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Would be nice if drivers would then there would be all on a sensible rate not these micky mouse rates £14-£16hr takes the p**s.

Change the record moan moan moan you should have studied harder at school, it's driving a truck not flying a plane.

We all no rates are sh** it's never going to change theres no money in haulage that's what bosses say riding round in there new posh motors in one way. I'm glad of being out of the industry.

Clouds and silver linings? Drivers wages are dictated predominantly by supply and demand. Less drivers, higher wage rates. Union membership may be useful if you can't take the cheapest option and plead guilty. Mixed and part time driving is becoming a bit of a pain but the money driving out of scope work is not much different. No point taking risks if it isn't necessary! 😉

Generally it's better to leave your midlift or tag axle up when running empty, I love how everyone is just throwing answers in without any explanation.
If you go on an average unit weight of 8 ton and a trailer of 7 ton spread over 5 axles is maybe putting around 2.5 to 3 ton of pressure on the drive axle, if you drop your lift axle down you are effectively only putting half of that weight or pressure on your drive axle so decreasing the grip, the same applies to the more brakes' answers because if you have less weight or pressure on your available braking surfaces then you actually decrease braking efficiency. If you also think logically about your midlift when it's in the up position it's dead weight to help with extra weight bearing on the drive axle, also apply the principle of leverage with a tag axle, if it's up then again it's dead weight but hanging behind the drive axle so using the contact patch of the drive as a fulcrum and the chassis as a lever then it increases the dead...

It’s too simple a picture your painting by saying day rate and divide by the week (however I do get where you are coming from) the real picture is actually what you earn in a year (if you are on a day rate) that takes into account 1. A day rate 2. A night rate 3. Any bonuses etc once you have a rate for the year then you divide it by the hours. At the point you get a real idea of your hourly rate, which if you’re working for a good company, will be a lot higher than NMW.

And you are entitled to your opinion. I respect that, even if it differs from mine. If you have already done a year at a place before you work out what your pay is, it’s a bit late. You could be 10-15k short of what you could have earned elsewhere.

Not late at all. You can use your method in the initial stage (which would be glaring obvious if it was a bad company and they were taking the p**s out of you) as a base line measure. But the true hourly rate is measured when you have a full years salary under your...

Why did the lorry try pulling out in front of a car, knowing full well he was traveling slower than the car? Did you also note that the lorry was only indicating for less than 2 seconds before pulling out? Indicating is for telling people what you want to do, before you do it, not what you are doing.

I know I was happy with my pay in 1978, and i'm still happy with my pay in 2024, and i've never been pissed off over my pay. I don't understand why someone feels the need to whinge about a job they chose to do. Why do it, if your going to complain about it?

probably because they have no passion and it's just a job to them and thinking it's a get rich quick way of life if it wasn't for having a license most would be in a warehouse or doing some other sh**ty job 😉😉

Lorry driving is the best job I've ever had in terms of satisfaction, the only reason I quit in the late 90s is the fact I had zero quality in terms of work/family life balance. I could earn as much doing an IT role for 35 hrs a week and the overtime was time and a half on Sat and double on Sun. 22 quid an hour (44 hr x 8 on a Sun literally reading the papers and taking several phone calls throughout the shift) But I had zero passion for the job and it was soul destroying working in an office. First job I'd ever had...

Too many opinions. Amazed how many drivers have not got a clue and they say cpc is a waste of time. I’m sure if the authorities were to read some of these posts they would double it.

Then it would be twice the waste of time for some drivers as they switch off in the CPC. Maybe the reforms coming in will help.

With some of the questions and more so the answers given maybe they should not treat it as a b*ll ache but listen. It’s obvious some drivers would learn something.

They would, but quite a few just switch off when forced into a class room. They may have had a bad experience at school and they feel trapped back in.

That’s why I won’t do assessments, waste of time and just allows people to play god with other peoples income. If you pass your test you are judged to be safe on the road. Any new drivers should have an experienced buddy in their first few weeks (companies like Evri have plenty drivers) and learn from experience. Plenty of places don’t require these so called assessments which I believe open people up for abuse, negativity and don’t help either employee or employer! I had a similar experience 3yrs ago when new at DHL by a right muppet who wanted to fail me. He finally managed it when I rolled the daf back literally an inch at the gates on the way in as I wasn’t used to the daf auto change and still had it in neutral. Don’t worry about it mate, most people are fine, just a few trumped up hitlers with power gone to head. I bet they don’t drive perfect!

