New Pass Driver Saying Hello

Hi All,

New here and just passed my Class 1 on the 21st Feb (after passing Class 2 on the 7th Feb).

I had made a big list of a lot of the transport companies around my Local area and once I had passed the Class 1 test on the Friday I was straight on the phone working through the list.
I was surprised by how easy it was to speak to the relevant people at the firms and while there were a few places that needed experience (which I completely understand) the fact that I am 45 years old helped in others.
To cut a long story short I had a formal job offer but Close of Business Monday and I start a Class 1 role out of Harwich on the 9th March.

This is something I have always wanted to do, I’m expecting a massive culture shock after close to 20 years working in the financial services industry pushing paper around desks and emails around networks. It was actually very refreshing to speak to people about work instead of trying to get through various levels of electronic filtering.

I’ll probably have some stupid questions at times, I specialise in those but I do usually make a pretty good effort at figuring it out for myself first.
I’ll say in advance that I have already appreciated the experience that is within this forum and any hints, tips and when required criticism is accepted and as it’s all electronic I make a habit of never, ever taking anything personally.

Congratulations.

.
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on passing class 2 and class 1.

I believe if you put in the hard work you can make finding employment easier to do.

Like you I had made a long list of haulage companies to work for months before even passing, once I had passed I went round and visited them in person to hand out CV’s and speak to the bosses, I was completely shocked how easy it was to just walk straight in to places and speak to the boss.

By the end of the day I had secured full time permanent employment direct with a company.

I am curious about your user name though, tipping is normally ‘’ reserved ‘’ for the experienced driver.
.

Congratulations mate.
I’ve been driving nearly 4 months…mostly love it.
Occasionally infuriated by the office.[emoji6]

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Harwich…Recruitment…class one… New pass… First go… [emoji54]

… I’ve just put me hat in my plate, forks out, knife poised…[emoji38]

GBN were recruiting, I’ve to try them myself yet, but I’m not holding hope.

If you got into DSV, I’ll personally allow you to cover me hat in ghost chili’s before I swallow it down [emoji16]

Congrats though bloke, makes a change to read that MAYBE there is still work for new drivers without the hallowed 30 decades experience [emoji106]

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Benjie83:
If you got into DSV, I’ll personally allow you to cover me hat in ghost chili’s before I swallow it down [emoji16]

You can leave the Ghost Chillis off to the side
Happy to share the info but not sure on ettiquite about posting it on open forum. Happy to be PMed if you want more detail.

Well-Jell:
I am curious about your user name though, tipping is normally ‘’ reserved ‘’ for the experienced driver.

I honestly didn’t even consider that use of Tippers. I use the name in other forums as I lived in Tiptree and originally came from NZ.

Thanks for the welcome folks.

Nik

tippers_kiwi:

Benjie83:
If you got into DSV, I’ll personally allow you to cover me hat in ghost chili’s before I swallow it down [emoji16]

You can leave the Ghost Chillis off to the side [emoji38]
Happy to share the info but not sure on ettiquite about posting it on open forum. Happy to be PMed if you want more detail.

Well-Jell:
I am curious about your user name though, tipping is normally ‘’ reserved ‘’ for the experienced driver.

I honestly didn’t even consider that use of Tippers. I use the name in other forums as I lived in Tiptree and originally came from NZ.

Thanks for the welcome folks.

Nik

Your a gent [emoji41][emoji41]

If you’d care too share via pm, be much appreciated indeed, an as I do anyone if we cross paths, a pint is owed regardless.[emoji6]

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No such thing as a stupid question , better ask than risk a fine down the road or something breaking down , ask away on here , and well done on passing , my top tip would be , when you are doing a very tight turn around , for example in the goods area or a supermarket/RDC or shopping mall , i take off all my lines on the rear of the cab .

Press the shunt button on the trailer , this allows the unit to pull the trailer , once you have spun around , put the lines back in , release the shunt button , off you go , without ripping off the lines and a long wait for a call out , plus the expense .

Will you be doing day runs , home every night or away all week ?

Thanks Toby, it is info like that which these forums are priceless for. Hopefully I remember it before I make that turn

From the info I have it is a bit of a mix of day work with some nights out once I am comfortable but it’s not a 5 day tramping job.

Mix of Containers, curtain side and flatbed. I actually cant believe my luck in finding a role that sounds like it will give me quite broad experience as a starting role.

If you are on nights out , your employer may have a SNAP parking account , this system means the driver does not pay for parking , just check in and give them your number plate details , on this account there is trailer and truck washing all over the UK .
Some parking involves booking ahead with an ETA , some popular places like The Hollies at Cannock and Chippenham truck stop fill up by 17.00 to 18.00 , if you do find a space , it will the one hard to reverse in to .
On SNAP you pay for the meal , if the parking is not on SNAP , you keep the receipt and you will be paid a week later , sometimes the meal is included in the parking .

