A driver comes with a new licence no experience of the industry at all. For experience would it be fair to place him with another driver on multidrop on rigids and artics, to do some of the driving and assisting with deliveries for minimum wage.
They would be driving
That doesn’t really give them driving experience though. and i cant see any employer paying out for a worker he doesn’t really need, when he can hire an experienced driver right away.
In a perfect world though, that might be a good idea.
Yes - so long as it’s only for a couple of weeks and he gets to experience different jobs.
My outfit has done this with mixed results. One guy quit on day 2 saying that it was too hard 
Another worked the 2 weeks and then said he had a better offer. 2 or 3 others lasted a while and then left (one got fired). Most of our drivers have been there years and turnover is very low.
C-Kay:
That doesn’t really give them driving experience though. and i cant see any employer paying out for a worker he doesn’t really need, when he can hire an experienced driver right away.In a perfect world though, that might be a good idea.
In a perfect (fair) world new drivers would have been given the opportunity to learn all about doing the ‘other work’ required in the industry in the years between when they leave school at 16 and getting a licence at 21.They can then get their (road) driving experience by doing the job not being treated as a ‘trainee’ on the job at an age when they should be out there doing it and in that fair world they’d also be given the choice of wether they want their career to be one of long distance international work or that uk/local multi drop work from day 1.But in the real world it’s more likely that new drivers will forever be stuck with playing second fiddle on lower wages on sub standard work while the so called ‘experienced’ drivers think that only they have a god given right to the best jobs and the best wages.That’s my experience of being an employed driver.It would’nt have been like that if I could have got that offroad experience from 16 to 21 and then used the money I’d earnt while learning the job to start up as an owner driver as soon as I’d got my licence.
Take a look at the GERMANS and how they do their
training for youngsters ,it is a THREE YEAR TRAINING
period,and they get taught every thing from A–Z
this is what they should offer to the youngsters in the UK,.
and when the pass they are well trained and have
driven alone after a set time with the company
they are attached to whilst training,.
I didn’t have any training at all for doing the job, all I had ever done was 40 hours in a day-cabbed Ford Cargo with a 20’ single axle trailer for my lesssons, and next thing I knew it was 4 a.m. and pitch black and I was having to blindside a 40’ tilt with a sleeper cab with a gearbox I didn’t understand… the only real instructions White Trux gave me was “It’s that one over there, don’t be late”.
Harry Monk:
I didn’t have any training at all for doing the job, all I had ever done was 40 hours in a day-cabbed Ford Cargo with a 20’ single axle trailer for my lesssons, and next thing I knew it was 4 a.m. and pitch black and I was having to blindside a 40’ tilt with a sleeper cab with a gearbox I didn’t understand… the only real instructions White Trux gave me was “It’s that one over there, don’t be late”.
That does’nt sound anything like the world I new at 21 in 1980 Harry and if you’d have been a new driver then you would have found things a lot different.The interviews or more likely the phone converstions I had when looking for a job all went along the lines of how old are you and what experience have you got.But my first artic job when I was lucky enough to find an employer who’d employ me was something like that but I knew my way round a decent box and it was pitch dark in an unlit yard putting a 40 foot box trailer between two others with inches each side.
I think its a good idea, as long as the driver showing the ropes wants to help out, even better if you get paid 
I started out that way, was with Palmer and Harveys, did a week unpaid, first couple of days I went out with one of their regular drivers to show me the ropes, then once we were finished I would drive the empty motor back, then I would drive the truck from start to finish but the other driver was there to help out, then on the final day they let me loose
What could they find to do for 3 years .When you pass your test you should be able to drive so a couple of days with a driver should be all that i s required to show the dos and donts of the particular job
How about the Nolan’s way, ‘theres your truck, your booked on the morning boat out of Dublin, tip Monday’ was terrifying but so exciting at the same time. Learnt more in first three months making ■■■■ ups than anyone could teach me.
This is from a thread about how I got started recently…
Full thread here… viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52790
Well thats it…
Two week trial now over, got my own wagon and officially start work on Monday morning at 6.30…!!
Taking a 32x10ft slice (part of a pre-fab building) down to Southend. Its 1 of 6 going down at 1 hour intervals (TM said I could follow second wagon and go down together to give me a bit more confidence).
The first weeks trail I was originally to be on tipper work but got put on transport double manned, mainly cabins, plant and machinery. I got a crash course in securing the above with chains and straps and was driving for 2 1/2 days, tight reverses, loads of rear swing out, and tricky parking.
The second week I was out with another driver also doing transport but on a bigger beaver tail wagon, although I didn’t get to drive I learnt a hell of a lot by talking, questioning and watching.
I used the hiab most days and couldn’t have wished for two better drivers to be with during the trial.
Have to say that all the lads I spoke to were very helpfull and had lots of time, not turning their noses up at the newbie. The [zb]s won’t tell me my nick name though…!
Got back to the yard about 2 this afternoon and TM told be to put my gear in a wagon and go and load the slice and bring it back ready for Monday morning…
So my first solo trip was with loads of overhang, 10ft wide , loads of bunting and flashing ambers front and rear…!
