lou_pete

Hi all,
We are currently in the process of moving to oz. I am a nurse, my husband is a HGV driver. We have 2 kids aged 3 and 5. What we would like to know, if any of you fine people can tell us, is how much work is available for pete (hubby)? We are relocating to Melbourne or just outside.
Any advice would be smashing. Hope someone can help!!!
Thanks loads. It's so scarey, but very exciting!!!!

gormac

Hi dont know about the work situation but he will have to take a wee test again i,m led to believe Gormac

FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

Plenty of work about - no bother there. He will need to re-take his test again though. I had held mine for 16 years and it aint worth a jot out here!!

lou_pete

Cheers for that. I just hope its not as expensive as here to retake!
Thanks fluffy, you're a love.

FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

You can work on an estimate of about 6-8 hours worth of lessons (the roads are a bit different out here) and there's the road ranger gearbox to get used to. Lessons are around $130 an hour if memory serves me correctly and the test is $350 ish (including a 1 hr lesson beforehand).
If you put $1500-2000 aside you should be right.

(Above figures are based on QLD prices - not sure what it's like in Mellie)

RenShen

Hi,

Does anybody know of any employers who would be willing to sponsor a very experienced HGV/ADR driver on a 457 visa?

Thanks,
Ren

FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

There are probably 1 or 2 somewhere in the middle of nowhere with jobs that are sooo bad that the locals wont touch them (yes, there are some seriously crap jobs in the transport industry out here), but...............

Ask yourself this, do you want to be treated like a 4th rate citizen, work 16 hour days, 7 days a week for half the money that other drivers are on?

Seriously mate, you have to be pretty desperate or deluded to come out here as a sponsored truck driver, it's bad enough as a Permanent resident.

RenShen

Thank you fluffy.

Its not for me, its for my brother. Wants to follow us to oz and that would be his only hope. Looks slim though. He has also been looking at Canada. Apparently they are crying out for truckers there, but nobody answers any sodding emails!!!

Will keep trying.

Thanks again,
Ren

FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

Have a look in the BE Truckers forum: http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=118

A lot of guys in there are either going to Canada or are already there. Some good info re: companies to work for or not to work for and contact info.

232Bar

Also his ADR wouldn't be valid here - he'll have to take the Aussie equivalent to be compliant