all you experts out there are really quick to take the p i ss out of a guy who did,nt quite get it, your like a pack of dogs waiting for a victim, try to encourage these new boys, it may make you feel good who knows.
The difference that seperates most zb jobs that involve lots of unloading and loading is firstly the amount of long distance work v local and/or full loads v multi drop/part loads.Removals is another sub division of all that.However you can bet that if it’s 5% driving and 95% loading and tipping then it’s more likely to be one of the worst of all worlds combination of local removals work.In which case no surprise it’s a desperate guvnor trying to find a driver ( probably a new driver without experience ) because no one else wants the job.No surprise either that they’ll try to dress such zb work up as a driving job.If it had been me I’d have sorted all that on the phone and told him to advertise it as a removals labourer/porter/loader’s job and LGV 2 licence would be an advantage but LGV training provided if not.Before walking away and telling him not to waste my time or anyone else’s who’s looking for a job as a ‘driver’. 
Although having said that working on removals isn’t going to be much use to anyone who’s looking to work on their own preferably doing long distance freight work.In which case you’ll need to upgrade the licence to class 1/C+E ASAP and then the really difficult bit of finding the right work as a new driver starts. 
button boy:
all you experts out there are really quick to take the p i ss out of a guy who did,nt quite get it, your like a pack of dogs waiting for a victim, try to encourage these new boys, it may make you feel good who knows.
Not really, but if someone can find their way here to put up a post and appear to put a slight on what seems to be a company with an excellent reputation, but are incapable of typing that company’s name into google before they approach said company then imo they deserve all the stick they can get.
It wasn’t so long ago that I was a ‘new boy’ and in many respects I still am, the difference is I’m quite happy to do my research, then ask questions, not to go all guns blazing about an error that was entirely on my part. If I did I’d humbly sit back with my pie and let the ■■■■ take start 
I’d think turning up in a yard full of removal lorrys gives the game away.
kr79:
I’d think turning up in a yard full of removal lorrys gives the game away.
Not exactly.If it’s somewhere like Kelly’s Guildford doing long haul international containerised removals with a 3300 draw bar outfit ( no surprise that was one of those on my list as a council driver and equally no suprise wasn’t offered a job because every one else wanted to work there too ) v a removals firm specialising in mostly local/uk work with a fleet of small four wheelers. 
MADBAZ:
button boy:
all you experts out there are really quick to take the p i ss out of a guy who did,nt quite get it, your like a pack of dogs waiting for a victim, try to encourage these new boys, it may make you feel good who knows.Not really, but if someone can find their way here to put up a post and appear to put a slight on what seems to be a company with an excellent reputation, but are incapable of typing that company’s name into google before they approach said company then imo they deserve all the stick they can get.
It wasn’t so long ago that I was a ‘new boy’ and in many respects I still am, the difference is I’m quite happy to do my research, then ask questions, not to go all guns blazing about an error that was entirely on my part. If I did I’d humbly sit back with my pie and let the ■■■■ take start
Maybe those companies would create less issues in that regard if they advertised the job with the porter angle taking precedence in the advert wording IE removals labourer/porter required LGV 2 licence an advantage.
If you are looking for an LGV C driver, an advert stating an LGV C would be an advantage is a complete waste of time. I always advertise that a local removal company requires an LGV driver, removals experience preferred. In all my time I have never had this situation arise.
In fairness to Cadogan Tate, they are a very well respected removal company, which dont just specialise in local work, they travel all over Europe and run trucks of all sizes, not just 4 wheelers.
If the op had the slightest amount of common sense, he would have realised what was going to be involved. You cant blame the company for advertising for exactly what they wanted…an LGV C driver 
jdc:
If you are looking for an LGV C driver, an advert stating an LGV C would be an advantage is a complete waste of time. I always advertise that a local removal company requires an LGV driver, removals experience preferred. In all my time I have never had this situation arise.In fairness to Cadogan Tate, they are a very well respected removal company, which dont just specialise in local work, they travel all over Europe and run trucks of all sizes, not just 4 wheelers.