Spent most of the time looking in my mirrors.! Pedestrians, sign posts, lights, parked cars… My heart was beating double time…
My oh my what a great feeling, people flashing you through, kids pointing etc…
Really looking forward to Monday and got my fingers crossed it all goes well…
Do I get to post in the profess ional drivers forum come Monday night…■■?
switchlogic:
How about the Nolan’s way, ‘theres your truck, your booked on the morning boat out of Dublin, tip Monday’ was terrifying but so exciting at the same time. Learnt more in first three months making ■■■■ ups than anyone could teach me.
If only I’d been part English and born in Ireland instead of the other way round. 
By the way was’nt that the Monday 2 am boat out of Dublin tip Italy or Spain same day. .
Best way is chuck them in teh deepin, well as long as you think there confident. My very 1st trip was a load from Stirling straight into teh heart of London, ive never looked back since… Would love continental work at some point as well… But this ■■■■■ footing around is no-use… Either some can do it or some dont.
Carryfast:
switchlogic:
How about the Nolan’s way, ‘theres your truck, your booked on the morning boat out of Dublin, tip Monday’ was terrifying but so exciting at the same time. Learnt more in first three months making ■■■■ ups than anyone could teach me.If only I’d been part English and born in Ireland instead of the other way round.
Well I’m totally English and have never worked for a British company! It was luxury boat, the 10am Merchant, didn’t see much of that again. Holyhead Holyhead Holyhead. Only did UK with Nolans, they didn’t trust me to go any further.
i wish my scanner was working i have a truck mag from 1985 with letters in from drivers complaining they cant get a job cuz theyve got no experiance.im sorry but to all new drivers who complain about this you aint the first and you certainly wont be the last its just the way it is dont be picky about what truck your offered. cuz far to many new drivers expect to be given a new truck when theyve passed their test and ive seen some turn theyre nose cuz theyve been asked to drive somthing that wasnt a scania 
Carl:
i wish my scanner was working i have a truck mag from 1985 with letters in from drivers complaining they cant get a job cuz theyve got no experiance.im sorry but to all new drivers who complain about this you aint the first and you certainly wont be the last its just the way it is dont be picky about what truck your offered. cuz far to many new drivers expect to be given a new truck when theyve passed their test and ive seen some turn theyre nose cuz theyve been asked to drive somthing that wasnt a scania
And I was one of the new drivers in the 1980’s who could’nt get the type of job or truck I wanted when I started out and that’s how it stayed throughout my career.But the thing is if you take your idea it’s more than likely that you’ll end up in a catch 22 of if you don’t start out in the exact type of truck and job which you’d like then your whole career will probably stay like that because no/very few employers will want to employ someone with a background of driving a low spec fleet wagon on uk work in a top spec wagon on international work and I realised that soon after I got my licences.That’s also when I realised that if it’s that top spec motor on long distance international work that you’re in the job for then being an owner driver or emigrating to a country where there’s more chance of that type of work is probably your best option.My advice is the opposite to yours.If you don’t get the right start,on the right wagon,doing the exact work which you’re looking for then walk away.
switchlogic:
Carryfast:
switchlogic:
How about the Nolan’s way, ‘theres your truck, your booked on the morning boat out of Dublin, tip Monday’ was terrifying but so exciting at the same time. Learnt more in first three months making ■■■■ ups than anyone could teach me.If only I’d been part English and born in Ireland instead of the other way round.
Well I’m totally English and have never worked for a British company! It was luxury boat, the 10am Merchant, didn’t see much of that again. Holyhead Holyhead Holyhead. Only did UK with Nolans, they didn’t trust me to go any further.
Perhaps I was better off here then after all.
I might depend on what type of work you start on a as a new driver, but I was greatful to start off double manning with my brother, learnt loads more about the job a lot faster and safer than if I’d been let loose on my own. Although when I did go off on my own I had to learn a whole load of new things very fast. My brother was on tilt work and the first work I got on my own was agricultural work and I’d only done a couple of trips with him so I was still as green as grass.
And it was as other have said “trucks will be over there, keys over there, you’ll need to leave about 5am, have you ever used a tipper, No! well ask when of the other drivers when you get there.” 
The only thing I can say is thank God for experienced drivers with the patience to help me.
A new driver will only learn under those circumstances if the old hand wants him there.There is no end of miserable old gits out there who would happily give new drivers enough rope so that they can hang themselves.The last thing that any driver wants who is trying to get the job done is some newbie slowing him down and asking irritating questions all day long.For this kind of thing to work you are going to need a patient tutor and a slightly easier run to give the newbie a chance to learn.
williemac:
A driver comes with a new licence no experience of the industry at all. For experience would it be fair to place him with another driver on multidrop on rigids and artics, to do some of the driving and assisting with deliveries for minimum wage.They would be driving
totally unfare.
chuck the keys at him, and tell him not to break it.
why subject him to, i’ve been here, i’ve been there, i had a live shark in the fridge once on my way to ontario?
just let him get on with it.