New driver here
Just got my Class 2 licence in November.
Last week I sign up with an agency and I get my first work on Friday. Driving a flat bed truck delivering some stillages. Friday goes along fine, I’m pnervous, have no real idea what I’m doing but get through it asking questions etc.
Agency tells me they want me back on Monday. Great. This time, totally misjudge a right turn and drive the back/side of my Lorry into a car that had stopped to let me pass. No damage to my Lorry but a pretty big ding and a broken light on her car. Speak to the companies insurance, they take my details etc.
New job the next day, driving a 7.5t truck for a chain store delivering electrical goods, sofas, beds etc. Halfway through the day I’m driving down a country lane and suddenly the hedges from both sides get very close and hit all my side mirrors, ripping the backs off 3 of them and completely wrecking the kerb mirror on the passenger side. Get back to the store warehouse at the end of a 14 hour shift, report the incident to their insurance. They said they’d phone me/the store back the next day.
The next day I’m driving for this store again, and the agency phones me and tell me that after having two accidents in 3 days they’re pulling me off hgv’s and want me to do some van work for a couple of weeks. I start tomorrow at 5am. I begrudgingly agree.
Later that day, still driving for the store, I hit a front garden fence while doing a 3 point turn and break one slat. I speak to the owner and they tell me it’s not a problem. It’s just a bit of broken wood. No damage to the lorry. Drivers mate reports the incident to the store, I get a call from the agency, saying the store are furious I’ve had another accident and they can’t let me keep driving. The van work in meant to start tomorrow at 5am? Forget it. It’s not happening. Spent the rest of my 14 hour shift almost in tears.
I’m heartbroken at the moment. Depressed does not cover it. I feel like a failure. I feel like I’ve wasted the last 6/12 months of my life working towards this career I’m either really wrong for or have horrible luck with. I know I’m a good driver, I’ve not had an accident in my car in years.
But now I’m worried I’ll never get a driving job again. My agency definitely seem fed up, and I feel like any other employer will ask about any accidents in the last 5 years and I’ll have to report these 3 incidents in 3 days, and won’t hire me either.
So basically I’m asking you, Am I Screwed?
