HGV Training and working

Guys, anyone on here a HGV/LGV driver? Im thinking of doing it myself, but would like to know a bit more about the job before taking it much further. It seems that wages are in the £20-30k range – does this correct? What about typical hours worked per week? Anyone love or hate it? What about the training itself..cost/time etc.

Any advice appreciated.

For the training itself, probably 5 intensive days and test, around £1000. Same again if you want the articulated licence. Steer clear of the national ‘guaranteed pass’ places, apparently if you fail, its common to make you wait ages for the retest and then not give enough time to brush up beforehand, another fail and the candidate gives up!

You will probably need another qualification that covers moving goods, the name escapes me right now.

I was told tesco was one of the best for pay and conditions, although obviously they will take experience into account when picking drivers.

I got my c+e last year as there is a tiny element of hgv driving in my job (I’ve used it about 5 days over the last year. But if I wanted a job change, trucker would be top of the list…Just fear of the unknown

As a rough guide you can only drive for 9-10 hours a day on top of that there are breaks to be taken and any waiting time has to be added on. Depending on the company depends on the hours but you will be looking at an average of 12 hours per day. For the money the job is okay however your waist line will expand.

48 contracted hours per week, 28 days holiday a year including bank hoildays, up to 15 hours maximum a day which you can’t say no to, start times anywhere from midnight, I did 7 months last year with start times between 00:30 to 03:00, working 12 hour shifts.
This is on supermarket delivery work, for a above average employer.
£25000 a year, no sick pay and the legal minimum pension.

Have a look at eddie stobart on channel 4, and see how hard they work, long hours , poor driving by other road users, they have to pay their own parking fines etc.

You will need a hgv medical first , then have proper training ,then pass various written tests, then have a test drivin a rigid lorry, to drive an artic you need more training .

Theres lots of training providers,but some offer the moon on a stick,, and some are a bit dodgy, ring around and get prices, look at how much they charge for the lgv for the test and what happens if you ned a re test.

Get a coppy of the various Hgv driving books etc, and finally talk to drivers,ring transport comapnies and ask will they be willing to take on newly qualified drivers.

Its always been an ambition to drive an lgv,but since the Eddie Stobart programe its put me off, now looking at PCV driving.

Oh and nmost of the supermarkets employ agency or larger companies to do the logistics and lorry supply, eg TDG, Wincanton, DHL, etc.

Best wishes.

Does the training include ‘How to overtake other HGVs on motorways in less than 10 miles’?

Didn’t think so :twisted:

LGV, s are limited to a set speed, so havent got anything spare.

LGV, s are limited to a set speed, so havent got anything spare.

Shirley the drivers know this?

Getting a job will be your hardest problem, most firms will not employ anyone unless they have 18-24 months experience, which means signing on with an agency for work. Agencywork has its advantages and disadvantages but you will get a lot of experience doing different types of work, supermarket, general haulage, trunking, humping and dumping etc, however you are not guaranteed work everyday. Start times in general for drivers vary depending on who you work for and what needs to be where and at what time. If you do decide to give it a go and this bunch are local to you, you could do worse. Good luck.

http://www.stobartgroup.co.uk/careers/the-academy/apprenticeships/

izakimak, thats a great linky to Eddie Stobart academy,lets hope a lot more companies get on the wagon as well.

What everyone up there ^ said.. After twenty years of it I gave it up a few years ago
Low paid for all the stuff and hours you have to put up with, lifes too short to start at 3am..days..nights..shifts..agencies..transport managers..police..M25:..blah blah blah!…..
Just remember all the rules and regulations about driving hours and whatnot are your [list]Friend[/list] for a good reason and stick to them religiously::.

Without 2 years experience then you won’t get anything other than agency work as Izakimak has pointed out. Not a great deal of pay in it either unless your doing really unsocialable hours or specialised i.e. tanker work.

lifes too short to start at 3am..days..nights..shifts..agencies..transport managers..police..M25:..blah blah blah!…..

Amen.

Get some copies of Truck, truck and driver and theres another title of a similar name.

Also think about sitting in the same seat at 56 mph for 4.5 hours continuos, at 3.00am in the mornning or at 3.00 pm in london town, driving at 10 mph, avoiding cyclists passing down the inside.

Hi im a continental coach driver and love it well as much as you can just a thought, get pcv through local bus company do your 2 yrs then go on the coaches..?

bedfordlad, you the one off Coachtrip then, Brendan.

Also, if i did my pcv, independantly, how easy is it to get a job driving buses and coaches, as theyre usually full of sometimes complaining people especialy if youre late or early running.

My old man has done it for 25 years pay is crap and hours brutal, thank christ he retires this year.

As well as passing the actual HGV test you also need to complete 35 hours cpc driver training within the next few years, think its maybe 3.
I have done 14 hours so far mostly in the classroom! Like being back at school!

Been driving tankers for last 5 years and enjoy it most of the time. Hours and pay are good on the whole though conditions are nothing great. There are so much variations within the industry be it type of work, hours you work your employer etc. Lot of jobs the hourly rate is crap but you make it up with big hours worked. Usually very few perks and lot of folk do treat you like a piece of s**t. I enjoy my particular job but there are a lot I would not go near at all. Do a bit of homework on what is available to you in your area, hours you prepared to work etc. Lot of jobs are word of mouth. Try the trucknet site for info.

I’ve been driving artics for 20 years,the last 11 for one of the big supermarkets.We’re ” in house” not Wincanton/TDG DHL etc. I find it quite manic.Out in the ice & snow driving a 44 ton death trap,you earn your money,on a sunny summers evening it’s a pleasure.I still watch Ice Road Truckers, never had any interest watching or reading about my job in previous occupations.
We’re on a basic of £29000 based on a 48 hour week,plus night rate,5 weeks hols,company pension,10% store discount and sharesave.You will do lots of overtime on top of that @ time & half whether you want to or not,get used to it,also the only day we stop is Christmas day and the shifts start fom 00.00 midnight through to 23.45.I would’nt last a month on those daft o’clock starts,I start mid-morning.I think I’m working for one of the better firms in the North west though,you wo’nt get anything like our benefits with DHL /Wincanton etc.I used to do long distance away all week trucking (tramping) and on that game most weeks I’d do about 70 hours,only get home 2 or 3 times and after a few weeks look like death warmed up.If this current job goes I don’t think I could go back to Stobarts etc,some people like it though..

the 3 year time limit for cpc training is only for existing drivers, if you go for your test now you would need to complete it before you can drive for a firm.
its exactly like being back at school.
re doing your bus test;
stagecoach (i work for them) are regularly looking for drivers, friends tell me that firstbus are the same, the hours are unsociable, its boiling in anything that looks like a bit like summer, its freezing in winter, customers complain at you even when you are on time, and the pay is ok, rather than great.
steady work though, pays the mortgage etc.
cpc is required for pcv too, but stagecoach will put you throught the whole process from trainee driver to fully qualified lunatic.

Two important lessons

Always wear a seat belt,

Never park a car on a bus stop, the bus will hate you,