Any HGV drivers here?
Discussion
Thinking about getting a HGV license, I have been self employed for the past 10 years but i am unable to continue doing what i am doing for much longer, Looking at the current job market for somebody like me with no other qualifications, skills or experience for 10 years it puts me pretty at the bottom of the pile of every pile of CV's.
I just turned 33 and i feel it would be a good idea to do something to make my self more employable, HGV license came to mind, but the idea of driving something so big is extremely daunting, part of me even wonders if i will even be able to do it! I literally only pondered this idea this morning, i am going to start doing some research today but thought it would be a good idea to ask on here if anybody has any experience in this field, would love to hear anybody's experience of first time driving a HGV and how daunting it was etc and how it got easier it got or if it wasn't as hard as they thought etc.
I just turned 33 and i feel it would be a good idea to do something to make my self more employable, HGV license came to mind, but the idea of driving something so big is extremely daunting, part of me even wonders if i will even be able to do it! I literally only pondered this idea this morning, i am going to start doing some research today but thought it would be a good idea to ask on here if anybody has any experience in this field, would love to hear anybody's experience of first time driving a HGV and how daunting it was etc and how it got easier it got or if it wasn't as hard as they thought etc.
I drive hgvs. At first they seem gigantic and always petrified of your passenger side when passing cars etc but soon get used to it and it’s just like driving a car (almost).
Doing your test is (fairly) easy but you do minimum reversing for it so that’s the massive hurdle/learning curve once you’ve passed. I joined a firm that had an easy job shunting around a big yard for my first 6 months was perfect for learning how to properly move these things about. It’s one of these you will either take to it straight away and master it or will always struggle.
As for the work, there’s hundreds of jobs out there if I lost my job today I could get another by Monday. Pay can vary hugely dedpending what your doing mines been from £20k-£60k+. Most jobs be prepared for long days 13 hours+ Is regular. Deal with all the fustration of morons on the road, traffic etc and you day is always out of your control.
I landed a decent job with Waitrose not so long back and it’s perfect for me wage/working/spare time balance very easy work, new and well maintained units and trailers and they look after you very well. There are a lot of awful firms out there though which you may have to put up with untill get yourself some experience then can pretty much pick and choose who/what work you want to do.
In short, it’s an all right career can be great can have s
te days but youl never be out of /struggling for work.
Doing your test is (fairly) easy but you do minimum reversing for it so that’s the massive hurdle/learning curve once you’ve passed. I joined a firm that had an easy job shunting around a big yard for my first 6 months was perfect for learning how to properly move these things about. It’s one of these you will either take to it straight away and master it or will always struggle.
As for the work, there’s hundreds of jobs out there if I lost my job today I could get another by Monday. Pay can vary hugely dedpending what your doing mines been from £20k-£60k+. Most jobs be prepared for long days 13 hours+ Is regular. Deal with all the fustration of morons on the road, traffic etc and you day is always out of your control.
I landed a decent job with Waitrose not so long back and it’s perfect for me wage/working/spare time balance very easy work, new and well maintained units and trailers and they look after you very well. There are a lot of awful firms out there though which you may have to put up with untill get yourself some experience then can pretty much pick and choose who/what work you want to do.
In short, it’s an all right career can be great can have s
te days but youl never be out of /struggling for work. Nuttah said:
Thinking about getting a HGV license, I have been self employed for the past 10 years but i am unable to continue doing what i am doing for much longer, Looking at the current job market for somebody like me with no other qualifications, skills or experience for 10 years it puts me pretty at the bottom of the pile of every pile of CV's.
I just turned 33 and i feel it would be a good idea to do something to make my self more employable, HGV license came to mind, but the idea of driving something so big is extremely daunting, part of me even wonders if i will even be able to do it! I literally only pondered this idea this morning, i am going to start doing some research today but thought it would be a good idea to ask on here if anybody has any experience in this field, would love to hear anybody's experience of first time driving a HGV and how daunting it was etc and how it got easier it got or if it wasn't as hard as they thought etc.
