Been thinking alot about doing my HGV tests lately, was just wondering if there where any hgv drivers on here who could offer any advice, tips or point me int he right direction?
How hard are they to drive daily?
I have had a little bit of experience driving rigids and artic's round the yard at work, but no tmuch!

 

all i shall say is the learning and the actual test is nothing like the reality of every day driving on the roads. take a look on here www.trucknetuk.com

 

Similar to the car test then, thats nothing like real driving!
Cheers for the link

 

Work - Not alot near me at the moment, I see your in shropshire, you got Culina's at Drayton, Davies Haulage and Gro-Cont's over there too.

How easy to drive - As anything, the more you do it the easier it gets.

Money - Depends where you go, some pay you good, some dont.


There are different aspects to the job, day runner where you home every night, or do the odd night out or tramping where you away all week or even longer.

If you get your licence now, there is no guarentee you will get a job as some places like you to have your licence 2 years, dont ask how you get experiance if you cant get a start, just bang your head against the wall for that 1,
BUT, Come 2 years down the line, you wil have your licence and the job may have picked up somewhat

Me - I enjoy the job, out of the way, getting paid to take in the scenery and throw Satsuma's at car drivers that annoy me.


Any more questions I will try and answer them for you.

 

theory test is now 100 questions youve got to get 85 right

 

Cool, thanks for that
I am a tyre fitter now so the money can't be any worse! lol
We also have Pentons halauge and Lloyd's animal feeds here, they are the main ones in town, dont think i'd like delivering feed though!
Is there a mock theory test available online or anything?

 

I would deliver anything aslong as they are gonna pay me

Think the DSA website has mock theory tests.

 

go on the dvla website and u can apply for the forms, and they wil send them out in the post

when the forms arrive, grab the doctors section, and book yourself a medical at the doc's, costs about 80quid though

then send the completed forms and the medical form off with your existing license, and it will come back pretty quick with the provisional entitlement

then just book ur theory, get that done out the way (think thats about 40quid ish), find a decent driving school to do your week of training plus test (this can vary from anythin from 700ish to 1k+)

have to do the class 2 (rigid) license before u can attempt the class 1 (artic), some places will do a deal on both licences at the moment, i found 1 doin the class 2, immediately followed by the class 1, for 1300

but as said above, jobs are looking limited all over the place, so might b worth waiting a little while and seein how it pans out, lot of money to spend if theres no job at the end

 

im a trucker and i love it! i deliver plant, everyday is at least a little different from the last, and as the good man G said, the test is one thing but day to day drivering is where you really start to learn!

had the turbo off my truck today as it wasnt boosting! lol thats a bit different to workin in an office lol

 

Easier to drive than cars, test isn't hard really, just a completely wank way of having to drive, you couldn't drive like that for too long.

 

And if you get a job and you dont fuel up in the yard then get a points card, they dont half mount up quick


Who do you work for?
Our head office is down your way (Ferndown)

 

I wouldnt wanna do anything else, well, apart from my dream jobs, but they are just dreams

I'm a lazy supermarket boy, (ASDA, Brackmills GEORGE depot, Northampton) my job is a doddle, good pay and i'm home every night

 

Thanks mate, i take it i need the D2 pack?

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/onlineservices/order_forms.aspx

 

yes mate, d2 pack will include the subsection form for the medical

 

Cheers Andy
Big G, good plan on the points card! i got a Vpower one atm

 

you will also need to do your cpc when the new law comes into force or have 36 hours a year training

 

Badger Brewery, so driving is only a part of the job, humping 100 kilo kegs and tonnes of bottles is.
Unless you listen to the missus, then all the job is is sitting on your arse talking shit all day, and getting free food in the pubs


For the training/test, think of how early you should brake, and double it; think how many times you should check mirrors and quadruple it.
Gave me a stinking headache all that mirror checking, and get 3 or 4 minors for that, couldn't have checked them much more

 

YEs you will do mate.

Ive got them infront of me now, ut im applying for a LGV license lol.


Sorry for hijack, but ive got a Card driving license, and on the D2 form you have the photograph part, would i need to but in a new photo for the license or do they just use my old photo?

 

Old mugshot I think, but dont quote me on it,
Sure I just send the card n paper bit off when I passed, Better off checking though, your driving instructor should tell you anyway.

 

Not sure about sending photo, for these new tacho cards I didn't, as they had it on file I presume from driving licence card.
It read as if you needed to, then was pointed out you didn't, one of those well worded clear as mud type affairs

 

ive just read the appilcation properly

and it says:

you must include a photo with your application if you are:

applying for your first photocard license

or

renewing your photo as it is due to expire

 

Great accurate advice and spot on response

I like my trucking job, not really much to add that the others haven't already covered.

Go for it if you like driving

 

i love my job aswell its awesome been your own boss

 

another thing,expect long days,if you like 9-5 dont even bother looking at this trade,i start work at 0630 and rarely leave before 1830.long days but it beats an office job!!!!oh and you get to perve on hot women ALL day long!lol!

 

Its odd, but i actually love long weekdays.
I really enjoy being up earlier, being out on the roads while they are quiet ETC.
thanks for all the advice guys, top notch!

 

yep its often 4 start and 6.30-7 finish

 

nice, how often do you guys work weekends then?

 

every other or everyone if its works out saturdays only though

 

I work in food, 4 out of 5 Sundays worked.

 

Very long days, as you can see me posting on here from home at mid-day

Don't do weekends, do all the hours allowed to do in 5 days.