Doccer88:
I think I’d stop on class 2 though, I don’t think I could hack
It’s the reversing you’ve got to worry about 
I wish I had both fork and HGV at the moment, because there’s really not much work about (Because of Corona. There was loads before) - a search of the job market for “Driver” brings up a lot of Forklift Driver positions but not so many HGV/VAN/BUS driver ones.
A forklift licence probably wouldn’t be such a bad fallback option (in case of loss of HGV licence, or whatever else life throws)
SJB:
Doccer88:
I think I’d stop on class 2 though, I don’t think I could hack
It’s the reversing you’ve got to worry about
I wish I had both fork and HGV at the moment, because there’s really not much work about (Because of Corona. There was loads before) - a search of the job market for “Driver” brings up a lot of Forklift Driver positions but not so many HGV/VAN/BUS driver ones.
A forklift licence probably wouldn’t be such a bad fallback option (in case of loss of HGV licence, or whatever else life throws)
The FLT driver market is the same as the truck driver market right now. There’s very very little work about so any work that does get advertised receives 500 applications a day and your chances of even getting a reply are tiny. You also run into the aforementioned problem of your FLT ticket(s) effectively expiring if you don’t use them and companies want to see recent provable on-the-job experience or proof of a refresher.
Hyh:
Depending on where you are, have you considered plant tickets instead?
360 Excavator or Pilling machine operator ?
Ding, ding…
We have a winner. For the love of God please don’t bother with fork lifts and wagon steering, they are both crap and they are steadily slipping towards minimum wage jobs. Do everything you can to get on plant.
And I don’t mean a tomato.
Peter Smythe:
It’s worth noting that, to be a truck driver, you have to hold a “vocational” licence. This is where it goes badly wrong for a few folks who dont figure this bit out. Truck driving should be looked on as a “vocation” - in other words it’s a lot more than just a job or a means of earning a living. Yes, of course there’s too many folks out there who look on truck driving as a “job” and some of them wont be happy.
But for those who see it as a vocation, they will enjoy their work and derive pleasure from doing it well.
Tin hat at the ready!..
Pete [emoji38] [emoji38]
Exactly this, I passed class 2 four years ago with PSTT and class one just before lockdown through the company I work for.
We do general haulage and I love the job I do being all over the country delivering absolutely anything sometimes to places you’d think you can’t get into [emoji1] While the roads have been quiet it’s been a great opportunity to get used to an artic as well.
Pete is absolutely right in that it isn’t just a job, I left a 40hr a week job in a factory to do 65ish hours and average 3 nights out a week. So if you don’t think you’d enjoy it definitely stick to a “normal” job. This is a job that I always wanted to do but life got in the way so I was 48 by the time I got my chance and totally no regrets.
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Peter Smythe:
Sensible question. But you’ve missed the matter of being cooped up all day in a factory/warehouse compared to being out and about.
As a trainer with above 45 years experience, I can tell you I’m a lot happier out in a truck than doing FLT training in a warehouse or training centre.
But each to their own and you need to reach your own conclusion.
Good luck, Pete [emoji38] [emoji38]
I agree with Pete, it’s pros and cons. Pros of forklift is one place home every night set hours and probably less regs, with driving you get a bit more freedom not being cooped up etc, downside is a few more regs and cost and the responsibility of controlling a 18+ tonne machine near the public. All the best with the nipper!
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If you work for a builders or plumbers merchant (for example BSS or PTS), some of those types of jobs can have a combination of both 7.5 tonne/class 2 and forklift driving (as well as general warehouse duties). Hours are often short as well (typically 8-10 hours per shift) and start times can vary between 06.00-08.00. However, don’t expect much above minimum wage!
When I used to be a yardman (or a yardperson) for a well-known German blue chip outfit (think yellow lorries with big red blocky lettering), one of my main duties was driving our Jungheinrich counterbalance FLT in the yard transhipping loads from one to another or shot ones that needed restacking because they were rejected at the delivery (as well as free biccies or crisps if a pallet was unsalvageable)! 
Eventually, after eight years, I became bored of being stuck in a yard all day and started my trucking career.
When I had a Reach forklift license and first got Hgv license I found that agency would just keep me on there books probably raking it in on the odd occasion they need for a reach fork as forklift as its more specialist. Whereas when I didn’t bother there was plenty so I ended up just ditching it from my cv as a qualification
Personally truck driving for me over warehouse work I would only go back to if there was no other option for example we go into a deep recession and there is no alternative. I would go as ar to say Iif there was the choice between same wages I would still choose hgv driving. The hours are long and anti social in hgv driving but you get more freedom being out on the road and also different working challenges and life experience even though driving the same roads can be monotonous at times