PROS & CONS of HGV driving for beginners.

Ive been driving class 2 for 11ish months and had my class 1 for 3 months and I'm desperately trying to get driving a class 1. Any options or advise on maybe places to go as I'm unfortunately looking into considering the agency option. Any decent agencies to try?

I wish my recovery truck was so comfortable 😂😂

cons = pissing in a bottle

There are good and bad jobs. For me the biggest con is the hours you'll be expected to work, especially when many firms have a flat or negligible overtime rates. Another con is narcolepsy inducing drivers that you meet that have to tell you every last detail about where they've been today and all the problems they've had.
Pros..... you'll be in demand. The hours add up to money. It's less boring than an office/ factory/ warehouse.
Cons..... the way you are treated by employers, customers etc is not always great. In this game you're a number, a unit of driverdom. Expect little more than this.

Hi mate, im a self employed driver and also have twins... How are you finding it... Mine are 1

Don't chase the money you will have no life, as your on the road 5/6 days a week. I have been a HGV driver over 10 year tramping 70/90 hours weeks are normal. Earn the money you need and have a life.

Im 23 and have been driving a car for 5 years and have been driving a sprinter for work, looking to become a hgv driver and get on better wages

I cant wait to be a lorry driver my grandpa is and i want to aswell.

This job is not made for family man, companyes pay peanuts for those 13-15h then after 5pm (for trampers) no space to park, driving over WTD rules and DVSA is there to make some punishments if catch some poor driver. Parcel companyes and pallet distribution has got better deal, start between 7 - 9am and finish in 8 - 10h -- fridays finish much early as companyes rushing to sort parcels and go home, and better money to earn. But is hard to catch a job like that, shyt jobs are always available around, good ones with lucky can catch. My advice is to try and work with DHL / DX / DPD if you want good money and spend 5-6h a day with your family, weekends home without stress. Got enough working with snowflakes firms pushing hard to make the profit for them and I search untill got now a perfect job. Drivers shoudn`t accept more than 10h a day work in the HGV and minimum start 7am, no 3-4 that is night start and poor sleep. good luck i wish you shure you can find better job head up

Thank you mate am currently taking my theory and hope to be on road soon 🚚🚛.

Great video pal! I am currently a graphic designer and was looking for a bit of a career switch up and I know a couple people that work as HGV drivers and they highly recommend it, I just had a few questions

Firstly, I was wondering, would it be a hindrance for me getting a job in this field as my previous working experience was so different, I’m 24 years old right now

And then secondly, during those hours where you’re just sat in the vans, are you allowed to bring laptops etc with you in the van to do some other work or just as something do while you wait?

Any information you could give me would be amazing!

Found your channel by randomly searching for HGV courses in the UK and I'm already your fan :). I am seriously considering taking that course this year. Have worked for years behind a desk standing all kind of stress you can imagine. Now I wanna try something different. Love driving and knowing new places. Would you say it's currently difficult to get the first job in the UK once you get the license? I'm aiming long hauls.

JUST INDICATE YOU MOFO!! LMAO

I've started my course for HGV driver, and by this moment passed most of exams on high marks, and waiting till my first training behind the steering wheel.

Thanks, for a easy to understand video!
Wish you all the best and only safe journeys.

Truck stops are a complete rip-off in the 'States too. Always have been and most of them don't even have decent food either.

Thanks for the information brother

I'm 16 and wouldn't mind being a hgv driver. Only thing is Im still a year away from driving lessons and haven't a clue whether Id be good at driving, especially large vehicles. But still like the idea of it.

How can you do 12 hours? I thought there was a 9 hour daily driving limit? Help!?

You know straight away if u like doing this or not, there's lots of waiting about... yes the hours do creep up... Cruise control on a dual carriagway or motorways is a must for truck driving , class 1 here.. .

