Been offered Class 2 role (pallets)
Approx 10 drops per day plus collections, 50 hours per week
Electric Pump up trucks
Will train for ADR after probation & money increase by £1 per hour
Class 1 opps also run from here, curtainsiders and tippers
New fleet nothing under 2 years, dedicated lorry and same route
45 min drive from home, fuel cost £30 per week
Or
7.5t approx 40 drops per day, 45 hours per week
Fleet bit older 5 years? and option to move into class 2 18T or class 1 arctic & wag drag if position becomes available in future
different lorrys and different routes
5 mins from home, fuel cost £10 per week
One advantage of class 2 pallets is the hours will likely be relatively standard as they need the pallets back to load out, ie: less 15 hour days than class 1 or the 7.5T (see below).
In this case I would go class 2. The 10 drops is probably roughly right, might be slightly more or slightly less depending on day, but you can only get a limited number of pallets on a truck.
I suspect the 7.5T job with 40 drops will likely turn into 70 drops (esp if its parcels) and no time limits so 15 hour days where available. You will be more knackered doing that.
Also 5 year old 7.5T trucks…if they are as knackered as most I’ve experienced, then you might as well book the back specialist now. Probably not well maintained either I would suspect unless a big company.
If the class 2 really are all fairly new (I’d gave a sneaky look as what comes out the yard), that’s sooo much better to drive too. Sounds like a better company overall. I find many running 7.5T only are running it on a shoestring and some units are in a shocking state.
Big advantage of class 2 - you’re used to bigger vehicles, almost guaranteed the class 2 will be auto (your shoulders / knees will thank you) and I used to find 80% of pallets are forklift so less damage to your knees.
45 min drive is a pain, but since there are less class 1 availablity out there, you might have to drive that when you move to those jobs. Better to get used to it now rather than have the shock if class 1 + a long drive.
Class 2 jobs 10 deliveries + collections for 50 hours a week is… optimistic. Expect 60 once you factor in traffic delays and waiting around trying to get loaded/unloaded in the morning and evenings. 45 minute commute 10x a week will grind you down after you’ve been on the road for 10 hours.
7.5t 40 drops per day will be parcel deliveries most likely, many of them heavy, large and awkward to get a good hold of. If you’re 18 years old and fit and like to rush around everywhere it will suit you down to the ground. If you’re none of those then you will be knackered and probably hate it.
I’ve done 7.5T work with 40-60 drops a day, can’t express my true feelings about that as the zb filter would be working overtime. I agree the commute will grind you down, but personally the 40 drops per day (and the rest, because I’ll guarantee that’s a minimum rather than a maximum) would be a bigger grind in my opinion.
