Wanted. LGV Training & Employment Advice

[Bush Tucker Man]

I'm getting more & more dis-illusioned with the NHS, the politics that seem to go with it, the pay & the working hours.
So I'm considering a change in direction..

Anyway, that's besides the point....

I'm considering taking my LGV tests, starting (as you have to) with 'C' (rigids) & then progressing to 'C+E' (artics)
Wouldn't mind the HIAB course later, as well.


Now, is it worth my while???

Are the jobs out there???

In my local papers, all the agency adverts seem to state '2 Years Experience Needed'.

Is this indeed the case???, & if so how does one get around the 'Catch 22' scenario.
Ie; you can't have the job without the experience, but how do you get the experience without the job????



I'm considering using this firm, does anyone know them??

***I passed my car test ( 'B') in March 1983, so I've got automatic C1 status.
I've also driven a 7.5 at the Hospital a few times on overtime shifts moving equipment between the sites in our trusts.

Alternatively; Is it worth looking out for a CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) course in Plant Operation??


OOOHHH!!!! :D
They also do a Steeple-Jack course
A while ago, one 'Mudder' (can't remember who?) called me the 'Mud-Club Fred Dibnah', could they have had a premonition?? :lol:  :lol:

[davidlandy]

Drivers are in short supply so the money can be good.

[discodaz]

Hi BTM, I must say that when my brother was laid off about 18 months back he tried the agencies,who said he didn't have enough experieince, this is some one who has held a class one for 16 years, apprentice trained HGV mechanic, & he regularly did runs for the firm when drivers blobbed or must get done jobs came in.
I've also noticed more & more asylum seekers doing this job (cos they can pay 'em less) mainly eastern europeans.
However good luck with what ever you decide.

[hobbit]

I got out if this a few years ago when I had to care for the wife, I must admit I still have my class one, but nowadays I'm not really bothered with it.

The experience thing is still current by the sound of it, and getting licenses and work are two completely things, I'm sure some people on here are still filling the tachos in, unless they have gone digital, and they can tell you about it now.

But myself having been driving most of my life, apart from doing the odd day for a friend on a wagon, I'm happy to keep away from that side

With the roads, traffic and animosity on the roads with other peoples behaviours

I enjoyed it but not nowadays

This is just my opinion, I'm sure there will be others with different views, good luck to you, if you do change, but be prepared to be away from home, depending if you get the right job

[strapping young lad]

i suppose the job suits either a single person or someone who can take their partners with them on these journeys.

i couldnt do it

would enjoy it too much and not come back  :P

[Andy the Landy]

I've been driving big vehicles for 13 years and there are certainly some sharks out there as operators. Try the likes of TESCO and SAINSBURY'S for the better money and no handballing of loads.
Downside of the job is long/antisocial hours and probably nights away. If you value family time look for something else. I used to be away for 2 to 3 months at a time only seeing the port of Dover maybe every couple of weeks (great if you are single). You can earn good money on the trucks but it will be the missus that gets to spend it as you wont have time. Suppose I'm now fairly lucky that I've found a decent employer as I'm home nearly every night, and the money aint too bad, but the average working day is still 12 hours. Drivers are very arrogant towards each other these days and you will certainly see some crazy driving, invest in a defensive driving course aswell, and adopt a laid back attitude (having said that I still use the old fashioned, non official hand signals )
Good look  :D

[abinitio]

Well down here the '2 years' thing is a no go. Not enough drivers to do the work.

Here's a plan, get your C licence
Get you Hiab licence

Have guaranteed work with pretty much any agency whilst you prep for C+E.

RTD no applies so job alot easier then used to be.

If you're happy to work nights, get a job as a night trunker (couriers/pallet firms/argos/littlewoods etc) as money is good and you avoid most of the crap general haulage throws at you.

As mentioned the supermarkets (or at least their sub-contractors) are good to work for, but most are now 4 on 4 off with xmas day the only guaranteed day off.

It is worth doing, phone a few agencies around your area and ask if they would give you work, driver hire I know have no problem with new passes, alot of their franchises even put people through their tests.

Good luck

Lee

[Eeyore]

Certain large haulage businesses are now offering contracts based on an 18 month tie in and they pay for your training - such is the requirement for logistics drivers. Apparently it's cheaper to do this than to import willing drivers from Eastern Europe.

A lot of this work is now also salaried (it encourages some drivers to complete work more expediantly, shall we say).

