Complete Career Change - advice please?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

SWTrucker028:
Night aren’t for me but I’m prepared to work long hours otherwise.

No mate really you’re not. I don’t think you’re truly prepared for the hours we do. It isn’t just the fact that its a 12-15hr working day, its that you’re also starting that at 4am. The place I’m at runs its own driver training scheme and there were quite a few people who went on it who thought that “its only a few more hours a day, its not much different than when I do overtime” to only find out that when it is 5 days a week and you have no choice and how much it impacts your life it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Basically you have no life outside of work on the days you work because you literally get enough time to drive home, ram some food down your throat, have a shower, go to bed, get up, have breakfast and get ready for work and go out the door. If you’re used to doing things on an evening after getting home from work and having your tea you can forget that.

22

Honestly stick at the office work .It is a very stressful job driving trucks.Rules regs conjestion poor pay ,dreadful first two years of stress trying to find a start with a “Good” firm.

On the flip side you might fall straight in with a "1 in a million "good firm (The odds are against you ).You could get half decent pay and a half decent gaffer .And you might go straight into a flash merc …

All waffle aside you are young enough to try it pal .Its only £3-5k to try it out .

23

albion:
I did say it wasn’t easy!

Amen

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24

Beetlejuice:
Honestly stick at the office work .It is a very stressful job driving trucks. .

I’m not sure what I think about this one. I’ve come to the conclusion it’s very person dependant. My only brief time in an office was at 19. I worked in civil service - the criminal defence service creating rosters for the duty solicitors. I found office work quite stressful. It didn’t sit well with my persona. I found lorry driving comparatively less stressful on the whole. Despite lorry driving having far heavier direct responsibility than when I briefly worked in an office.

I think the long long hours in driving can really add stress though. I did it when single and no children. So my experience is tainted by my relatively free and easy home life back then.

25

I think a lot of the old timers on here are remembering the “good old days” when they’re telling you not to bother. Yes the hours are long, yes it can be hard getting a start, yes it can be very hard getting a decent gig, no it isn’t an easy way to earn big money.

That being said, the best decision I ever made was to chuck my old career and become a truck driver. I will admit to being lucky in finding a decent employer, but I think I made my own luck there.

If it’s something you really want to do, give it a go, otherwise you’ll spend the rest of forever thinking “if only”.

26

There’s some miserable ■■■■■■■ on here.
To the op, (and anyone else with a similar query) just do it. You’ll soon find if you like it (then stay) or not (find something else to do)
A quick google for you.
should I be a plasterer
plumber
electrician
train driver

27

I’d much rather regret something I have done rather than something I haven’t.

For example NOT wearing gloves on a jewellery heist!

28

Albion…its unusual to find a gaffer who is so good to his drivers, and the job sounds ideal and i applaud you. Going back to the op…i wouldnt take a lot of notice of most of the answers posted, they seem like very disgruntled drivers who are not happy with their lot…i would go with my gut instinct…and do what i always fancied, even if the relatives tell you different.When i started in this industry, all of my family were in the building trade…and tried to put me into it…it wasnt for me…as a boy i dreamed of being a train driver…as i got a bit older…i wanted to travel…and get paid for doing it…and seeing as i never had an Ology i didnt think anyone would give me a job travelling to far flung places…so i opted for truck driving at aged 17…as soon as i passed my test there was a job waiting…as a van driver…then a bigger van,. then at aged 19 i was on a proper transport firm. driving a rigid…within a few months an artic ( no test in those days…just grandfather rights ) but then i wanted to go further afield and opted for a transporter job picking up wrecks all over europe, as well as broken down or stolen cars…we were on contract to the RAC who did direct recovery…i earnt good money…not from wages but other ways and means…that still didnt satisfy me, and i wanted to move on…but i had a top deck collapse on me…thanks to the silly old git of a boss playing about with the controls…a story for another day maybe ) after my recovery…i went back to driving…not for the same company as they hounded me out of the firm because of my on going claim against them…but i yearned for european work, and worked for many different companies until i got onto middle east work…i wont carry on with my story, but wanted to highlight what it means to persue a dream…not all of us hate the job.there have been many changes…but not enough for me to say ive had enough..i still love it..and im 72 this week…licence up for renewal as well…but will continue once i get it back ( delays at the hospital as my consultant is on holiday ) but i see no reason why i cant continue…and even want to venture abroad…i`m fit, quite healthy…can do the job as one should…so i dont see why not ( although age could be against me ) My recent job which included running to Bulgaria…has gone ■■■■ up… but sure as hell i will be going back…i wish you all the luck in the world, and not to give up your dream…you may regret not doing it.

29

Go for it, with the right attitude and outlook you’ll love the job. It’s so much better than office work and anyone who thinks driving a truck for a living is stressful is clearly doing it wrong!

