I’ve been living abroad for the last 20 years and am about to return to the UK and want to take up driving for a living again. I know, I must be mad but its out of necessity rather than want. I was wondering if there are any areas of the UK that have a higher than average concentration of haulage firms and therefore, theoretically, offer a higher possibility for finding LGV1 C+E tramping work? As I don’t currently have a base, upon my return I will be looking to relocate to an area that holds the most potential for finding work. Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Traditionally, anywhere too expensive to live has the most work.
South Bucks, Berks, North Surrey, Inland Sussex, Central Kent, Urban Essex, South Herts, the whole of middlesex.
In other words, “Home Counties”.
Further north, you’ve got the “Golden Triangle”, and to the west you’ve got the Severn Estuary.
Northampton
north of the border you want the M8 corridor or maybe aberdeen. apparently they are crying out for drivers up there
Winseer:
Traditionally, anywhere too expensive to live has the most work.South Bucks, Berks, North Surrey, Inland Sussex, Central Kent, Urban Essex, South Herts, the whole of middlesex.
In other words, “Home Counties”.
It’s more like the opposite to that situation since at least the 1980’s.
With the exception of ( what was ) some of Middx and maybe some parts of Kent ‘the home counties’,especially North Surrey,have increasingly been a case of being too expensive to base a transport operation compared to other parts of the country.Which is why many of the few firms that were here have closed down and sold off their premises for housing or office development.Added to that is the situation of wage levels not reflecting local living costs in the case of the jobs which are available,most of which being mostly air freight related,local distribution or building supplies work running into London often based near to the airports.
Historically it’s been the areas in and around the Midlands and in the North where the most road transport work has been based with haulage work into and out of the South East more likely to be taken by transport operators based in those areas not here.
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Coventry,Northampton,Leicester.if you agree travel some 20 miles in one way every day,you can found somethink.
near Magna park -best biggest company -it is name Stobart group,Warrens 
One thing I’m not sure about is how different pallet operators are in different parts of the country.
Down here, one might get the impression that such firms have small yards, run on salaried drivers working very long working weeks eg. 75 hour weeks for £500 flat pay. What’s the story in other parts of the country? Perhaps up north I’m thinking that palletwork is considered a cushy number?
For me, I like a run that involves me being on the road or on a bay (allowed to stay in the cab) being paid as opposed to being in a tip queue or booked off at base because it’s “quiet at the moment” or just hanging around some rdc waiting room where the bull can be cut with a knife.
Carryfast: I speak of the availablility of shifts to be covered - ie the agency perspective rather than “what area has the most full time jobs”.
You might as well just say “Anywhere outside of the UK” in that regard, since that’s how it seems. I can’t remember the last time I saw a 40 hour job up for a living wage even down in these parts. 
The last full time job I saw advertised within 10 miles of me was a £25k salary for what amounts to a 75 hour week. Not good.
Hardly any work in sussex at all these days.
Along the coast it was predominantly construction based work but the latest recession has all but killed that off.
For a county with 2 ports also the work prospects are pretty dismal. No traction work left at newhaven as far as I know and although there is plenty of timber and steel imported at shoreham the port authority reduced that to back load work years ago.
Cheers
Neilf
Many thanks to you all for your advice and suggestions. You’ve raised some points that I hadn’t even considered before.
@neilf…and there was me thinking that Felixstowe might have been a safe bet. Sounds like that is not the case at all.
poland
Base yourself around Rugby/Lutterworth/Northampton area and you’ll be as good as anywhere, and reasonable housing costs compared with potential wages, still a lot of nice villages around if you can’t stand town living.
Many of the major supermarkets and their support networks have RDC’s concentrated in the area.
Winseer:
One thing I’m not sure about is how different pallet operators are in different parts of the country.
Down here, one might get the impression that such firms have small yards, run on salaried drivers working very long working weeks eg. 75 hour weeks for £500 flat pay. What’s the story in other parts of the country? Perhaps up north I’m thinking that palletwork is considered a cushy number?For me, I like a run that involves me being on the road or on a bay (allowed to stay in the cab) being paid as opposed to being in a tip queue or booked off at base because it’s “quiet at the moment” or just hanging around some rdc waiting room where the bull can be cut with a knife.
I do pallet network and although my route is decent the others aren’t , just get messed about everyday go here go there what will u be here blah blah , and the money is not good for the work you do , not sure if it is all like that up here
I’m probably biased but the Bristol area has a lot to offer with all the RDC’s local to us (except Waitrose) and lots of other companies too and you should find a driving job somewhere within half hr drive easy.
mb14:
poland
The Balkan region, only teasing 
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Birmingham and its outlying districts ( A4123 Corridor west of M5, i.e Steel Alley )
M5 same area, East Side, minutes off J1/2, " Birds " and DPD/Interlink etc, have large depots.
So guess your be looking to locate to BlackHealth / Oldbury / West Bromwich,
or a tad more up market:
or “Rowley Regis area” i.e Dudley, Hadley, or Cradley Heath (pronunciation: / ËŒ k r eɪ d l i ˈ h iË Î¸ /)
There a whole nest of Haulage contractors in or near Merry Hill to’ho 
Just to many to list them all 
Or the East Midlands Region:
i.e close to M6/M1 interchange i.e Coventry, Rugby etc 
The area round dartford bridge is a good bet lots of firms especaly the essex side although accomidation costs are quite high.
Juddian:
Base yourself around Rugby/Lutterworth/Northampton area and you’ll be as good as anywhere, and reasonable housing costs compared with potential wages, still a lot of nice villages around if you can’t stand town living.Many of the major supermarkets and their support networks have RDC’s concentrated in the area.
Very good advice above, I’d add Peterborough as well, but apart from Tesco, I couldn’t vouch for the pay/conditions ect.
Def Rugby North Cov Magna PK Northampton area
park yourself near the centre of this area