Originally Posted by 232Bar

Pretty similar to the UK in some respects - local stuff doesn't pay too well I don't think (not too sure as I won't do local multi-drop anyway so haven't looked too hard) and the distance Companies vary. Lot of ones around here with good kit, up to 3 years old European trucks, Ovlovs, Scannys, Mean And Nastys etc and they seem to be the guys to get on for. Always seem to be plenty advertising, just making sure you get the right one. No tachographs here, it's a log book, which seems open to some companies exploiting you in terms of driving hours, which some definitely do. The main one I was thinking of going on for a while ago was paying 29 cents/km and they were running Brisbane - Sydney twice per week or Bris-Syd-Melb and return once per week. Drivers are earning over $1000 per week regularly and up to $1400/$1500 week as well (that's take home). One company advertised for a driver to deliver boats from Bris to Darwin on an 8-10 day turnaround and they paid 20% of the vehicle earnings. It never left with less than $8000 earnings so you were guaranteed $1600 per trip, but a trip could be 2 working weeks so not as good if you look at it like that. If there was a backload you got the same %age of that so 'potential' earnings were quite high, but guaranteed earnings were $1600 per fortnight. Again like the UK, if you do your ADR you can get more money on the tankers etc. Mining companies seem to pay drivers well and it is usually a 2 weeks on/2 weeks off job.

Originally Posted by FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

The missus will be chuffed to bits getting rid of me for 2 weeks at a time

Originally Posted by 232Bar

So will most of the Ex-pats posters LOL

A lot of the mines are FIFO I think - Fly-in, Fly-out - before anyone asks

Originally Posted by 232Bar

Not sure for Perth, but for QLD I did a theory which was simple (providing you read their 'Highway Code' first). Only 10 questions covering driving hours, load restraint etc, but as I said only 10 questions. I then had to do a practical test. As I've had a Class 1 (sorry C+E) for 18 years, I knew I had a few habits to correct so booked with Ian Watson Driver Training for 2 x 2 hour 'lessons' before my test. Was worth doing that as I still tended to double clutch, one hand on gear lever, one on wheel etc (as you do). Had my test on teh Friday which was MUCH more relaxed than my UK test - guy stuck his clipboard on the bunk and we just chatted about all sorts of s*it while I drove around for 40 mins. Only mark I got was 1 minor for not indicating left to pull back into the kerb at the test centre Got my new licence straight away an the Friday then on the Monday went for my MC Licence. This wasn't even a test - just an assessment by the instructor - go out for the day driving a B-Double (tractor unit coupled to a 30' trailer coupled to a 40' trailer) and let me tell you - 9am driving through Brisbane rush hour traffic with that behind you - bit stressfull LOL. All in all I found it all pretty easy - cost me $1800 for the whole thing which isn't exactly cheap but it got it over and done quickly. Can't comment on WA unfortunately as not had any experience of their system. The guys as Watsons think the whole thing is a farce making us do the test instead of just an assessed drive but, c'est la vie, that's the QLD rules. As for taking your Class 1 in UK, not sure if it's worth it or not - seems much more relaxed over here for the test, roads aren't too busy and I guess depends how confident you are - have you driven artics before or starting from scratch?

To be honest, I hope I never have to use mine to earn a living. I converted as I had the licence and didn't want to lose it when I came here and I did the MC for the hell of it basically, but it's always something to fall back on. Have you done a DEFINITE check on WA driving agency site to see if it is a straight cross-over or a test yet?

Took me 3 days for teh HC but spread over a couple of weeks to fit around my availability - could have lashed it out in 3, or even 2, if I'd been available - MC only took 1 day after that

Originally Posted by JFerrett

Any one know of my chances of employment and rates of pay as a heavy goods driver in Aussie???

Originally Posted by FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

Thanks for that info 232

From looking at the WA driving agencies site, it implies that I need only do a 10 question oral test and voila, it is a straight conversion to the equivalent Aussie license! Does seem too good to be true though, especially considering your circumstances and what you had to go through!
I think I will try and get my class 1 (sorry C+E) here in the UK before we arrive. That way, I will have 'some' experience of artics and may find the MC a little less nerve wracking!!
I have had a look at various job sites re: salaries but it is difficult to get a good understanding of the sort of pay available to drivers. Are you able to shed any light on this at all?
Thanks again

Originally Posted by Bed Of Roses

Hello Chap,

Don't waste your money doing your 1 before you arrive unless you are not arriving 1 year after you have achieved your UK licence. I was told direct by Queensland Transport only a theory test was required and hey presto MC licence over here!!! Nah forget it utter rollox, so for me a big lot of dough spent getting my 1 before i left
Oh yes if anyone coming here has passed on a Draw bar don't mention this to QLD transport cos my god the trucks here as a b double are MUCH bigger and out west OMG!

Get your HGV2 as this (in Queenie) will entitle you to take an MC licence here straight away as long as you have had your HGV 2 for a year in the UK. It gives you a theoretical HR licence here but you wont need to take a Heavy Rigid (hr) because of your experience you can take a MC (multi combination)

Then if you pass your MC you can then B double it straight away if you want to.

I have been here 3 months and its taken me this long to get to the bottom of all the licence rubbish the Queensland licence people tell you.
Ian Watson are most definitely on th ball with it all
South side of Brisbane there is Major training in Yatala but they don't seem so pommed up, so i am now debating going north side to train up with Ian Watson.

Originally Posted by FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

Thanx a million

Not sure what area I'll be looking at yet...quite fancy the mines though, especially in WA - lots of work!
The missus will be chuffed to bits getting rid of me for 2 weeks at a time

Originally Posted by 232Bar

Rob,

Mines have been advertising on radio last couple of days with jobs on the go. Might be time to start putting the feelers out??

Originally Posted by FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

Yeah, already have The migration agent we used in WA has a mate that works in mining HR. Some nice possibilities turning up!
Dump truck driver, Open Pit (Big MoFo CAT Tonka toy type thing) - FIFO - 2 on 2 off (weeks) - $86K + allowances etc.....She reckons the OTE would be well into 6 figures!

Need to do lots of silly little H+S type courses on arrival though but it's good to have made a contact already!

Originally Posted by zx10r_aus

Hey Rob,
I heard that $100 was the base wage. I was in Orange the other day (which is NSW) delievering some oil into the gold mine their. A few blokes driving the tonka toys, were heading over there. Better pay and conditions.


ZX......

Originally Posted by ABCDiamond

I've known people, from the UK, that have got HGV driving jobs as soon as they get the HGV licence here.


In what area does "the oz govt make them take on local people" ? I haven't heard of that before and I am curious.