In a 24h period, you can either W13/R11 or W15/R9h. If you go over 13h work you’ve automatically reduced your rest for that day. I c**ked up quite a lot like that too until someone explained it like this.

It makes sense like that, and the whole 15/9 I already understood it was just the fact I didn't realize you can only do 3 15 hour shifts. But I guess that's me being silly and getting confused with when I worked with TPN, their shifts were all 15 hour shifts, 5 nights a week. But, the exception was the 3 hour rest rule.

The problem with nights
That's when the diversions start when they close motorways
And the traffic management guys
Don't care about the diverted traffic especially the HGV
So will need something come unstuck a few times myself

As a driver you can drive for 4 1/2 hours then take a 45 min break, another 4 1/2 hours then 45 min break, if necessary you can then drive another 1 hour, but you’re only allowed to do this twice a week! Break the 4 1/2 hour driving into 15 min break and 1/2 hour at the end of 4 hours and 45 minutes of driving and break! Have a rest when you want if you feel tired, that’s in the Highway Code! F**k the transport manager!

I could train somebody to drive a truck in 1 week. Then they can walk into a job paying the same as myself who has been doing the job 33 years a trainee nurse gets around £13.76. How much training has she done to get to £22 per hour.

A out 35 years of work.

What does a out 35 years of work mean that isn't English.

It was clear from the whole of the sentence a out was meant to be about .

As for your own English, it isn't any great shakes. Let me correct it for you;

What does a out 35 years of work mean? That isn't English.

what has how many duty hours you did last week got to do with anything?

you refused the challege, so, chill mate 😎let's see what the professor has for us...

how many hours driving can you do in a 24hr period?
A nice easy one to start off with.

Allowing 15 mins before and end of duty to do daily checks and taking minimum breaks required by law and the lorry is loaded to go and you can park up on the dot.
So
15 mins
4.5 hours drive
45 mins break
4.5 hours drive
15 mins other work
9 hour reduced rest
15 mins other work
4.5 hours drive

24 hours up...
Start your break.

So legally, a possible 13.5 hours in a 24 hour period but I wouldn't recommend it.

Surely if you were on hourly with say 40 contracted hours you'll know the minimum that'll hit your bank every week but some weeks they'd be more!

Where you could but then it would be constantly changing and you would have to budget off the lowest possible amount. Just say for example you have a good couple years loads of ot you hit 50-60 most weeks your wages are now 42k each year you buy a house based on this income then hours drop to 40-45 now your struggling yet can change job but you love the job work mates it suits family life etc. Day rate the money in bank don't change and you still ain't struggling and have your nice house and job that suits. A lot of drivers chase the money I know a few can't settle in a job happy change coz a company pays tenner more. To me life ain't about big money it's about enjoying life going work because I enjoy it with my work mates. Don't get me wrong I still want to be paid well but life ain't about money you need the balance right....

I worked agency for 6 years, better money and was more freedom as could pick and choose the cream and worked when I wanted if needed a day off for anything no problem then, but I was in such demand never out of work for all them years, guaranteed 10hrs day n quite a few jobs got too and they didn't no what's what so went back home to bed and got payed lol.

Say you do 4 x12 hour shifts £168 x 4 that's £672 before tax each week plus night out money so extra £100(basing that on £25 per night out. That's £772 before tax, Pension and NI taken, is it monthly or weekly pay? If monthly you'll be taking home about £2300 after deductions? Is that enough for you to live comfortably on? If so then up to you as you are only working for half the year doing 4 on 4 off. More time at home with family on days off. I get you'll be working some weekends but then they'll be 4 days where if you've got kids you can surprise them by picking them up from school or taking them to that after school club? Just think about what's best for you pal all well and good asking on here but we don't know your full circumstances. Plus when you book holiday you book 4 days off you've got 8 days off work so doesn't eat into your holiday entitlement as much sit list pros and cons with family.

Do things in order when dropping a trailer, park up hand brake on, walk to back down o/side remove number plate, walk up n/side apply trailer brake, wind down legs, then un connect susies ie Airlines and Electrics, then pull pin. If you use a system every time and make it a routine, same with connecting a trailer get into a routine and try not to get distracted. Ps we've all made mistakes the important thing is to learn from them.

