Working as a driver

[Jaymo]

5 hours ago, humperdingle said:

Went for my medical yesterday and have just sent off the forms for provisional. Should get that on about two weeks, then I can book into a training centre and get the theory parts done.

At the moment, i’m studying via online resources and a DVSA handbook.

 

Regarding the streamlining of tests, There is new legislation coming so new HGV drivers can go straight to C+E testing. Not sure how I feel about that… i’d rather get a bit of driving experience with a rigid 7.5 ton first tbh.

Hopefully that will be an option.

Nope, jump right in as a 7.5 really isn’t a great deal diff from a 3.5 Luton…

18t or tractor units would be my pref should I give up the ‘wings’ 

[39TDS]

5 hours ago, humperdingle said:

Regarding the streamlining of tests, There is new legislation coming so new HGV drivers can go straight to C+E testing. Not sure how I feel about that… i’d rather get a bit of driving experience with a rigid 7.5 ton first tbh

When I did my HGV I went on an assessment to see if I needed the 5 day or the 10 day course. The assessment entailed driving a Transit minibus around town and based on that I was deemed to need the 5 day course. (this was for a class 1/artic license). I did tell them I drove a |transit every day and it was hardly an indication of how good I might be in an artic but there you go. I failed, did the next 5 days and passed.

I also drove a 7.5 Bedford TK regularly prior to my test, no different to a Transit. After that the biggest I have driven is  13 ton curtain sider, a bit bigger than a 7.5 ton but not a lot different. Haven't driven an artic since passing my test which was 35 ish years ago and not likely to start now.

[Tonka54]

I have been a C+E (class 1) for 40 years now, I have recently retired from full time employment and am just using up the remaining time left on my CPC/Moffett doing some part time for my old employer and ad-hoc agency work, Then I am gone, I personally will be glad to see the back of it.

I do not wish to get into a heavy political debate over my following statements, nor do I wish to influence anybody's decision, they are merely my personal opinions and observations based on my not inconsiderable experience.

As some posters have pointed out, due to the current situation of commercial driver shortages there has never been a better time for candidates to join the industry. It is true that some employers are so desperate to get drivers back on their books that they are willing to take on newly qualified drivers with little experience and train them up themselves, some are even paying a cash bonus as an incentive.

The UK government and most of the haulage industry would have the general public and prospective commercial drivers believe that the current driver shortage is down to European drivers going home due to Brexit restrictions, plus a backlog of newly trained drivers waiting to take their driving test after covid-19 delays.

Whilst this is most certainly true to an extent, it is not the be all and end all of the problem. What they are purposely omitting to say anything about is the appalling working environment and conditions that most drivers have to suffer in order to earn a crust and feed their families, That's not to mention the low wage/salary to skill, experience, responsibility and qualification level.

A little while spent on YouTube where the issues I mention here are covered in much greater detail would give the prospective commercial driver a more balanced and clearer picture of what is going on.  

      

[oldypigeonpopper]

10 hours ago, Tonka54 said:

I have been a C+E (class 1) for 40 years now, I have recently retired from full time employment and am just using up the remaining time left on my CPC/Moffett doing some part time for my old employer and ad-hoc agency work, Then I am gone, I personally will be glad to see the back of it.

I do not wish to get into a heavy political debate over my following statements, nor do I wish to influence anybody's decision, they are merely my personal opinions and observations based on my not inconsiderable experience.

As some posters have pointed out, due to the current situation of commercial driver shortages there has never been a better time for candidates to join the industry. It is true that some employers are so desperate to get drivers back on their books that they are willing to take on newly qualified drivers with little experience and train them up themselves, some are even paying a cash bonus as an incentive.

The UK government and most of the haulage industry would have the general public and prospective commercial drivers believe that the current driver shortage is down to European drivers going home due to Brexit restrictions, plus a backlog of newly trained drivers waiting to take their driving test after covid-19 delays.

Whilst this is most certainly true to an extent, it is not the be all and end all of the problem. What they are purposely omitting to say anything about is the appalling working environment and conditions that most drivers have to suffer in order to earn a crust and feed their families, That's not to mention the low wage/salary to skill, experience, responsibility and qualification level.

A little while spent on YouTube where the issues I mention here are covered in much greater detail would give the prospective commercial driver a more balanced and clearer picture of what is going on.  

      

Hello, not forgetting the lack of pit stops that cater for HGV drivers with good amenities 

[amateur]

1 hour ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, not forgetting the lack of pit stops that cater for HGV drivers with good amenities 

The UK really needs something like Relais Routier.

[Jaymo]

12 minutes ago, amateur said:

The UK really needs something like Relais Routier.

Indeed.

I appreciate that on the continent that they have to pay for tolls on motorways in France and Switzerland ( no road tax though), but the facilities offered far far exceed anything we have here.

You want a pee stop here and you have to travel miles. Out there, there are loads of clean open air places to stop and rest, unlike our crappy lay-bys 

[johnnythefox70]

20 hours ago, humperdingle said:

Went for my medical yesterday and have just sent off the forms for provisional. Should get that on about two weeks, then I can book into a training centre and get the theory parts done.

At the moment, i’m studying via online resources and a DVSA handbook.

 

Regarding the streamlining of tests, There is new legislation coming so new HGV drivers can go straight to C+E testing. Not sure how I feel about that… i’d rather get a bit of driving experience with a rigid 7.5 ton first tbh.

Hopefully that will be an option.