But, even with the newer working time directives and drivers hours things the industry hours are rough. Either nights or very early starts (3 am when I was doing the I.O.W. run  #-o ) and funny continental shift patterns.

Think long and hard. Agencies won't pay you that well and 9-5 shifts are like Sphinx droppings.

HTH
cheers
 8)
Eeyore

pm sent.

[Jake]

Go for it Richard!!!
I dont do nights away myself (i like coming home every night to my family)
There's plenty of jobs to suit. Shifts, nights, weekends or just plain and simple day work (thats what i do)
Dont be put of thinking that you'll be away from home for days on end.
Yes, the best money is Europe work but there are plenty of firms that do days. Supermarkets are the easyest for work (if there is a depot near to you) but look around, you'll find something to suit and dont be affraid to ask for good money!!
 :D

[Jake]

On this note
Look what i was driving today
1,2,3
(thought you'd like that)
10 years i've had my C+E licence and today was the first time i used it!!!
Blimey. Scary but wicked fun!!
KING OF THE ROAD!!
(something like that, hey :lol: )

[rokcrawlin]

Go for the plant licence get  one for a 360 degree digger on tracks and or wheels then go on to get the affiliated rail certificate, you will earn loads of money..............a lot more than a hgv/lgv driver

[Sider]

Don't bother getting the HIAB.

If you try an agency like SMS, chances are they will pay for your HIAB, as long as you sign a contract tying you to them for a year.

I got my license in May last year, and was driving two days after the test. 2 days later I rejected the 1st permanent employment offer. Had 3 more offers for permanent employment until I decided to go for one I liked. That was in a 1 month period.

Edit: BTW, I only work monday to friday, 0730 to 1730 on the contract, but normally leave the yard around 1600.

[Bush Tucker Man]

Go for it Richard!!!

Supermarkets are the easyest for work (if there is a depot near to you) but look around, you'll find something to suit and dont be affraid to ask for good money!!
 :D

Don't know if you know the area, but we've got ASDA's biggest distribution depot in the north about 2miles away, Eddie Stobarts, Allied-Scottish (is that right?) & a couple of other 'biggies' that I forget.

Morrisons, Schweppes-Coca-Cola & Geest (bananas) are about 5miles away

Still considering it all.....

[Jake]

It sounds to me like your spoiled for choice
It may be worth contacting some of the above mention companys and asking their opinion on you and your licence.
Find out rates of pay, hours and so on
That way before you shell out a grand on training you'll have an idea of your earning potential.
Also some of them may employ first as a 7.5 tonne driver then put you through the HGV licence for gratis. All you may have to do is sign a years contract of employment.
Do the leg work first, it might pay dividends!!
 :D

[beast5680]

I took my test as soon as i was 21 and drove for my dad on and off weekends mainly and the lowloaders where i was working at the time when a driver was off but i have never done it full time as the industry i was in paid better, but it is a string to add to the bow so to speak and i have never been unable to get driving work which helped when i was made redundant last year as i just went to the driving agency i was with and did some work for them for a couple of weeks

[Jake]

it is a string to add to the bow

I'd go with that.
I've got C+E licence, D and D+E licences.
What ever happens or whatever i choose to do with my life, i can always fall back on those (doing so at the moment, more money on the road than car valeting)
 :)

[Bush Tucker Man]

Oh & there's ARGOS down there as well.

It's all around the 'Euro-Port' at junction 31 of the M62

[beast5680]

Had fun today doing some relief driving for an agency i,m with...Not
turned up at 3.30am for a 4am start, they couldnt decide which tractor unit i was having then we couldn't find the trailer i was supposed to have. Found the trailer but it had the wrong load on as someone in the loading dock had got their numbers mixed up so we then start opening trailers to see who,s got what :shock: finally i get the right trailer, load and tractor unit and leave at 5am.
The driver in front of me with the first load rings me and warns to be on the look out for the idiots throwing bottles at the trucks as you approach the delivery point :shock:  this at 6am in the morning.
As i,m late out of the yard theres another truck in front of me to unload first :x  so i help him to speed the job up no loading dock so its out with the tail lift  
trying to back in to a very tight gate suddenly there is about 100 cyclists on the road behaving like total idiots trying to squeeze past as i manoeuvre across the road, to the point where they have to squeeze between the cab and a wall to get past as i,m shunting :shock:  sheer lunacy and they wonder why i told them what i thought of them
grabbed a quick pic of the truck but its not great i,m afraid its a 460hp merc

not that i,m trying to put you off :lol:

[Bush Tucker Man]

With being in A&E, I'm used to seeing any number of idiots at once :roll:
Our usually come in (or at the least go way) handcuffed to a big Bobby :lol:

And I get up at 04:00 when I'm on earlys anyway.


