I passed my cat C June 2009 and since passing I havn’t used it, had to have the licence as part of my job to do aircraft refuelling. At the moment I am currently in the RAF and next year shall be reaching the elusive 12 year point where I get released for good behaviour and like the idea of becoming a fully fledged C+E driver.
Obviously before leaving the military I shall be trying to gain as much experience of Cat C driving during my spare time with an agency.
Although I am aware of the job market being dire at the moment in all walks of life, could anyone let me know if it’s relatively simple to gain employment without the ‘2 years experience’. It seems reading through some of the posts that agency work is the way to go to begin with, but understand it’s good to be a little carefull when it comes to agencies as you can get ripped off and be expected to drive close to un roadworthy vehicles. What i’d like to avoid is turning up for a job and just being handed the keys and told to get on with it (due to my lack of experience).
I live in Norfolk so if anyone could give any advise on where to go, or any companies that do recruit drivers without the experience then that would be really appreciated, i’d even be willing to do work placements providing an employer could offer employment if they are satisfied with my driving.
The thing is most agencies even with class 1 with little or no experience will have clients on the books that will take drivers with little or no experience I found that gain all the experience you can I would suggest contacting and visiting local haulage firms as a lot of finding work as I have read on here has been luck and persistance good luck am sure it will work out for you.
If you could gain your C+E in the RAF prior to departing for the cold, harsh civvy world you would make yourself a much better proposition for the agencies
I would have a ring around a few now and get the feel of things in your area, there is a branch of Driverhire in Norwich (and others) who should be able to give you some pointers to work in your neck of the woods. Make sure you are up to speed on drivers hours, tacho’s and the WTD as you will be required to complete a question paper.
Be prepared to be promised the world and then sit around and wait, I’ve been with several agencies for class C work (admittedly i’m not available every day) since early May and have not had one job yet!
Alrite mate im in the RAF REGIMENT got my class 2 with the mod but i had to sit MODULES 2 & 4 because i obtained my licence after sept 2009 whent to leconfield and done my full ADR tanks and packages and since passing that ive used it once with DRIVER HIRE my agency in edinburgh delivering gas bottles localy on my block leave.
like the bloke said above know you drivers hours tacho rules and WTD you will need to know it mate.
Im going to be sitting my class 1 in august (not through the military)
because they train you on the draw bar which is no good to me, i need artics.
soon as i get that C+E the years will tick by and i can tell a few lies that ive drove artics in the military for years. and some agencys i spoke to said they accept that for experience.
The option of passing the easier way with w+d and then having a short post-test artic conversion (2 or 3 hours) is the one to go for. Many on this forum will back me up with this (I hope!!)
Yeh valid point pete ! but i just want to get it all done in one go hopefuly and not full about with booking more test etc could cost more than im paying already
whent to leconfield and done my full ADR tanks and packages and since passing that ive used it once with DRIVER HIRE my agency in edinburgh delivering gas bottles localy on my block leave.
and not full about with booking more test etc could cost more than im paying already