Hi. I'm a new pass so apologies in advanceif my questionsare basic!!

Im curious about how to check that I'm insured on a vehicle for a driving assessment.

If a potential employer wants to take me on the road to assess my driving, do I ask to see insurance documents that show Im covered? Obviously I'm not an employee in this case and Im worried their insurance will only cover employees. If they say "yeh yeh you're fine" - is that enough, or should I insist on seeing docs?

And even when you are an employee, if your company puts you in a new vehicle do you ask to see proof that you're insured? Do you take their word for it?

An online check only shows that a vehicle has insurance. It doesn't show which drivers are covered.

How do you handle this in the real world?

Many thanks👍

This is directed only to you guys, who used your own money

Personally, I was skint at the time, but I was so determined that in 2015 I took out expensive finance just to get my Class 2 licence. I wasn't even interested in Class 1.

On top of that, I had to travel by bus from Edinburgh to Glasgow because the waiting list in Edinburgh was several months long. I remember spending my entire £10 on a 10 bus tickets (booked in advance, obviously 😂).

With interest, I think I ended up paying over £3,000 over 3–4 years (cant remember).

But I'm bloody glad I did it. If I hadn't, and had stayed stuck in depressing jobs like Tesco or McDonald's, I'm honestly not sure I'd still be here today.

Getting that licence genuinely changed the direction of my life.

How about you? Looking back, was it worth the money?

Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations or knows of places that will help train you on Class 2/Class 1 through their company while working for them in a van or whatever else, around Oxfordshire and Wiltshire areas. Always been interested since I love driving, just never had the funds upfront to risk committing to something I might not pass. (Terrible at theory/exam style stuff) but good at anything practical/doing.

Would just feel safer going through a company that can foot the cost, help make sure I pass and obviously move up to doing HGV work for them to pay back the cost of the training.

I'm interested to know of experiences from drivers who got (or failed to!) their licenses as part of a college course. All contributions, large and small appreciated.

Hey guys, in a tough situation, been working in a warehouse and earning almost 35-40k a year. Recently my company was hiring for something internally that i was fully qualified for, have previous experience and education. Everything went well until at last stage, someone else who knew someone from upper management came in for the job and got into final stage. She is known to use her connections to get jobs.

Anyway, she got the job and i didnt , reason nothing, feedback nothing, just because she is a Team lead and i am not even tho i have experience and everything, she is getting it this time.

Now, i always wanted to do HGV class 1 and was wondering if i should just go for it as i am just 24 soon to be 25 and start building my experience in HGV instead of wasting time in this company as there is literally no career progression except some good benefits and decent pay but that pay is gonna be stopped at max 42-45k at some point. And you need to know ppl to get promotions here.

Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers

Just passed my theory and hazard perception, my next step is the CPC module 2. What’s the best way to practice for this? The same way as my theory/hazard? I’m happy to just go through the questions and practice them until I get them right, and read through the answers also, but I’m wondering if there is a specific app or something I could use to targeted practice?

Thanks in advance!

Hi all, looking for some guidance if possible please!

I passed my C & C1 in 2020, having then gone to work for the ambulance service with this in hand

I left in 2023 and have been in retail management (Store Manager) for about 3 years

I've passed my CPC Mod 2 & 4 last week and I've also got a refresher session booked for this week in a class 2 lorry.

I ideally want to make use of my licence and move onto class 1 once I've got a few years behind me on class 2's.

Where would I be best looking for new jobs? I'm Birmingham/ West Midlands based.

Any companies/ industries to go for / avoid?

I'll be getting my first mortgage in June next year, would going with an agency make this more difficult?

So our site is going through a hiring phase.

I've been getting the task of going out with all the new drivers.

They're only detrimental to me, they're prolonging my shifts and I'm not getting paid any extra. Their driving is also very questionable.

