I started with a couple of vans and moved into trucks as well. Before that I drove. Now I’m pretty much desk bound and the stress of driving is never as bad as being in the office. Personally it never bothered me driving nights, it has its plus points, but that’s personal taste.
There are day jobs, but it does limit your options and particularly when you start out, you can’t be too picky. Look on indeed and see what the average hourly rate is round your way. Wages can vary a lot, the better jobs are not always advertised, of 23 staff, not one of mine came from an ad. So never be afraid of calling in to places, work gear at the ready in case someone hasn’t turned up and you get a chance.
SWTrucker028:
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.
If your happy with a wage in the low 20s then you should be OK, you might even be better with a Class 2 gig if you want to be home. Don’t go anywhere near general haulage or basically any haulage/‘logistics’ outfit that runs for profit if you want to maintain a good home life and avoid long hours, stick to places that operate trucks for themselves moving their own stuff.
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!
Great to hear someone with so much experience still so passionate about the job
There’s plenty of actual full time jobs going on deliveries BUT these are jobs for fit young people these days, who like working the early doors shifts.
The good thing about such jobs is that they will take newly-qualified drivers, and pay you £25-£30k straight out the gate for a 48-hour days-based week.
The bad thing is that it will be difficult to progress from there to Class one work (if that’s where you want to end up) or even any shift other than “days”.
You could do this for 2 years, and then head for agency work to widen your field, but I understand that the vast majority of young drivers do not even consider making this kind of move.
truckyboy:
Albion…its unusual to find a gaffer who is so good to his drivers.
Her drivers.
Maybe I self-identify as a man Harry
Truckyboy, you sound a bit like the late Mr Albion, started driving before they bothered with minor details such as licences, and he drove Euro and ME in the 70s.
albion:
I’ve taken on drivers under 25, they are on £41-2k this year, with weeks varying from 40 ish hours to 65+ ferry time, it’s clean work and the customer treats them like part of the team. My van drivers are getting circa 28-30 k. I know we are a bit different to the average firm, but I’m not the only company that does the best they can for their drivers and will take newbies on.
Those figures really arent bad at all. Im betting you dont get many leave
albion:
I’ve taken on drivers under 25, they are on £41-2k this year, with weeks varying from 40 ish hours to 65+ ferry time, it’s clean work and the customer treats them like part of the team. My van drivers are getting circa 28-30 k. I know we are a bit different to the average firm, but I’m not the only company that does the best they can for their drivers and will take newbies on.
Those figures really arent bad at all. Im betting you dont get many leave
No, and they are good lads. Few have over 20 years in and several more in the teens.
SWTrucker028:
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.
Yes, but now you’re heading towards £20k or less territory and your location isn’t a hot spot for driving work. As for people saying there’s no stress in the job, well that’s true when you get a bit of experience and have enough backbone and sense to deflect the pressure that some will try to put on you. I’m with those who say you regret the things you don’t do but I think you should have a realistic picture of truck driving. And I see stress mentioned quite a lot in your post…
Re stress. Another way of of describing it could be “conscientiousness”? If you care about any job you will have sone anxiety and stress associated with it.
Some office based jobs more stressful than others, and the same with steering wheel centred jobs. Plus the same type of job can have different stress levels depending on the particular employer and conditions.
More than that, would a completely stress free job not be less rewarding? Overcoming problems is rewarding. I think a lot depends on the circumstances of each job situation and how each individual reacts to it.
It partly depends on what responsibility you have, and how much power you have to handle it. At some places the driver seems responsible for everything but has no authority to make decisions. More of a “whipping boy” situation sometimes. But some offices are like that, you’re meant to be a professional who foretells everything.
Maybe not a very helpful reply I’m afraid.
Depending on the work you’ve experience of and availability in your area, would leaving your job mean a closed door forever there? It doesn’t sound as if you’re on a career ladder, and are about to step off?
Training for your license isn’t cheap. But like all “Investments” there’s no guarantees with it.
I’m broadly with those that have said “You regret most what you never tried, not what you did try”.
Re nights. Is it working at night you’re against, or doing nights away, or both? The attitude of you AND your partner to that will be very relevant. The South West isn’t a transport hub and isn’t an industrial area. Aren’t the supermarkets served from the Bristol/Avonmouth area?
Albion has good advice, as always. Check out your local area for driving jobs, but take any agency ads with a shovelfull of salt.
There are some good rewarding jobs out here still. More and more they seem to be corporate type jobs where the driver is expected to conform to the norm. With modern comms it’s less necessary to use initiative and negotiating skills… With modern equipment it’s less often of use to be handy with a spanner and a hammer. So it’s somehow less rewarding and often less well paid too.
But if you’re coming into the job today you can safely ignore moany old gits talking about the “olden days”. Take it as you find it. Not a stress free, high paid job. But rarely boring, and at least adequately paid.
Franglais:
Re stress. Another way of of describing it could be “conscientiousness”? If you care about any job you will have sone anxiety and stress associated with it.
Some office based jobs more stressful than others, and the same with steering wheel centred jobs. Plus the same type of job can have different stress levels depending on the particular employer and conditions.
More than that, would a completely stress free job not be less rewarding? Overcoming problems is rewarding. I think a lot depends on the circumstances of each job situation and how each individual reacts to it. It partly depends on what responsibility you have, and how much power you have to handle it. At some places the driver seems responsible for everything but has no authority to make decisions. More of a “whipping boy” situation sometimes. But some offices are like that, you’re meant to be a professional who foretells everything.
Maybe not a very helpful reply I’m afraid.
Depending on the work you’ve experience of and availability in your area, would leaving your job mean a closed door forever there? It doesn’t sound as if you’re on a career ladder, and are about to step off?
