had an assessment at pollocks today as a class 1 newbie i was a tad nervous, started off with vehicle checks went fine then asked me to move unit over to trailer did this and started the couple up process was pretty slow at this but as it was 1st time since test i expected this and took special care to try and not make mistakes. put the dummy of 1 of the suzies in and the instructor told me so i started putting the right end in and did the rest of them assessor stopped assessment because i made a ‘rookie’ mistake. thought this a tad harsh didnt even make it onto the road.
the TM offered me to go in for a morning next week to be shown through everything an assessment should entail and then to go out and if we are both happy after they said theyl take me on and train me up by going out few times with an experienced class 1 driver. He did state doing this id need to sign a contract not to leave as soon as trained.
Get back and get back on the bike, they might not be the best payers per hour but sound like they will give you a chance to get experience you need.
They cant make you stop for ever.
Cheers Welly
They will do that as they’re short of good drivers. If you’re happy with what they are paying you then disregard what anyone else says. I know from having worked there & talked to other drivers that they do struggle to keep drivers, then again they will give anyone a chance which, I think, is a good thing. Only for these guys to do a runner to another job after getting a bit of experience so I’m not surprised about the contract thing. Look at it like this, they will give you a chance, they will train you, they have decent kit, they have plenty work on, and they will pay you.
I’ve worked for worse, a lot worse.
They are helping you on the ladder this suits both of you. But they are not investing much money in you. Not paying for tests etc. So this must be balanced out in the ‘contract’. Good luck.
Ps there’s some idiots on here but there’s also probably some of the best who know the job inside out.
Sounds grand from what the company needed up offering.
But talking about the assesment. I’m guessing as I’m not one , but a good driving assessor will be ■■■■ realistic about taking on someone fresh from training, for goodness sakes, you’ve probably never clapped eyes on a proper commercial artic. Yeah a training unit perhaps. A good bloke would show you rather than ball you, the little details, things you’ll pick up kind of stuff and worry about your overall approach to safety and driving. It seems a little premature that he stopped you over the suzie incident. You find that with some instructors/examiners. This subject does irritate me a little. If they’re nervous of their own judgement or are covering for deep insecurities in their own self, somewhere along the line they will project that to how they carry out their training and subsequently, a lack of judgement on trainees. Believe me, I’ve been there seen it to the extreme and got, bought and worn out the t shirt and not in haulage.
I’ve been a line instructor in aviation, you have to make allowances for the lack of deftness and familiarity those with no experience have and only concentrate on non negotiable basic safety criteria. A good instructor for example allows room to breath, provides a non visible safety rope which allows you to improve yourself up to a standard. What you’ve been offered sounds very fair and worth taking. Good experience if nothing else.
Freight Dog:
What you’ve been offered sounds very fair and worth taking. Good experience if nothing else.
+1.
I do our class 1 assessments & I would have gone through it with you, completed the drive then noted on the form that you would need training.
I’ve only stopped one assessment & I even gave him the benefit of the doubt after showing him the walk round check (I was asked to check him out for an agency, not train him, just see if he could drive)
He somehow managed to get my wagon out of the yard, then proceeded at a snails pace, (sweating like a Straight Boy in a Gay Sauna) by the third roundabout I’d seen enough & stopped the assessment, but I still signed the form off with all the faults & recommended that he would be ok with a few days training, leaving the decision with my TM & the agency.
If they’re signing you up to a lifetime of slavery, maybe look elsewhere but if it’s only 6 months/a year & they are willing to train you up, then I would say go for it, look at it as an investment in your self. Most university graduates don’t get the career they train for, they pay out tens of thousands of pounds & end up in call centres or flipping burgers for Ronald, some are on here & seem happy with their lot but have probably got a big debt to pay off.
So your year long investment in yourself (being paid for it as well) could be very useful in the future.
Don’t worry about the Hero’s telling you “I wouldn’t get out of bed for that” or “working for a pittance, no wonder the job has gone down hill” we all had to start somewhere.
as others have said at least they are getting you back in however the assessor sounds a total knob.
why not take you on a short run then give you some feedback after?
i have met some great assessors and some total pricks some who want to see how you ACTUALLY drive and others who think your on your ■■■■■■■ test again!
and as said make sure that the contract isnt too heavily stacked in their favour.