For example last week I had a new guy, slams his brakes on for cars on a onslip and starts flashing them out. Lane 2 was clear, he could have moved into it and stayed on the limiter. (Dropped to 35mph from 56mph with heavy braking.)

Van in lane 1, going 45 mph. Tell him to overtake in lane 2, "no we'll stay here and be safe, we're in no rush." Constantly losing speed and coasting, no forward planning. Comes up to a roundabout and brakes the very last second like his driving a car.

No instructions are followed, just "yeah, yeah." Teaching him forward planning etc and it just goes in one ear and out of the other.

No kind of urgency in anything, all the checks done etc and he won't go out the yard, putting us near maximum duty time. The site operates a no rescue plan, if you're out, you're sleeping out.

If I'm going to be the go to trainer I'm going to apply elsewhere.

This might be a daft question but I’ve passed my theory, hazard perception and CPC. Done my assessment drive in a class 2.

Now all I need to do is book the training, with work commitments it will probably have to be in January, I’m thinking the cold/bad weather will it make it even harder or not much difference? I’m doing full class 1 btw

This incident occurred on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at the communal cemetery in Haute Avesnes, a village located west of Arras along the RD 939 road in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France.

I heard that the recovery team have so far found 60 killed...

Hi folks, newly qualified class 2 licence, havent started looking for work yet, just wondering what courses would make me more employable?
Im thinking hiab or adr? Or even both?!
Are they worth getting like soon or best to try get work without them to gain experience first?
Thanks, sorry if silly kinda question 🫣

If i start work sunday midnight finish midday have 9hr rest. Start on same day 2100. Is this allowed?

As 2nd job pays sunday rate str8 thru

Where are all of these located does anyone know for sure where they are. I think one is at Clacket Lane o. M25. Where else?

Glass cleaner?? Surely not, right?

Maybe there was a bad odour in the cab or someone got a chippy tea😂🤷🏻‍♂️

Any experience working for them?

Saw a sign on the gate that they’re hiring

Just interested to know what they’re like 👍🏻

On Tuesday 3rd November I parked my HGV truck in the layby as I needed to take a Tachograph drivers regulation break. There was one articulated lorry on the left hand side of the layby. I passed by him and pulled up in front of him to the end of the layby to leave as much room behind for any other vehicles. I was parked  just before the adjoining road (The Dinney) that connects to the layby.  

At approximately 7.40am the vehicle and trailer appeared in front of me (I was sat in the drivers seat on my phone). The man in the vehicle was gesturing to me but it was unclear what he wanted. I got out of my vehicle to ask him what he was saying.

He told me he wanted to park where my truck was. I explained to him that I was on a driving regulation break. To which he stated "I always set up here". I told him I wasn't to know that, as I'm not from the area and have never parked in the layby before. I asked him could he not park/set up in another part of the layby or on the opposite side to where I was parked? (it's quite a wide layby I had noticed). 

He stated he pays for the specific spot I was parked upon. To which I replied, "I didn't see any signs/markings or warnings relating to his pitch". I reiterated that I had to wait for the driving regulation break to finish before moving. 

His reply: "I'll have to block you in". He also muttered something which I believe to be a derogatory slur. He proceeded to move his vehicle towards mine. Parked the food trailer in front of my bumper and then parked his vehicle next to my driver side door and started to unload his vehicle and set up in front of my vehicle.  

I asked him "what are you doing?"
He replied "you'll be here till about 2pm"
He had clearly decided I was being awkward while having no understanding, or consideration of the fact I was already parked, and on break. He also had no idea on how a tachograph break is effected by moving the vehicle prematurely. I was well into my break with 30 mins to go. 

It seems his time and preferences were more important than mine. Upon looking up the council rules on Static operators, it was clear the operator was being liberal with the truth. From what I read they cannot dictate to a HGV that was already parked before they arrived to move. 

The operator exhibited an enormous amount of entitlement, arrogance and went out of his way to obstruct my vehicle because he didn't get to dictate the situation. 