Training for your license isn’t cheap. But like all “Investments” there’s no guarantees with it.
I’m broadly with those that have said “You regret most what you never tried, not what you did try”.
Re nights. Is it working at night you’re against, or doing nights away, or both? The attitude of you AND your partner to that will be very relevant. The South West isn’t a transport hub and isn’t an industrial area. Aren’t the supermarkets served from the Bristol/Avonmouth area?
Albion has good advice, as always. Check out your local area for driving jobs, but take any agency ads with a shovelfull of salt.
There are some good rewarding jobs out here still. More and more they seem to be corporate type jobs where the driver is expected to conform to the norm. With modern comms it’s less necessary to use initiative and negotiating skills… With modern equipment it’s less often of use to be handy with a spanner and a hammer. So it’s somehow less rewarding and often less well paid too.
But if you’re coming into the job today you can safely ignore moany old gits talking about the “olden days”. Take it as you find it. Not a stress free, high paid job. But rarely boring, and at least adequately paid.
Sent from my GT-S7275R using Tapatalk
Good reply. I think the bit about how much authority and control you have in the job, really makes the difference. Some places micro manage to the nth degree so there is no pleasure in the job. I read some management bumf years ago and one of the paragraphs was about how much more likely you were to have a heart attack if you had no autonomy versus reduced risk if there were some elements of control. Some times we have to be prescriptive, we carry high value loads, we have to park in certain places so a routing is put in place, but if it’s a particularly complex job, we discuss it. Once tipped it’s up to the drive how they get home. In the snow last week, on a couple of the trips we told the drivers, if you aren’t happy, head back. It’s difficult to give choice, but we do as much as we can and I think it’s one of the reasons the staff usually stay.
Go for it or you will forever regret not doing it. If it’s not for you then you can go back in an office or something else
Admittedly Plymouth as others have said is served from the Bristol area where I drove. There are still local outfits but not the opportunity that is in Bristol. I got my first Class 1 work with agencies in Yate, though I had driven Class 2 before, so it can be done
It’s also who you know as a friend of mine got me work on the ‘Eat More Chips’ gang and I ended up doing 10 weeks in Europe during University vacation
How about starting on vans and seeing if you like the miles and hours before you spend your money on a licence
After 20 years working in IT now I do gaze out of the window at the Port of Tyne fleet doing their deliveries and miss some parts of the job. I am still working overnight and over this weekend, but the rewards are far greater than I could get driving and I don’t have to leave home. If they do tip us out in the next few years, I have kept my licence up and would consider going back to driving fro my last few years of work
Main thing I would say is give it a go as you won’t have the challenge that I had of not having ‘Office experience’ if you want to go back inside
Wermy:
Go for it or you will forever regret not doing it. If it’s not for you then you can go back in an office or something else
Admittedly Plymouth as others have said is served from the Bristol area where I drove. There are still local outfits but not the opportunity that is in Bristol. I got my first Class 1 work with agencies in Yate, though I had driven Class 2 before, so it can be done
It’s also who you know as a friend of mine got me work on the ‘Eat More Chips’ gang and I ended up doing 10 weeks in Europe during University vacation
How about starting on vans and seeing if you like the miles and hours before you spend your money on a licence
After 20 years working in IT now I do gaze out of the window at the Port of Tyne fleet doing their deliveries and miss some parts of the job. I am still working overnight and over this weekend, but the rewards are far greater than I could get driving and I don’t have to leave home. If they do tip us out in the next few years, I have kept my licence up and would consider going back to driving fro my last few years of work
Main thing I would say is give it a go as you won’t have the challenge that I had of not having ‘Office experience’ if you want to go back inside
Who were almost in a class of their own with their poor pay rates I understand.
truckyboy:
Albion…its unusual to find a gaffer who is so good to his drivers.
Her drivers.
Maybe I self-identify as a man Harry
Truckyboy, you sound a bit like the late Mr Albion, started driving before they bothered with minor details such as licences, and he drove Euro and ME in the 70s.
You need the Toys R Us/ Maplins thread in that case Miss A! Amazing the turn some of these threads take!
truckyboy:
Albion…its unusual to find a gaffer who is so good to his drivers.
Her drivers.
Maybe I self-identify as a man Harry [emoji38]
Truckyboy, you sound a bit like the late Mr Albion, started driving before they bothered with minor details such as licences, and he drove Euro and ME in the 70s.
You need the Toys R Us/ Maplins thread in that case Miss A! Amazing the turn some of these threads take!
I “self identify” as a competent lorry driver.
.
.
Go on.
I dare you!
albion:
I’ve taken on drivers under 25, they are on £41-2k this year, with weeks varying from 40 ish hours to 65+ ferry time, it’s clean work and the customer treats them like part of the team. My van drivers are getting circa 28-30 k. I know we are a bit different to the average firm, but I’m not the only company that does the best they can for their drivers and will take newbies on.
Those figures really arent bad at all. Im betting you dont get many leave
***Update - it’s been over a week now since I first posted so had a bit of time to think and take some comments in.
I think it’s time I gave driving a go. Like some of you commented, it’s better to live life without any regrets! Medical booked in, provisional application papers received in the post etc. so making headway.
I’ve phoned up a couple of training places. One of them a national based trainer with a setup nearby - very convenient etc. with finance options and links to recruiters/agencies but on the costly side too (nearly double that of local trainers) with no pass assurance.
The other local trainers seem cheaper but no direct partnership with agencies.
I don’t have any problems with applying for jobs and agencies directly after training but being completely new to the industry, can anyone offer any advice on whether it’s better to go with a national trainer with stronger links to agencies? I’m looking for jobs in and around Plymouth with an aim to start work immediately after passing. I suspect it will be Class 2 work for a bit as I have minimal to no driving experience work wise.
