Hi , all, I’m relatively new to the HGV scene. Well civi street anyway. I was in the Army for a long time. Had my C+E since 99 but only ever drove miltary 4t, 8t, 14t trucks with small trailers. Well I did a C+E artic assessment with an agency, something I’ve been putting off for years because I was scared of it. Well it went well and I’ve been driving artics for 3-4 weeks now. Just started a new job with a specialist haulage company as crane loader/driver. My missus is German and she is always talking about wanting to go back to Germany. Question, we got any Ex-pat drivers in Germany in the Hannover area and what’s job prospects like to become a driver in Germany? Obvious stumbling block is language. I speak some but sure I would pick it up soon enough.
The language may not be a problem.Most trucks will have modern gadgets where they send the loading or re-load address on the cab computer.
Most German traffic planners would speak good English as they send freight around Europe where English is used by their clients.
It will not take long to learn the phrases needed while working ,such as how many pallets,go to bay 10,closed for lunch,and so on.
.
I worked for the Germans for abit… It was an experience like no other!
Saaamon:
I worked for the Germans for abit… It was an experience like no other!
You dumped them then mate? Not gone back to Turners have you?
Saaamon:
I worked for the Germans for abit… It was an experience like no other!
Care to enlighten us??
Ex squaddie with a German wife?
So I’m assuming that you were based over here at some point in the past. If that is the case you will have some insight into the German “way of life” albeit from a British military perspective.
There are loads of ex army bods married to German lasses who have stayed here after leaving the forces and not an inconsiderable amount drive trucks for a living.
You are right in your assumption that the language may be a major stumbling block. Your missus will be able to handle most stuff (finding a flat, registering with the council, etc) but once you are out on the road in a big nasty truck you will be on your own.
Whilst Toby (a Trucknet legend by the way, and who, in a parallel universe, is the President of The World 
) may be right in that a traffic planner may speak English as opposed to some of the new “exotic” EU languages, don’t expect any special treatment.
If you want to drive for a German firm, driving a German truck, then you need to speak passable German, if only to be able to fathom if you are being screwed over.
I would therefore recommend a bit of serious one on one (language ) action with your lass before making the move. Once you are over here and working you will have no time or be too shagged out to visit the local VHS (Volkshochshule) for language classes.
Inselaffe:
…Whilst Toby (a Trucknet legend by the way, and who, in a parallel universe, is the President of The World
…Toby is “THE MAN”!!
Thanks for the compliment.Nottheger transport near Waidring in the Austrian Tyrol valley go all over Europe and TIR countries, they are a family owned firm, they cover food and juice bulk tankers and general haulage.