A few Q's for the truckies here

montyv8 · 12-09-2005, 03:19 PM

Hi guys, got a few questions for you

You've probably seen the thread about Holden dumping 1400 workers.
theres a very big possibility I might be one of them, so I'm looking at different job/career options....

So i'm seriously thinking about getting my truck license and being a driver for a change. I'd like to get into interstate driving.

Would you guys recommend it as a job?
I've always done factory work, or fabrication jobs etc (im a welder),
but i enjoy driving, whenever we go interstate i drive instead of fly...

what would you consider the pro's and cons of the job?
I'm married, but my wife said it wouldn't bother her too much if i was away alot. and i don't have kids. (yay)

and is the money ok? i've heard different things about this one....

How hard is it to get into interstate driving? i'm guessing most companies would want people with experience, not someone who has just got there license. I know everybody wants their drivers to pass medicals, i wouldn't have any probs there

So you guys reckon i should go for it?
Cheers,
Phil

Kryton · 12-09-2005, 03:25 PM

AFAIK you need to start off with a smaller truck license and work your way up over time so you can get experience.
you cant just go from car to semi trailer in one hit.

12-09-2005, 03:28 PM

Sorry to hear about your job position. Good to see you have the strength to get on with life and move on.

Just a quick look on mycareer website, most of the trucking industry is Sydney and Melbourne.

Hope this helps

Trevor 57 · 12-09-2005, 09:20 PM

I am quite happy to start with some recommendations, seeing as I have been involved in the industry for near on 30 years.

Firstly, to get your truck licence you will need to go through a graduated system that was introduced Australia wide about 10 years or more ago. You have to go to a Heavy Rigid first (and I am assuming that you have held a car licence for 2 years or more). This will allow to drive any 3 axled rigid truck. Once you have held it for 12 months you can then go and get a Heavy Combination licence, this will allow you to drive a normal semi-trailer (up to 42.5 tonnes). Again after another 12 months you can go and try to get a Multi-combination licence, this will allow you to drive B-Doubles, B-Triples, Road Trains, etc. if you really want to. Bloody hard work I reckon, believe me.

The industry is extremly short of drivers, so there is a good chance you will get a job. In my opinion stick with the bigger company's. Yes, you will probably drive some sh!t trucks and do some sh!t deliveries for a while, it is what is called "doing your apprenticeship".

The money isn't that good, but if you are lucky you will pick up overtime and that makes it worthwhile. Normally metropolitian deliveries are on a hourly rate, but check, it is the best option IMO.

Once you start doing country runs (or city runs if you are in the country), then you go on trip money, this isn't that good a money. You do lots of hours for not much, you can held up picking up or dropping off your load and normally you are not paid "sitting around" money.

Once you go on Interstate (and I think you are f***ing mad if you want to) you are paid a kilometre rate. Youa re away from home, get bugger all travel allowances and are a real target for traffic authorities, only because all of the bad eggs that have gone before you.

You have a higer chance of being busted doing the wrong thing on the road if you are a truck driver.

You have a higher than normal chance of being hurt at work, but if you are safety concious you will be OK.

The industry can push you hard at times, but normally all the people that work in it are honest hard working people who just want to get on a do a honest days work for an honest days pay.

And I hope you don't mid getting your hands dirty, as driving a truck doesn't mean you sit on your **** all day while somebody else loads, ties down, tarps/curtains, then unlaods your truck, it is up to you do all that. And make sure you don't damage anything (truck and/or load) on the way.

Good Luck, if you have any other questions, please PM me and I will come back here and answer them as best I can for you.

CAMS290 · 12-09-2005, 09:53 PM

I have been in the industry for about 16 years and did over 6 years interstate.
There are some good driving jobs out there now as Big trev says there is a shortage of drivers.
I am a subbie with a large Quarry in Melbourne, we have a great job with good conditions and pay, but if i was looking for a job on wages, i would be trying to get into the petroleum industry.
I have a few mates driving tankers, and i must say they are on a very good wicket, well maintained late model equipment, driving hours are strictly adhered to etc...

Good luck with the job hunting, it is a better job than it was years ago !

**Full Noise** · 12-09-2005, 10:10 PM

I’m in the petroleum industry, therefore, I’m on a pretty reasonable wicket. Don’t get stars in your eyes looking at T 904s and the like. When you start out expect to drive some of the less attractive trucks and don’t expect the cream jobs either. There is a shortage of drivers, however, it’s the old catch 22. They always want experienced drivers, not novices, so as long as you’re prepared to put in the hard yards you should do fairly well.

Listen to Big Trev and Cameron, they speak wise words.

Cheers, Danny

montyv8 · 13-09-2005, 02:15 AM

thanks guys, the advice/information is very much appreciated

my first post was a bit rushed, as i was running late for work....