Oh no we wasn’t allowed to make mistakes you should know that according to simply. 😂

Well he made a great big mistake. Did he not.

Yeh but didn’t expect that. 😳

Because after we brought the country to a grinding halt in 2000, if any operator interferes with the proper running of the highway the Traffic Commissioner has the right to revoke your Operators License which would effectively put a business out of business immediately. Laws were enacted after the 2000 protest to prevent us from doing just that ever again what, you thought you lived in a democracy. 🤣🤣🤣

Do you’s bais wanna do this one I’m saving energy for tomorrow?

I take my card out for every break I have 15 min 30 min 45 all of them it’s the legal thing to do.

There you go.

Thanks!

Better than 6 1/2 hrs at Morrisons in the tiny stinking drivers room on sh**ty hard chairs waiting to get tipped at their leisure lol - give the Lidl gatehouse guy your phone number - self tip in 40mins then big breakfast at the canteen for £1 while you watch tv/emails etc and wait for a phone call - get paperwork - leave - collect filmstars wages.

It’s simple, as long as it’s legal, speed limit as the boss wants, if you don’t like it then start your own business

I work for DWP not many people know this, it's not means tested either.

You work for DWP? Are you trying to catch those working full time and claiming incapacity benefit or new deal jsa or whatever it's called these days.

No just passing on information that can help people.

I was joking.

Someone mentioned government support, and yeah, there are sometimes programs to help with licensing or training, but those things change all the time. Best bet is to check with your local council or Jobcentre. I’ve heard about HGV bootcamps too—might be worth a look to see if they’re still running.

Steer clear of class 1 I wouldn't go back to it unless you like to be out every night thru the week and burn out your card it's a lonely man's game class 2 get tickets Hiab and grab you'll find work home every day and still make more than class 1 biggest waste of my time having it to be fair but each to their own.

Can't do it on Yr own phone vosa won't allow it company must keep records.

Only half the answer, can’t use it on personal phone unless it can be stored and accessible to the operator.
Perhaps that was an old answer from vosa😀

Not in England, mind you I got into our yard and all my super singles were flat when I kicked them they were hard. The boss had took my lorry onto a site and load my truck 75 yard body with earth he wanted to clear the site because the machine was booked into another job. I took it to a nearby weighbridge we had to do the front and back separately it was so heavy, 69 tons I refused to drive it. He replied the tip was only a mile away. Had I tried to tip the ram could have split. This was how it was in my days. The bosses were animals.

They know you can’t really do anything about it either. 🤷‍♂️

Under GDPR rules you can ask to see all the data and footage they hold. That'll piss em off.

Especially if every driver asked lol.

And it's a request for footage from every truck that might have recorded you in the yard first thing Monday morning.

Doing it for the love of the job be buggered - I started class 1 vocationally in 2013 hauling live poultry in to slaughter. You got £115 a shift back then, average shift was around 6 hours long, some distance, some local, but you didn’t get worked to death every day. The factory used to break down, so you’d be back in 6 o clock that night for another £115 shift shunting birds about for 2-3 hours max. So £230 a day in 2013, self employed. We bought our first house off the back of that job. After a couple of years I went cards in at their mill for six years, got worked to death for half the f**king money. Came back out to pursue other business interests 3 years ago, and I’ve done a bit of chicken haulage after, self employed, just helping out. Today it’s £180 for a ten hour shift. I certainly wouldn’t entertain work cards in for the rates that are being punted about now. My mate in charge of the transport said that the agencies have an abundance of steering wheel attendants, but few...

Definitely. What happened to the 55/60w two headlight and 5w 21w tail and stop lights?
Some of these cars now look like Blackpool coming towards you.
Was blinded by a tractor one night who just had spot / working lights on the top of the cab a land as it went past there was a plough appeared in my line of sight that was overhanging my carriageway and whizzed past my windscreen with inches to spare.

My first thing is a 12 month trial period. Really never rate . 1 month or 6 weeks but a year that's just incase work drops off and they need to unload. Second due to the nature of our work and the hours we keep its not unheard-of to get stuck now and again but your choice .