Passed c+e in 2006 a bit of advice is make yourself a member of trucknet its a wealth of info for the newbie drivers👍

[Deker]

16 hours ago, Tonka54 said:

I have been a C+E (class 1) for 40 years now, I have recently retired from full time employment and am just using up the remaining time left on my CPC/Moffett doing some part time for my old employer and ad-hoc agency work, Then I am gone, I personally will be glad to see the back of it.

I do not wish to get into a heavy political debate over my following statements, nor do I wish to influence anybody's decision, they are merely my personal opinions and observations based on my not inconsiderable experience.

As some posters have pointed out, due to the current situation of commercial driver shortages there has never been a better time for candidates to join the industry. It is true that some employers are so desperate to get drivers back on their books that they are willing to take on newly qualified drivers with little experience and train them up themselves, some are even paying a cash bonus as an incentive.

The UK government and most of the haulage industry would have the general public and prospective commercial drivers believe that the current driver shortage is down to European drivers going home due to Brexit restrictions, plus a backlog of newly trained drivers waiting to take their driving test after covid-19 delays.

Whilst this is most certainly true to an extent, it is not the be all and end all of the problem. What they are purposely omitting to say anything about is the appalling working environment and conditions that most drivers have to suffer in order to earn a crust and feed their families, That's not to mention the low wage/salary to skill, experience, responsibility and qualification level.

A little while spent on YouTube where the issues I mention here are covered in much greater detail would give the prospective commercial driver a more balanced and clearer picture of what is going on.  

      

My late father would agree 100%, he worked as a driver for the last 30ish years of his career (HGV & PSV) and had to work all hours to provide a decent wage.

I'm guessing we'll see similar in the mechanic industry as electric vehicles start pushing more specialist training and tools

[Tonka54]

8 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, not forgetting the lack of pit stops that cater for HGV drivers with good amenities 

Yes, very much agree with you there O P P, as I commented previously, there is a plethora of YouTube video's posted by working drivers going into much greater detail than I have.

You are correct about the lack of rest area's, the overnight truck stops and general lack of amenities for driver welfare in general. Especially when you consider that the government have made it a legal requirement for drivers to take daily driving breaks and overnight daily rest periods, but have made absolutely no commitment whatsoever towards making sure affordable amenities are available. Which means I have personally had to overnight in unsecure lay-bye's that stink of urine or lorry parks that also stink but allow "changeovers" to occur or noisy fridges to park in the same area as drivers trying to get a nights rest.

No, the truth of the matter is todays would-be commercial driver has to consider the position "vocational". it is no longer a worthwhile job.

If you consider that the average commercial driver has to have the costly driving licence, self payed for to begin with, plus CPC and any other licences such as fork lift, moffett, hiab, has-pak or has-chem, ect, ect. So quite a few qualifications as well as the medical of course, Then a good working knowledge of UK and or European driving rules and regulations, a geographical knowledge of road systems, a good deal of general experience, and be responsible for a very expensive vehicle and its load, be able to cope with the relentless stress of the workload and timed deliveries as well as have the reflexes of a cat to avoid "knobs" who cut you up and then slam on the brakes expecting you to stop a 40+ ton truck on a sixpence.

In short, the commercial driver has to suffer more stress levels than that of an air traffic controller, but for less financial reward than a shelf stacker at Sainsbury's.

Is it any wonder that there is an acute shortage of commercial drivers??. 

   

Edited September 24, 2021 by Tonka54
TYPO

[Dave-G]

32 minutes ago, Tonka54 said:

Yes, very much agree with you there O P P, as I commented previously, there is a plethora of YouTube video's posted by working drivers going into much greater detail than I have.

You are correct about the lack of rest area's, the overnight truck stops and general lack of amenities for driver welfare in general. Especially when you consider that the government have made it a legal requirement for drivers to take daily driving breaks and overnight daily rest periods, but have made absolutely no commitment whatsoever towards making sure affordable amenities are available. Which means I have personally had to overnight in unsecure lay-bye's that stink of urine or lorry parks that also stink but allow "changeovers" to occur or noisy fridges to park in the same area as drivers trying to get a nights rest.

No, the truth of the matter is todays would-be commercial driver has to consider the position "vocational". it is no longer a worthwhile job.

If you consider that the average commercial driver has to have the costly driving licence, self payed for to begin with, plus CPC and any other licences such as fork lift, moffett, hiab, has-pak or has-chem, ect, ect. So quite a few qualifications as well as the medical of course, Then a good working knowledge of UK and or European driving rules and regulations, a geographical knowledge of road systems, a good deal of general experience, and be responsible for a very expensive vehicle and its load, be able to cope with the relentless stress of the workload and timed deliveries as well as have the reflexes of a cat to avoid "knobs" who cut you up and then slam on the brakes expecting you to stop a 40+ ton truck on a sixpence.

In short, the commercial driver has to suffer more stress levels than that of an air traffic controller, but for less financial reward than a shelf stacker at Sainsbury's.

Is it any wonder that there is an acute shortage of commercial drivers??. 

   

Sounds like its been a long time coming.

[Tonka54]

3 minutes ago, Dave-G said:

Sounds like its been a long time coming.

Yes it has been, I seem to remember back in the late 70's there was a UK driver strike of sorts, marquees were set up on farmland round what is now the M25 corridor and parts of Kent towards Dover on the A2 to supply amenities for stranded drivers. It went on for a while and I believe the UK military were called upon to supply drivers for a while. Eventually the need to feed families and pay mounting bills meant drivers slowly giving in and returning to work, so the strike slowly petered out