It's no surprise companies cannot fill roles and it's going to get much worse very soon. Fact is WHY do these companies seem to think drivers should work such long shifts? Ok you get stuck in traffic, part of the job and expected but advertising jobs with shifts 12 and 15 hours a day? That's nearly twice the hours of most other people. For a job that you have no option other than be fully engaged and switched on. I drive class 1 and simply will not apply for any of these stupid hours shifts... Why would I? If you all don't do it these companies will soon get the idea. You salary will increase and your shift time will become more realistic. The haulage union need to be taking action to protect drivers. Can you start to imagine how teachers would being to cope with these hours? 😂😂😂😂

Bursting bubbles now but you are not well paid unless you have your ADR and are on tankers or even better radioactive, general haulage is just you and your bunk in your truck

The extra money earned whilst tramping per week makes a significant difference at the end of the month

Great Videos mate.... think you helped me tp take the plunge and pay for my Class C tuition......It's now underway, just had the Medical, got the Provisional....next step is the Theory. Can't wait to start the Practical and the end goal is to drive the Big Boys. (Class 1)...Keep the videos coming and thanks.

Haven't seen Africans driving, just wondering anyways 🤔
I hope it won't be a barrier getting a job after I've paid so much?

The whole professional driving system in the UK is very bad. We have left the EU but still driving under EC Directive 561/06. Due to the lack of drivers operators of both coach and lorry expect to work drivers to the maximum eligibility. The whole vocational qualification of becoming a professional driver is a mess. You have bus drivers working on domestic hours driving 5.5 hours before a 45 minute break. Class 2 lorry drivers can't drive buses yet they are the same size. You have the king of the road class 1 artic drivers not allowed to drive a coach or a minibus. Yet the government can spend on building smart tachograph readers on roads. There has always been a driver shortage because you have to learn everything yourself and spend your money on it. Driving large vehicles just like becoming a gas engineer or electrician needs to have a framework and a skills ladder that you can climb such as first driving buses for 1 year and then coaches for 1 year then if you wish you can do class 2 lorry and then class 1 and then ADR and then transponders /tankers etc. Those with the higher qualifications such as class 1 should be allowed to drive lower class vehicles such as bus or minibus. At the moment you have to apply, study and pass all the different categories separately. Also truckers have hyped up the money they get paid because they have been in the industry. Bus Coach and Class 2 for a rookie your looking £12 per hour. Nevertheless the professional driver is undermined by both operators and the government for such a highly skilled job. I'm reading the comments about how people want to become a hgv driver. Just remember the first day you walk into a job you will be given the paperwork, a fuel card and the keys to the vehicle. When you gotta reverse that monster on your OWN no body to help you and then you'll know what it feels like to have a heart attack. My advice to rookies is to do atleast 9 months on class 2 before even thinking of class 1. Also your health is important. If you fail a regular health medical for drugs alcohol or high blood pressure covid or diabetes or anything else then you've lost your license. Remember your only given a licence to drive it is not a qualification. That's why I said before if your young it's okay but for this nearing mid life or looking for a career change there are many more better university courses that will give you a qualification for life and not just a licence even though you have put many many years into understanding the industry and perfecting your driving skills. How many of you can drive a truck in Europe or put chains on a coach and drive up the Alps. Do your research before spending money it costs a lot of money to pay a driving instructor

Anybody who is young it's a good job to go into until you have a family. Yes it's long hours easily 15 with commuting and traffic. First you have to build up your driving stamina. Therefore go for bus driving first. Once you got stamina and familiarity with driving large vehicles then go for class 2 ...learn about tacho regs and doing deliveries then do class 1. Its not easy job when the last driver leaves a mess in the cabin and you gotta sleep in a filthy bed.

Good video mate, I’ve just sent off for my provisional HGV License after passing my medical today.
Currently practicing for the theory test before I book it. You mentioned it only took 3 days?
I’m in Essex and been quoted £2500 for the training and Practical. < would you say that’s good?
Obviously all new to me and daunting 😮, it’s what I want to do. I’m literally working 12-14 hours a day in a sprinter doing deliveries for terrible pay so HGV is definitely the way forward I believe as I love driving.

I’ve had my Hgv class 1 now for 3 weeks, I went from car to Hgv class one right away, I’ve applied for over 150 jobs and all of them are saying we need 1/2 years experience. First they cry for jobs then they do not want to give us them. we can’t put you on insurance as you are a new driver load of bolax 😂

If you're someone like me, ie noone waiting for you indoors, then i really dont see why not

Is there any website looking for HGV jobs, for a new driver. I've been working as a class C driver for 7 months now. going to complete my C@E in 4 weeks.

im currently in the process of getting my Class 1 license, i would appreciate any tips people could give me about either with the theory/practical test or just everyday tips as a HGV driver.

whats the pay rate ??

