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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3347   
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I haven't done anything other than read and read information and information but yes they are next on my hit list.
Recovery work sounds exactly like what I want to be doing, especially if I can work for a local firm called Mick Gould - Beautiful Beautiful big heavy trucks 
Again, part of the reason why weekend only is because it can be a bit more selective on jobs (though I imagine in the first weeks I try I will grateful for anything I'm offered, which isn't a problem) I've never been scared to work, I started work when I was 13 doing gardening and worked all the way through school, 6th from and now work so I'm looking forward to the new direction. Have now booked my Medical but first appointment I could get was Feburary  so will have plenty of time to read all of the things. Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197
Self confessed mileage hunter  |
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20th Jan 2015 7:32pm |
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| jimbob7 Member Since: 06 Jul 2013 Location: uk Posts: 2055 |
If your not using a tacho in your Defender now then you wont need one.All work other than actual driving hgv's is classed as "other work" for which your obliged to follow drivers rest hours/working time regs and make a manual entry on the back of the tacho roll (it's unlikely you will get an older tacho disc). Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5. |
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21st Jan 2015 1:16pm |
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| Fatboy Slim Member Since: 04 Feb 2008 Location: Bridgend Posts: 1006 
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A couple of pointers (from experience)
1: Unless your current job is part time forget working weekends driving a wagon, the WTD simply won't allow a weeks 'other duties' then a weekend of driving. Unless you fiddle it in which case it would be best to keep some KY to hand in the cab because you will need it............. 2: Find a good reputable local trainer, most will let you have a blast out in a wagon FOC to gauge how much tuition they think you'll need and most importantly you get a feel of how you will get on with them. This is important. Do not under any circumstances go through one of the brokers such as the ones that advertise in the sun etc.......they will take your money and provide a half baked and expensive service which 99.9% of the time you could have got cheaper/better/faster booking direct with a local trainer. 3.Do not believe the hype of driver agencies, the 'HGV driver shortage- immediate work available' sort. The work doesn't exist sorry. They just want you on their books, you will be at the bottom of the pile for the decent jobs and probably spend a year getting everyone else's palm offs. 4. DCPC is no worry for you. You'll have to do the 'initial driver CPC' as part of your test. The final 'module 4' is done after you pass your test. Your then good for 5 years. You'll have to do the periodic training before your 5 years are up though. Hope some of the above is useful |
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21st Jan 2015 7:15pm |
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| Fatboy Slim Member Since: 04 Feb 2008 Location: Bridgend Posts: 1006
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Good source of info for you. They have a new drivers section that has good input from several trainers:
http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/ |
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21st Jan 2015 7:18pm |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3347
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Hi Fatboy Slim, Thanks for the link I have been reading through there slowly and joined the forum so hopefully will have some more pointers and more importantly reviews of local training centres as I have heard some shock and horror stories
Definitely not going with any agencies unless they come very highly recommended.
With regards point 1, this worries me a bit as I work full time Mon to Fri. What is WTD? I fully intend to use this to earn extra income so if my week job means I may not be able to this may end up being a bit of a non starter, or having to reduce my work hours in the week to free up more behind the wheel time (would that be possible?) I don't expect to come in at the top in anyway and know I am going to have to work up from the bottom doing all the crappy jobs first. To be honest I'm not sure I would feel comfortable coming in as a new driver and getting my pick of the best paid best timed most fun jobs because that doesn't exist anywhere (as far as I know) Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197 Self confessed mileage hunter |
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21st Jan 2015 9:49pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17610 
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WTD = Working Time Directive, a nasty present from Europe which defines drivers' hours.
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21st Jan 2015 10:49pm |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3347
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Ah, Had a horrible feeling it was an EU thing.
So because I do a 40hr week Mon to Fri does that mean I can't do driving as a weekend job, not even just a Saturday or Sunday? Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197 Self confessed mileage hunter |
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21st Jan 2015 10:56pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17610
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Simple answer - yes!
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22nd Jan 2015 8:55am |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3347
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Humm- that might put the brakes on that idea then.
