Part time hgv driver
Discussion
Thinking about doing my hgv test. C first then onto artics. My wife is the bread winner working shifts as a nurse and I’ve been floating about doing nothing career wise but taking full time care of the 2 kids 1 baby. As they get a bit older I’ve been thinking about a profession that I can work with for the next step in my life and who knows it may become my vocation over the next decade.
Anyway my question is how is working part time as a hgv driver. Are there permanent part time positions or will it be all agency work? (is part time agency work a thing?) because of my wife’s work I can work all sorts of hours, nights, sleepovers, European etc. 2 max 3 days work a week is what we need but my availability will be different all the time. Im 36, very fit, and love my own company because I’m epic
Anyway my question is how is working part time as a hgv driver. Are there permanent part time positions or will it be all agency work? (is part time agency work a thing?) because of my wife’s work I can work all sorts of hours, nights, sleepovers, European etc. 2 max 3 days work a week is what we need but my availability will be different all the time. Im 36, very fit, and love my own company because I’m epic
Yes there's plenty of work at the moment and well paid too, especially if you live in the right area.
Also the driver shortage should mean they won't be so fussy about you needing experience before they'll take you on, always been the catch 22.
Few points, its not cheap and it won't all happen overnight, always better with an artic ticket as you already know, nothing to stop candle in the wind Johnson from allowing a free for all for immigrants from anywhere with HGV's to come here to make up the shortfall, the fake money plucked from Rishi's ring is coming to an end of print run so we're told so furlough ending could see thousands dumped out of work, many of whom might already have hgv licences, so a good for the forseeable prospect could easily go to rats at any time.
However if you are a good reliable sort, i've never known good reliable lorry drivers to be out of job for more than a few days, get a good name especially if your specialise in certain sectors and you can make a pretty good living out of the game.
Also the driver shortage should mean they won't be so fussy about you needing experience before they'll take you on, always been the catch 22.
Few points, its not cheap and it won't all happen overnight, always better with an artic ticket as you already know, nothing to stop candle in the wind Johnson from allowing a free for all for immigrants from anywhere with HGV's to come here to make up the shortfall, the fake money plucked from Rishi's ring is coming to an end of print run so we're told so furlough ending could see thousands dumped out of work, many of whom might already have hgv licences, so a good for the forseeable prospect could easily go to rats at any time.
However if you are a good reliable sort, i've never known good reliable lorry drivers to be out of job for more than a few days, get a good name especially if your specialise in certain sectors and you can make a pretty good living out of the game.
I was watching a truckers YouTube channel the other night where the message was that pay and conditions are s
t (£12.50 an hour was mentioned as the going rate) and employment conditions are poor.
Takeaway headline was that we have a driver shortage because cheap foreign labour has depressed wages, lots of those have buggered off home because of a combination of Brexit and Covid, yet labour rates in the market have not risen to attract more drivers back into it.
From the multiple comments I saw it was all "very much glad I am out of it, terrible pay and conditions, doing something else now"
Could you not use your time available to train into something else at which you could work flexibly, which pays more and treats you a bit better?
(Sorry, don't want to rain on your parade but just looking at it realistically).
t (£12.50 an hour was mentioned as the going rate) and employment conditions are poor. Takeaway headline was that we have a driver shortage because cheap foreign labour has depressed wages, lots of those have buggered off home because of a combination of Brexit and Covid, yet labour rates in the market have not risen to attract more drivers back into it.
From the multiple comments I saw it was all "very much glad I am out of it, terrible pay and conditions, doing something else now"
Could you not use your time available to train into something else at which you could work flexibly, which pays more and treats you a bit better?
(Sorry, don't want to rain on your parade but just looking at it realistically).