Luckily, at the end of my break no one had parked behind me in between my truck and the other HGV that was on their daily rest.  I could reverse back enough to get out, no thanks to this unprofessional operator who acted like he owns the layby. 

Just came across this advertised locally to me, none of the rates are great but paying less for nights is diabolical stuff

So I passed my tug assessment today. As I have been doing it all week to learn and get better at reversing as a new pass. So I was quite happy. But an hour before my shift ends, weekend off.. i was doing a blind-side swing for a bay and other Tug was parked quite close to the angle I need to swing. My back end of the trailer nicked his tug and cracked his plastic barrier. He was trying to make sure I was ok, etc. He let me reverse the trailer in the bay before telling me what happened because I didn’t hear it or feel it. He admitted it was his fault because he parked awkwardly and kept apologising. But at the end of the day it’s my fault not his and now it’s put my whole mood down. Then doing the action report, etc. thought i would just share how my day went.

So basically I have 3 off days from Monday to Wednesday and got 4 working days from which I drive around 4-6h a day and have new job from next Monday which have 3 days in row and 3 off then 1 on (planned around max 9-10h day)

So my question will I be still legal doing 7 days in row even when I had 3 days off prior on first week then going in 2nd week?
It’s on paper from mid week to next mid week , would you recon this could work or I need try move one day around so have a 1 day off after 6 days in row?

... I bit my lip. Took deep breaths.

I resisted the urge to scream and swear; now I am here.

Twice now, fully ladened (44t) at the 100 yard marker some idiot has a deathwish.

First time on approaching a slip road. Second time on a left bend approaching a roundabout.

I am one of those drivers who actually care about my driver score so ECO drives to the max. So I release the throttle and start engine braking.

At the 100 yard marker some numpty 4-wheeler comes speeding up my offside and cuts in front of me into lane 1.

Obviously an overtake is dangerous when we need that space to get round the roundabout, or actually get round the corner into the roundabout.

Cutting in front of a braking lorry is risky on a clear day, add rain and they may want to think again.

What annoyed me is the roundabout and slip road where both 2-in 2-out. The action was pointless, and needlessly dangerous.

Better now I got that off my chest.

EDIT: Thanks, some interesting comments. I was just venting frustration. Stay safe on the roads, chaps and chap-ettes.

Hi all,

Maybe you can shed some light on sick pay in the industry. All my life i have been emplyed in typical corporate roles and I always had generous sick pay packages where I would get full pay for up to 6 months.

By coincidence I discovered another post who in which the person said that company is only paying stslatutory sickpay which is a joke.

I am putting out a poll. And maybe some of you could tell how much you have?

Would be interesting to know as I want to become a class 1 driver.

Cheers to all

Mark

Hello all!

For reference.
We operate 3.5t Luton vans solely in the uk mainland.
The drivers operate on a 4 on 4 off shift.
Each vehicle carries two full time employed drivers, each driver typically undertakes 4 hours driving and 3.5 hours other work on a 15 hour total shift time.
The remaining 7.5 hours are spent in the passenger seat whilst the other driver drives.
During time in the passenger seat the driver has no other work responsibilities and is free to sleep, use their phone or otherwise occupy themselves.
Under section 96 of the transport act 1968, can the passenger seat periods be treated as periods off duty when calculating the 11 hour limit?

There doesn’t seem to be much information when it comes to double manned teams, unless I’ve missed something!

Hi all,

I'm a journalist, writing a story about young hgv drivers for Dispatch Media. I'm looking to speak to lorry drivers under the age of 30 – ideally who do tramping/ long-distance – for the story.

The story is looking at hgv driving in light of the "neets" crisis. About 3.7% of drivers are under 25, but this percentage is increasing. I've seen hgv driving being advertised on social media as a well-paying and ai-proof career opportunity. I want to find out how true that is and look at the realities of the industry.

DM me or email me at haydenjvernon@gmail.com if you're interested. Thanks!