HGV licence is it worth it at 21 re insurance ?

Hammyman

About the same - in fact possibly more as rules on driver training are even stricter in other countries.

Hammyman

Hi Mr. Steven. Do you mean HGV or do you mean a foreign HGV? Would you care to share your experience for the benefit of the OP (cost of training, ability to find a job and the like)??

passatrider

Lizzy wrote: »

'''Thanks everyone. It seems like a non starter unless you are put through your HGV while you are learning the job (army etc).
His age and as mentioned foreign workers and unemployed drivers already. It is such a shame watching him slowly get lower and lower when employers don't even reply. They should not be allowed to advertise jobs if they are not prepared to reply.
It is amazing how the PDSA can insure a 19/20 year old to drive the van but not pay him to do the job. He did cause a bit of a stink about it because they were asking him to do too much for NOTHING. The PDSA and other charities use elderly, disabled, mentally ill people and criminals on community service to work in their shops and expect my son to WATCH them. This is of course fine but I certainly know they were rubbing their hands when they got someone who could take on the responsibility of the shop, given keys, money to bank and the van. He has been awarded many certificates for his voluneering and was given one from the Mayor. My son refused to drive for them so they paid an agency to do it. Shame on the PDSA....'''.



I appreciate your concerns regarding the volunteering but this is what happens at most charity organisations to be honest. I volunteer for Oxfam 4 hours a week and being able bodied have kind of been odopted to run the shop on my shift as two volunteers have mental health problems. I have no problem with this as I too have had my own issues, but helping others far outweighs the fact that I do not get paid.
As for the PDSA not paying your son to drive the van - any money they spend on wages means less money coming in for the shop. I know it sounds unfair but then life is like that. Surely the experience he gains will help him in the future on a CV?

As for the HGV argument I would agree with other posters on here and steer clear of this avenue. It's a mugs game what with all the rules and regulations.
Why not contact a local bus company about training to get his PCV licence? FirstBus do take on people his age and train them up for free so long as they stay for two years.

Good luck!

meluvnext

even with an agency they wont touch anyone till they are 25 cos of the insurance!

paddedjohn

meluvnext wrote: »

even with an agency they wont touch anyone till they are 25 cos of the insurance!

Its not the agency that pay the insurance.

meluvnext

paddedjohn wrote: »

Its not the agency that pay the insurance.

Well not in all cases the one I worked for did, but the clients could choose whether to be charged an hourly rate that included the insurance cover or an hourly rate that didnt include the insurance cover.

Russe11

If he can do bricks, why does he not just find some piece work?

dickydonkin

paddedjohn wrote: »

Its not the agency that pay the insurance.

Which is true of course, but the client's insurers will amost certainly have a clause in respect of age or indeed the amount of penalty points the drivers of their vehicles have totted up.

Ilona

I passed my HGV 1 test in 1976, it cost me £250 for a ten day course, the best thing I ever did. I have had 32 years on the road, my last job was seven years with Bee n Que, but driving work has been going slowly downhill. We used to have the freedom of the road, a driver was expected to make decisions, decide how best to do the job, and was given responsibility. It used to be exciting, it was fun, I loved it. Deciding where to spend my nights out, I lived in the cab for many years, I did heavy haulage with abnormal loads tramping all over the country. I was trained for carrying hazardous goods by BRS, I carried almost any load you can think of, except car transporters and livestock. I also have a PSV licence and drove everything from double deckers to 53 seater luxury coaches.

It's all changed. All you do now is follow instructions. Vehicles have tracker devices, they know where you are every minute of the day, the routes are worked out, management know how long it takes to get from A to B, and if you are five minutes late they want to know why. It's no fun any more.

I don't know what is going to happen to the industry, there are drivers like myself who are either retired or coming up to retirement, and no one coming in at the bottom to replace us. The legislation is changing all the time, they are putting more obstacles in the way which puts people off getting on the bottom rung of the ladder. The new drivers CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) licence is coming in, and if I was still employed I would still have to take that, even with all my experience. It's madness.

As someone said, there are a lot of foreign drivers in this country now, they will work for less money. I do feel sorry for youngsters who want to get in, when there is so much against them. You could certainly invest time and money in getting the qualifications now, but there is virtually no hope of getting a job before the age of 25.

I can't see it getting any better. People are not spending as much so there are less lorries on the roads compared to ten years ago. Prospects are not very good for people wanting to get into transport. Sorry I can't be more optimistic, but I speak as I know, from experience. All I can say Lizzy, is tell your 20 year old to to apply for every job going. To put himself out there, dont even wait for a job to be advertised. Approach companies on the off chance that they might have something, and keep supporting your son, he will need it to cope with the rejections.
Ilona

dickydonkin

Ilona wrote: »

I passed my HGV 1 test in 1976, it cost me £250 for a ten day course, the best thing I ever did. I have had 32 years on the road, my last job was seven years with Bee n Que, but driving work has been going slowly downhill. We used to have the freedom of the road, a driver was expected to make decisions, decide how best to do the job, and was given responsibility. It used to be exciting, it was fun, I loved it. Deciding where to spend my nights out, I lived in the cab for many years, I did heavy haulage with abnormal loads tramping all over the country. I was trained for carrying hazardous goods by BRS, I carried almost any load you can think of, except car transporters and livestock. I also have a PSV licence and drove everything from double deckers to 53 seater luxury coaches.

It's all changed. All you do now is follow instructions. Vehicles have tracker devices, they know where you are every minute of the day, the routes are worked out, management know how long it takes to get from A to B, and if you are five minutes late they want to know why. It's no fun any more.

I don't know what is going to happen to the industry, there are drivers like myself who are either retired or coming up to retirement, and no one coming in at the bottom to replace us. The legislation is changing all the time, they are putting more obstacles in the way which puts people off getting on the bottom rung of the ladder. The new drivers CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) licence is coming in, and if I was still employed I would still have to take that, even with all my experience. It's madness.

As someone said, there are a lot of foreign drivers in this country now, they will work for less money. I do feel sorry for youngsters who want to get in, when there is so much against them. You could certainly invest time and money in getting the qualifications now, but there is virtually no hope of getting a job before the age of 25.

I can't see it getting any better. People are not spending as much so there are less lorries on the roads compared to ten years ago. Prospects are not very good for people wanting to get into transport. Sorry I can't be more optimistic, but I speak as I know, from experience. All I can say Lizzy, is tell your 20 year old to to apply for every job going. To put himself out there, dont even wait for a job to be advertised. Approach companies on the off chance that they might have something, and keep supporting your son, he will need it to cope with the rejections.
Ilona

Spot on in every aspect of your post!