Im newbie on here and looking to hear from former professionals who have moved on to HGV driving and their thoughts.
As a change of career from field sales, went to university in my early 40s and gained a law degree. After putting up with paralegal wages for a few years, I finally qualified as a solicitor 3 years ago going into conveyacing (not what I really wanted but was the only way of getting a training contract with a firm). However clients and agents constantly emailing and calling for updates and getting annoyed if you dont respond within day. I dont regret qualifying as can always come back but now thinking of doing HGV as so sick of constant emails and calls. Money very similar and yes, with time will earn more as solicitor but that means double the workload.
My question therefore, was it worth making the change?
Many on here will say no don’t do it, pointing to the terrible facilities, idiots on the road to contend with, long unsocial hours and being treated like dirt every day.
Most of them have done it since before I was born, so I’m not going to argue, but I think there comes a point in office/admin or professional work where the dread of emails gets too much and forces you to look elsewhere. There have been a few similar posts to this in the last couple of years so I think it is becoming more and more common.
I did it in a sales role for 11 years after graduating from uni and decided to make the switch to HGV driving (albeit on agency only atm) at the end of 2023 and I’ve not regretted it (yet).
I did however spend a bit of time in a van driving job on weekends to build up some funds for the courses, whilst deciding if it was definitely for me.
So I’d say go for it, but ideally do it while you are still employed, as you are unlikely to walk into the perfect driving job for a while after passing your test/s (depending on if you go straight to Class 1 or not). Check with local colleges in your area also, to see if there are any funding options available. One of my friends has just got his Class 2, fully funded by a college in South Wales.
Hope this is helpful in some way. The links for newbies in this forum are excellent for anybody getting started so be sure to check them out!
Many thanks for taking the time to respond. I am definitely giving it serious consideration and I am currently saving which will take a while and if my work takes its toll, probably take the leap as pretty much the same money. I have noted the hours are long but tbh, I know plenty of solicitors who do over 12 hours a day and i definitely do mentally. When the my day is done,my mind is thinking of what I need to do next day (inc sending myself email reminders). The reason that got me considering is that HGV is not all long distance. When my car broke down and could not get fixed, I asked the recovery guy how long he has been a mechanic, and he said he was not. He done his HGV as was tired of being an electrician and dealing with customers. He said he earned more doing the recovery driving, only who two nights a week and one weekend a month which he knew about two months in advance so did not impact on family life. The same with the building supplies man who delivered to me. Early start and pretty much local work only with one saturday in in four. Thanks again.
I’d have thought it easier and more financially rewarding to change branches of soliciting. Funny how that term relates to two unrelated (?) occupations.
LOL…wish it was that easy. Too change an area of practise is pretty much starting again on paralegal wage as you cant earn the firm any fees to you learn the new area of law. Like an engineer on wind turbines wanting to do aircraft, has to start again
If you get upset that that your clients, who are the ones paying you a lot of money for your professional services, expect the courtesy of an acknowledging reply the same day, then I don’t think being told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it is going to go down very well.