They can legally give you notice and offload for no reason before 12 months are up anyway, even if you start with a 6 week trial. Doesn't make a difference.

Drivers responsibility to check the nuts, part of your daily checks not many yards have a torque wrench and would you know the torque settings anyway? Get a tyre fitter if you're concerned, its you and your licence that will be at risk if the wheel overtakes you on the motorway.

You aren't allowed a period of work exceeding 6 hrs without a break. If you have a 15 min break after 2 hrs, you've effectively reset the 6 hrs clock so must have a 2nd break before 8hrs 15 mins have elapsed.

Brilliant 👏 I have a 5hr30min alarm on my watch as I start work to make sure I get a 15min break recorded. I reset the alarm after break but normally it tends to be my driving time reset 30 min break needed before the alarm is up.

The copper said I may be offered a course I think it should be allowed depending on circumstances I have a clean license.

If you gave clean licence and no prior offences over 4 years then you might be offered the course. Again depends on factors like was it an operation, circumstances you were caught e.g. motorway at 56, your attitude once cautioned. Also like I said constabulary. Not end of the world though if 6pts but make sure you tell your employer if it happens. Fingers crossed you get the course.

I was ok with them polite etc I have a clean license so hopefully they will offer a course.

I have seen conflicting advice online, government website doesn't mention courses. Some articles says no longer available but only mention certain police forces. This website, firm of solicitors, states two courses (one that you said no longer available and another), is still available... possibly give them a ring to see.

If money is no object then keep going for test but keep revising day and night until your brain goes sore if you can't pass then, its not the vocation for you give up and become an IT guy there on similar money I passed 2 time but I was told I was a natural driver of trucks that was 28 years ago best of luck.

Why does everyone get so butt hurt on it. If you've nothing to hide it's no problem.

Because it’s 1984 sh** and if you keep watching someone; sooner or later they will make a mistake.

That's laughable. Hit a bridge because you were on camera an it was inevitable! Nothing to do with no checking trailer height and route planning by the operator! Or smashing into a parked car? Driving hour infringements, the list goes on absolutely nothing to do with a driver facing camera. 🤣

If I was talking to a grown up I would have said something like taking your hand off the wheel to scratch an itch and giving the impression to the camera that you were doing something you’re not meant to; which can be taken out of context if the wrong video clip is extracted and used against you.

Its a scam
You will get a refund from the tax office
Then about 3 years later they catch up with you and want the money 💰 back
How it works is
These people act as your agent
Saying that you are self employed
Putting your case in with as many as possible at once
Then the tax office just pay out
And investigating at a later date
You get to pay all the money back
But remember the agent has taken a 20%+vat fees off the top first 🤔

Read the actual post.

I hope he took your front end off you still undertook.

If you actually take the time and read, you will see I wasn’t driving, and I also wouldn’t have made that manoeuvre as I also drive trucks for a living, so get over yourself and move on, it might have better pictures for you to understand.

I don't think your a driver at all.

If parked in a layby, I would challenge it in court and ask them for proof and where would they would like you to relieve yourself when parked up in a layby for 11 hours when on daily rest see what the prosecutor comes back with when your argument is there is no other place to relieve yourself in an 11 hour window with no means of toilet facilities in the nearby area and then when the judge gives you a not guilty or a non contest you can claim the expenses back and loss of earnings winner winner.

Stay with Royal Mail. Then move to parcel force. Normal license to class 2 to class one get time in then if you want move on. But please remember getting experience and time in the next employer. Will look at you different also you will have leaned how much you as an experienced driver is worth this is not a put down. I hope you take it as a voice of experience as I am now retired. I hope you get positive advice on this forum as everyone has or had to start. From this point. I wish you all the best from bonnie north east Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Thank you. Wish you a very happy retirement.

Thanks for a happy retiree. And head of all driving inspector non HGV and HGV. For all of my working life well from age 25yrs. prior to that post sorter to on motor bicycle to van’s and upward. So left school at 16 years then retired at 66 years September 2024 not a lot of this job’s available now but you should get the idea. Think before you jump and if or when you do if you do well. All the best.

