Right, thought I’d let you guys know how I’m doing. I’ve been driving artic’s exclusively for the last 6 weeks (my first 6wks c+e).
I’m still struggling a bit with reversing, I’ve only “got it in one” once or twice but, in my defence, nearly everywhere I go there’s next to no space. I am considerably better than when I started though and a fair bit more confident out on the road - though going forwards was never really a problem.
I’ve not damaged anything yet and havent killed anyone so life’s good I have forgotten to disconnect the anderson lead for the tail lift twice though and set off, luckily it didn’t break either time
I’ve driven nothing but merc axor’s apart from an automatic daf xf which I hated, got a clapped out old iveco tomorow night though. I took a double decker out in my second week and have pulled a couple since, they’re no different really - just need to be a bit steadier on bends and roundabouts etc (and remember to disconnect the power lead before setting off ).
My main problem seems to be paperwork and the little differences places have with how they do things. I just need to get off the bloody agencies now
Well done possibly stay with agency for now as it seem like you are getting plenty of experience with a variety of things which will stand you in good stead also don’t worry to much as someone might just take you on full time for them if you have been driving for them on agency ( yes this does happen ) as some companies go through agency to acquire staff
It’s not - I’m on 1 meal a day at the moment (even the bloody dog gets two!) I work the night and don’t feel like eating anything, I then go home and sleep until 3-4pm up in time for tea and the cycle starts again - I’m not putting any weight on, but I dont think I’m losing any either
Really starting to get fed up with agencies at the moment though, gonna start doing some serious looking for a full time job.
It’s not - I’m on 1 meal a day at the moment (even the bloody dog gets two!) I work the night and don’t feel like eating anything, I then go home and sleep until 3-4pm up in time for tea and the cycle starts again - I’m not putting any weight on, but I dont think I’m losing any either
Really starting to get fed up with agencies at the moment though, gonna start doing some serious looking for a full time job.
Thought you were enjoying the removal work mate?
Btw, one meal a day no good for you. I know… You just end up pigging out by eating 3 meals in one go and that don’t work. Small amounts and regular is what you need and don’t eat owt in the 4 hours hours before you go to bed.
Think you’re thinking of someone else with the removals mate, I do it occasionally but I certainly dont like it.
I’m just fed up with the lies, decipt and general b.s. you get with agencies - along with not-so-good pay and work to match.
I’ve done the past two nights for a bakery (bread) class 2 and the same run tonight in an artic which will involve two drops and me dragging stacks of loaded bread trays onto the tail lift and into the customer’s place - no wheels, literally drag half a trailer full off at each drop; all for the princely sum of £8.50/hr I’ve had £8/hr for rdc work in a rigid
Next week’s three nights of the same but class 2 (£6.50/hr) and two days at pickfords for the same rate, I know things could be much worse but I got my class 1 to get away from this ■■■■
I know what you mean about agencies I only have my class 2 and am working for a chain that expects me to handball everything off the lorry whole pallets into places like coffee shops etc some of the places i cant get into very well and i panic that i cant find places did a day Fri and started at 0500 didn`t finish till 2030 and had to leave one of the drops as did not have enough time i took my hubby with me that day and to be honest if he had not been there would not have got half of it done and to be honest was really questioning wether was cut out for this but my hubby was saying your driving is fine and this is all experience so that you can start to pick your jobs but its gonna take time to be fair I do over analize and worry about getting it right so i have to stop worrying so much about the job and just get on with it but Im one of those people that if doing somat have to do it perfect and critisise myself all the time !!!
Anyway have like you only been working for about 5 weeks so will have to get on with this until such time as i have enough experience to feel confident good luck with all your work hope it gets better for you
Jx
Ps ref eating im the same and when get myself all worked up cant eat take some fruit with you bananas brill source of instant energy and you need to eat something as your body goes into starvation mode otherwise then anything you eat your body grabds and stores as it dont know when the next meal is coming
From what I can make out, and from my last 3yrs or so, about 80-90% of agency jobs are like that, just the ■■■■ no-one else wants. I can see how unhappy you are though and I’d urge you to talk to the agency, tell them it’s no good for anyone; the clients not getting what they want, it’s not good for the agency and you’re not enjoying it. They will probably find you something else.
Think about it; they make out they’re doing you some kind of favour? Wrong! They’re giving you work because they need YOU, would they send someone with little experience if they had an old hand to send? Nope. That’s why they’re so keen to get new people on their books- nearly everyone else has tried the bad jobs and refused to go anymore ;0) accept ■■■■, get ■■■■ - simple (I know, I’m guilty of it too)
To be fair to the agency I know the girl who gives me work and she has been putting my name forward its more the company i have been sent to if she had not been there I would prob be still be on 7.5 tonners with no cat c experience once my magic year is up in april shte may have more options on where I get sent its not I’m lazy as I dont mind hard work and I love driving the truck its just that it takes so long to do deliveries as so much to shift on my own anyway until that magic year is up i have no choice hopefully then i will get jobs with mostly driving and less of the handballing crap
I have forgotten to disconnect the anderson lead for the tail lift twice though and set off, luckily it didn’t break either time 
I was always ripping off the power leads as well 
I’ve had £8/hr for rdc work in a rigid 
