Anyone else out there my age?! I’m 20 drive class 1 for co op, wondering people’s opinions on this? I ask because I went on a cpc course a while back and we all started talking about young driver (they all didn’t know my age and I kept quiet) but 90% of the people in that room were saying people under 21 shouldn’t be driving a lorry. I’ve been driving class 2 since 19 and then got class 1 a few month ago. Not trying to blow my own trumpet but I’ve been told a lot of them in that room didn’t pass their class 2 let alone move on too class 1. So wondering the general view on this from other actual drivers?
You should have told the old ■■■■■ that you are a 20 year old GIRL .That would have really upset them.Well done to you having passed the tests and securing employment.
Hahaha it was a long time ago, so had no confidence in trucking. Also would need to have shaved, can’t bring myself to that in these cold months! would be a totally different scenario now though cheers still enjoying it so can’t. Be all that bad
I’ve met decent mature 20/21 year old lorry drivers and 40/60 year old childlike steering wheel attendants whom i wouldn’t allow anywhere near a bloody lorry i owned.
Discrimination against new drivers is nothing new.You should have asked them what miraculously changes between the age of 20 to 21.Bearing in mind we had no problem with sending 19 year old pilots to win the Battle of Britain.While it’s probably more a case of the same old agenda of older drivers wanting to reserve the jobs for themselves.Meanwhile if you think that young driver discrimination is bad now see what happens if/when you want to move on from supermarket work regardless of the bs 21 year break point.The reality often being 21 + Brits lumbered with zb 7.5 tonner or class ‘3’ work with a class 1 while East Euros are brought in to do the class 1 work.
Age is no guarantee of maturity or ability. I’d be happy to let anyone of any age do it if they can demonstrate they are suitable. In the same vein Virgin Atlantic among a lot of other airlines are currently taking applications from people as young as 17 to be first officers in two years after they finish training.
I’m 22 and have never had an issue with driving and I’ve heard the young driver spiel too many times to count.
Thelee96:
Anyone else out there my age?! I’m 20 drive class 1 for co op, wondering people’s opinions on this? I ask because I went on a cpc course a while back and we all started talking about young driver (they all didn’t know my age and I kept quiet) but 90% of the people in that room were saying people under 21 shouldn’t be driving a lorry. I’ve been driving class 2 since 19 and then got class 1 a few month ago. Not trying to blow my own trumpet but I’ve been told a lot of them in that room didn’t pass their class 2 let alone move on too class 1. So wondering the general view on this from other actual drivers?
Thanks for reading and I appreciate you all
I say fair bloody play to you youth.
Its great to see someone so young and with a great attitude in the game.
When I was 18 I was one of the youngest bus drivers in the country and you wouldn’t believe the stick I got (2004 it was)
I actually had an old lady board the bus, question me as to why I was in the driver’s seat and then told me she would wait for a more experienced driver!
Dont listen to the coffin dodgers, with their sheote eye sight and dementia they are way more a danger than you
Que the backlash from old ■■■■■ … you dipper I’m looking at you
As with most things, the behaviour of a minority catches the eye and causes everyone to be tarred with the same brush. Fair play to you lads/lasses who got your licenses young.
My lad is 21 and has his C+E, passed it this summer. Ended up in his first job doing class 2 pallet network multidrop driving a 15 plate temporarily whilst the driver was on sick and was supposed to get another motor when he came back. Driver left and they’ve kept him on the 15 plate motor because he has one of the lowest levels of damage in the company. They seem very happy with him.
I’ve met decent mature 20/21 year old lorry drivers and 40/60 year old childlike steering wheel attendants whom i wouldn’t allow anywhere near a bloody lorry i owned.
Nothing wrong with young drivers as long as they aren’t too cocky, think they know it all so won’t listen to advice.
I was on artics at 21, I’ve never looked my age and was often asked if I ‘was old enough to drive that big thing son’…in fact I still am …, ok, I’m lying about the last bit
I learned a hell of a lot from older drivers who I had a lot of respect for (in fact I still see a couple who are now in their 70s, still respect them to this day, and have been known to buy them a pint a couple of times.
Listen to the RIGHT ones mate, ignore the d/heads, learn all the good habits of courtesy and empathy (which you will never learn from the d/heads) and you’ll do all right.
Carryfast:
Discrimination against new drivers is nothing new.You should have asked them what miraculously changes between the age of 20 to 21.Bearing in mind we had no problem with sending 19 year old pilots to win the Battle of Britain.While it’s probably more a case of the same old agenda of older drivers wanting to reserve the jobs for themselves.Meanwhile if you think that young driver discrimination is bad now see what happens if/when you want to move on from supermarket work regardless of the bs 21 year break point.The reality often being 21 + Brits lumbered with zb 7.5 tonner or class ‘3’ work with a class 1 while East Euros are brought in to do the class 1 work.
I wondered why I glazed over this, then I recognised the pattern and checked the poster!
Got my class 1 at 20, been on them since. Robroy is right, be courteous and learn good habits on the road and life is a lot easier if you can quickly pick which dobbers to ignore and which to listen to.
Never been discriminated against for my age, maybe looking like a criminal and sounding like I have a 40 a day habit helps
I too have met quite a few young drivers over the past two years, most, if not all, were very level headed and articulate as well as demonstrating a good ability to control the vehicles they were driving.
I passed my class one straight off at 21, I expect I was frowned upon by some older drivers at that time. It has to be said though that those same older drivers taught me the things I needed to know regarding the job. Those older drivers are long retired or dead now. The dead head older drivers you do find from time to time now are probably the ones who never asked how things were done when they were young.
They have managed to keep their own standards at an all time low level by thinking they always knew better! You on the other hand have had better training at a grass roots level than we ever had.
Good luck for the future
my lads will in in my vans at 17 as soon as the ypass there test, then they will drive my older fellas about without a sat nav to learn the job then at 18 they will have a crash course to get there class 1, then ill ge tthem set on with someone for 12 mouths then they can come back to me, and have there own truck at 19
Next step. Start studying for your transport manager CPC (or whatever it’s called these days)
Try getting involved with the fitters that are taking care of your wagon. Watch listen and learn.
Trust me it will come in handy.
Listen to the old guys who have done the hard yards:
If anyone laughs at you because you are too young, laugh with them and walk away.
cheers still enjoying it so can’t. Be all that bad 
…, ok, I’m lying about the last bit 