Being a HGV driver would be a massive step up for me, currently drive 10 hours a day, manual handling over 6t a day, often upstairs, no break all for 9.80 a hr.

Hi mate, nice video, can you advise me the best way to get into HGV driving ? I'm on FB or insta too if I can drop you a message privately, would really appreciate the help. Thanks ✌️

Hi

The hours are ridiculous, you may aswell be in prison with some of the hours for some companies out there!

I don't really agree that the pay is good....... it can be if you have all the extras such as ADR like you mentioned or cranes, moffats, heavy haulage etc....... but 9 times out of 10 you're having to almost entirely give up any social or family life to earn the "big money"

The services I agree are disgraceful and its just pure robbery.......i'd rather starve some days ! ANd also if you're doing urban driving, parking places are often limited and there are double yellows often where you think "it would be perfect to park a lorry there"

I could go on for much longer tbh but to summarise, I think the CONS outweigh the PROS and I would not recommend for anyone to do this to theirselves........maybe if you move to Europe or the US, it could be better!

I think Britain on the whole has a poor and careless attitude to HGV drivers from what i've seen and experienced over the last decade.

Quick question-whilst your waiting to be seen and unloaded would you put tacho to other work(crossed hammers) or wud u put it to POA

Just passed my car to class 1. December 20th. Done my cpc and got all cards back.
All about finding a job now which is harder than people think.
Everyone wants experience but how can I get experience if no one gives me a job 😮😅

I’m a woman and I’m in the process of getting my class 1 license am I nuts 😂

Can you make a good living being a truck driver in Dublin?
How much is a good living out there?

I work for a company that has paid for my ADR, Moffat, also been trained to use several different types of trailers, up skilled me to class 1, allows me to work on shifts that suit my home life ie; Monday to Friday, day shifts, tramping, weekends if I want. I only have 3 issues with the job
1. My 42k p/a does not reflect the time or effort that goes into my job.
2. The trucks I drive are always uncared for hand me downs and I am expected to clean them out of my own pocket.
3. My managers can be nice & enjoyable to work with but other times when they are having tough day/week C^*+s to work with.

Any experience drivers 8 wheeler tippers? Thinking of doing my class 2. Money seems good and home every night.

I’ve recently left a job I wasn’t enjoying and weighing up my options of what to do next, HGV driving is becoming more and more appealing, as I enjoy being out on the road and I’m so done with people 😂

I hate how people don't use their indicators, I wish the government would change the highway code to require indicators to be a legal requirement at all junctions when turning left or right, although I do know at the moment you can be fined for not indicating as it's considered driving without due care and attention. It's kind of funny how they make the silly changes to the highway code that are either badly worded and done or are just plain dumb but yet they don't change things that make sense.

Petrol stations don't really rip people off, it just depends on who owns/runs the petrol station shop. I used to work at a petrol station and things were very expensive however 3 of my local petrol stations are cheaper than my local tesco, in fact 1 of them is a tesco station and there is no difference in price compared to going into the main store down the road. Are you sure you're going to the right stations? I find petrol stations with Tesco, co-op, morrisons, etc are cheaper than the ones with spar, Euro garages etc.

I'm about to start training in January I've driven buses coaches and 3.5 and 7.5 tonne vehicles how different is it from these kind of vehicles?

Ive got my HGV lessons and test in a month and since I’m a farmer I can already reverse a trailer well, the main problem Ive found so far is the changed pivot point on a lorry and not having a rear window but im still confident I can pass

I will be coming to uk to drive currently going to school for hgv

I used to live uk driving Class one.
Now live Texas on tankers $169,000 per year.

Very interesting. My wife is looking for s new career, after 10 years working as a caterer on barely more than minimum wage she is desperate for something less stressful, as well as higher paying. She seems deadly serious about doing it. I am helping to research the whole thing for her, and videos like this are very helpful. I am quite sure she could drive the truck (with training and practice), but I wonder about some of the physical aspects like hooking/unhooking trailers, opening trailer doors etc. Are there always people about to help with anything like that? I suppose 95% of the stuff you have to do doesn't require any real strength, right? Have you come across any women in the job, and how do they get on with it all?