HGV license i might do it

L

lostinyorkshire

Well-known member
I'll be returning to teesside after xmas and will need a job i guess.

Thinking of doing my hgv as there is a shortage. Probably wouldnt mind doing the driving used to be a sales manager doing almost 100k miles a year.

Any of you guys have any advice or insight
 
20 years ago things were very quiet in my business so I did it.
Have to say I didn't find it easy. Passed 1st time and only ever did one run.

I picked a load of worktops up from Darlington to take them to somewhere over Burnley way.
This was in the days before Satnavs and I took a wrong exit off the motorway.
Ended up in a housing estate........ how I ever got out again I don't know but I had a fair audience by the time I got it out.

Got to the other end and they pulled the curtains back and the worktops had never been strapped.
All my fault, despite being told the load was done I should have checked.
I was physically sick. That load would have killed people.
One of the luckiest days of my life.

Thing picked up and I got back into the real world for me.

ALWAYS CHECK THE LOAD!
 
zzzzz said:
20 years ago things were very quiet in my business so I did it.
Have to say I didn't find it easy. Passed 1st time and only ever did one run.

I picked a load of worktops up from Darlington to take them to somewhere over Burnley way.
This was in the days before Satnavs and I took a wrong exit off the motorway.
Ended up in a housing estate........ how I ever got out again I don't know but I had a fair audience by the time I got it out.

Got to the other end and they pulled the curtains back and the worktops had never been strapped.
All my fault, despite being told the load was done I should have checked.
I was physically sick. That load would have killed people.
One of the luckiest days of my life.

Thing picked up and I got back into the real world for me.

ALWAYS CHECK THE LOAD!
Click to expand...
Alternatively, never shed your load at the wrong moment!
 
Hopefully you'll get further than me. I always thought of myself as a decent driver.

I decided to give it a go as part of my armed forces resettlement. I did one of those 5 day courses. It's weird because because you can already drive so its a 5 hours over a week then test. It simply didn't seem enough time for me.

I failed my test. I simply never felt confident driving such a big vehicle. Its bloody stressful and constantly worrying about hitting things or thinking 10 steps ahead as you can't stop quickly etc. I say 'hats off' to hgv drivers 👍

That said despite my lack of confidence only failed on one thing. I made a car slow down pulling into a roundabout so instant fail (also 5 minors). You need to do the theory but it's pretty easy and lasts 2 years from passing. I just learned it all via a hgv theory app.

I'd say go for it. They are definitely crying out for drivers and something you can do for years without worrying about age etc.
 
My Dad was a lorry driver for about 50 years. Give him a truck and he'd drive and manage it correctly He was really well known and respected around the UK, but particularly at home.
Some of his tales should have made it into a book.

I could wax lyrical forever about him, but his vehicle positional sense was quite unbelievable, and you have to have that to drive and handle an HGV properly. I went away with him on a lot of trips in my teens and my eyes were well and truly opened.

He made something tricky look natural and easy- and I'm proud he taught me to drive- dare I say properly.

I'm still in awe of his skills tbh and he died in 2005.
 
Well if you get to deliver the right material & in this case wood, you'll have job for life, there's loads ready to be brought over 😉
 
I take it you still need sexual deviance to be a lorry driver.
I dont think there has been a kiddy diddler or mass murderer who WASNT a lorry driver.
 
I passed my Class 1 in 1998, I went on and passed my Management CPC in 2003. In them days, indeed up to very recently there was no money in Transport. I stopped driving and managing in 2004, today I am back in transport- currently planning, but I have just caught up with my drivers CPC so can start driving again. Where I work drivers wages have increased 50% this year alone, today an agency quoted £44 an hour for a driver this Sunday- the driver would have got £28.00 an hour! I'd say a good average for Teesside class 1 drivers is £16, but new passes are about £12-£13 an hour, it's not a job for everyone as most days are a minimum 10 hours.
Class 2 normally don't do quite so many hours and of course, until the law changes you still have to pass class 2 before you can take your class 1, so some experience driving class 2 is a good thing I'd say. PAYE class 2 drivers earn between £10 and £14 an hour on Teesside.

Any questions, I'll be happy to answer.
 
S7DiscoDown said:
That said despite my lack of confidence only failed on one thing. I made a car slow down pulling into a roundabout so instant fail (also 5 minors). You need to do the theory but it's pretty easy and lasts 2 years from passing. I just learned it all via a hgv theory app.
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surprised they failed you because of that

i always thought that lorry drivers had the divine right to pull out in front of cars at roundabouts forcing them to break.

🙄
 
TheLodger said:
I passed my Class 1 in 1998, I went on and passed my Management CPC in 2003. In them days, indeed up to very recently there was no money in Transport. I stopped driving and managing in 2004, today I am back in transport- currently planning, but I have just caught up with my drivers CPC so can start driving again. Where I work drivers wages have increased 50% this year alone, today an agency quoted £44 an hour for a driver this Sunday- the driver would have got £28.00 an hour! I'd say a good average for Teesside class 1 drivers is £16, but new passes are about £12-£13 an hour, it's not a job for everyone as most days are a minimum 10 hours.
Class 2 normally don't do quite so many hours and of course, until the law changes you still have to pass class 2 before you can take your class 1, so some experience driving class 2 is a good thing I'd say. PAYE class 2 drivers earn between £10 and £14 an hour on Teesside.

Any questions, I'll be happy to answer.
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cheers. I have always worked in positions of management and responsibility I am just tired now. Have the feeling the only responsibility I want is getting from a to b and being left alone lol.

Any tips on applying or training schools i see loads advertised online but like everything else half are probably scammers
 
lostinyorkshire said:
cheers. I have always worked in positions of management and responsibility I am just tired now. Have the feeling the only responsibility I want is getting from a to b and being left alone lol.

Any tips on applying or training schools i see loads advertised online but like everything else half are probably scammers
Click to expand...
I have training providers that do have full funding for training class 2. I'd guess the rules will be unemployed for so long, but I'll be honest, I'm unsure what the rules are. I was asked today by someone, so will ask next week, I'll try keep this tread informed.
 
Aet290204 said:
surprised they failed you because of that

i always thought that lorry drivers had the divine right to pull out in front of cars at roundabouts forcing them to break.

🙄
Click to expand...
Ha ha true 😂

It's something like causing a vehicle to 'slow down or deviate' and it's an instant fail (just like cars).

I just looked at the guy and said 'I've failed' about 15 mins into the test. It's a shame because I could see myself doing it. Although I'd put on about 5 stone lol.
 
MoggasDog said:
I take it you still need sexual deviance to be a lorry driver.
I dont think there has been a kiddy diddler or mass murderer who WASNT a lorry driver.
Click to expand...
$hit craic that!

I’m up for the banter as much as anyone but don’t joke about paedophiles.

Fella above has just been talking about the fond memories he has if his late father being a HGV driver and you come out with that bollox.
 
There are bad people in all walks of life and jobs. Two fellas I was in the RAF with who all thought were top lads. Few years down the line and 1 X peado and 1 X up skirt photo taker.
 
Heam44 said:
$hit craic that!

I’m up for the banter as much as anyone but don’t joke about paedophiles.

Fella above has just been talking about the fond memories he has if his late father being a HGV driver and you come out with that bollox.
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jesus
 
I'm not sure about this 5k for training.... I got the medical signed off by a GP (who basically asked if I was ok) and paid £690 for a 5 day course and that included the test on the Friday.

I guess it includes the Theory part that I'd already done off my own back. You basically need to pass a 'medical' (used loosely) and pass hazard perception / Theory tests. That's before you can drive.

Then again its maybe why I failed.
 
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