Ive just been reading all the posts on this site and think its amazing there is so many questions i had but most have been answered on here, i was wanting to know though is it good money been a truck driver? i have allways wanted to do this but dont know anyone to ask if the pay is good, i know its long hours which i currentley do in customer service at the min which is awfull!! i i am currentley reading up for the theory test and i am then going to try and find a way to pay for the training!!!.
that is like asking how long is a piece of string?
it depends on quite a few factors
what company you work for?
what hours you work ? (usually long ones)
What licence?
and where in the country?
money down in the south east is ok most of the time ( i average £8.50 an hour on class 2) but i couldnt comment on teh rest of the country as i dont work there.
but be warned the mney isnt there at the moment as everyone is feeling the credit crunch…
**:D :smiley: :smiley: Welcome jamie01 :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:**
[__GENERAL DRIVING TIPS [u]*BEFORE*[/u] STARTING LGV C TRAINING (Link)__](http://trucknetuk.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=31611&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=)
If you click the link in my signature or this (Forum sponser logo) it will lead you to an index where you can access a lot more info which may be of use to you
To book any LGV training I suggest the trainee-to-be, visits the training school, meets the head person(s) and has a quick look at the truck BEFORE parting with any money.
Using the site Search facility and putting the words TRAINING AND WHERE you wish to train may turn up some recommendations.
That’s a cracking question, and answering it is like trying to catch fog with a net.
(The piece of string question is easy in comparison. )
IMHO, it all starts of with what you’re used to…
Then I’d suggest you consider what you expect…
Then there’s the level of investment and sacrifice, in terms of both cash and your time, that you’d have to make in order to achieve your goal…
Truck drivers’ pay has traditionally been ‘regional,’ but there are exceptions, and another factor is the driving ‘niche’ (if any) that you eventually choose for yourself. Some sectors of transport pay better than others, but there’s usually nowt for nowt.
I can only offer you the tips above as a starting point, but I’ve no idea of the real answer.
As a relative newbie to the industry I would say YES, in my area the money is good, in fact the hours I generally work I’m getting about the same per hour as my friend who is a qualified accountant - and I do far less work!
BUT its all down to, like now, if you can find that work.
I haven’t had anything for a couple of weeks and the permanent companies just aren’t hiring.
When you can get the work, if you are willing to do it and not put too many restrictions on what you will do and when, then you’ll probably get very good money.
When people start saying “I wont/cant do this” etc, or “I won’t work then” or “I need to be home by…” Thats when you restrict yourself.
thankyou for your replys on this, it has helped i would be willing to do agency or days and nights so hopefully wull be able to get some work untill i have the 2 years experiance then can look for something more stable!!
thanks again
jamie01:
thankyou for your replys on this, it has helped i would be willing to do agency or days and nights so hopefully wull be able to get some work untill i have the 2 years experiance then can look for something more stable!!
thanks again
If it is your intention to do part time LGV driving whilst in another job then This is a link to a common weekend driving assumption by some newbies in order to gain experience whilst still in another job.
jamie01:
hiya,
thankyou for that, that has helped i wasent aware of that but was going to try and do agency work on a weekend so glad you have shown mw that
yes it has i thought cos i only work 18:3
Til midnight 5 days i wud of been ok! Is it realy hard to try and get on with a company then full time without any experiance
jamie01:
yes it has i thought cos i only work 18:3
Til midnight 5 days i wud of been ok! Is it realy hard to try and get on with a company then full time without any experiance
Have a read of the many posts on that subject
Seems to be hard enough in ‘normal’ times but worse now with this downturn.
Do you work full time or part time - if part time, then they may be more opportunities to go driving than what was first thought - perhaps a break down of what days you work along with the start & finish times might help.
yes i do 18:00 til midnight five days with tuesday and wednesday off each week so its 30 hours per week, but yes ive been looking round the other posts today and seems to be a big problem getting work after just training!!
jamie01:
yes i do 18:00 til midnight five days with tuesday and wednesday off each week so its 30 hours per week, but yes ive been looking round the other posts today and seems to be a big problem getting work after just training!!
