I’ve been driving class 2 trucks for 3 years a few months ago I got my class one licence I’m currently working for a removal company in london for £16 per hour. I’m moving to a distribution company for £13 per hour starting in a 18tonne getting practice in the artic at the same time then going artic full time.
The pros are the new place is 2.5miles from home rather then 12 miles for the removal company
Easier work at the new company rather then lifting heaving furniture up 5 flights of stairs.
I’ve been driving class 2 trucks for 3 years a few months ago I got my class one licence I’m currently working for a removal company in london for £16 per hour. I’m moving to a distribution company for £13 per hour starting in a 18tonne getting practice in the artic at the same time then going artic full time.
The pros are the new place is 2.5miles from home rather then 12 miles for the removal company
Easier work at the new company rather then lifting heaving furniture up 5 flights of stairs.
Is £13 not bad for a new class one driver?
£13ph in London new pass or not your being mugged off
I think its low for London, or of my perception of a London wage at least.
Then again I’ve never bought into the whole “other people’s wages” thing because it doesn’t matter what anyone else is on, the key thing is does it provide enough for you to live on and if the answer is yes then it’s irrelevant what others get paid or think of your pay.
Besides there’s more to it than money. As you say, the job is closer so there’s that to add into the equation with any savings on travelling etc, plus there’s the work (ie you say its easier) so it’s about a whole package.
Find an atric only full-time seat straight away if what you need is experience. The market is in your favour. In London it is very possible, you may need to comute further afield but it is possible. My advice would be to get into a job that you need to dock or reverse multiple times a shift, on different sites, like trunking or super markets. From then on even without the mythycal 2 years experience, as long as you show on a driving assessment that you can drop and swop trailers with all the safety checks and so on, dock a trailer first time or with relative ease, and that you are a safe driver on the road, more interesting and better paying options will be open to you way quicker.
You’re newly qualified, doesn’t mean you should be on lesser money. You’re doing the same work as the drivers already there and you should be paid the same.
I’ve seen this crap from agencies that paid newbies less than the regular men.
I’ve been driving class 2 trucks for 3 years a few months ago I got my class one licence I’m currently working for a removal company in london for £16 per hour. I’m moving to a distribution company for £13 per hour starting in a 18tonne getting practice in the artic at the same time then going artic full time.
The pros are the new place is 2.5miles from home rather then 12 miles for the removal company
Easier work at the new company rather then lifting heaving furniture up 5 flights of stairs.
Is £13 not bad for a new class one driver?
You should always strive to better yourself , you’ve took a £3 ph pay cut , so
No it’s not a good idea , or a good rate , back too the drawing board for you
The only thing that matters is if it’s enough for you!
Plenty will tell you that they wouldn’t get out of bed for that but the reality is, plenty are earning less.
There’s so much more to consider than just hourly rate anyway - for example, paid or unpaid break? There’s a pound an hour either way over a day. Hours, holidays, weekends, ot rate, sick pay, what’s expected of you, and job satisfaction are all things that can make a job a good or bad one, irrespective of hourly rate.
I’ve changed jobs in the past for a higher hourly rate and wished I hadn’t. I’ve also done jobs for much less than £13 ph and really enjoyed them. In fact, the best job I’ve ever had paid £10.65 an hour about 5 years ago.
TLDR - Basically if you are happy with £13 ph and it sustains your lifestyle then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or earns!
It should be enough to live off I think. Also the weekend rate is time and half so I can boost my wages up. And there going to get me the class 1 experience that I need. It’s PRS Distribution and they seem keen to get me into an artic. And from what I’ve been told there not going to pile the pressure on me as they don’t want me to “sink” and get into bother when out on the road on my own. They will be employing me full time it’s not through an agency so won’t just be told there’s my truck pick up this trailer and take it here with no help at all. Plus more job security. Just nervous about getting into an artic but once I’ve done a few trips and some reversing I should be okay.
I’ve had a few people say but to me £13 an about is terrible etc… but the way I’m looking at it is it’s a foot in the door an d a step in the right direction to be on my way in the artics. I’d rather do it properly and get it right then make a major ■■■■ up. The company is based in colnbrook just outside of Heathrow airport so not directly in london and they only drive into london if they has be a special project on. I’ve fed up with driving around london.
Rhodes Freight in Iver last year offered me £44k for a 5 day week + nights out and I think it was £225 or £250 for extra day. There 5 day though was either Sunday to Thursday or Tuesday to Saturday.
mrginge:
Rhodes Freight in Iver last year offered me £44k for a 5 day week + nights out and I think it was £225 or £250 for extra day. There 5 day though was either Sunday to Thursday or Tuesday to Saturday.
That’s not bad. It again is my class 1 experience that lets me down right now.
TruckerRossy:
I’ve had a few people say but to me £13 an about is terrible etc… but the way I’m looking at it is it’s a foot in the door an d a step in the right direction to be on my way in the artics.
£13 is pretty average for Class 1 work I’d say. I’m salaried but when you do the maths it’s about what I get and I’ve got 35 years experience at it. I could earn more elsewhere but quality of life is as important to me as the money, e.g. sensible work times, short commute, being treated with a reasonable amount of respect by management etc.
