I'm a HGV driver doing shop deliveries but am thinking of changing jobs 4 container work.Is this a good move?

Question

I have a few mates who also are hgv drivers but none of us have done container work before.Ive heard lots of stories of waiting round for hours on end to get tipped or loaded is this the case?Also ive not done nights away yet my mates do and love it.Would you have to do nights out on container work?I have had my licence for over 10 years but have only done night trunk work or shop work.Im getting fed up of driving day cab motors or sharing units with every other driver in the building.I know we are all busy but any answers are appreciated.

Answer 1

Most container drivers work their hind-sides off. An owner operator in south Florida, according to what he said on the XM radio call in trucking advice show, said that he was looking to go into another facet of the trucking industry because he wanted to make a better living financially for the amount of time and effort he has to put in.
However the final decision is still up to your own desires and what your family will put up with. also, most container work is short haul and would probably be a day-cab power unit. Also, be advised that the DOT loves the containers,since most of the chassis's are not the best and they are usually VERY heavy.

Answer 2

Hgv Container Jobs

Answer 3

I did container for three years - the biggest delays are at the ports or 'empty yards' waiting to pick up or drop off the boxes. It's not unusual to get held up for 6 hours at somewhere like Felixstowe, for example, simply waiting for a straddle carrier to get your container. And don't even mention the phrase, "Your container is being checked by customs before release"!

Tipping loaded containers is usually pretty quick, 'cos the customer wants the freight. Getting loaded can be quick (e.g. by forklift) or damn slow if it's loaded by hand. It's all swings and roundabouts - you can always get a kip or watch TV.

Most container work means nights away, which is a whole other game. Some lorry parks and truck-stops are OK (assuming your driving time means you can actually get to one and you're not stuck in a lay-by for the night...) some are dire. Motorway service stations are grossly overpriced and one shower facility for 50 truck drivers means they aren't always the cleanest places!

To be honest, after 15 years on the road, I don't miss it (I lost my H.G.V. a couple of years ago, on medical grounds). But I've got friends who still haul freight the length and breadth of this country, and would never do anything else because they love the job.

Answer 4

Hi M8,

I did roping ans sheeting for sa while, ni hated it andv then went on the tilts, I forgot to mention I did container work as well, all three can have delays vtipping and loading but for me the container work was the easiest, no roping and sheeting on a cold wet or freezing night, clambering over the load to set ur sheet up right, half hour later u had to stop check ur loads settled down and roped r tight and sheet is not flapping about, then u have the prob of load shifts, like timber or what i got, a forty fooiter loades with dead fish just sling on pallets at RN yard in hattham im Kent, the fish were salvaged off a fishing boat off Kent coast back in early 80's There was no one to help me get it sheeted and roped. If I tried to put the sheet on rhe fish i would lose my load b4 i ever got the chance to get sheet on, then even if u did u couldnt tie it down. i got on the blwer to the haulage firm i was contracted to, i told bthem that theres no wat im going up top as its bloody dangerous, anyway i said this job should vhave a 40ft container, it turne4d out wrong trailer was sent, so i was off home after that. Tilts bin uk can be as hard as roping and sheeting, on the continent everywhere I went bu drove up to loading bay bsome guy comes along checkedf my paprtwork and the custom seal number, broke the sea; and I would drop back down then reverse onto bay, the staff would open up my tilt and close it up as much as possible leaving me to lift back oasrd up and feed wire thru the rings on tilt.

But overall containerwork was easy,

I would do container work any day, but there is betteR ONE thaqts the fridge trucks, the food on board is perrishanle so I noticed those guys getting priority both in uk and abroad.

Good luck m8, containers or fridges if i was back driving.

Sprry about my poor writing etc, i am disabled and nearly died today in hospital, but im home on my laptop feeling rough

Answer 5

god yes very good move, one pick up, one stop, one drop, now ya can't beat that, I did it yes there is a lot of hanging around but your not driving and getting paid for it, plus if you don't mind some hand relief theres a few drivers that will do the honers, and hey don't knock it till ya tried it I Did for years, and didn't know what I was missing.

Answer 6

container work is ok, but yes there is a lot of waiting around but one thing ypu don't have to get in the back to help unload, take a good book or a portable telly with you , you will need them.