Should I..? I'm packing in the building trade at the end of this financial year. I'm a sole trader brick layer and general builder and the last few years haven't been easy. Work has been up and down making financial planning a headache. I had a good winter and spring coming into this year but work evaporated over the summer as a couple of largish jobs were cancelled when one client ran out of money and another decided to sell his plot rather than build on it as planned. I've been on very thin gruel since August and this has played havoc with cashflow and my tax plans. This has happened once too often and I've had enough of it. And I've had a couple of injuries, treated successfully it seems. I'm 100% fit again but I don't want to push my luck and I want some financial stability. I'm 49 now and I'll have to work for at least the next 20 years, probably 25 and I neither want nor will be able physically to do that in the building trade. Its time to get out. Talking to my accountant yesterday. He said become an HGV driver. He's got a few on his books. I like the idea. I cannot work indoors and I don't like being in the same surroundings day after day. I like it when one building job ends and I'm off somewhere new. So driving suits me and I have no family commitments. Its just me and the bank manager to think about. Distance driving is no object. If anything I would prefer it. What are the prospects and options? Any opinion and advise appreciated.
Before you sign up, I'd check out the internet jobsites to see what jobs for HGV drivers are on offer and what the pay is. Totaljobs, Monster jobs, and Indeed are three sites, but there must be specialist HGV driver sites you can look at. There are loads of training companies advertising their services, but the only jobs on "Jobsite" today for the Dorset area are bin lorry drivers (temp) earning £16k-18k pa. Class 2 Drivers Job in Ferndown Jobsite Another one is PSV/Bus Driving which usually involves shifts and dealing with the public (pains in the ass) and can be very stressful.(hence they advertise regularly).
I know 2 HGV driver's in winterborne kingston who both happen to be bikers (she is on CBT at the moment). I'm sure they'd be happy for a chat if you'd like me to contact them for you.
Thanks Cream Revenge. Yes, why not. The more feed back I can get before I make a decision, the better. A lot of the jobs advertised don't state pay rates, except to say it is "competitive" which isn't much help.
That's what's worrying me. My accountant thinks I'd be better off but bearing in mind I'll be selling a bike, maybe two, to retrain and start again I want to get it right..
I seen an advert somewhere looking for HGV drivers and advertising £37k a year for 40 hours a week. I thought that was decent.
Not much good if the job is in Carlisle and you live in South West though. I'd research your local jobmarket/call into the local jobcentre and seek their advice.
Do you have grandfathers rights for 7.5t? If yes that will save you £800-900 approx. I did both my Class2 & Class1 in a month of training, effectively one week for each license. Cost about £4k but could be less as I failed my C1 on a hill start; thought I was in low gear & stalled & rolled back a bit. Massive no no & immediatley knew I'd failed so roughly £400 retest & hire hgv fee. I travelled 60miles per day to & fro from home to Northampton LGV Trainers who have a good reputation locally. Although others were slightly cheaper I prefer quality over saving dosh. The local test center is Weedon just off the A5 which has some of the strictist pass rates of around 45%. The good news is I'm earning over £2k a month & get home each night into my bed rather than tramping work (living in the cab). I also choose the days of the week I work & days or nights (I agree to 5-days with an agency). Got three years under my belt so I can now comfortably approach companies with my experience of tallboy/rigid/flat-bed/curtain/reefer (freezer) trailers. I've not got low-loaders/tippers or boat work or done the ADR training for tanker work but those are possible future avenues to consider. The maximum working shift is 15hours & I prefer long-haul work of around 12hours per day. I could work three days a week now & enjoy the rest of my time but whilst I am doing other longterm projects its good to gather some emergency funds. I highly recommend doing it as the U.K. is suffering a huge deficit of aging drivers soon too retire. Which is why we have so many mickey-mouse polish drivers over here. I recently went to one DC (destribution center) & the dekit manager stated he had to show a new agency driver from poland how to uncouple a trailer. He literally didn't know what the five leads did which shows in my mind he was one of these pay enough mullah (to his aquaintance back in PL government) type people & he'll get it added to his driving license style cowboys. Now working on the uk roads potentally killing many many people with his lack of real understanding. Anyhow, start by buying the latest high-way code & thoroughly learn it front to back. Here are a few more thing you will need to have & learn & understand before you commit to the practical training courses. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Highway-Code-Department-Transport/dp/0115528148/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1478694322&sr=8-3&keywords=HGV driver dvd https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Theory-Hazard-Perception-Tests/dp/1843265966/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478694322&sr=8-1&keywords=HGV driver dvd (this comes with a virtual highway code but means you cannot quickly refer to it for easy revision). The Official DSA Theory Test for Drivers of Large Vehicles - 2013 edition: Amazon.co.uk: Driving Standards Agency (DSA): 8601300089218: Books https://www.amazon.co.uk/Professional-LGV-Drivers-Handbook-Complete/dp/0749451181/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478694884&sr=8-1&keywords=The Professional LGV Driver's Handbook : A Complete Guide to the Driver CPC CPC training is nothing to worry about though gaining tachograph experience is vital to understanding your responsibility towards driving hours. Knowing when & if you require adaquate breaks to factor in along a route & timeline. I recommend training in a manual wagon even with range change gear-box. Because you will understand the whole industry then. Even though I've used ultra modern ones who's handbrake is a paddle switch as well as bottons for gear. The industry is moving away from manual/semi-automatic vehicles into automatic too save on fuel & driver fatigue. Fire any question at me regarding HGV work/training.
I have friend that's just jacked in as an operations IT manager, company car well paid etc etc. He's now an HGV driver (failed twice at his cost) he loves it. Yes the money is nowhere near his previous pay but he's far happier.
Thanks Gunzenbomz, that's really helpful. I'll start reading up immediately. Training costs are a worry. I had a figure of around £2000 in mind... But I need to get my head around the various divisions, categories and training requirements first. Your reading list is a big help, thanks. I'm slightly concerned that my age might count against me but I'm looking for a career change I can commit to, not just a job so hopefully that's a point in my favour.
Class2 18ton max Class1 18+ton-upwards (5th wheel trailers/no max weight limit) Where are you based? As I work out of banbury & you mentioned Aylesbury which is not a huge distance from me. There are agencys who pay for your training & I work for one that does that still. It also had an inhouse training company but that has changed now. You sign up to work for two-years or pay off the remainder of attributed costs if you change empoyer. http://www.cherwellvalleysilos.co.u...port-solutionsvalley-solutions-driver-agency/ From memory C2 was £1,400 & C1 was £1,700 both included test fee & vehicle but no retest fee protection. CPC 5x£70 courses & then cost of your driver tacho card £40?
I have a friend who works for Shearing. they are always looking for drivers. They will put you through the test you just commit to a couple of years or pay them back for the test and training. you can drive all over the continent. The only downside is the 50+ whinging bast Ards you would have sat behind you
I'm in Dorset. I think Finn mentioned Aylesbury as he knew of someone making a similar move down there. I'm willing to relocate in the medium term.
Not at all, still young enough to ride a sportsbike at that age, that is the reason that I retired 4 years before I got to 49. The RAF gave me my HGV licence and never expected me to use it as an aircraft engineer.