I think you need to adopt the same attitude given that you are still new and need experience, you can always chase the big bucks later if you need to once you’ve got a few miles under your belt.
I’ve been driving class 2 trucks for 3 years a few months ago I got my class one licence I’m currently working for a removal company in london for £16 per hour. I’m moving to a distribution company for £13 per hour starting in a 18tonne getting practice in the artic at the same time then going artic full time.
The pros are the new place is 2.5miles from home rather then 12 miles for the removal company
Easier work at the new company rather then lifting heaving furniture up 5 flights of stairs.
Is £13 not bad for a new class one driver?
You should always strive to better yourself , you’ve took a £3 ph pay cut , so
No it’s not a good idea , or a good rate , back too the drawing board for you
If you actually sat down and done the calcs it will most likely will not be any different. His commute has potentially gone down an hour a day. Money saved on fuel + time away.
It is all well and good moving to a job miles away that pays good but something that is next door but pays slightly less is a no brainer.
10 hours at £13 is 130
9 hours at £16 is £144 but your extra commute is 1 hours extra and you spend £14 extra on fuel. That gives you £130 for the day with the same amount away from home. Same as the job above. Everything is relative. Just like those jobs that pay a decent hourly rate to hook people in then take off breaks after.
dozy:
You should always strive to better yourself , you’ve took a £3 ph pay cut , so
No it’s not a good idea , or a good rate , back too the drawing board for you
I wouldn’t consider ■■■■■■■ furniture up five flights of stairs as “bettering myself” and I wouldn’t do it for £10 an hour more.
TruckerRossy:
I’ve had a few people say but to me £13 an about is terrible etc… but the way I’m looking at it is it’s a foot in the door an d a step in the right direction to be on my way in the artics.
£13 is pretty average for Class 1 work I’d say. I’m salaried but when you do the maths it’s about what I get and I’ve got 35 years experience at it. I could earn more elsewhere but quality of life is as important to me as the money, e.g. sensible work times, short commute, being treated with a reasonable amount of respect by management etc.
I think you need to adopt the same attitude given that you are still new and need experience, you can always chase the big bucks later if you need to once you’ve got a few miles under your belt.
Yeah exactly! I need to get the hours in… and I reckon this sounds like a good company to do it with
I have done the same thing on coaches, left a well paid class1 job and left for what I thought was less money. As it works out it was the best move for me personally. If you are happy with the rate and job, the job is the key thing for me to be better, the money is incidental.
I’ve been driving class 2 trucks for 3 years a few months ago I got my class one licence I’m currently working for a removal company in london for £16 per hour. I’m moving to a distribution company for £13 per hour starting in a 18tonne getting practice in the artic at the same time then going artic full time.
The pros are the new place is 2.5miles from home rather then 12 miles for the removal company
Easier work at the new company rather then lifting heaving furniture up 5 flights of stairs.
Is £13 not bad for a new class one driver?
You should always strive to better yourself , you’ve took a £3 ph pay cut , so
No it’s not a good idea , or a good rate , back too the drawing board for you
If you actually sat down and done the calcs it will most likely will not be any different. His commute has potentially gone down an hour a day. Money saved on fuel + time away.
It is all well and good moving to a job miles away that pays good but something that is next door but pays slightly less is a no brainer.
10 hours at £13 is 130
9 hours at £16 is £144 but your extra commute is 1 hours extra and you spend £14 extra on fuel. That gives you £130 for the day with the same amount away from home. Same as the job above. Everything is relative. Just like those jobs that pay a decent hourly rate to hook people in then take off breaks after.
Yeah exactly it’s 30mins each way to get from Langley to Southall. And if they bring in the ULEZ to within the M25 that will knacker me up! also being able not o get home in about 15 mins if that will be a big bonus!
Yorkshire Tramper:
I have done the same thing on coaches, left a well paid class1 job and left for what I thought was less money. As it works out it was the best move for me personally. If you are happy with the rate and job, the job is the key thing for me to be better, the money is incidental.
Just wondering if you overnight in a hotel with meals do you get a cash free tax allowance as well (subsistence)
What’s the average hours in a days work some of them tours are very long days. Salary or hourly
mrginge:
Rhodes Freight in Iver last year offered me £44k for a 5 day week + nights out and I think it was £225 or £250 for extra day. There 5 day though was either Sunday to Thursday or Tuesday to Saturday.
That was last year when the economy was coming out of lockdown, the price of everything to do with transport was inflated including drivers wages. I run a small operation 5 trucks going four years now, I have agency’s phoning almost daily asking if I have requirements for any drivers, a month and a half before Xmas!! A few drivers in for a shock won’t be too many agency lads taking January and February in the Caribbean.
You’re newly qualified, doesn’t mean you should be on lesser money. You’re doing the same work as the drivers already there and you should be paid the same.
I’ve seen this crap from agencies that paid newbies less than the regular men.
Full days work for a full days pay.
With a newly minted licence just coming up from car driving I’d disagree. They’re not doing the job the same by any stretch of the imagination. However someone who has already been driving Cat C for 3 years and just has a newly minted CE isn’t a newbie and should be on the same.