To add via my blog and website I get lots of messages from people. Many from people too old to change who enjoy seeing the job through my videos - these people always regret very much not going for it when younger. I also get lots of messages from people like you who come into this job later after a different career. I’ve yet to hear from a single one who says it was a mistake, 90% think it the best decision they ever made

30

I agree with luke, I loved it, and even with the bad bits I did not want to do anything else,

31

Conor:

SWTrucker028:
Night aren’t for me but I’m prepared to work long hours otherwise.

No mate really you’re not. I don’t think you’re truly prepared for the hours we do. It isn’t just the fact that its a 12-15hr working day, its that you’re also starting that at 4am. The place I’m at runs its own driver training scheme and there were quite a few people who went on it who thought that “its only a few more hours a day, its not much different than when I do overtime” to only find out that when it is 5 days a week and you have no choice and how much it impacts your life it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Basically you have no life outside of work on the days you work because you literally get enough time to drive home, ram some food down your throat, have a shower, go to bed, get up, have breakfast and get ready for work and go out the door. If you’re used to doing things on an evening after getting home from work and having your tea you can forget that.

This job doesn’t have a monopoly on long hours. I’m fact in my time doing office work I’d have loved the certainty of finishing at a certain time because the law says so. An open ended day buried under work in a office is soul destroying

32

It would be interesting to know what the OPs circumstances are at home, ie. whether he is free & single or not. That matters. If you are able to fully immerse yourself in the lifestyle like Luke does then I’d say you have a much better chance of getting on with this job, than if your chasing day work and wanting to be home for a decent hour every night etc.

33

rob22888:
It would be interesting to know what the OPs circumstances are at home, ie. whether he is free & single or not. That matters. If you are able to fully immerse yourself in the lifestyle like Luke does then I’d say you have a much better chance of getting on with this job, than if your chasing day work and wanting to be home for a decent hour every night etc.

That’s actually a very good point

34

P Stoff:

rob22888:

Harry Monk:
Well, if the OP is earning £20k, he should easily be able to increase this to £30k driving a truck so it would only take a few months to recoup the cost of the licence, and if he didn’t like it then he could always go back to doing what he’s doing or something similar.

Theoretically yes, but what I reckon is more likely to happen is the novelty of driving a big wagon & earning a lot more money will last for a fair bit longer than a few months. By the time you get sick of working long hours, getting up at silly o’clock, being poorly treated, realise you have very little in the way of a decent pension scheme or anything to show for your troubles & it’s a dead end; your in the money trap & it’s a ballache getting out. I’m 30 and feel like I have wasted 9 years of my life doing this crap, I cannot wait to get out this driving lark.

It may well be that the OP will find his feet in a proper premium job in the industry & live happily ever after, but I’d say the odds are against him and I would advise the OP to take his dad & grandads advice and stay well away.

Well put

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Only “well put” IMHO if you have a pretty jaded view of life in general and lorry driving in particular along with a lack of faith in your own ability to manage key aspects of your own life such as managing personal finances or when to change career.

What in essence you appear to be saying is that the OP should avoid the “novelty of driving a big wagon and earning more money” and would be better off sticking with earning the much lower wage he currently does in a job he hates. :unamused:

As for not having “anything to show for your troubles” well erm, based on the example given then - by my calculations - the OP would have had an extra 10k a year…

You say that you “cannot wait to get out of this driving lark” and I am sure you will have good reasons but I rather doubt you will be seeking 9 to 5 office work like the OP currently does…

35

SWTrucker028:
My question is whether you anyone has any advice on going straight into Cat C/C+E with no other driving qualifications and what the job prospects are like afterwards bearing in mind I’ve got next to no job experience professional driving.

I went straight from a warehouse to being out on the road, never driven professionally at all before that. If you enjoy driving in general, you’ll enjoy it, job prospects are hit and miss depending on your area. Some employers are willing to overlook the 2 years experience. I’ve now been driving 3 and a half years and I still enjoy it, you get good days and bad days, short and long, you have to take the rough with the smooth.

I was told by several people, the instructor is simply there to help you gain your license, the real learning begins when you get given a set of keys and some paperwork, and they was right too, you never stop learning.

If you go for it, and it’s a decision only you can make, good luck, enjoy it, don’t get too stressed over it like certain people on here, and take your time, if you are unsure ask.

All the best.

36

The bloke asked opinions. Not you of my circumstances. I have no interest in what you think or if you to judge me. You tell op what you think of driving. Which is what I have done.

The only way in general to earn a decent living wage is to work long and or anti social hours. Lots of people say they are on £30-40k buy fail to say they start in the middle of the night or work 75 hours a week to achieve it.

It depends on your location, your circumstances And lady luck. I love the driving aspect. Last week in the snow for two days I had a ball - loved the challenge. The truth is the job is not paid what it should be and if you have a family or are planning one it’s not suitable unless you want to be a stranger to your kids.

My opinion

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37

I see lots of people doing other jobs while I’m doing my own job and I rarely if ever think “Ooh, I wish I had his job”. Yes, I think the job has deteriorated in pay, conditions and variety compared to when I started but it’s still a pretty easy way to take home £500 for a week’s work.