Thank you for the comments guys. I’m not looking short term I’m looking medium term so the current up in the air situation with shortages, cheap foreign drivers etc I’m trying to ignore. Hopefully the industry doesn’t disappear over night through one thing or the other and I back myself to be visible enough to get a job if it’s there. I have thought about other professions but for the medium term we always want to have one parent at home most other roles need you full time or at least fixed days per week. I need flexibility on my hours so my wife can do her thing as she’s the bread winner. (Although a nurses loaf should be a bit bigger).
So I guess to rephrase, is adhoc work only as a hgv driver a realistic proposition?
So I guess to rephrase, is adhoc work only as a hgv driver a realistic proposition?
Fair comments Purple Turtle.
In reply the transport sector is wide with many possibilities, yes some bods are stuck on 12,50 an hour and some even less than that, drivers in the more remote or rural parts of the country sometimes don't have the same opportunities as those in more industrial areas.
Bullying horrible attitudes from jumped up pen pushers has long been an issue, just like the poor payers the answer is find a better job with a more enlightened successful employer and move on, leave the bad companies to only be able to employ those whom no one else will touch, see how that works out for them.
But for many others they kissed goodbye to 12.50 wages 20 years ago and i work with drivers averaging anything from £15 to £27 across the board when you divide their top line by number of hours worked to earn it, more possible on specialist work like car transport.
Companies paying money like this can cherry pick staff, and they tend to respect the drivers they employ, no one leaves, as much as the drivers do their best because they want these good jobs to last forever.
There are many lorry drivers out there who could win olympic golds if moaning for the sake of it was an event, glass half empty attitudes don't help you land jobs with the better employers.
Yes op, you'll be fine on agency, some drivers are permanent agency full others part timers, but try and find one paying PAYE, and avoid dodgy umbrella jobbies.
In reply the transport sector is wide with many possibilities, yes some bods are stuck on 12,50 an hour and some even less than that, drivers in the more remote or rural parts of the country sometimes don't have the same opportunities as those in more industrial areas.
Bullying horrible attitudes from jumped up pen pushers has long been an issue, just like the poor payers the answer is find a better job with a more enlightened successful employer and move on, leave the bad companies to only be able to employ those whom no one else will touch, see how that works out for them.
But for many others they kissed goodbye to 12.50 wages 20 years ago and i work with drivers averaging anything from £15 to £27 across the board when you divide their top line by number of hours worked to earn it, more possible on specialist work like car transport.
Companies paying money like this can cherry pick staff, and they tend to respect the drivers they employ, no one leaves, as much as the drivers do their best because they want these good jobs to last forever.
There are many lorry drivers out there who could win olympic golds if moaning for the sake of it was an event, glass half empty attitudes don't help you land jobs with the better employers.
Yes op, you'll be fine on agency, some drivers are permanent agency full others part timers, but try and find one paying PAYE, and avoid dodgy umbrella jobbies.
Edited by Smint on Wednesday 7th July 15:06
Just my random opinion but I don't think that it's covid or Brexit that has caused the driver shortage, they've contributed but I think that it's mainly ir35 that's done it. I can't remember the last time that I met a foreign driver who wasn't self employed and of the 30 or so that I'm around regularly 4 are still agency and another 4 have gone on the books, the rest of them sacked off driving in the UK. So I don't think this shortage will end if he does open the floodgates, unless they're all going to come from outside Europe somewhere that the wages will impress them
There’s all the work you would ever want/need on the agency. Sign on with a couple different ones and you can literally work whenever you want. Not sure where you are based but if your near any kind of postal hub, Royal Mail, DPD, Hermes etc they are mega busy with pay up around the £18-£20 an hour mark.
Glenn63 said:
There’s all the work you would ever want/need on the agency. Sign on with a couple different ones and you can literally work whenever you want. Not sure where you are based but if your near any kind of postal hub, Royal Mail, DPD, Hermes etc they are mega busy with pay up around the £18-£20 an hour mark.
