Hello all,
Just 5 months ago I passed the C+E test at Swynnerton up near Stafford. Now people are passing this test all the time so you’re probably asking “so what?”. Well I am still in the Army and I have 17 months left before I leave after what will be a full and successful 22 year career. In my day to day job I have nothing whatsoever to do with LGVs but I decided that as I am moving to the Stoke on Trent area this could be a good career choice to make.
As soon as I got home to my base location in the South West I went to Melksham and signed on with an employment agency there. In no time at all I was driving Class C for various operators through the agency, but as soon as my license returned from DVLA I was on an assessment with Arla in Frome. The assessment went well and I was then given my first task with them a week later, just a solo run to the Oakthorpe location in London to pick up a trailer, but nevertheless I was trucking 
Since then I have been given numerous jobs with Arla visiting Oakthorpe, Hatfield Peveral and Ashby De La Zouch. But luckily I have also had jobs with a couple of courier companies in the area travelling to Lichfield and Cannock… well that was an experience in how forklifts can whizz about as though in a choreographed dance of unison I can tell you. Other jobs included driving from Bridwater to Enfield, Tesco Thurrock and Tate & Lyle; from Devizes to Slough and Rugby. I have even managed a night out up to Darlington Argos RDC which was great!
The point of telling all this is that with a bit of flexibility and focus I know that even as a newbie there is work out there if you’re willing to work short notice shifts, a mixture of C+E and C when required and the most important advice of all, ask those drivers around you when you don’t know something… even if it is " excuse me, but can you show me where the brake is on this trailer please?“… and that was just last week 
(being 6’5” means I sometimes miss the low down brakes hidden in the trailer chassis) 
I have 541 days left to serve but I am already looking at companies in the Stoke on Trent area (and beyond), I feel less anxious about an enforced career change and I have confirmed to myself that being a trucker is what I want to do. In December I have a full CPC to get me ready for September! I also have an ADR course so that I can add other strings to bows and stuff…
I am still a newbie, I am still on the beginning of a learning curve, I haven’t royally FUBAR yet and I haven’t picked up a wrong trailer, yet But there is one thing I do know, I am a trucker and I love it