I still want to do it but why go the time and expense if I then can't use it? I presume that the same rules apply if it was my own truck? I really don't want to stop my current job to do this as I really do love my job, but at the same time I'm never going to be able to get the things I want unless I earn more money so I'm stuck if I stay and potentially worse off if I leave. Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197 Self confessed mileage hunter |
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22nd Jan 2015 6:51pm |
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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3150 
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I got my cat C through work in 2011 and ended up doing driving for three years or so. Sad to say I can only reiterate what others have said. Be prepared to be treated like dirt by everyone. Managers, customers, car drivers, you name it, unlike in the US where truckers are seen as a vital lifeline, here they are just seen as human garbage. Work is also very very hard to get into, and hard to make it pay. Some folk are prepared to do class 2 for minimum wage...the money is usually very poor considering the hours you are expected to work.
As a thought though, recovery work would be tacho exempt so might fit your weekend working plan, but those firms expect you to work even longer hours than an ordinary HGV driver because of it. In my case I did end up with a five day week job in the end but long hours still and with alternate saturdays, but was offered a job on overhead lines and took it, and certainly don't look back with regrets I'm afraid. 2011 110 USW 1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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22nd Jan 2015 7:30pm |
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| Mdm Member Since: 11 Sep 2013 Location: Sunny Lancashire Posts: 1639
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Not knocking your idea.
There is a driver shortage usually filled by non UK drivers. The easiest way to start is to go to a decent training firms and get an assessment done. Red rose near us have been around years and are decent firm. This will then shape your planning and allow a rough cost estimate Assuming your still willing to learn.i sugest you find somebody willing to let you sit in for a few days and show you what there job entails .if your in Lancashire I can do this. Assuming you go ahead .pass all the bits and come out with a license you then need to find work.we cannot insure at reasonable money any new drivers,with more than 6 points ,drivers below 30 or foreign drivers without a £5000 excess which explains a lot. Still Interested ? |
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23rd Jan 2015 7:45pm |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3347
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Thanks again guys for your thoughts please keep them coming.
I am still interested in doing it even if it just ends up in me buying my own truck as a plaything. As I say, the main driving force behind this is wanting more money and only being able to work weekends, this is (or was supposed to be) a good way of combining new skills and challenges with something I'm interested in and earning more money from it. Humm Much more thought required. Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197 Self confessed mileage hunter |
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23rd Jan 2015 8:53pm |
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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3150
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FWIW if you just want a bit of weekend cash I would try my hand with fedex or DHL or something, always wanting drivers. As it is only van work you can forget about tachos and WTD and all that jazz, and just get out and earn money. As a new HGV driver you would not be getting behind the wheel of a proper HGV for at least a year through agency anyway. When I signed up they told me that right away, so for the first few months it was all van work anyway, with the odd stint in a 7.5 tonner. Took me ages to be allowed to drive a class 2 after building up trust with the agencies.
Van was paying about £7 an hour, 7.5t about £7.50 - £8, HGV was about £8-£8.50 if I was lucky. Some drivers will do class 2 for the national minimum wage, so competition is fierce. 2011 110 USW 1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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24th Jan 2015 10:16am |
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| Rickydodah Member Since: 14 Jul 2014 Location: East Sussex Posts: 1091 |
With respect and not wishing to offend anyone, the reputation of the average lorry driver, they were lorries in my day, are justly deserved. No longer are they Knights of the road, quite frankly some of their driving is appalling. Gone are the crash gearboxes and snatch changes, gone are the splitter and range change gearboxes and sadly gone is the professional ethos of the average driver. When I statrted most brakes were air over hydraulic or vacuum assisted, seldom did anything have power steering, to control a 32ton artic with no power steering a four speed box with synchromesh on third and fourth only with an Eaton two speed axle and drum brakes all round was an art form in itself. By and large foreign drivers represent most of these and I'm sure the way the industry has changed has provoked some of the driving styles you see, however I raise my hat to those who can drive and well and are conscientious and professional enough to take care in what they're doing, Ladies and Gentleman I applaud you all for getting my cornflakes into the shops every week
I started with nothing and still have most of it left! |
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24th Jan 2015 10:32am |
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