HGV jobs for a newbie

nobodiez

Hi all,

Apologies in advance if I am in a wrong forum.
I would like to get some advice/info from HGV drivers who are currently working.
I'm looking for a career change. I drive a van for my work approx 400km everyday around Ireland, I'm a sales manager, I get good money, but it's a dangerous job, so can't see myself doing it a long time.
What opportunities are there in the current climate?
I spoke to my friend who is a newbie also working in UK, working there for 15 months, working for himself, but taking contracts from a big sugar distributor, so he said he's earning 850GBP a week, that's take home pay. That's similar to what I'm making at the moment.
Now having said that, I understand not every one is getting that as soon as they start, but are there opportunities to make similar money, carrying out contracts for big companies? If not what's an average hgv driver making? Realistic opinions only please.

Thanks for any info

CIP4

Average truck driver salary in Ireland well take the 850 pounds and half it and you would be close. I struggle to believe he is making 850 pounds after tax a week driving a truck unless of course he is supplying his own truck.

I would say straight up you would struggle to find a job as a hgv driver with no experience and if you do a salary of around 500 euro a week after tax is probably what you'd earn in Ireland anyway that's going by a lot of drivers I know that do Irish and uk work for a few of the bigger haulage companies. Unless your into specialist haulage your not going to earn much more.

Jesus.

nobodiez wrote: »

he said he's earning 850GBP a week, that's take home pay.

He's telling you Porkies

Atlantic Dawn

I did see a few pieces in the UK news over the last year or so saying there was a massive shortage of truck drivers, it didn't mention the salaries on offer.

I know a chap that did a bit of rigid and artic driving. His 9-5 (for want of a better term) was driving a large rigid truck, and he'd 'compliment' his wage by taking on artic runs to the UK and back.

From talking to him, the impression I got was that regardless of which he was doing, he'd generally make about €100 a day (whether that's gross or net, I don't know, but I'd presume net).


Considering all the nonsense involved (lessons, licenses, medicals etc) it seems like it's not good enough money, to me. I'd rather make €80 working in tesco stacking shelves and have no real worries, rather than have spent thousands on lessons and licenses and such for not a lot extra. (that said, I'd rather drive a truck than stack shelves, as I'd prefer to be out driving, but at the same time, I just think truck driving is too expensive to get into considering the wages offered).

dashoonage

I'm more intrigued as to what part of "sales manager" is a dangerous job? da fooook you selling OP ?

Vic_08

dashoonage wrote: »

I'm more intrigued as to what part of "sales manager" is a dangerous job? da fooook you selling OP ?

With the danger and the £60k/year trucker I'm thinking he's sampling his own product.

nobodiez

dashoonage wrote: »

I'm more intrigued as to what part of "sales manager" is a dangerous job? da fooook you selling OP ?

I do purchases. Have to carry large amounts of cash with me, so that's why it's dangerous. Yeah, I figured earning four figures a week would be unrealistic. Thanks for the info lads

s14driftking

nobodiez wrote: »

I do purchases. Have to carry large amounts of cash with me, so that's why it's dangerous. Yeah, I figured earning four figures a week would be unrealistic. Thanks for the info lads

4 figures a month I'll be lucky. I've my licence but rather drive machinery less expensive getting tickets guaranteed pay and hours and my own bed every nite. And op if there looking for the money outta the van just hand it over as its not worth your life or being badly injured for. Just remember with most companies your just s no.

Truckermal

Jesus. wrote: »

He's telling you Porkies

He's not that's the wage in the UK at the moment as drivers are very scarce all though he wouldn't make that much here.

As for the 500 euro a week post are ya deluded cip4??

CIP4

Truckermal wrote: »

He's not that's the wage in the UK at the moment as drivers are very scarce all though he wouldn't make that much here.

As for the 500 euro a week post are ya deluded cip4??

Drivers in Ireland doing domestic work and work over and back to the uk are getting 500-700 a week, working for any of the bigger haulage companies so as a beginner you would get the lower end of the scale. I know loads and that's what they earn working for the big logistic companies in Ireland. Maybe the rates are higher for permanent work in the uk. I'm sure if you are into specialist heavy haulage it maybe more but your not going to get them jobs with no experience. But an average truck driver which is what the op asked isn't doing oversized specialist loads or chemical tankers.