If the op had the slightest amount of common sense, he would have realised what was going to be involved. You cant blame the company for advertising for exactly what they wanted…an LGV C driver
According to the op the job involves 95% of the time doing portering and 5 % driving. It’s a bit difficult to see how those figures can work out assuming that the job involves mainly long distance/international work. 
As I’ve said I knew that difference as a new driver which is why I applied for that example in the hope of getting a job at Kellys doing containerised international removals with a drawbar outfit during the 1980’s.But I didn’t ever bother with any of the plentiful adverts in a time of a massive recession which certainly made it clear that the job would involve more labouring than driving.Choosing to stay as a council driver instead.
In my experience those jobs were usually advertised as local/uk removals labourer porter wanted with an HGV licence and with the labouring aspect always being the first part of the job description not the driving aspect.In most cases those drivers were porters provided with HGV training by those firms as required anyway because no ‘driver’ with any sense wanted the work and it was common to see removals wagons with HGV L plates on with porters under instruction by qualified drivers back then for that reason.
Rob K:
Thanks for the warning, op.
Years ago i used to ‘tag’ along with Griff Fender before they became Pickfords, i used to help unload and carry in stuff i could carry, what great memories i have of that, you have really missed out, you could get to drive all over the country and maybe even abroad. And i’m a woman, a job is a job but is as good as you make it.
Used to do a a little bit for the company my mate worked for when they got really busy, book a few days off normal job and off i’d go. We’d always park up near a pub and have a couple of cold ones and god they were enjoyable after running up and down stairs all day. Used to sleep like a log in the truck after that, though it was a bit cramped in a twin bunk mercedes 7.5 tonner and i’m 6ft3 and my mate 6ft5!. The job was a good laugh and great as the firm always gave us plenty of time to do a removal and if the need arose i would do it again without any hesitation,
toby1234abc:
I applied for a night trunk driving job, but i had to turn it down as i could notwear my Rayban sunglasses at night.
I use to work night trunks with a guy who did wear his sunglasses whilst driving, didnt like the glare of the headlights.
I also do a lot of work in the corporate removals business, we run 17tonners which are longer than standard & Artics; some days are short runs and load/unload, others can be long hauls from the south coast up to Scotland, and into Europe. Personally I would have asked for more info and considered the job as a foot on the ladder and some valuable experience. As others have said, removals can be hard graft (esp. domestic) but it’s a great laugh with a good bunch of hard-working lads.
DAF95XF:
GasGas:
My first job in road transport was as a porter for a removals company.It was hard work, but also great fun…with some unexpected bonuses!
You’ve missed out.
Best of luck finding a job where you don’t actually have to do anything. Most people have to work for a living, you know.
Same here, started with White & Co at Winchester and then Pickfords in Basingstoke, was hard work but a good laugh
Oh, I don’t work for a living, I drive a coach - drive from A to B sit for a few hours then back to B, but might not suit the OP
Now I’ll be direct…for your own good.
I started out the same way with Baters of Sidmouth. I agree, with the guys above, it was a great job and Baters, at least, was and still is a great firm to work for.
For those questioning the value of experience you gain?
Loading skills?
Customer service?
Getting large trucks (40’ rigids are big beasts) into gateways and lanes that trucks never usually have to. (getting in the driveway will save you and your mates a lot of walking). Removal vans have to go into some dreadful places and that takes a proper driver. Then of course you become the hero of the hour and the tips start rolling in. Anyone ever get a tip for delivering to a D.C?
It also stops you turning into a fat slob who’s past it before he gets to 50.
Oh…and people are actually nice to you, not barking orders through a hole in some glass.
The fact is that it is super experience for starting out and those skills are widely transferable. It’s not so much how many miles you drive, It’s WHAT SORT of miles you drive.
Any fool can drive a lorry on a motorway to a D.C but that isn’t learning your craft as a driver. After 20 years of that, you’ll have learned precisely nothing at all.
Now are you seriously interested in being a driver or are you lazy and just want easy money? If you’re the former, I welcome you to the job. If you’re the latter, you and your kind are why the job isn’t as good as in years gone by- so I would rather you go and work in a shop somewhere.
