HGV Training

dickydonkin

Glass_Half_Empty?? wrote: »

He would be better off going back to college and getting a higher education or learning a trade. At least if he starts now then by the time the country does pick up he will have skills to get a better wage. I would not have even started driving a HGV if it wasn't for my Dad and I wish I hadn't bothered. I am halfway to getting out for good and can't wait until I have.
There is no comfort in being charged by VOSA's finest for breaking tacho rules even if you couldn't help it due to the pressure of the job or the rdc that took you over your hours. Then there is the vehicle's safety, only so much we can see as a driver yet VOSA will have a wheel tapper give the whole vehicle a going over and if found in possession of bad faults then the driver will have to pay for it. Getting stuck out of a noisy layby trying to sleep while the cab is rocked and you fear for your life is also not a great way to earn money. Poor facilities in service stations and most truckstops, dirty sods pee'ing and poo'ing in the layby's, being told to wait in the poxy waiting rooms for hours on end while being tipped and listening to some muppet go on about how VOSA fined him for having to wind his legs up 2 turns on inspection, companies thinking they own you and your life putting demands on to drivers to get jobs done never mind the fact you'd booked time off etc etc. There is more to go along but I can't be bothered to type anymore.
Get him down to college and find a new career with a future, this trade is already just about dead and burried and is only going one way.....

I know how you feel!

I was lucky that in my last driving job it was an 'own account' situation and to be honest, we had a fantastic job, excellent T&C's and we never had to worry about return loads. Obviously, we all knew that all good things had to come to an end - and it certainly did when the company contracted out the logistics side of the business. (To the 'W' company - all image and little substance). Thankfully, I did not transfer to them and that led me to a completely different career.

Prior to this job though, I did general haulage and I can certainly empathise with you in respect of RDC's, (most of our work involved delivering to those God forsaken places).

Add to that the hassle you got from enforcment bodies and being treat like a second class citizen really did p**s you off at times.

Mrs Dickydonkin says I could not do the job now as I am too bad tempered and I would probably have a heart attack after the first week - and for once - I think I agree with her!