That’s good Cosmic!. I’m self-funded too,but that’s the way I prefer it, I don’t like oweing anyone anything. If something’s not good,wev’e got the luxury of walking away with no penalties. Another one of the many things iv’e learnt is do your class 1 if you can,because job-wise you’ve got a bigger pond to fish in. 2 classes instead of 1. It might sound obvious but it wasn’t to me at first. Personnally,now iv’e got a class 2 start doing what I want to do,i’d rather spend any more money I might find investing in that. Remote lorry-mounted-crane,ADR etc before i spend money on a class 1 route that i’m not fussed about doing. Plus it opens up more jobs,especially with the agency. If you’ve got class 2,plus things like lorry-mounted-crane,ADR,CSCS etc you’ll be higher up their list of people to call than those with just a driving licence. The same obviously applies to class 1. In a nutshell,the more you can bring to a new employer,the more likely the ‘2 years experience’ business will go out the window. Keep the updates coming 
cosmicroy:
mac12:
How old are you and what have you been doing?Hi, I’m 48 years old, currently run an engineering factory, fantastic pay etc etc, all perks slowly going and new owner a complete proper billy hunt! No sideways move for me as the field I’m in is dying away unfortunately. I don’t want another managerial role, just a regular job but I’ve loved trucks from a young age! I was the kid who wanted to be a truck driver but university and a well paid job got in the way! Just chasing my dream…
Exactly like my circumstances…did the med a couple of years ago as was always planning to do LGV driving at some point, then as I got made redundant did my CAT C and passed end of April, finalised my CPC and signed up to an agency…on Day 2 drove a Dumper and it was a manual which I did not learn on!!
Day 3 was driving brand new Auto DAF 18t vehicles, Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Collision, Lane Alert…talk about learning curve. Agency are on my case with more work but told them to hold off this week as doing my CAT C+E training, so all being well love to move onto the bendy stuff!!
Flipping reverse but its in my head and had enough practice so hopefully do not 8alls up the test!!
Day 1 yesterday was daunting. I passed a year ago in a twelve tonner which isn’t much different to a 7.5 which I was used to,and yesterday I was driving a 32t twin-steer rear-steer beavertail around south east London. I have to keep telling myself to get a grip and get on with it. I’m paranoid about wiping something out with the tail.Apart from being in London (who wants to),I’m living the dream
Boltonboy - sounds good you got work with your agency, I guess its good experience driving different stuff! Good luck for the C+E training and test, I’ve not even been in a truck yet and thinking about reversing already … you’ll no doubt master that soon too.
Nobby - I’m glad the first day went well and driving a beast through London too! Bet you had a big sigh when you finished the shift?!? Big league stuff now but you must have noticed the drop in the standard with the driving in London now, it drives me nuts just driving a car there let alone drive a 32T ! 
Hi Guys, passed my class 2 in April, currently work full time in a office been doing it 7 years now and aboslutly hate it but it secure income so just working on weekends at the moment, but really enjoy this kind of work. Had my second days work last Sunday doing exhibition work at the just eat festival in regents park. Honestly say it was the easiest 13.5 hours of work i have ever done. As for the pay i couldnt believe it when i did the maths, made 218.00 including VAT as i have set up a limited company, thats half a weeks work in my day job.
Hi reiss, that seems like me in current job but yet to pass class 2, I’ll milk it as long as I can in my current job until I pass and will probably dip my toe in the water to see what it’s like but I’m sure it’s going to better than my current job regardless! Roll on Sunday rates, seems like good money you are on! The agency was happy to take you on with no ‘experience’ that sounds promising for me!
They say that being thrown into the deep-end is ‘character-building’ cosmicroy. It’s certainly made me get on with it. One thing iv’e learned quickly is when your’e turning youv’e got to have your eyes EVERYWHERE.
To your original post,now that I’ve got my foot in the door,all my thoughts of ‘how am I going to get two years experience if I can’t get a start?’ seem a distant memory. All newbies probably ask themselves it. Like I say,if the money’s ok for you and they want you,you’ll be in. Have faith my friend. I wish you all the best
Hi Cosmic, Yeah we are on the same page. To be fair a lot of the agencies will just want you on there books. But it just takes that one to give you a shot then they all will give you a shot, once your past the “I have no professional driving experience what’s so ever”. Also from my experience look for the agencies that do home delivery work, that’s I got my start. Most probably because nobody wants that work so they accepted new passers… I’ve took off a couple of days off my day job this week so i can get a feel for waking up at stupid o’clock day in day out so off for some home delivery work now.