It is - even when not during a downturn.
You could do driving work quite a bit during those times (if you can find some).
I would suggest that you put on here what you intend to do before you do it so the tacho reg & WTD GURUs on here can inform you as to whether it is legal or not - just remember to give your current usual job info like you have done above.
A tricky one this. Technically yes, realistically no. Our wages are in line with other skilled tradesmen like sparkies, chippies, brickies etc, but compare the hours. We do at least 20 a week more, plus weekends and nights out. Just wish I’d listened to all those old hands before I got my licence and did something different. Just glad I do containers, not curtains. Nothing worse than standing about in the ■■■■■■■ rain pulling curtains back. I’d get a job in IT if I were starting out now. Less money to get trained, more oppourtunities, less hassle and for the same money with less hours.
OVLOV JAY:
I’d get a job in IT if I were starting out now. Less money to get trained, more oppourtunities, less hassle and for the same money with less hours.
Aren’t a few members on here ex-IT having decided driving was the better option though?
Hi, I was all set to do my class 2 training, but in between looking for training schools and finding information, I applied for a Bus Driver job and have been succesful. Now I have a decision to make. Do I start the Bus Driver job and no doubt be tied in for 2 years or do I stay where I am in a job I hate (office work) and carry on with my class 2 training. Basically what I am asking is what has the most potential to earn me money. All the literature that has come through about the LGV training tells me that there is a shortage of drivers, on the other hand people on this forum seem to be finding it difficult getting jobs with the lack of experience…and economic downturn. My thoughts are that although I would choose LGV to PCV all the time, at least it is guaranteed regular work. Any advice??
**:D :smiley: :smiley: Welcome rob99001969 :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:**
[__GENERAL DRIVING TIPS [u]*BEFORE*[/u] STARTING LGV C TRAINING (Link)__](http://trucknetuk.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=31611&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=)
If you click the link in my signature or this avatar pic it will lead you to an index where you can access a lot more info which may be of use to you
To book any LGV training I suggest the trainee-to-be, visits the training school, meets the head person(s) and has a quick look at the truck BEFORE parting with any money.
Using the site Search facility and putting the words TRAINING AND WHERE you wish to train may turn up some recommendations.
rob99001969:
Hi, I was all set to do my class 2 training, but in between looking for training schools and finding information, I applied for a Bus Driver job and have been succesful. Now I have a decision to make. Do I start the Bus Driver job and no doubt be tied in for 2 years or do I stay where I am in a job I hate (office work) and carry on with my class 2 training. Basically what I am asking is what has the most potential to earn me money. All the literature that has come through about the LGV training tells me that there is a shortage of drivers, on the other hand people on this forum seem to be finding it difficult getting jobs with the lack of experience…and economic downturn. My thoughts are that although I would choose LGV to PCV all the time, at least it is guaranteed regular work. Any advice??
The way car sales are going and the threat of further decline in car use plus congestion charging and people having to sell the cars that they have got plus, their house, I would say the bus is a better option
I suppose it depends how well you think you can cope with surly teenagers running around the bus screaming 3 or 4 hours a day. At least with a truck you are usually on your own and have plenty of opportunity to murder a prostitute or two
You could do both if you can afford it.Get your lgv licences now and your pcv with the bus company, drive the buses for two years then you won’t owe the company anything when you leave.
In the meantime you’ll have had your hgv licences for the required two years. Also your pcv licence will be upgraded to drive manual busses which you won’t have because the pcv licence will probably only be for automatics. So you could drive coaches then too.
I’m considering doing this If the need arises.
).
)
- if part time, then they may be more opportunities to go driving than what was first thought - perhaps a break down of what days you work along with the start & finish times might help.