Thankyou for the input. I’m in Nottingham so assume there is a normal amount of work. Is Nottingham area specific for anything special, big hubs etc?
s p a c e m a n said:
Just my random opinion but I don't think that it's covid or Brexit that has caused the driver shortage, they've contributed but I think that it's mainly ir35 that's done it. I can't remember the last time that I met a foreign driver who wasn't self employed and of the 30 or so that I'm around regularly 4 are still agency and another 4 have gone on the books, the rest of them sacked off driving in the UK. So I don't think this shortage will end if he does open the floodgates, unless they're all going to come from outside Europe somewhere that the wages will impress them
I think you may be right. Also as there is a driver shortage, why aren't there lots of companies advertising for trainee drivers? All these hauliers are complaining but seemingly avoiding the obvious solution.sherman said:
If you have an hgv licence just now going by the recent news of a lack of drivers you should be able to dictate how much your working.
If I didnt have epilepsy I would be looking at hgv driving as a career just now.
There isn't a lack of drivers: there is a lack of people prepared to do the job for poor money in poor working conditions.If I didnt have epilepsy I would be looking at hgv driving as a career just now.
The 'lack of drivers' narrative has been pushed repeatedly for well over a decade and it is clearly intended to encourage the government to pay to train more cannon fodder for the industry to chew up and spit out.
Initially, poorly paid vacancies were filled by Polish drivers: they worked for terrible money but it was far more than they could earn at home. Gradually they became aware and their outlook changed, so Romanian drivers were engaged at NMW levels.
Providing that there is always someone else who will do the job for outrageously low pay, then industry wide pay levels will remain low. Drivers have born the brunt of cost saving by hauliers for two decades. Rather than pay decent money and ensure that working conditions (and attitudes) are acceptable, the 'industry' wants the state to train anyone and everyone (currently ex-offenders and dossers) to drive HGVs to work and NMW levels and be treated like s
te by everyone (and I do mean everyone - even the village idiot pushing a broom thinks that it is his place to make disparaging remarks about 'useless' and 'thick' drivers, despite not knowing what disparaging means: and dont try to use their toilet, which they legally have to provide...).You're well out of it Son, and do not be taken ion by all that you read.
This thread is an interesting read, I was considering doing C and maybe C+E licenses as a fall back but I am not sure the investment of time and money to do the courses & tests is worth it now
I work in IT currently, full time home based for the last 3 years - whilst I like being at home & I earn good money for what I do it can get a bit monotonous. I had a job delivering print supplies in a 3.5t sprinter at a young age and I did enjoy the driving element of it, only hold B & B+E currently license wise though
I work in IT currently, full time home based for the last 3 years - whilst I like being at home & I earn good money for what I do it can get a bit monotonous. I had a job delivering print supplies in a 3.5t sprinter at a young age and I did enjoy the driving element of it, only hold B & B+E currently license wise though
Captain Answer said:
This thread is an interesting read, I was considering doing C and maybe C+E licenses as a fall back but I am not sure the investment of time and money to do the courses & tests is worth it now
I work in IT currently, full time home based for the last 3 years - whilst I like being at home & I earn good money for what I do it can get a bit monotonous. I had a job delivering print supplies in a 3.5t sprinter at a young age and I did enjoy the driving element of it, only hold B & B+E currently license wise though
The future is coming does make me think a bit. Self driving trucks and all that but I bet the same was said about auto gear boxes when they first came to trucks (might be wrong). I guess one day people won’t be needed in trucks but is it 5 years away or 30 at which point I’ll be getting ready to hang up my boots. I work in IT currently, full time home based for the last 3 years - whilst I like being at home & I earn good money for what I do it can get a bit monotonous. I had a job delivering print supplies in a 3.5t sprinter at a young age and I did enjoy the driving element of it, only hold B & B+E currently license wise though
s p a c e m a n said:
Self driving trucks are a possibility only for motorway trunk loads, there's no way in the world that a self driving truck could handle most industrial estates let alone single carriageway A roads
quite, and even if they can cope with a UK motorway we all know who's going to be held responsible if and when it all goes wrong and said lorry goes off crushing cars in its path, be someone in the cab to take the blame for many a decade yet.On that subject who in their right mind would want to be in the cab letting the vehicle drive itself whilst you have to remain vigilant in case it goes wrong because you will be responsible for the vehicle whatever happens, might as well drive it yourself.
