My advice for anyone starting out, read the road signs. There's many reasons for it from being aware of where you are to knowing about any restrictions coming up.
I was a chef for about 11 years same loved cooking but ended up hatted being a chef, have been driving class 2 for the last 3 months now and fucking love it, haven't got the best job but even that beats it and getting that experience. I'm looking at getting my hiab in the next few months
That’s awesome man, I do sometimes wish I tried the chef thing for a while to see if I would have loved it, but the chance to get my hgv came up and I couldn’t say no! But glad you’re enjoying it bud, definitely get your hiab…. It’s ALOT of fun!
Hi mate, I’m showing on my channel (HGV Instructor) that yes you should, I often tell my learners to watch and subscribe to your content. I like the honesty and how you show potential new drivers what the job is actually like. I teach all categories and I think personally you should go on the C+E Live the channel mate
Hi mate, thank you so much and glad you enjoying the videos!!😄 really appreciate it, 100% if people want to go for it then they should, best decision I ever made. Hoping I’m the first of many generation truck drivers in my family 😄 I will love to do my C+E eventually mate 🤗
Had class 2 for just under 10 years. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Too many companies running bent, pushing you to do things you shouldn't be doing etc. Wages are bad (at the moment) in my area, average seems to be around £12 per hour. Seen afew jobs on palletways work paying £11.55 an hour!! It ain't worth the stress of it all. I'll keep doing it though, driving is all I'm good at 😂 but I wouldn't recommend it to people who are thinking about it. My opinion of the industry though and others will differ.
Good sound advice James, having been a truck driver for 44 years now retired the only thing i would add to that is be prepared for unsociable hours especially on long distance work, if i had my time over again would i go back to it, yes, in a heart beat.
I’ve just passed my class 2. Passing was the easy part, finding employment with no experience is proving practically impossible. Went from the big high of getting my licence to feeling utterly deflated. Would love to end up doing what you do though or similar.
Hi mate, I agree with Chris. I started off doing Multi Drop, didn’t like the job but they’re always looking for drivers. And gains you so much experience. Good luck mate and fingers crossed you get it sorted 😊👍
Yeah multi drop or night trunking most companies with less than 8 trucks want to see experience before they let you out in there truck cos even the smallest accidents are usually very costly to a small firm. Where in the country are u mate?
I love your enthusiasm for your job James and that you've apparently got your life priorities in order. Great editing, too. I'm only a car driver so can't comment on your driving advice but it all seems pretty sound to me.
I been doing this for 8 years I move anything from plant machines, scaffolding, steels containers anything that can be lifted with a hiab on the 32t cheese wedge. Unfortunately majority of the work is central London which I hate but the variety of work is awesome. So next in the list is to get my own wagon an go for it 🤘
Biggest question to ask yourself is do you enjoy driving? There's a lot of variations in the industry to what you'll be doing job wise & vehicles driven. This is also the same for pay and how many hours you'll be working each week, whether you'll be home after each day or stuck sleeping in the truck - and this can vary CONSIDERABLY!! What suits one, may not suit you so keep that in mind. I tell everyone the best thing I did when starting out was driving recycling trucks. You will get experience in driving a bigger vehicle, lots of tight spaces and lots of manoeuvres to hone your skills. It was also the easiest to get employed with as a new driver. Later, Join a few agencies and try a variety of jobs. You'll soon learn what you do/or don't enjoy and can then concentrate in that specific area. And be prepared for lots of "stupid" on the roads. And go for the class 2 first. You'll struggle to find any work as a new class 1 without any HGV experience the class 2 gives so keep that in mind. And Don't expect to earn 60k from the get go. Realistically, you're going to be starting around the 20k mark until you've some some experience behind you. Those high end wage numbers you see banding about are usually your specialist areas & some serious long hours!
Passing my class 2 was probably the best life style choice I ever made .went from driving 7 5 tonne lorrys I had a massive fear of taking my theory test so put it off for many years passed on 19 th December 2022 I was lucky as I found a job Christmas eve driving bin lorrys for a local council money basically doubled over night a great pension great wages fantastic hours and probably drive around 30 miles per day granted very slowly with lots of tight reversing but I actually enjoy getting up every morning know .I'd say my driving as improved massively these past 2 months my truck is a Denis 6 wheeler rear wheel steer. Ps a great video very well explained 👍
Congrats on the pass buddy that’s amazing 🎉 Sounds like you landed yourself a good one 👍 As long as you’re happy with your job that’s the main thing mate 😁👍
Just passed my Medical on Monday and getting ready to start my journey into the trucking world. Just a waiting game now for my provisional to come back lol. Keep up the great videos
Hi James, yes I just watched your recent vid. You were driving through the roads that I grew up by, Torrington on through Beaford to get to Crediton to get back to your yard. Now.retired old man living in the Midlands. My son in law drives a pressurised tanker for Air Products, so keep in touch with transport etc. A T B Clifford
Just passed my Class 1 left my cpc till after now I have the nightmare of getting all that in my head ready for the case studies. like you said it is a fun job I have worked in Transport for 6 years and now I get to drive the big boy's truck.. looking forward to it as well but we do deliver around London as well so I'm not looking forward to them trips Love you videos please keep them coming been watching for a while thought i already subbed turns out i didn't so i have now ! thanks James
Congrats my man, you’ll be alright with the case studies mate, a lot of it is common sense 👍🏻 That’s awesome man, well enjoy it, I’m sure you will!! Glad you’re enjoying the videos mate, I will definitely keep them coming 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi James, another honest and open video as always 👍👍 Well I sure hope your right because I passed my class 1 practical test on Monday and just have my CPC left to get. Then will have the battlefield of the jobs market to contend will 👎👎 just give me the open road 🤣🤣
That’s the hardest part mate is getting the employment! Just remember, you may not get a job that you enjoy straight away, but you’ll get there eventually mate and you’ll be loving life 👍 glad you enjoyed the video mate 😁
I work in social care at the moment and have done for 14 years. I wanted to add another string to my bow. I like being out & about. Inbetween family commitments and my shifts it took me nearly 2 years but I passed my Class 2 in November 2023. I haven’t started looking yet but Ive heard it hard to get into it.