It’s not nice for anyone to lose a job through economic reasons but as you all know you can only run a business for so long before reality kicks in and you say enough is enough, your all experienced drivers so hopefully someone will value that experience and snap you all up, best of luck to you all and fingers crossed it’s not to long before you find work again. 🙏🙏

Yes because they are yellow and often when you turn the engine off and wait a few minutes most of them will clear, the only time you wouldn’t drive the motor is if a red warning light came on, for example with the trailer mfl normally that can clear if you pull the abs suzie and if u got any wd40 give it a little spray that clears any dirt normally it’s the earthing pin that loses contact through dirt or a bad connection.

When it comes to vaping in a work lorry, it depends on a couple of things. First, check if your workplace has any rules about smoking or vaping in vehicles. Many companies have policies to keep things professional and safe for everyone. You should be good to go if there are no specific rules against it. Remember that some folks might not like the smell or the clouds, so being considerate is always a good move.
Also, if you’re driving, ensure it doesn’t distract you. I’d say it’s mostly about company policy and being respectful to your coworkers. You can check out fryd for some insights if you want more detailed info.

If they stop your bonus look for a better firm to work for it may take time...but make sure you take a few deliveries back and say the road was too narrow and you didn't want to loose your bonus again, see what they say...all the money they earn out of you. When something goes wrong its always the drivers fault...

Didn’t stobarts get done recently for this sort of thing, ringing drivers with jobs and stuff during their breaks. Just tell them you will be in 11 hours after they tell you what time your starting lol.

No, it was the other way. Drivers were instructed to ring in at a certain time, which means they were under instruction/obligation. This is completely different to calling a drivers who agree to answer the phone.

Don't take it lying down if you've got paperwork like payslips. You've been robbed. Never take the first answer from these governing bodies that act like they're always right and you're a criminal. We got threatened with action for over payment of £5k in tax credits despite the fact I'm paye and filled the forms in straight and they were paying us four quid a week. They insisted they'd paid us 5k and I had to prove they hadn't. Told them to f**k off they must know where they've paid it to. Turned out they owed me in the end the daft trumpets

This...

And from an advice site: They provide proof of deductions – very occasionally the deductions (including tax and National Insurance) your employer makes from your wages can go missing – either because HMRC ‘lose’ them in their systems (for example they allocate them incorrectly) or because employers fail to pay them over. In these instances, HMRC may well credit you with the relevant amounts but only if you show evidence that the...

but if they are asking you to work within the law what do you think Dvsa will do?

they would be asking you to put people's lives at risk which is a serious offence so DVSA defiantly be on drivers side and would make things very difficult for the employer

that wasn't my question, I asked what would they do?

This is more complex that just what is written in the regulations in black and white. There's a reason these regulations were put in place and that was to prevent stupid drivers from driving excessive hours and putting lives at risk through driving while suffering fatigue just to earn more money. Also to prevent drivers from being exploited by bosses. The reduced break is there to assist the driver to be able to start on time the following day should his previous regular day's work take an unexpected turn and he arrives back at the yard on 15 hours instead of his regular 10/11/12 whatever.

No company should be planning regular 9hr reduced rests as part of their normal...

Man and daf autos are total sh**e. The sooner they accept that they can't make auto boxs the better.

Dangerous in my opinion.

Oh yes. Bloody horrible box. Only good auto boxs as Volvo and Scania. If I had the choice I'd have an Eaton twin split.

I currently drive a Volvo, always been my favourite Wagons. Renaults autos are good, but Renault trucks are owned by Volvo.

Doesn’t Highway Code state to get in lane in good time. 800yds could be interpreted as that.

Yep. People ignore that bit though and point to the Rectangular information only signs as an excuse to jump as far up the queue as they can possibly get & claim that everybody else is a muppet. What makes you laugh is that the hgv drivers who say they're just obeying the signs when they force their way to the front will gladly ignore signs that say 7.5T or 50 if there's no camera because that's the mindset of some people.

First thing I said when I got my run sheet this morning was if I feel its unsafe I will be pulling over and deliveries wouldn't be made. I've only been driving class 2 for 6 months and luckily where I was it's been strangely calm until I was coming back to the yard. I take my hat off to the ones that have done this for years and in alot bigger vehicles than I drive. Today was sketchy for the first time driving in high winds and I've learnt loads. If you don't feel safe, don't drive!

We tried to stick together when we went on strike for one pound an hour but you still had scabs working drivers will never stick together was a fireman on steam trains in the 60s hard work shovelling coal all day so left and started driving working as a tramper 60plus a week and away all week better job then than now.