On the drunken idiot front, a story I was told surfaces.
Not too long ago, we had a 'fighting drunk' come in.
It took 2 Ambulance crews to fetch him. Usually 2 to an Ambulance, this one ended up with 2 (big) male Paramedics in the back with him & 2 driving the 2 'lances.

He came in mouthing off.
One of the Nurses asked him to keep quiet due to other patients.
He spat at her.
She told him; "Not to be so disgusting!!"
He spat again!

She slapped him across the face so hard his head rebounded off the trolley rails. :lol:  :lol:

Of course no one saw it :lol: , he must have just hurt himself thrashing about

Didn't spit, or swear, again.
Serves the b*gger right!!!

[muddyweb]

I have two words for the ambulance crews.....









Tranquiliser Darts  ;-)


If only, eh ?

[Bush Tucker Man]

I have two words for the ambulance crews.....


Tranquiliser Darts  ;-)


If only, eh ?

If only.........

I know (at leaat) several of the crews keep the bigger Mag-Lites in the kit ( rechargeable) just in case they need them.

A taxi-driver I know keeps a 3-cell for the non-paying (or violent/throwing-up) passengers.
i've seen the dents in it :shock: (& that takes some doing!!)

[datalas]

I have two words for the ambulance crews.....


Tranquiliser Darts  ;-)


If only, eh ?

If only.........

I've always been of the opinion that anyone drunk and/or abusive who needs medical attention should be refused it until such a time as he (or she) isn't abusive

and at the end of the day, there's an easy way of not being refused treatment, don't be abusive...

[joe90]

I tried to get in with many local companies on the plant side. I can drive 360s and 180s loading shovels etc but as i had no CITB noone was interested in employing.

Got one quote for training on a 360 up to 10 tonnes and it was a fiver short of £2k.

i do non ticketed driving for myself at weekends and time away from my main job and make a packet doing it, just cant get that illusive job with the final training.

So if anyone out there is looking for a 360 driver in the midlands, please give me a shout - would love to do any driving job, it is hard getting into it though,

www.johplant.cjb.net

[abinitio]

Companies merely want the CITB cert as their insurance companies will require it.

I don't have a cert but used to deliver anything from a 1/4 tonne digger up to big bomag shovels etc.

Incidently I have seen many certified drivers in the past cause damage etc, like all things it's experiance that matters not paperwork. Unfortunatly employers don't see it that way.

Lee

[NiceBlueWellies]

The best advice in this weather - get a firm that has trucks with air con - ours don't!!!!!

[joe90]

I went for an interview recently with a company local to me and they offered limitied work as i didnt have a CITB Ticket and they wernt going to put me through one - then in the interviewers next breath  the bloke complained that there were no young drivers coming into the industry!

Just because you have a CITB ticket doesnt mean that your a good and safe driver, unfortunantly they also see it as if you dont have a ticket your not any good!! well i dont have a ticket and so far (tempting fate here) in 4 years have never dug through a service!!

as everyone else has put up at pic - heres my latest machine im hiring a 2004 JCB 8060 with quick hitch & breaker and the disco or course!

[Manicminer]

Been on a Komatsu 210 all week repairing a Forest Road

[joe90]

I like the Komatsu machines, JCB are living on a name, but having said that the 8060 tracks all over a 3CX so much easier to drive - it does anything the 3CX does and quicker and without so much shunting and making so much mess. It'll load over a 4.2m and i can transport it on a Fastrac & low loader trailer. And considering i can get that machine on hire to me for £70 a day including insurance and delivery its pretty cheap to. I use  local company for hire - who dont require tickets, i can go up to 60tonnes no questions asked!

[Andy the Landy]

The no experiance has always been a catch 22 situation but eventually you will find a firm that is prepared to take you on with no experiance as I did - hat off to this bloke that did http://www.procterscoaches.co.uk/home.htm  :D .He took me on in 1993 when the firm had only been going for 3 years, got all my continental learning done and only left due to re-locating otherwise I'd still be there :D