I've worked around trucks before, loading etc, and realise there is a fair amount of work involved. and that doesnt put me off.

as for the sh!t deliveries and trucks, i was fully expecting that lol.

Basically, I'm 29, the majority of my working life has been spent in factory jobs.
and i'm absolutely sick of production type work....
I want a complete change of scenery, and i think this is a good way to go.
If i don't like it, i'll try something else

thanks again guys!
Phil

**Mechan1k** · 13-09-2005, 02:42 AM

As mentioned start off small ... you'll most likely get smaller metro work ... and it is at taxi-truck hourly rates (goes up on the size of vehicle you are using as well).

I am a part time courier driver ... only driving a ute ... but I am out there doing similar work to the metro truck drivers. But it definitely beats sitting in an office for 12 hours at a time (which is my other job).

I'd rather be out on the road myself as well. But as least my part time work is interesting ... and I am getting fitter whilst doing it.

Depends on your company as well too ... definitely go for the larger company. I started 6 months ago with Aust. National Couriers (Fleets Flyers) ... and they have been a good company to work for ... plenty of work to go around ... and pay is pretty good (for my size vehicle anyway)

I have no idea what the truck drivers earn per day ... but I earn on average $200-$250 per day delivering Sydney metro in my ute.

bartaxr8 · 15-09-2005, 01:51 PM

For the best part of the last 10 years I was a truck mechanic. I hated the job in the last couple of years and finally in June this year I left. I was lucky enough to know a few people in the industry who gave me a go. Also I was lucky in the fact that the first truck I got off my boss was a 2004 9200 International Eagle. The truck is a tipper and dog setup and we do hire work and go interstate to get firewood. I love it mate, it is the best thing I ever did and I don't look back. Also a note to the above post: I'm no expert on the licence arrangement but when I got my HC licence at T.D.T in Dandenong I asked how long I had to wait until I could go for my MC and they said right now if you want, i.e no minimum waiting time????????????????

Smoke Pursuit · 15-09-2005, 11:25 PM

I also work with a recruitment company that employs a few hundred truck drivers a day... Theres heaps of work around if your a hard worker and good on equipment and have a fair amount of experience, but as said above the money isn't that good unless your in a specialised field like petroleum or livestock... I know guys that do livestock and get around $1,500 a week, but they only get home on Friday arvos and they are back on the road early Sunday morning, they eventually wear out and the pressure seems to accumulate on their families more so then themselves.

Metro distribution with Toll and NQX is an absolute pain in the ***, specially when your doing it in a semi trailer on short routes, you spend more time trying to get around car parks and unloading then you do on the open highway...

Container work is also becoming worthwhile, I know P&O are doing a fair bit of this kinda work which is relatively easy and good condition work where you travel around 400 kms round trip twice a day and dont have to get out of the truck.

Anyways good luck with your decision, my only advice concurs with what has already been said, stick to the bigger mobs who pay as per the award rates and work you within legal hours, smaller companies are more likely to push you harder for less money and put you in gear which is basically rooted.

howey · 16-09-2005, 11:59 AM

As others have said, be careful who you work for. I'm out now and happy to be. I worked for one good company and two terrible companies. Some peoples answer to you being tired is to hook you up with the right(wrong) sort of gear. The answer to working too many hours is to find you a second log book.

When you're on the road you meet some characters, some love the lifestyle, the drugs, the woman at every port type thing. Others do it because they know nothing else. It's not hard to see some people on the slippery slope to a major melt down.

Having said that, if you work for a good company in well maintained equipment and well run from a personnel point of view, you may join the many who love it. Actually driving trucks is really enjoyable, I have young kids which is where my troubles laid.

Don't get too hung up on how old your gear is, as long as it's safe and looked after. Learning how to drive a road ranger properly is an art, good operators make it look easy, poor operators make it look painful. Much of the brand new stuff is coming out with self shifting transmissions that would deprive you of the opportunity to learn.

Trevor 57 · 16-09-2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bartaxr8

...Also a note to the above post: I'm no expert on the licence arrangement but when I got my HC licence at T.D.T in Dandenong I asked how long I had to wait until I could go for my MC and they said right now if you want, i.e no minimum waiting time????????????????

That is technically correct, you can go from a Heavy Rigid (after holding it for 12 months) straight to a Multi-combination, but it is not a recommended process because of the experience factor. When I left the licencing part 5 years ago there was only 2 providers in Victoria for HR to MC, but they made it price prohibitive because of the experience factor, I am not really sure if there are other providers doing it now, it sounds like TDT are. I have a few concerns about that process. Putting a guy who has only driven (maybe) a rigid truck for 12 months and putting them into a 25 metre, 62,5 tonne B-Double, or even worse into a 105 tonne triple road train.