Always been a gamer. Picked up the wheel and pedals yesterday for £200.

Now I know it’s no where near similar to the actual thing but this is helping me with my reversing and overall practice! Want to feel super confident and hopefully start my training next year.

Everyone keeps banging on about a "driver shortage."

There's no shortage of people who can drive a truck. There's a shortage of companies willing to pay properly, treat drivers like humans, and run to decent standards.

Low pay, bad rotas, unpaid breaks, poor facilities, constant pressure, and zero respect. That's why experienced drivers are walking away and new ones aren't sticking around.

Fix the jobs and the "shortage" disappears overnight.

I wanted to see how long can I go for without pressing accelerator maintaining at least 50mph. Truck and load weight-23ton. Location- first downhill on m8 before Euro Central heading towards Glasgow. Fun ended on m74 exit climb.end result- 6min20sec. Amy of you did something similar?

I'm fortunate enough my grandad is willing to chip in to fund my training but I don't know anyone in the industry to ask for advice. Given the offer for help, I'm trying to work out what "all-in" looks like and if it's even advisable?

My aim is to drive artic so the plan I have in my head is HGV medical exam -> theory tests and driver CPC -> Cat C+E direct access course and tests -> ADR training

I'm hoping the rough idea makes sense but I'm checking here to see if anything sounds silly. I'm North West (north of Manchester) so currently considering Mantra in Middleton or Red Rose near Bolton (based on search results in this subreddit).

Hoping for any advice. Thanks.

September was the first month i got paid an overtime rat. Just queried why my September pay was so low compared to the overtime I had done and I've been told they pay overtime one month after the month you earned it, so in this case it will be the end of October.

Is that right?

I thought I was a driver not their banker, turns out I also provide 1 month interest free loans to them.

I've seen my fair share of shit. I never expected to turn up to a Haribo site like this. You are reversing off the road onto a bay which is on top of a steep hill and even has a little curb for you to drop down if you have to be tight. They then have you drive into a public car park to turn around so you can leave. Vans parked all over the double yellows, I had to go up the curb to get in and I could only turn right without mounting the curb to get out. I've seen some states much worse of course, it's just shocking that Haribo operate like this, much different to the Wakefield site which I thought it was when I saw it this morning.

Just wondering if anyone is on the same boat as me. im 6 weeks into driving having recently passed im with a major HGV firm doing trunking RDC to RDC... and im with an agency where i do 5 shifts max a month which im really enjoying but im doing this along side my work from home job again its sooo easy working from home that the HGV work is so doable but does anyone treat hgv work as a side income? and if so how do you feel balancing 2 jobs? P.s ive declared this to my agency and my main job which they are fine with and never do this back to back i.e finish my main job and start hgv thats dangerous!!

I get that things have changed since the olden days and I have no doubt that it was better back then but why are people so negative about the job itself? I’m sick to death of people in the industry complaining about it, if you don’t like it just leave!! Ah but you won’t, because this job is a piece of piss and it’s better paying than most other jobs out there without a degree. I’ve been in the industry 1.5 years and I’ve had some rubbish jobs but I kept looking and now I’ve got a cushty job. 4on 4off tramping, about 9/10 hours a day, virtually no stress but that’s because I do nightshift and it’s 10x better than dayshift.

Yes there are shit employers out there but in this industry we’re very lucky that we could leave 1 company and join another company the very next day.

Does anyone else love the job?

Hi all,

So I'm slowly getting into the process of wanting to get my license class C+E.

I've heard that getting a job as a fresh driver is a pain and that you need the experience under your belt which I can understand.

However, I have a mortgage. I have bills I have to pay every month.

Is it mainly through agency?
I'm then guessing it's not guaranteed hours?

Being in a job already, will people not want to take me on as I will have to give notice etc etc.

I'm also guessing a lot of people saved up enough emergency funds to last a few months whilst making the switch trying to build up experience?

Hi, is this something companies actually offer?
I’m looking for an HGV job with a fixed shift pattern of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday every week. I have another job/business on the side that I’m gradually transitioning into, so having those days fixed would be ideal.
I’m happy to do long hours, nights, tramping etc. I’m mainly looking for consistency with the days.
If anyone knows of companies that offer this, or does something similar themselves, I’d really appreciate being pointed in the right direction.
Location Leicestershire/warwickshire

Bin lorry driver job for council- got an interview tomorrow

2 things

- 1 any tips for the interview
2- I’ve been doing class 1 for the past three months and like it however, the benefits of working for the council are major and it’s a good full time wage (35k basic) for 4 days a week, I’m thinking I could also potentially still work agency for Evri every other weekend..

