Having trained for my Class 2 in a Merc Atego 18 tonne rigid box truck, the thought of driving other makes of trucks, or trucks with other body styles makes me a bit apprehensive.
So, is there any particular sort of truck work I ought to try to go for as a complete newbie driver - tipper, refuse collection, road sweeper, car recovery, tanker etc.
Also, would it be better for me to do shuttling work to get experience of driving a variety of trucks?
It can be interesting to start with - especially with some of the differences … best to jump in with an agency and get it over with, you will see a few makes and models and have to get used to all sorts !!
G
One that is over 7.5 tonnes. 
Personally I found that as a newbie I couldn’t get a job let alone be picky.
I’ve been driving flatbeds for the last year though and they are very easy, I’m sure I’ve picked up a tonne of bad habits for when I drive a box or curtainside again. We don’t often load very high on our flats either.
Take what job you can get, there isn’t a huge difference between different types other than the work carried out. There are some small differences but mostly just that. When I first drove a 8 wheeler I was struggling on turning in and out of roads, soon it became second nature.
This week mine has been in for MOT so I have been driving our other one, basically its the same, but the wheelbase is a touch longer and the body a bit shorter with a whacking great crane on the back. Even though they are almost the same there are some differences to cornering and manouevring but you soon adjust.
Decide on the work that you would like to do, and aim in that direction rather than a certain vehicle.
Steve McF:
So, is there any particular sort of truck work I ought to try to go for as a complete newbie driver - tipper, refuse collection, road sweeper, car recovery, tanker etc.… to get experience of driving a variety of trucks?
Trade Plate vehicle delivery work is always good for getting in experience on all these vehicle types.
You will quickly experience a large range of axle configurations, body types, & gear boxes.
Not forgetting quite possibly getting opportunity to drive new artic units, before the 5th wheel has been fitted are therefor class C.
Driveroneuk:
… before the 5th wheel has been fitted are therefor class C.
Not this again 
amazing how many people ‘still’ dont get it!
You can drive ‘any’ rigid goods vehicle on a Cat C licence providing it isnt towing a trailer. A tractor unit with out a trailer is by definition a rigid goods vehicle.
Trade plate work involves a lot of hitchhiking though, doesn’t it?
Or do you get to drop one vehicle off and bring another back to where you started on the same trade plates?
Shuttling work (as I understand it), is moving vehicles from one site to another, hopefully ending up back at the site where you started, and where your car is parked!!!
On the subject of artic tractor units, I did ask the question of the company that trained me whether a Class 2 allowed one to drive a trailerless tractor unit, and they said yes of course. It is in effect a short wheelbase rigid when not hooked up to a trailer!!
I think the fifth wheel thing is confused by the fact that, if the unit is not fitted with a fifth wheel it is a goods vehicle that is incomplete and cannot technically exceed the weight of the unit itself.
If that is under 7.5t you can technically drive it on a 7.5t licence, it is only when the fifth wheel is there that it is possible to acheive weights in excess of 7.5t