The first thing to do is go to hospital and get your injuries on record, that backs up your claim, make sure you get receipts for travel, bus fare, fuel etc. Any sizeable firm will only pay SSP, that’s normal practice not them being tight, or any other things people are calling them. Log every visit to hospital, you will need to prove your attendance, keep a diary of days you’ve had off, medication taken. Good luck with the claim.

They limit as the EU rules (90kph), some they limit 54, 52 or 50 for economy. It’s according to the company. The law says cars 70mph and Lorrie’s 60mph, they doesn’t say that you cannot go 60mph if your lorry is limited lower. I went many times to 60mph (sometimes 61) and I’ve never had any issue (except for tacho flash’s overspeed). I’ve drove a 7.5t Iveco that downhill I could set 57mph on Cruse Control. Never been in an infringement for that.

In all honesty I've been driving class 1 for 4 years and still have to shunt it even though I'm now the shunter in my yard so if it starts to get to you take a breath and chill then continue, it happens to the best of us and those that say they never have to shunt it are lying practice makes semi perfect.

I say nowt and pass it on...

Haha love it. 🤣👏

Mate, I used to be as honest as the day is long. Especially when I first started driving. The amount of drivers that tried doing it to me was unreal - especially as an agency worker. Now I do my inspections BEFORE I put my card in. Then do a manual entry. Went to inspect one lorry at 5am. Most of left hand side was smashed up. Previous driver never reported it. I would have been liable.

Exactly mate, good job your clued up.
Can imagine any young blood wanting to join the industry reading these outdated comments on paying for any damage out their pockets. 👍

Most cyclists haven’t got a clue about road safety and the rules of the road. They pass Lorrie’s on the wrong side and think that the driver can stop his lorry quick when it’s probably fully loaded it’s sad they died but the driver has to live with that regardless of fault I do feel for the driver and the cyclists family but something needs to be done about them being on the road. Without our HGV’s the country would grind to a halt. I had a crash with lorry that wasn’t my fault and it has left me with PTSD and I do stay away from Lorrie’s but I also leave them plenty of room when they let me in in traffic as they can’t stop as quickly as I can. I also always say thank you and give way to them.
I don’t hate lorry drivers after my crash as the guy was inexperienced and tried to delete the footage after doing an illegal manoeuvre. Some of you are actually proper professional and have to deal with a lot of sh** on the roads. Long hours, tight rules, long waits to get tipped and treated...

It's fraud and at the scale involved be some jail time oh nope no room at the inn so best make hay while these shines before old ma is released after her 2 year stint for tweeting.

They will release some peados and murderers to make room.

Very possibly. Funny how those released already gone onto commit serious crimes and many back inside yet not on the news?

Yep, there is a whole load of stuff that is not on the news.

Best advice for any driver, although a little to late for you my friend, is join a union around £15 - £20 a month usually after 6 - 9 months after joining you get solicitors etc free.... You may never need them put always handy to have on side.... Unfortunately a lot of transport companies think they can make the rules up as they go with total disregard for the law.... Protect your family and yourself....

As the majority of people are saying, you do not need to put it on break/rest before you eject the card. Technically you’re incorrectly recording a minutes rest when in fact you’re still working (in the truck). This could lead to fines Do the manual entry the next day to say you’ve been on rest since when you last taken out your card.

I'd check up on that if I were you. If you're driving a vehicle registered to your employer then you're carrying out other work. Be careful or you'll end up the wrong side of the traffic commissioner.

Why would it count as work?

Hey don't take my word for it. It's entirely up to you. Ask a traffic commissioner or someone from vosa or even your transport manager. I only just covered this on my CPC 2 weeks ago so it's fresh still in my mind but you can take it as bollocks if you want. Have fun explaining it though if you ever need to.

What a load bollocks.

I drive a rigid in central London doing multidrop. It’s easier for me to find somewhere to take a break than someone in an arctic.
I try not to take a break in a loading bay and I’ll stop on a single yellow line or in residents permit parking for a 15 or 30 minute with no problems.