I did it and so did my father before me…it never harmed me one bit and i went onto much better things after. I believe it helped me in that to, by the way.
Before you call a firm again…I suggest you do some research.
Cadogan Tate had a lucky escape IMHO
Nigel.Smith:
DAF95XF:
GasGas:
My first job in road transport was as a porter for a removals company.It was hard work, but also great fun…with some unexpected bonuses!
You’ve missed out.
Best of luck finding a job where you don’t actually have to do anything. Most people have to work for a living, you know.
Same here, started with White & Co at Winchester and then Pickfords in Basingstoke, was hard work but a good laugh
Oh, I don’t work for a living, I drive a coach - drive from A to B sit for a few hours then back to B, but might not suit the OPNow I’ll be direct…for your own good.
I started out the same way with Baters of Sidmouth. I agree, with the guys above, it was a great job and Baters, at least, was and still is a great firm to work for.
For those questioning the value of experience you gain?
Loading skills?
Customer service?
Getting large trucks (40’ rigids are big beasts) into gateways and lanes that trucks never usually have to. (getting in the driveway will save you and your mates a lot of walking). Removal vans have to go into some dreadful places and that takes a proper driver. Then of course you become the hero of the hour and the tips start rolling in. Anyone ever get a tip for delivering to a D.C?It also stops you turning into a fat slob who’s past it before he gets to 50.
Oh…and people are actually nice to you, not barking orders through a hole in some glass.
The fact is that it is super experience for starting out and those skills are widely transferable. It’s not so much how many miles you drive, It’s WHAT SORT of miles you drive.
Any fool can drive a lorry on a motorway to a D.C but that isn’t learning your craft as a driver. After 20 years of that, you’ll have learned precisely nothing at all.
Now are you seriously interested in being a driver or are you lazy and just want easy money? If you’re the former, I welcome you to the job. If you’re the latter, you and your kind are why the job isn’t as good as in years gone by- so I would rather you go and work in a shop somewhere.
I did it and so did my father before me…it never harmed me one bit and i went onto much better things after. I believe it helped me in that to, by the way.
Before you call a firm again…I suggest you do some research.
Cadogan Tate had a lucky escape IMHO
good post fella
^^ +1
Nothing wrong with a removals job , hard one day ,easy the next .
My dad sat with his dad from 11 years old and was still out on the vans well in to his late 70s and was still helping out at 86 
.
There is no way I am going to stop working unless i have too . Dad stopped helping at 86 and his help went down hill and died at 88 
.
If never did him any harm , it was cancer (John player non tips )
As a random fool who drives a lorry up and down the Motorway all day I still have to agree with the above post.
Well said!
W
I could write a book about bizarre things that happened on the removals…but people would think I made it up.
If there was a thread like that, it would go on for years I reckon.
Brilliant job, brilliant bunch of guys and brilliant memories.
Nigel.Smith:
I could write a book about bizarre things that happened on the removals…but people would think I made it up.If there was a thread like that, it would go on for years I reckon…
…
There is. I think it’s called sweat, blood and broken china or something.
I’m on mobile so search is not much good.
I’m sure someone will find it in a minute.
dar1976:
Nigel.Smith:
I could write a book about bizarre things that happened on the removals…but people would think I made it up.If there was a thread like that, it would go on for years I reckon…
…
There is. I think it’s called sweat, blood and broken china or something.
I’m on mobile so search is not much good.
I’m sure someone will find it in a minute.
AlexWignall:
As a random fool who drives a lorry up and down the Motorway all day I still have to agree with the above post.Well said!
W
Good day Alex,
No offence was meant nor should it be taken.
The principles of how you learn in any job are universal…easy jobs generally teach you nothing.
I did removals through my youth, 10 years of Eastern Europe and for the past 8 years I too have been a ‘random fool’ driving in this country (mainly for Waitrose). Don’t like it because it’s boring and too easy…which is why my name is on a work permit to go to Canada soon.
Out there, they want people whom are prepared to work in the way we used to over here…which i suppose is the issue in this post.