I don't like AEBS let alone allowing the vehicle any other inputs eg steering control, how many times has AEBS triggered with any one of us for no valid reason, if an AEBS event causes a serious accident who does anyone imagine is going to get the blame...have a read of the driver's manual for the weasel words in the relevant section, you as a driver are responsible for control, but ask your employer or the DVSA about switching it off even if the vehicle allows you to, (MAN don't), under no circumstances will be the reply, catch 22.
Interesting and timely thread.
Similar position to the OP... used to work ridiculous hours in the motor trade but few a few reasons, resigned and have been driving part time for a supermarket for the past couple of years. Granted, poor pay but plenty time for the kids (1 and 4) plus my wife has just started back part time but like the OP, I'm thinking ahead and was also drawn in by the cry for HGV drivers and debated doing the necessary training.
That said, an ex HGV driving friend isn't convinced and feels that the costs involved to me will be significant and it's likely you'd end up with a entry level role - ie less than great hours, low hourly rates and yes, being treated like the dirt on most people's shoe though he did point out that you could end up lucky in a better role but he wouldn't put the cost of training on that happening.
He also suggested getting off the road as he's utterly fed up with that role after many years. He may have a point
Similar position to the OP... used to work ridiculous hours in the motor trade but few a few reasons, resigned and have been driving part time for a supermarket for the past couple of years. Granted, poor pay but plenty time for the kids (1 and 4) plus my wife has just started back part time but like the OP, I'm thinking ahead and was also drawn in by the cry for HGV drivers and debated doing the necessary training.
That said, an ex HGV driving friend isn't convinced and feels that the costs involved to me will be significant and it's likely you'd end up with a entry level role - ie less than great hours, low hourly rates and yes, being treated like the dirt on most people's shoe though he did point out that you could end up lucky in a better role but he wouldn't put the cost of training on that happening.
He also suggested getting off the road as he's utterly fed up with that role after many years. He may have a point
Davie said:
Interesting and timely thread.
Similar position to the OP... used to work ridiculous hours in the motor trade but few a few reasons, resigned and have been driving part time for a supermarket for the past couple of years. Granted, poor pay but plenty time for the kids (1 and 4) plus my wife has just started back part time but like the OP, I'm thinking ahead and was also drawn in by the cry for HGV drivers and debated doing the necessary training.
That said, an ex HGV driving friend isn't convinced and feels that the costs involved to me will be significant and it's likely you'd end up with a entry level role - ie less than great hours, low hourly rates and yes, being treated like the dirt on most people's shoe though he did point out that you could end up lucky in a better role but he wouldn't put the cost of training on that happening.
He also suggested getting off the road as he's utterly fed up with that role after many years. He may have a point
Maybe a way to look at it could be how much will it cost vs how long would you have to do it to get your money back? Similar position to the OP... used to work ridiculous hours in the motor trade but few a few reasons, resigned and have been driving part time for a supermarket for the past couple of years. Granted, poor pay but plenty time for the kids (1 and 4) plus my wife has just started back part time but like the OP, I'm thinking ahead and was also drawn in by the cry for HGV drivers and debated doing the necessary training.
That said, an ex HGV driving friend isn't convinced and feels that the costs involved to me will be significant and it's likely you'd end up with a entry level role - ie less than great hours, low hourly rates and yes, being treated like the dirt on most people's shoe though he did point out that you could end up lucky in a better role but he wouldn't put the cost of training on that happening.
He also suggested getting off the road as he's utterly fed up with that role after many years. He may have a point
You could put the training on a 0% credit card over a year, then do the training and be a lorry driver for a year. Pay off the card over the year with the higher wages then see where you are. If you go back to the supermarkets, well at least you tried and weren't out of pocket.
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