Talk to these people, you can train and get your licence and have a job working for one of the UK's largest fleets.I just turned 33 and i feel it would be a good idea to do something to make my self more employable, HGV license came to mind, but the idea of driving something so big is extremely daunting, part of me even wonders if i will even be able to do it! I literally only pondered this idea this morning, i am going to start doing some research today but thought it would be a good idea to ask on here if anybody has any experience in this field, would love to hear anybody's experience of first time driving a HGV and how daunting it was etc and how it got easier it got or if it wasn't as hard as they thought etc.
http://www.merlinacademy.co.uk/
The market is changing rapidly and the old rules are becoming less relevant - sure the best jobs will require experience etc but the industry is finally becoming a bit more progressive.
Never, EVER, pay money to someone who isnt training you themselves, directly. Go straight to the trainer. You will be able to find work without experience, because it is there, but it wont come to you.
With the endless influx of Eastern Europeans you shouldnt expect to make a reasonable living either, because therell always be someone who will do it for less, and agencies and employers exploit this.
Not all of course, but I recently saw a working all hours tramping job advertised at £8-odd an hour, whereas Speedy Hire were paying £13+ for 7.5t van drivers.
With the endless influx of Eastern Europeans you shouldnt expect to make a reasonable living either, because therell always be someone who will do it for less, and agencies and employers exploit this.
Not all of course, but I recently saw a working all hours tramping job advertised at £8-odd an hour, whereas Speedy Hire were paying £13+ for 7.5t van drivers.
Unless you are really good at complying with lots of rules and are really good at learning lots of regulations and basically becoming an expert on driving regulations, drivers hours and are prepared to fill out lots of self incriminating walk round check books/apps then I would stay very very clear of any involvement with goods vehicle driving.
The onus will be on you to make sure your vehicle is not faulty, which is fair enough but if you are told to go and do a job and your given a truck that has a small fault but it cant be fixed yet you are still responsible, you might try to get it fixed but are told "its only a mirror", or "the warning light is faulty" as a new hire are you really going to kick up about it when others will do the job and not worry ? Pretty much every truck has a fault somewhere, you are expected to find it or pay up.
you must comply with hours regulations and you must know all the relevant laws and rules governing your load and what you can and cannot carry, you must be an expert in making sure you don't get in trouble with the DVSA or the Police, any mistakes made on the road either in or out of your lorry result in far harsher punishments for you as the "professional driver".
Some people don't worry about it and treat it as if its "all ok and not too bad" its ok if you are good at it and realise you are pretty much expected to prove your innocence if anything happens.
There is rarely good money to be made by the time you factor in the nights away and missing out of family events or being off on weird days that don't co-inside with anyone elses.
You will pay through the nose to park anywhere official, councils tend to shoo you away from laybys and most of the big cities have zero places to take any of your statutory rest breaks. You will learn very quickly that it is almost impossible to run 100% legal, its just not possible to rest when you are supposed to.
Been in the industry all my life, I hate it, I hate the freakish political control, I hate the way we are hated by most of the public and seen by officialdom as a mobile wallet to raid.
The onus will be on you to make sure your vehicle is not faulty, which is fair enough but if you are told to go and do a job and your given a truck that has a small fault but it cant be fixed yet you are still responsible, you might try to get it fixed but are told "its only a mirror", or "the warning light is faulty" as a new hire are you really going to kick up about it when others will do the job and not worry ? Pretty much every truck has a fault somewhere, you are expected to find it or pay up.
you must comply with hours regulations and you must know all the relevant laws and rules governing your load and what you can and cannot carry, you must be an expert in making sure you don't get in trouble with the DVSA or the Police, any mistakes made on the road either in or out of your lorry result in far harsher punishments for you as the "professional driver".
Some people don't worry about it and treat it as if its "all ok and not too bad" its ok if you are good at it and realise you are pretty much expected to prove your innocence if anything happens.
There is rarely good money to be made by the time you factor in the nights away and missing out of family events or being off on weird days that don't co-inside with anyone elses.
You will pay through the nose to park anywhere official, councils tend to shoo you away from laybys and most of the big cities have zero places to take any of your statutory rest breaks. You will learn very quickly that it is almost impossible to run 100% legal, its just not possible to rest when you are supposed to.
Been in the industry all my life, I hate it, I hate the freakish political control, I hate the way we are hated by most of the public and seen by officialdom as a mobile wallet to raid.
been hgv/psv for 20 years, driving is easy enough ,finding a decent firm to work for is harder.Budget for 12 hour days,most driving jobs long days, compliance is big now with DVSA/police after fines for anything these days.Need to know tachograph rules well too as many employers will push you over hours.
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