Passed my Class 1 in November last year. The company messed me around and rushed me into doing my final assessment. I tried to ask for more training/mentoring but they refused so I unfortunately had to leave and that bad experience has put me off the job. I still love watching yours and other peoples trucking videos. I would love to get back into it but A: trying to find work and B:a company that would give me some training. Any advice would be great 👍 Love the videos BTW.
Ahh that’s a shame mate, sorry to hear about that. I know that you can contact hgv training companies and pay for what they call Continuation training. That’s probably best thing to do? Glad you enjoy the videos mate means a lot!
Yeah it’s not for everybody mate. But like I said in the video, all depends on the environment you’re in. I personally would hate city driving all day, but some people love it 🤷♂️ do you think you’ll try it again?
I've gone from car to class 1 about a month ago and seems like a big waste of 3 grand. No-one wants to take on a new pass and i've applied to maybe a hundred jobs including agencies.
Good vid with good content I'm recently passed my cpc modules but had my licence for 25 years thinking of getting back it the industry been in multiple countries and the army used to have all ADR certificates but now lapsed but like you said the new working time directive and hours confusing me just need a bit off coaching and confidence any pointers please 🙏
Hi Terry glad you enjoyed the video mate! That’s awesome that you’re wanting to get back into the industry 😁 Working hrs are probably the most confusing part. Obviously driving hrs is just making sure you don’t go over that 4.5hr mark without taking a break to clear your driving time (45min total). With working hours, aslong as you have A break within your first 6hrs of work, then you’re fine. If you decide to have a 15min break within the 6 hrs of work, then that 6hr total extends to 9hrs. E.g start time: 7am, 15min break by 1pm, you then don’t have to have the last 30mins of your break until 4pm (aslong as you don’t go over those driving hrs). But of course If you were to have the full 45min break within the 6hr working time; then that resets everything and you basically start again. As well as obviously ensuring you’re getting your 11hrs rest per day (can reduce this to 9hrs a couple times a week). Hope this helps a little bit mate 😁👍
Question: See those Hi-Viz stripes on your work clothes, the light reflecting bits... have you noticed this material disintegrating, falling off, and literally covering everything in the vicinity, your home, driver cab, your face, hands, getting in your food etc. etc? I have a jacket where the light relecting sections are falling off and the bits are so small, and Sticky, they get everywhere, which is concearning, because I'm pretty sure Hi-Viz chemical is not part of a healthy, nutritious diet, or an aid to improved respitory function. I also don't think the chemical is good for the environment. Cancer-Farming is one of the UK's biggest growth industries... are you looking forward to your future Hi-Viz chemical tumours with eager anticipation and delight so you can spend more time getting cosey with the Indian/Nigerian nurses they've imported to carve you up at a local NHS butchers?
Hi James, loving your videos, especially as being Devon born and bred, I recognise so many of your routes! Do you have any recommendations for HGV training providers in Devon?
Hi, thank you very much I appreciate it! My mate is currently doing his HGV at a place called Trans Plant Master Train, he recommends it very much (based in Exeter) !! Glad you’re enjoying the videos, and hope to see you on the road one day 😊👍🏻
@@TruckinWithJames Thanks James, I was already considering Trans Plant Mastertrain, so it's great to hear positive feedback from someone who is using them
do you know what's really funny I always wanted to be a chef I loved cooking and everything used to cook when I was about 7 years old my mother used to go mad with me should would smell the food and run in to the kitchen to stop me it came to the point where she gave up trying to stop me and just left me to it. I passed my driving test 1st time round got myself 4x4 and trailer and started to do recovery's then did my SIA completed that now just want to be a truck driver as love to drive would like to find a job as a tramper I just thought I would let you know that I have pass my theory test, hazard perception and CPC mod2 1st time round just took my time and revise for about 3 to 5 hours a day if not more. in regards to cpc 2 training i believe if you do 35 hours of paediatric training and then you pass your CPC but that cost a lot more but then you do not need to go to DVLA and do the test there as I know a few people that have done driver package training and they seem to do 35 hours training with the training provider and not gone to DVLA to do the case study test hope this helps other out there ..
You remind me of me...I'm a Security Officer literally long hours, and I want to do be a lorry driver and do tramping. I'm literally going to look into it early next year, i have 12hrs a day to revise my theory whilst at work as youll know...have you any tip, advice etc and sos you pass?
So far mate I’d say yeah. I was in a company changing water meters and earned a lot of money unfortunately contract got cut everyone without jobs. In that line of work you can only work for a few companies and a few roles and there were none, used savings for class 2 and with gaining experience I’ll be in the situation where if I’m ever layed off again there won’t be that stress of not knowing where the money will come and can most probably jump in a truck elsewhere! Long story short, yes😂😂
@@TruckinWithJames yeah mate! The 2000 pound ish I spent has nearly already paid itself! I’m doing “multi” drop flooring deliveries but the office staff management etc are all really sound and the planners know what they’re doing so barely go down really difficult places. Hopefully I get taken on in a few months then it’s a pay rise on a contract too!
@@johnmoloney5296 oh yeah 100% mate I do the same 😂 but unfortunately it doesn’t help with heights weights etc, so it has also tried taking me to some funny looking places 😅