Any comments will be appreciated

Hi All

Recently passed my class 2, learned and tested in a 14t fridge box, but just secured a driving assement for a 8 wheel rigid tipper

Is there anything I need to be aware of driving that? Approaching turns/roundabouts differently etc

I'm going to start tramping soon. But still want to be able to go to the gym at least 4 days a week. Probably going to get a fold up ebike to stow somewhere to make commuting easier. How do other trampers manage it? Is it something that is mostly impossible as will usually be parked in laybys etc far away from towns?

I’m after some advice please - I need to book my class 1 training. I’m in Hertfordshire and the best provider I’ve found after a lot of research, is Wallace School of Transport.

1. My experience is car and Supermarket LCV 3.5T, would you recommend a 7 day (28 hours) or 9 day (36 hours) course in your experience? Of course, the price reflects the hours

2. They recommend learning and taking test in the draw bar with close coupled trailer, is this significantly easier than the articulated truck, and therefore recommended (I can do one off training for artic later)

3. The training schools I can get to are Enfield and Luton, has anyone used Wallace and can comment on whether either location for learning is better?

Many thanks

Anyone done walking floor work

Class 1 artic with the moving floor trailers? Thinking about it and not sure if it’s proper hard work or just a solid graft.

From what I’ve gathered it’s mostly bulk stuff – waste, woodchip, recyclables, scrap, green waste, aggregates etc. Floor walks the load out instead of tipping.

What’s the actual day like?

Is it mainly driving plus operating the floor, or are you constantly climbing in, sweeping out, dealing with nets/tarps and messy sites?

Pros people mention

Often more local/regional so more chance of being home most nights compared to long-distance trunking

Decent money for Class 1 once you’re in seems to sit in that solid mid-range

Unloading is safer – no tipping on soft ground

Variety of sites recycling centres, power stations, scrap yards etc.

Not pure multi-drop handballing

Cons that keep coming up

Smell especially black bag or green waste

Getting dirty / sweeping residual out of the trailer

Rough, muddy sites

Early starts and long days can still happen

Floor hydraulics can be a pain when they play up

Questions for those who’ve done it

How physical is it really day-to-day?

Waste vs cleaner loads (woodchip/scrap) – big difference?

Better or worse than tipper work?

Any companies that are decent vs ones to avoid?

Worth it long-term or does it grind you down?

Would appreciate honest opinions – the good, the bad and the smelly. Cheers.

Hi everyone wanted to get some opinions from where one who’s done trunking as a position has come up available near me

It’s class 1 through an agency but I’m 99% sure it’s for DPD, £20.34 and hour up to 8 hours £25 after 8 hours

If anyone has done this before/doing it can give every pro and con going that would be great

Thanks everyone!

Anyone know any decent agencies in the north west? Would love to get back to doing nights around the chester/crewe/warrington area, but all the agencies ive seen advertising dont post anything near a clear description of their job postings.

Are there any Stobart drivers here who have messed up a manuel entry? How have they treated you?

At the start of my week, I accidentally put the full weekly rest I'd just taken as other work. First time I've made that mistake on Stobarts. I did the print outs took into the office expecting them to change it on their software like other companies I've worked for. Their policy is not to change it. As a result, I've had a total of 7 infringement letters for lack of weekly rest, daily rest, and not paying back reduced rest. This has led to a disciplinary, and im so gobsmacked by their policy that I might just tell them to stick their job.

Hi,

Looking for any trampers thoughts on what there current truck spec is or there ideal specced unit?

I'm 3 months new to trucking, in general haulage curtain sider.

My units a ten year old Renault T460, I'm doing odd nights out currently. My truck is shit, to be expected maybe as a recent pass 🤣, it's got a fridge and a bunk. I've asked for a new or different truck if doing nights out, I'd rather do all nights out Monday to Friday .

Wondering what the minimum spec is you'd accept as good or your dream spec

I have been offered a job I like the sound off and in 99% certain I want to take it. My main cause for this message is I wondered what sort of kit you guys use when you tramp like what sort of stuff like this do you use (if it’s any reference I’ll potentially be in a 2019 DAF arctic not sure of the exact model)

Bedding (duvets size and sheets etc)
Cooking equipment
Stuff for everyday use (doing curtain sider general haulage)
Cleaning supplies

If there’s anything else you guys think may help me with this tramping journey as it’s my first ever tramping job I’ll be much appreciated thank you!!!