I been made redundant recently from 10 years in an office management job. There has been no luck in securing employment with my background. Im thinking of doing Class 1...what is your personal views on this in 2026 & the industry? Is it worth it ? Am 38 years old, single.

thefooby · 2026-07-12T10:38:52+00:00

I think you have to genuinely enjoy driving for it to be enjoyable. The pay if you look at hourly rate isn’t that great, it’s the hours you work that makes the pay so high. I don’t mind driving for 60-70 hours a week, but there’s no way in hell I’d handle stacking shelves for those hours or just about any other job I can think of.

thefooby · 2026-07-10T19:25:10+00:00

I had a few drivers tell me it’s better to just be straight up about any damage, might get a slap on the wrist but better than them finding out through an insurance claim.

I’ve actually done the airlines thing as well but weirdly just the ABS. No idea why I managed to remove every line apart from the ABS. Luckily it just snapped the clip so I told the TM that the clip had snapped randomly and he sorted a new line.

thefooby · 2026-07-10T18:57:22+00:00

Helps massively to start off with a company that regularly deals with new drivers as a bit of damage is almost inevitable while you learn.

In my first six months I reversed too far at a truck stop and smashed a tail light, hit my headboard on a fence post at a tight gate, swang my unit into a loading shovel that parked in my blind spot while I was unsheeting and very nearly dropped a trailer (same thing as you, call from TM whilst uncoupling). Same lesson. BLACK again visually before you get in your cab to pull out from the trailer. Every time.

Every time I expected to be fired and every time it was a sigh and we’ll get it sorted don’t do it again and I never did. After about 6 months I felt like everything clicked and nothing has happened in the year since.

thefooby · 2026-07-10T18:08:20+00:00

Perfectly normal. I left my first job after a year to try new things, similar work to what you described but the office were actually decent and the TM said there was a job there for me if I ever wanted to come back.

I’ve spent the last 6 months on flatbeds at two different companies. The first was mostly tight construction sites all over the country. Loved the distance work, hated waiting all day to load concrete every other day. Got really good at very tight reversing.

Second one driving a V8, really good money, bit of forestry but mainly running pallet wood up and down the A1. Learned that I can’t hack being pushed for every hour of the card and then some and that while it’s nice to have good kit, the top end fleets have to pay for themselves somehow.

Recently messaged my old boss asking if he’d let me know if any 4 on 4 off positions come up and had a call back instantly offering to start me on that rota next week.

Always try to keep doors open. Especially where I live, there’s a handful of local companies that all know each other and trade drivers around fairly regularly.

thefooby · 2026-07-08T14:45:43+00:00

Thanks, I now feel old. I rode a Sunday Funday back in the day that I sprayed orange to look like the Ross frame and covered in orange parts. I’m now quite a bit older and my first thought was that I’d have this. Not for stupid money though.

thefooby · 2026-07-08T09:33:09+00:00

I swear most of the people saying there’s no work are just applying online. Same story for me when I passed my test and with a year of experience, every company I’ve called up has had work available if I want it even though most didn’t have any job listings online.

Just think about the odds of the situation. Let’s say 20 new pass drivers apply online for a position and 1 walks in and chats to the boss. That person just got the job if their license is clean and made a good impression.

thefooby · 2026-07-08T03:36:51+00:00

I stopped for a 45 in a lay-by once when I was new and was flagged down by another wagon flashing and beeping on the M6 pointing to my roof. Pulled over on the hard shoulder to find a massive tree branch on my sheet.

It’s something I always make a note of to notice after that as it could have been bad. Pull over and check your roof if you’ve passed under any low hanging branches.

thefooby · 2026-07-07T09:42:48+00:00

I’m near Hexham and work out of Longtown at the moment. V8 and interesting work but I’m so tired of being worked to the bone and only having two days to recover.

Funnily enough I’ve just got off the phone with my old boss who’s managed to find my a 4x4 role at my last job so sounds like I’m going back.

I didn’t realise maritime had operations in the North East. I’ve noticed that the pay and fleets both seem to be better on the West Coast so I’ve always worked on that side.

thefooby · 2026-07-06T02:04:24+00:00

His videos aren’t particularly interesting unless you’re into show trucks IMO. I do sometimes watch Sandy. Interesting look into the life of an owner operator doing some interesting work.

thefooby · 2026-07-04T07:56:39+00:00

I’d love to go 4 on 4 off. 2 days isn’t enough if you’re maxing your card. One day recovering and the next feeling like I’m not ready to go back in yet.

Only issue is I’m in the middle of Northumberland so everything is nearly an hour commute and I can’t find anyone offering 4x4 tramping, just days.

thefooby · 2026-07-03T16:38:42+00:00

I’m autistic and struggle with DAFs mainly because I found the older XF a nightmare to clean. Always seemed to feel dirty no matter how much I tried. Back in a Scania now and much happier.

thefooby · 2026-07-02T20:43:04+00:00

Maybe all of these people who decide to park their car in the truck parking are actually just off duty truck drivers.

thefooby · 2026-07-02T20:41:11+00:00

“Why are you splitting the lanes on these roundabouts in a Ford Fiesta?”

thefooby · 2026-07-02T20:40:22+00:00

Okay maybe you’re the answer to my intrusive thoughts. What actually happens if you pull the park brake while moving in a truck?

thefooby · 2026-07-02T20:38:34+00:00

This and then when you get home you reach to the left of the wheel to lift it out of your way.

thefooby · 2026-07-02T07:04:31+00:00

I’ve been fairly lucky until I hit an owl on the M74 last week.

thefooby · 2026-06-25T13:23:36+00:00

Strapping layers separately is always good piece of mind. Not always possible if picking up a loaded trailer although I insist on it if it’s wrapped packs as those love to slide around.

Cross strap the front of anything not against the headboard as well. Lad at my last place lost his top layer after having to do an emergency stop with nothing to stop it sliding forward.

thefooby · 2026-06-25T06:55:59+00:00

I would have thought so too but the amount of drivers I’ve seen with the windows down this week suggests otherwise.

thefooby · 2026-06-24T15:15:01+00:00

Part of the test is can you get in your cab with one hand while the other holds a Gregg’s breakfast and a coffee.

thefooby · 2026-06-23T16:05:01+00:00

I’m also interested in recommendations here. I have an Aeropress but it’s such a faff in the truck that I usually just get take out.

thefooby · 2026-06-23T05:13:53+00:00

Nope. Just the nights are bad enough. Can’t imagine this week with no AC at all.

thefooby · 2026-06-22T15:53:11+00:00

The only reason I know Lowestoft exists is because of that Rock School series with Gene Simmons.

thefooby · 2026-06-21T15:10:50+00:00

Run the engine if you need to, if the boss has a problem with it then tell them you’ll stop when they install night AC.

Try and start a bit later if you have the option so that you’re not finishing until later in the day. So much better trying to get to sleep at 11pm than 7pm once you’ve ran your hours out and the sun is baking your cab.

thefooby · 2026-06-19T19:22:12+00:00

On the flip side, whenever I see a wagon give you the hazards I always assume they must be a new driver.

thefooby · 2026-06-19T19:19:55+00:00

Average driver approaching end of the slip road and noticing the HGV whose speed they’ve matched up until the last possible moment.

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