HGV driving- a get rich quick scheme??

[SuperTed]

If there are any HGV drivers out there I would really like to know about getting started, how long it takes to train, where to go to get trained etc. What is considered to be the starting rate (£ per week) and is there plenty of work out there?

Many thanks,

ST.

[ 11 January 2002: Message edited by: SuperTed ]</p>

[GearUp CheerUp]

I obtained my licence (class 1)in the late 80s and it involved a 2 week training course followed by the test and the cost back then was about 650 pounds.

I did a bit of work driving tippers but knocked it on the head due to long hours and low pay.

I know one or two people around who do it and they all say that the rates are kept down due to too many people doing it (sound familiar?). Its a bit like flying in that you have so start doing lower paid local work to gain experience to work your way up to driving an expensive rig on trans European routes.

Hope that helps

[SuperTed]

Yes it does sound familiar. So its not a get rich from the start scheme then? Thought it sounded to good to be true.

cheers,

ST.

[QNH 1013]

Its a bit like aviation in some ways. You have to pay for your training (normally) and you start with the lower paid jobs. Also the originally simple UK licences have been overruled by the EU so they all changed and now you have to do a rigid licence before you can train and take a test for artics.
I got an HGV class one (i.e drive any size lorry inc artic and trailer rigs) roughly ten years ago. This licence is now called C + E.
Like aviation you get clobbered for medicals, but because any quack can do an HGV or PSV medical, there is actual competition and although some charge nearly £60 I have just found a local quack who is doing them for £25. There is no ECG and the medical lasts until you are 40, then every 5 years. If you have a class 2 Aviation Medical you won't have any problem except for a few eyesight differences from the Aviation Medicals.
I already had a PSV class one (double-deck crash gearbox) licence prior to HGV training and it took me 5 days full time with the test on the 6th day. Total cost was about £500 ten years ago. Yellow pages ads will soon give you up to date info.
Job prospects: Here in the East Midlands work is always available through the agencies. If I wanted to I could pick up the phone and be driving tonight or tomorrow. If you have common sense and are reliable you can have as much work as you want. Pay here in East Midlands is £5-£7 per hour basic for agency work. Greatly increases for shifts, nights, overtime, Sundays etc.
Also consider PSV (now called PCV under EU rules). This is a lot more pleasant than lorry driving if you are a social creature. There are ways to get a PSV (sorry PCV) licence free of charge round here. You can even find bus companies who will train you free of charge in the evenings so you can keep your day job until your are qualified. The catch is that you have to work for them for a minimum time after you get your licence and the work is stage-carriage, not private hire. Stage-carriage pays more per hour than private hire, but less scope for casual work and you don't get tips, which can be considerable.
The top end jobs are hazpack trained drivers for the big petrol companies. I believe they are on £35k plus. At the other end, there are plenty of HGV drivers on only £300-£400 per week.
Why don't you ring some agencies in your area. They will tell you what they are looking for and what they pay.
One nice thing, once you have your licence, all you have to worry about is the occassional medical. There are no IRs to keep renewing. To sum up, not a get-rich-quick scheme, but a useful back-up to enable you to always be able to get work (and therefore money) quickly.
If you need more info, just ask me.

[Wireless]

Yeah, definately not get rich quick. I paid £1200 to get my C+E (artic. This is because you have to do the rigid licence first).

As I said in an earlier post I take home around £400/week (£500/week topline pay). What I forgot to mention is that I work about 70 hours a week (not just driving because of the laws but also on duty time). The extra money comes from a tax free night out allowance (£19 a night). Generally I do 4 nights out a week. Base rate is £5.80/hr, overtime after 8 hours is time and a half. Sundays are £16/hr.

So you see, it's not money for nothing. BUT if you want to save for your commercial, it beats sitting in an office and the work is there if you are a hard worker and don't expect money for nothing. Plus you spend hardly anything living in the cab if you don't mind pasta every night!

With regard to training, what you need to do is open the yellow pages and look under L.G.V. Training or Driving schools. They should give you all the prices etc. If you want to carry on after that you need to get a Provisional L.G.V entitlement pack from your post office. This will include a medical form which can be entertained by any G.P. Prices generally range from £30-£90. Once you pass that (you should if you're a pilot) then you need to send off for provisional entitlement to drive L.G.Vs on your car licence. Then you can start to train. You also have to complete a theory exam which is very much common sense! This all sounds like a pain in the a*se but it is all explained in the forms available from the post office.