38

SWTrucker028:
Hi,
currently work as an office worker but hate being stuck in front of a computer 9-5 Mon-Fri.

Been there, done that and I can completely empathise.

Obviously it depends on the nature of the work, but all too often a completely soul destroying existence.

SWTrucker028:
My dad is a HGV driver and has been for 35 years, my granddad too - so I think it’s in my blood. Their advice is don’t do it but I know I’d enjoy it a lot more than what I do now.

You will enjoy it a lot more - at least at first and however much lorry driving eventually takes out of you, I’m pretty confident it will never be so much that you start wishing you were back in your old office job.

Dad & Grandad probably never even spent a week in front of an office computer…

SWTrucker028:
Hi,
My question is whether you anyone has any advice on going straight into Cat C/C+E with no other driving qualifications and what the job prospects are like afterwards bearing in mind I’ve got next to no job experience professional driving.

I know the first 2 years will be hard whilst I get the initial experience before I get the better the jobs. Night aren’t for me but I’m prepared to work long hours otherwise. I’m looking forward to getting out there (i.e. out the office) and also not having to stress at home when I finish work like I currently do 24/7. Life is too short so why not do something you enjoy!

Any advice or comments welcome - Cheers!

I passed Cat C Jan 17, got a regular 4 days agency work the following month (starting in 3.5 / 7.5 Tonners) and was driving regular Cat C by April. Ended up where I now work in May and after 3 months there they offered me a permanent position.

The hours vary but I normally do 4 short days with 8am starts and I earn about 20k. I’d rather do longer days and be on 25K but that’s my only gripe. I’m happy with the hourly rate and tbh it doesn’t really feel like work.

Driving an HGV doesn’t have to involve 15 hour days and 4 to 6am starts - if you’d be ok on your current wage.

Then if you want the money you can always change employer to one who will give you alot more hours…

39

truckyboy:
Albion…its unusual to find a gaffer who is so good to his drivers, and the job sounds ideal and i applaud you. Going back to the op…i wouldnt take a lot of notice of most of the answers posted, they seem like very disgruntled drivers who are not happy with their lot…i would go with my gut instinct…and do what i always fancied, even if the relatives tell you different.When i started in this industry, all of my family were in the building trade…and tried to put me into it…it wasnt for me…as a boy i dreamed of being a train driver…as i got a bit older…i wanted to travel…and get paid for doing it…and seeing as i never had an Ology i didnt think anyone would give me a job travelling to far flung places…so i opted for truck driving at aged 17…as soon as i passed my test there was a job waiting…as a van driver…then a bigger van,. then at aged 19 i was on a proper transport firm. driving a rigid…within a few months an artic ( no test in those days…just grandfather rights ) but then i wanted to go further afield and opted for a transporter job picking up wrecks all over europe, as well as broken down or stolen cars…we were on contract to the RAC who did direct recovery…i earnt good money…not from wages but other ways and means…that still didnt satisfy me, and i wanted to move on…but i had a top deck collapse on me…thanks to the silly old git of a boss playing about with the controls…a story for another day maybe ) after my recovery…i went back to driving…not for the same company as they hounded me out of the firm because of my on going claim against them…but i yearned for european work, and worked for many different companies until i got onto middle east work…i wont carry on with my story, but wanted to highlight what it means to persue a dream…not all of us hate the job.there have been many changes…but not enough for me to say ive had enough..i still love it..and im 72 this week…licence up for renewal as well…but will continue once i get it back ( delays at the hospital as my consultant is on holiday ) but i see no reason why i cant continue…and even want to venture abroad…i`m fit, quite healthy…can do the job as one should…so i dont see why not ( although age could be against me ) My recent job which included running to Bulgaria…has gone ■■■■ up… but sure as hell i will be going back…i wish you all the luck in the world, and not to give up your dream…you may regret not doing it.

That’s a great story, respect!

40

Firstly, thank you for all the responses and advice! Can’t believe the amount of people posting.

I live with my partner, have a mortgage on a small flat but no kids (maybe in the next few years). Completely agree with the posts about financial freedom - despite having a mortgage I’m free of other debt.

Interesting that there’s a few on here who have worked in an office. It can be soul destroying at the bottom level let alone a position of added responsibility with stresses internally within the business and external clients. It’s a different type of stress to what I would refer to as ‘daily/situational’ stress. I’ve worked manual jobs when I was younger which have been stressful - difference is that when you finish, you’re done and go home. The types of office stress tend to overhang for weeks/months due to the nature of the work. Not saying driving is not stressful, but it’s a different type of stress compared to presenting in front of senior management from the client on a regular basis.

I live the South West - close to Plymouth - apparently not a good area for HGV jobs or so I’ve been told?

A lot of people are saying it’s long/unsociable hours with crap pay - are there no jobs out there with 10 or less hours a day? Also, if crap pays means £30k it means I’m earning 50% more than what I’m on now. I’d be happy doing shorter hours (i.e. 8-10) for a similar amount of what I’m on now. Anything above £20k I’d be happy with.