Heya Folks,
I passed my cat C in Jan 2012 and my C+E in Oct 2012. I have been on C pretty much since I passed my test and now am looking to get on C+E. I’m willing to relocate, do days, nights, weekends, nights out, weeks away, whatever will get me a foot in the door! I’m only 27, got no wife, no kids, no morgage and no ties! Any ideas on how to get round the whole 2 year experince bull ■■■■ would be a great help!
Where are you based mate? I live in Essex, quite a few firms round here would give you a chance if it were right place right time. Im 24 and start a weeks training on monday for a bulk blower job so there are chances. Do you have a hiab licence by any chane?
Hi mate,
I am based in Camberley, Surrey at the moment but I am willing to relocate to get a chance!
And I dont have a HIAB atm either.
And before anyone says it, I’ve applied for the elves outfit this morning, must be desperate!
Bud try the co op in andover thats where i work great for exp couldnt beat it some of the places you have to get 35 rear steer or 40ft or 45ft trailer in will have you thinking how did i do that… Haha well it does me.
- your not that far to travel, if not with ND try milestone the main agy there.
Dan
Good luck with the hunt, all I can add is that if I put another truck on the road around April, and if you haven’t found anything by then, then I’d have a chat with you about it.
try the smaller family firms, they will be more likely to give you a chance, i know i would (and have previously) if i was looking for a driver
Dan_1986:
Bud try the co op in andover thats where i work great for exp couldnt beat it some of the places you have to get 35 rear steer or 40ft or 45ft trailer in will have you thinking how did i do that… Haha well it does me.
- your not that far to travel, if not with ND try milestone the main agy there.
Dan
Thanks Dan I have tried both ND and Milestone and they are both saying I need 3 months experince in the last year!
Harry Monk:
Good luck with the hunt, all I can add is that if I put another truck on the road around April, and if you haven’t found anything by then, then I’d have a chat with you about it.
Thanks Harry thats good to know.
shuttlespanker:
try the smaller family firms, they will be more likely to give you a chance, i know i would (and have previously) if i was looking for a driver
There does’nt seem to be many around my neck of the woods but thanks!
From my experience its the companies that you’d probably least execpt to give you a chance that actually do. I wouldnt do the whole job centre thing, just get straight on the phone and start calling round. When you write your CV make sure all your details like name, number etc are clearly at the top of it because again from my experience theres a good chance they wont even read it and the only thing it will be good for is your phone number. I didnt start driving until 3-4months after i passed my class 2 but i told the last 2 companies i started straight away as i had a job already lined up, those few extra months are sometimes what you need and i also told them i’d done more than i actually had, once you done something once you can blag it. Tell them you’ve got lots of london experience, they’ll love that as most drivers kick up a right stink about going there lol.
Ive got the same problem, Passed my C+E back in July 2012, all this seemed the easy bit. getting a C+E job proving impossible,due to the experience I cannot seem to magic up. I have nearly 4yrs C experience my only route I can think of id get another Class C job for a company that also operates C+E do a good job with the hope of promotion to C+E. My current firm doesnt operate artics. Never give up .
As previously said, get out on foot. Anyone can pick up the phone.
Im due to start my new job with a weeks training on Monday doing ‘‘bag in a box’’ bulk blower deliveries. Now, im 24 and have held licence for about a year but i made a nucience of myself by going around the same companies each month and following up with the odd call here and there to see if theres any progress. It really does pay off mate and the smaller compaines are more likely to give you that chance.
Attatch a passport photo to a few CV’s for the firms that seem keen on you. That way if they need a driver and pick up your CV and see your face, your more likely to jog their memory than go through the shredder .
Best of luck mate.
Saaamon:
From my experience its the companies that you’d probably least execpt to give you a chance that actually do. I wouldnt do the whole job centre thing, just get straight on the phone and start calling round. When you write your CV make sure all your details like name, number etc are clearly at the top of it because again from my experience theres a good chance they wont even read it and the only thing it will be good for is your phone number. I didnt start driving until 3-4months after i passed my class 2 but i told the last 2 companies i started straight away as i had a job already lined up, those few extra months are sometimes what you need and i also told them i’d done more than i actually had, once you done something once you can blag it. Tell them you’ve got lots of london experience, they’ll love that as most drivers kick up a right stink about going there lol.
Thanks mate seems to be basicly bull ■■■■ your way in then?!
PaulC+E20712:
Ive got the same problem, Passed my C+E back in July 2012, all this seemed the easy bit. getting a C+E job proving impossible,due to the experience I cannot seem to magic up. I have nearly 4yrs C experience my only route I can think of id get another Class C job for a company that also operates C+E do a good job with the hope of promotion to C+E. My current firm doesnt operate artics. Never give up .
Yeah its not easy is it? Thats a good option though get in somewhere with both classes and then when they are stuck you’ll be in the right place at the right time!
bigfoot:
As previously said, get out on foot. Anyone can pick up the phone.Im due to start my new job with a weeks training on Monday doing ‘‘bag in a box’’ bulk blower deliveries. Now, im 24 and have held licence for about a year but i made a nucience of myself by going around the same companies each month and following up with the odd call here and there to see if theres any progress. It really does pay off mate and the smaller compaines are more likely to give you that chance.
Attatch a passport photo to a few CV’s for the firms that seem keen on you. That way if they need a driver and pick up your CV and see your face, your more likely to jog their memory than go through the shredder .
Best of luck mate.
Have tried this many times mate thats how I got on my C job but there isn’t much in the way of class 1 work locally. I(f there is they want clean license, 25 years experince and someone that resembles tom cruise!
Thanks though!
Saaamon is right - if you don’t bull poop a bit you’re going to struggle to begin with. When I started C+E I’d done a bit on 18 tonners (and I mean a bit) some of it in the Smoke (which I think helped a little) then I spoke to a small haulier and found myself driving a Renault Premium on boxes and curtains. My first proper shift was …into the Port of Felixstowe and yes, you learn quickly! Within a few months I’d also driven MANs, Volvos, Scanias Dafs, Mercs all of which were either new or nearly new. Once I’d done a few shifts he was happy and had no probs with me driving the brand new Topline V8 (what fuel economy!!! 
) and it was tickerty boo from then on. Top tip here is once in, take extra care, as a bump or scrape in the first few months could knock the gaffers confidence in you. (Not that you wouldn’t take care!)
You need to be in the right place at the right time, as has been said. Forget CV emailing - get out there and sell yourself in person!!
Interestingly I found out from another driver (after I first started, I was on S/E though not PAYE) that the gaffer was more than happy to let me drive based on the fact I showed an interest in learning as much as I could and didn’t have an ‘I’ve got the licence so you can’t tell me anything’ attitude. So although a bit of bull is probably a good thing, show willing and you’ll get in somewhere!
Keep us posted and good luck! 
Well got a letter from the elves today and they said thanks but no thanks try again in three months! I never knew trying to get on c+e would be such a ball ache!