Moving to UK roads takes a little getting used to, but you’ll feel right at home with some practice. The big switch is, of course, driving on the left! It feels strange at first, especially at roundabouts – just remember to keep looking right and take your time. Roads here are often narrower than in the States, and many streets, especially in towns, have tricky turns or are close to parked cars. Keep your speed down and stay focused, especially in those tight spaces.Another heads-up: speed limits are primarily in miles per hour, but distances might be shown in kilometers, too, so double-check the signs. To drive long-term, you must get your US license certified and consider an ACRO certificate apostille for UK requirements.

When I used to do emergency barrier repair. I'm pretty certain that's the most hit crash cushion in the UK if I got my bearings correct. It's not surprising it can get a little disorientating by there especially if you're tired or whatever the reason. I've seen cars just randomly plough into it for no reason at all. You really need to give your head a wobble just randomly blaming the drive. Sofa detectives at their finest.

Classed as night shift....however she can opt out.

She can’t individually as it has to be a workforce agreement.

This is true, a majority of the workforce has agree to opt out. I should have made myself clearer.

Ok. 👌🏻

It seems most people are focusing on the wrong part of this post.
The point of my post is a respectful suggestion that we all help each other out and try being generally a bit nicer to each other.
We all have the same goals after all.

I went for assessment last week as a Class 1 driver Trunking from the Newcastle Team Valley depot.
And one of the first things the assessor said you know it's a loading job don't you?
You will be loading Trailers all night with 500 empty cages onto double deck Trailers.
I said no it's a Driver job I am here for and the bloke said no it's a loading job but if someone don't turn up or I get a problem I.E a brake down etc will send you out Driving but most of the time you are Loading Trailers.

The current firm would happily call the tyre company out to retorque 30 miles down the road and issue a warning if a driver did 31 miles! Wheel nut issues have been ongoing for a good 50 years resulting in a massive output of best practices and procedures for wheel changes and checks. They still appear to be flying off at the same rate? Increasing axle weights and moving to spigot mounted wheels may have exacerbated the problem? These days I take a pic on the phone of each wheel, tyre, nuts and indicators during walk around check. As ever drivers carry the bulk of responsibility, accountability and consequences. Look after number one.

Try being an employer instead of an employee and you'll sharp understand why they offer 12.50. Don't forget there's fuel, tax, insurance, maintenance, fuel and finance if applicable on vehicles as well as other over heads all before your wages are paid. The other factor is everyone is out there to undercut the next person so as wages go up, pay load value goes down.

A 15 min break is required before 6 hours mark unless you reach 4.5hours driving in which case full 45 is required but as you said you dont often hit 4.5 hours drive time so if only working up to 6 hours a 15 min break is required by law if working over 6 hours but less than 9 another 15 min break is required as long as 4.5 hours drive time is NOT achieved so to answer your question you are not breaking the law only company policy but company pay wage and if its in the contract they could dismiss you for breach of contract if they insist you have 30 min break

Ok just to throw a spanner in the works. 🤔
I had a heart attack on July 10th spent a month in Hospital then two weeks on the sick then did three weeks phased back to work in a van Monday, Wednesday & Friday working Tuesday & Thursday at Rehab I’ve now done two weeks in the van did my treadmill last Friday and passed just waiting for the DVLA to give me the all clear. Now that’s going to take about three day to do my manual entry when I get my truck back. 🫣😳😂

I had this exact same argument with the robbing b**tards when mine went up 'cos my bike was written off by a woman who accepted responsibility. I had no claims of 14 years but now it's down to 0 because someone hit me. It's just lose, lose, lose because nobody regulates the bastards. Everyone is taking back handers from big corporate names to allow them to get away with murder.

Had it today with a DAF, went down 6 times going up the M3 for about 5 seconds each time. These things are not safe, nobody in management wants to know.

What choice do new drivers have? When every other job is 2 years experience because of insurance, idiot making dumb statements.

How’s that then when I was given boot because company taken on 3 new pass drivers 🛎️ end.

I'm sure you realise that your situation isn't every situation across the country. 🙄

The wages all depend on what company and what area. Tramping away from home I used to be away 6 weeks working, 2 weeks home and I was on the car transporter work and it was priced at £1200 per week. It taught me a valuable lesson after a year there is more to life than chasing the money. The big important question everyone asks themselves in the hgv industry what am I chasing? I'm now working for gxo and it's £850 per week after tax & I'm home every night, 4 days a week. Work life balance is what I'm chasing. 🎰