Truck driver to tram driver

Someone i know who's made the change from trucking to tram driver describes both jobs as having a similar skill level. As a train driver i disagree however I've never driven a truck or a tram. Can anyone comment?

take away the steering wheel and make the brakes less effective and the basic skills are pretty much the same, both require good levels of concentration and judgement, granted they aren't the same but the basic skills definatly over lap a little
saying that ive not driven either a tram or a truck
as for being the same level id say they possibly are but for different reasons, stopping a train requires a lot of skill but then so does parallel parking a truck

Its interesting and my question then would be why the majority of trainee drivers going through the system in recent years are not truck drivers as their skills are well suited to the job.


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My view on it having drive cars, motorbikes, trucks, trams and now trains is...

Cars we all drive and know the problems we can face.
Motorbikes require an extra set of eyes.
Driving trucks requires you to think ahead because of the size but falls into road driving.

Light rail or trams requires a lot more concentration due to driving on the road with people and cars as well as obeying signals and PTS rules.

As for train driving I find the biggest hurdle is maintaining concentration over the same routes with no interaction with more or less anything.


So driving on the roads is worlds apart from driving on the iron road.

As for flying I don't know...

I used to work for Metrolink, and can see where you're coming from. However, slightly bizarrely, although we had plenty of ex-bus drivers, we didn't have many truck drivers - at least, not long-distance truckers. There were a fair few ex-home delivery drivers though.

I can't think of any reason why this should be the case - bus and truck driving probably requires a similar set of skills after all, though I don't know how many truck drivers apply - I can imagine those doing long distance may struggle to adapt to a rigid system of duty times and routes where previously they had an element of freedom within the bounds of company policies and the Road Traffic Act.

My only guess as to why lorry drivers don't often transfer over to bus, trams or trains is to do with the cargo they carry.

Yes the cargo often walks on to the bus/tram/train itself but is usually a bit more hassle than say a load of pallets of toilet rolls for example.

lewisrday said:

My only guess as to why lorry drivers don't often transfer over to bus, trams or trains is to do with the cargo they carry.

Yes the cargo often walks on to the bus/tram/train itself but is usually a bit more hassle than say a load of pallets of toilet rolls for example.

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Ex truck driver here driving a Railair coach and maybe making a move to Stagecoach...
Toilet rolls make a nice comfy bed on the top deck of a double deck trailer btw