If you ask me the only way that you will work less than 60 hour weeks in the transport industry is by working for an agency and only making yourself available 3 or 4 days a week.
If you do three 15 hour days then you've clocked up 45 hours, however if you want to earn decent money then you have to do the 60 - 70 hour weeks.
As you have a Class 2 Kate, have you thought about doing supermarket deliveries. I think there are a few supermarket distribution centres around the West London area. For example, Sainsbury's have one at Feltham and for sure they will use agency drivers.
Get one of the transport magazines, such as 'Truck & Driver' as there will be loads of agencies advertising for drivers.
The other thing that I would look into given your location, is the catering companies serving the airlines at Heathrow. I knew a bloke who did it for a while, made good money and said it was fairly easy as it was 'shuttling' the containers from the company's base on a nearby industrial park into the airport.
I reckon there are 'nicer' driving jobs out there than recovery, don't get too fixated on it!
Good luck with your search!!