PStar <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[ 12 January 2002: Message edited by: PoleStar ]

[ 12 January 2002: Message edited by: PoleStar ]</p>

[oceanicclarence]

Hi guys
I got my class 2 licence for free ! thats cos im a Retained Firefighter ! (ie on call by bleeper nights and weekends), spent a week driving tippers for my uncle straight after test, easy work but pay poor, (was just helping out cos a driver was on hols) medicals where i live are about 60 squids (also reimbursed by Brigade).

[BRL]

Think about Train driving. The companies are always looking for new ' off-the-street ' drivers to train exactly as they want them. Strict medical, really tough aptitiude tests and then about 9 weeks classroom work on rules and whatever traction you will be driving. (a bit like a type rating)The medical gets renewed every 5 years but we have random drug/alcohol/medical tests thrown in too. I am on £28000+ for a 35hr, 4 day week, with stacks of overtime as always. 2 days off a week means a long weekend Frid to tuesday every 3rd week. Sunday rate is £19.18 per hour. Overtime is £18.41 an hour. Basic rate of £536.74. I am looking at easily earning more than 35k this year without even thinking about it. E-mail me if you want more info.

[Mountain Biker]

I am also thinking of going down the HGV route.

Two contacts for training are:

Huges Training
169 Knightthorpe Rd
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 5JR
01509 267447
<a href="http://www.hugesdrivertraining.co.uk" target="_blank">www.hugesdrivertraining.co.uk</a>

J Coates HGV Services
0800 2797944
<a href="http://www.jcoates.co.uk" target="_blank">www.jcoates.co.uk</a>
e-mail: [email protected]

I also have a train driver application pending, so any help from BID RED'L' would be appreciated.

[Anti Skid On]

The other option would be get a job in the Middle East and save like hell - also wear a condom - three kids ended my flying dreams, more expensive to run than a Seneca!

[Gary Halliday]

Just a note to QNH 1013.

Yeah PSV as it was worked for me. In the days before MT broke the unions pay could be very good in a big city, especially stuff like all night services and staff busses - triple time wasn`t unknown.

But socially -?. You got to detest people. The rule about boarding under the influence is just one of the things that doesn`t exist on the busses.

Like flying maybe - freight is great.

GH

[QNH 1013]

GH, Agree absolutely, hence my comments on stage-carriage.
Private hire better, but don't even think of driving hen parties unless you're offered enough money to buy your own aircraft. Even then, you should hesitate.
Day trips are great for studying. Drop the pax off on the seafront, take the coach to the park, and get in 5 or 6 hours of (paid) uninterupted study.

Another tip: If you get offered school contracts, only do the mornings, never the afternoons. Schoolkids are like wasps in the morning; very dopey and no problem. In the afternoon, they are hyped-up and a real pain. You might even worry if you are going to pass your next audiogram if you do too many afternoons.

On the plus side, the money may not be fantastic, but if you've got the licences you can always get work (and therefore money) at short notice.

Good Luck,

QNH 1013 ( EE 58689 )

[Gary Halliday]

QNH 1013. Yeah studying during private hires. I`d buried that part of my existence. Don`t even think about it anymore. Allowed PSV (PCV) to lapse,something I never thought I`d do, but there again I`ve done that with an instructors rating and an IRE`s ticket as well.

Everybody knows school kids can be revolting but try 60 of them at a time, just let out of school and gearing up for a night of pillage - who gets it ? the bus driver. The last bus to the sink estate who needs the police escort ? - the bus driver.

The guy who says "thank you" to the bus driver was probably one at one time. Just don`t say "Thank you driver" - that`s good for another 20mm on the BP. I cringe when guys say it getting off the crew bus but I`ve never let on - maybe it`s just my thing.

GH

GH

[SuperTed]

Gary Halliday,

Could you tell me more please. I'm intrigued. So none of your workmates know that you used to drive buses full of 'high as kite' kids? What do you fly now and how did you get started?

Thanks,

ST

[Gary Halliday]

Ted
- no intrigue intended, there`s no secret about bus driving I just don`t say how much it grates to hear "Thank you driver" instead of just thank you.

A friend of mine did an air taxi trip once where the charterer, a member of the aristocracy, stepped out of the Aztec and handed back the snack box provided for the 2.30 sector with the words "Well dwiven !". Friend opened the box to find a very fresh turd. - Somehow this is preferable to "Thank you driver".

To answer your questions, 700 hrs mostly unpaid 20 odd years ago and clockwork 747, which is very nice thank you.

GH