Most truck stops have a bar , like Junction 29 Chesterfield and The Stockyard , the atomosphere is really good and have a natter with other drivers .If you do containers , the container or box will be sealed with a metal bolt on the back door , which means it is not possible to check the load prior to leaving the port , in case of cargo that has toppled over , which makes the box top heavy when you are cornering .

On arrival at the customer, they all have bolt croppers to open the box , if you carry bolt croppers in the cab , and goods are missing , the driver gets the blame .

If the trailer is a sliding roof , or canopy , a long metal pole with a hook on the end is needed to slide open the roof , most are rusted up and do not move well , and require a lot of effort to open .

For night out kit , carry double of what you need, such as toiletries and duvets to save carting it back and forth to the car at weekends .
For Winter , i use a high TOG factor duvet , for Summer , a lighter one , and a big sports bag to carry the kit , a good quality Thermos to save on MSA coffee prices , and a camping gas cooker to brew up or make a meal in the cab .
Ask the boss for plastic corners to protect the load for cuts when ratchet straps are pulled tight .

I strap the load with the tension handles on the near side or kerb side , so you are not stood in a live motorway lane when they become loose ,some drivers prefer them on the off side , so they can keep an eye on them while driving .

While driving around , make a note of decent places to park , some companies do not pay for parking , at least some place with a loo .

For a pallet that weighs over 400 kgs , a ratchet strap is needed , for one that weighs below 400 kgs , internal straps are required , when collecting a loaded trailer , that another driver has loaded and dropped at a depot or in the yard , and he has sealed the trailer , you are allowed to break the seal to inspect the condition of the load before hitting the public highway .

As a new driver , expect lots of mistakes when using the digital tacho ,especially manual entries , entries are recorded on the tacho , to tally up or match up to the start and finish times written on a daily log sheet .
They are easy to mess up , if it goes wrong , DVSA are not worried if you make minor mistakes , it is the covering up of information that they do not like , and they regard it as fraud .

For example , you are told to start work at 06.00 am , the unit or trailer is not there, it is still in the garage or not come back from the night run and it arrives at 09.00 , you then enter the correct mode in to the tacho , either when you get in the cab or at the end of the day .

If you go home for the night , it is best to take out the digital tacho card from the tacho , in case the shunter or mechanic moves your truck in the night , which will mess up the daily rest .
When parked over night on a night out , it is up to you to leave the card in or take it out at the end of shift to record daily rest , all drivers do it differently .
I take mine out , in case i have blocked the farmers gate and move it five feet .

Thanks for these tips, it’s all info that helps me get my head around it. What I’m seeing is I might end up with a load of checklists while I get going and eventually I’ll have routines. Another point I’ve picked up is I must not rush!

The firm does have a snap account so I’ve been checking that out. They did say sometimes you cant get to a Snap park but mostly some planning will see you right.

Well done kiwi,i do not know what a “snap park” is please enlighten me .

peggydeckboy:
Well done kiwi,i do not know what a “snap park” is please enlighten me .

I meNt a lorry park that works with the Snap account.

I would add , keep a diary , and record all the events of the day , delivery places and times , in case a speeding fine comes through the post , you can check where you were , in case of a cloned number plate , or the boss queries a missed delivery .

Hi kiwi thanks, however ,i still have no idea .what a snap account is, and why is there one, honestly I have no idea,is it a payment method like the D.K.V. or a diesel card to pay for parking, i am 75 , nearly all my working life up the road finished in2002.health issues, i visited in N.Z. The 1960S on the ships, where you would score for a bottle of old spice aftershave…with the ladies…better than currency…dbp.

peggydeckboy:
Hi kiwi thanks, however ,i still have no idea .what a snap account is, and why is there one, honestly I have no idea,is it a payment method like the D.K.V. or a diesel card to pay for parking, i am 75 , nearly all my working life up the road finished in2002.health issues, i visited in N.Z. The 1960S on the ships, where you would score for a bottle of old spice aftershave…with the ladies…better than currency…dbp.

Got ya. The Snap account is as you say, the same as a fuel card but for parking. They have various parks around the country that you can use and they work off your number plate and bill the company directly instead of the driver having to pay.

My Dad emigrated to NZ in 1961. He left from Switzerland and made his way to Tilbury where he got on the Orion for a 90 day voyage to his new home. Based on what you say above I now understand why he stayed

Hi Tippers_kiwi,for a new driver you have got it sorted, i have been on the snapacc site , this is the first time I have been impressed in modern technology within transport especially within some European countries and no cash to bother about.dbp
PS your dad made the correct decision back in the 1960s NEW ZEALAND was one of the prized runs, especially for the [back then] girls.on Sundays, all the “families” would walk around the docks ship spotting and some ships alowed visiting.i was on cargo boats not as attractive as liners.lol.dbp.

Looking forward to an update here, hope it goes well chap [emoji482]

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