Finally behind the wheel

Heres my a little story about my experience with finding a job when youve just passed.

So, I get my licence back and straight away I registered in many agencies, send CVs everywhere (Brakes, Palletways, COOP etc, why not to try) half of them called me back and what I could hear that I am 23 years old with no experience, sorry but we cant take you.

Even agencies where they advertised NEW PASSES WELCOME asked me “Can you drive a van?” Of course no, I didnt do my licence for VAN, and spent a money to do some labour work (Yodel) for £8 an hour. then I get a message from one of them about 8/9 pm on saturday evening “Can you start @clipper Swadlicote 3:30 am”, thats about 5 miles from my home, replied YES.

I came there and they send me to the canteen for about 3 hours because “This guy is new, hadnt induction and he needs to be trained”, and finally someone came to me about 7 am, told me to go home because they do inductions only from Monday - Thursday, didnt say anything… I came back really frustrated.

On Monday I called to the agency, who sent me there, and spoke about that, and guy said "Its normal with them, they have a mess, we can offer you an induction on next week, so I said I can wait that time, but will try to find something.

Other agencies tried put me on C1, or Van again, or (thats the best part)Vehicle Transporting to the customers for minimum wage, and just only VANS or cars, because I am not experienced in CLASS 2.

I dont know who would work for Vehicle Transporting, why ? Youll have deliver a bus/van to the customer, drive about 30-40 miles, and then comeback to the office or go to the different pickup location using public access and pay for it from your pocket, of course theyll pay you that back within 30 days. And again, MINIMUM WAGE. So, I said NO thank you. But, they called me back, if I want to get a work for class 2, I MUST go to that work. So said GOODBYE. Nobody will push me on what I dont like or dont want to do.

Then on monday, I went to Euro Car Parts store, and I seen parked truck. I asked that guy wheres he working, @DHL in Fradley Park, he told me that they are looking for drivers asap. So, came back really fast to home and called them and “would you come today for a registration and a test?” of course I did, 100 questions, and passed that everything, then told me to go home and wait for confirmation of availability for induction.
I was on my way to home, and they called me to come on Wednesday 6 am for driving assessment. OK, fine will come.

Yesterday I finnished my last shift in the warehouse as a bloody forklift truck at 10PM and told them probably will not come back here.

I came for an assessment, with no pressure no stress, said to myself will be alright. Just first minutes were for me “ohhh its much bigger than I drove before on my test” SCANIA, Brand new! “Thats gonna be your truck when youll pass your test, sounds alright?” Just about 6000 miles on the clock. First, questions like on CPC test, and check all around the vehicle, check sheet etc… Done.
Then I had three reversings between parked trailers, lorries and next to the wall, done really easy. About 40 minutes for driving on the public road and “Congratulations youve passed your assessment, CAN YOU START TOMORROW?!” Of course YES. then to do many paperworks, some videos and got the card, ready to go for tomorrows shift.

Really I felt like "Ive lost my money, nobody want to let me work on it, why I did it, even my girlfriend was angry that they want me only on a VAN. I think I shouldnt write on my CV that I was a Van driver before, aspecially on this time when they want lots of courier drivers.

I couldnt find any informations about assessment DHL @fradley park

Why I wrote so much in here? Just for other new or experienced drivers, what to expect on your assessment at DHL. Its everywhere the same, I asked already :smiley:

Now you know what to expect :slight_smile:
Take care

Well done mate and good luck

Congrats on getting a start. Your approach to finding work would certainly be different to mine. But it’s worked out for you it seems so nice one.

Your DHL assessment is valid on all their sites. So if you don’t like that particular role you can fairly easily jump ship to another contract. Assuming it’s nothing specialised.

I’m actually a big advocate for having been ‘assessed’ at a number of big companies. I’ve got DHL, and a couple of Supermarkets. It basically means you can jump in and out of places very very easily.

P.S - wanna know a secret. I mainly drive class 1, and was recently asked to drive a car - and I actually did it. I’m being paid the same rate to do the job. I really couldn’t care what it is. But tha’ts just me.

What’s the job like @ DHL Fradley? I work for Clipper im Swad, but it’s gone quite so looking for something else. Thanks