly nights out, fill your boots, if it’s what you want to do then you’ll probably be good at it. There’s still a lot of decent lads out there who I think outnumber the idiots, so just do it, then make your own mind up if it’s something you want to do long term.
There is one chap on here whose motto I like very much, his philosophy is.
“Remember not to be too busy making a living, to make a life”
If you enjoy it mate, it’s half the battle,.as for Class2 being second best or whatever, it would not bother me in the slightest going on to a rigid if I was on the same or better money for it, I’ve driven all the fancy trucks I need to in one lifetime, so no longer fussed.
Take no notice of the gobby ‘‘I drive a big truck me’’ crew , best avoided, and left alone to their more than likely work/sleep endurance tests.
This job is how YOU make it, if you allow yourself to be pushed and abused, it will be a complete pain in the ■■■■, if you get through the workload at your own safe and steady pace, and you are left alone, it’s a complete different ball game.
After all the years I’ve done it, I do tend to condemn it a lot of the time, and on my first weekly shift pattern day (Wed) I’m like a bear with a sore arse, but once I get down the road, get a couple drops off, get in the zone and have a couple of good social nights out, it’s like going back to the old days when I was as keen as mustard.
I’ve even agreed to do a 6 day shift this week (me and my big gob ) I’ll be totally ■■■■■■ off tomorrow night, but again once I get away next morning, after a couple of hours 'lll be fine…there are worse ways to make a living, put it that way.
I have a class 1, but spend a lot of my time driving a Class 2. I get paid the same for either so I don’t care.
If you want real comedy, look out for a long-serving artic driver trying to reverse a rigid onto a bay. He might hold the licence to do it; but that don’t mean he can.
Rob ROY gets it in one every time, the job is what YOU make it ,.I did it for 45 years I did moan "constructive critic " at times but no job is perfect it has lots of plus points ,most people do it for years so go for it enjoy it have a moan good luck
I drive artics and rigids depending on what work is on, now I know plenty of drivers whos first words when they stumble out the cab of their puddle jumpers “yeah, Im usually in an artic mate” now these are the type of human you want to avoid, the ones that look down at anyone not man enough to be behind the wheel of a big wagon- don’t ever start a conversation with a driver like this because most are really dull and boring, they lie and exaggerate for no apparent reason, if youve tipped in Antwerp theyve tipped in Ankara, if your pulling in a grand a week they are on double that plus bonuses.
Also, the jobs brilliant. Really is*.If you let it be. Dont be run ragged, work for the agency to start with to practice saying “no” easy to pick up your bag and move on, depending on your area in UK there can be plenty work.
If you do one favour, work through one WTD break, don’t strap a load down so you can hit your unrealistic delivery on time… you’ll work like that for ever more and your job will become tedious.
*Ok, maybe only 40% of the time… but that’s a 10 times increase on any non driving job I’ve ever had.
Just a dad:
Can say what they want to me its just the general hate on the job no job is perfect all have good and bad just cant see why if drivers hate it so much why stick it
£500+ a week take home pay. For a lot of drivers, especially given the average age of a lorry driver is mid 50s, they’ve got no chance of getting any other job that’ll pay that kind of money so it’s either carry on or be prepared to drop £200+ a week. Hell my sis in law is the manager of her department in our local authority, has a degree in her field and over 20 years experience and she doesn’t earn what I do.
She will have retired on a gold plated pension several decades before you can even dream of retirement tho.
perhaps i’m just a saddo 
Just to help… the clue is in the word “Private.” 
, best avoided, and left alone to their more than likely work/sleep endurance tests.
(me and my big gob