After being royally screwed over at my work with all this warehouse to wheels bullshine, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands and get my own driving experience. Just had a nice chat with a bloke from a local agency and its looking like they’ll be able to get me some weekend work/odd shifts with a local haulier. I’ll more than likely be going down to their office tomorrow to register/sort/swap a few details. I’ve been told there will be a little test on driver hours etc which I already knew about. Now I know the basics regarding WTD and driver hours but is there anything I should watch out for or know about regarding the said test? Or is it just that, a basic test and nothing to worry about?
I know its only the odd shift here and there on my day(s) off but I’d rather make a good impression with them as I’m looking forward to getting on the road.
I do have a rather few choice words for my current employer but I’m not going to express them. To say I’ve been given the run-a-round and shafted good and proper is an understatement.
Scanner:
Most agencies will leave the answer sheet within reach and tell you to bring it over to the desk when you’re finished.
Really,well how come one of our exdrivers failed one of these tests with ADR,to drive for nft,they gave him a book to swat up on regs,he’s been driving for 25 yrs .
After being royally screwed over at my work with all this warehouse to wheels bullshine, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands and get my own driving experience. Just had a nice chat with a bloke from a local agency and its looking like they’ll be able to get me some weekend work/odd shifts with a local haulier. I’ll more than likely be going down to their office tomorrow to register/sort/swap a few details. I’ve been told there will be a little test on driver hours etc which I already knew about. Now I know the basics regarding WTD and driver hours but is there anything I should watch out for or know about regarding the said test? Or is it just that, a basic test and nothing to worry about?
I know its only the odd shift here and there on my day(s) off but I’d rather make a good impression with them as I’m looking forward to getting on the road.
I do have a rather few choice words for my current employer but I’m not going to express them. To say I’ve been given the run-a-round and shafted good and proper is an understatement.
Cheers all.
Alun
I know someone who did a 7 hr test with agency/company last thurs,they told him he would be working mon-fri,2-4 am starts they rang fri night at 11.30 p.m asking him to work sat morning ,5 a.m ,he told them no,he heard no more over the w/end until they rang him tonight 5 p.m offering a 10 p.m shift(he’s been up since 6 a.m ,he again said no,he then said I told you I want mon-fri,2-4 a.m starts,there reply- the works dried up,only those shifts going ,so from what shift you want thurs- fri( 1 day the world dried up) ,you may get a shift here and there,but whether it will be what you want I’m not so sure.
I once asked the same question, and someone was kind enough to email me both the question and answer sheet. So I should have it somewhere. If you PM an email address I’ll forward it to you in the next day or so
But before some points out that the agency “idiot test” hasn’t been updated in decades, there may be a couple of obvious errors on the sheet due to changes such as working time, and night working regs. Bonus points may also be given for spotting them
The ‘test papers’ are pretty basic stuff , tacho & working time directive, geographical knowledge helps, so does numeracy & reading skills, they may give you a couple of pages of questions to answer.
Take your birth certificate or passport, & of course your licence.
The bloke seemed decent enough. Said about not being to get me work due to lack of experience and that they were only a temp work agency, however they do have a client who they should be able to get me work with at the weekends. I’m not expecting miracles like but its got to be worth a try.
I don’t get every weekend off so its not going to be every weekend. He was also aware that I work any 5 from 7 but as I have a 12 week rolling rota I know when my days off will be, which helps.
Can only give it a try. Its a more positive direction than what I’m getting at the minute anyway. Even if I get one day a month, its one day a month more experience.
Cheers for the info Bonnielass and pierre, I’ll be speaking to them tomorrow so I’ll double check what I need to take.
The only thing I’m worried about is being able to input manual entries (weekly warehouse work) into the tacho.
Tarrman:
The only thing I’m worried about is being able to input manual entries (weekly warehouse work) into the tacho.
You won’t have to do that, in a week when you drive to EU regulations any other work such as your warehouse job should be recorded manually on a chart or printout.
You only need to put your name, the date and start/finish times and sign the records.
Is that done for me by my current employer (by way of clock cards/the records they keep) or do I literally have to write it down manually on a piece of paper?
Tarrman:
Is that done for me by my current employer (by way of clock cards/the records they keep) or do I literally have to write it down manually on a piece of paper?
By you on an official record so that if stopped the authorities can see what you did at the roadside for the last 28 days if under EU regs for any part of each week
Scanner:
Most agencies will leave the answer sheet within reach and tell you to bring it over to the desk when you’re finished.
Really,well how come one of our exdrivers failed one of these tests with ADR,to drive for nft,they gave him a book to swat up on regs,he’s been driving for 25 yrs .
If you can’t pass an agency test you shouldn’t be on the road. These are basic tests with questions EVERYONE should know the answer to.
Agency bods as you say seem to be decent enough to talk to, not forgetting that for every hour/day you work for them, it’s there monetary gain too. It’s like you say, it’s better than no experience at all , every day counts, but will you stay in warehouse or be a full time driver ? Maybe sign up with another agency as well, if they have no work coming in for you. ( I’ve never seen an answer sheet at an agency!!), so don’t count on that! Have a read through the rules & regs, & anything else you may need.
Try some local haulage companies.
, & tell them any hours dcpc you may have done, if you have ADR take that licence too