Peter Smythe:
To be clear, there is no shortage of licence holders. But there is a shortage of licence holders with initiative and get up and go.
Pete
Wow what a broad sweeping generalisation of drivers on the whole you have made there,good job your livelihood depends on new drivers and not existing drivers with the view you have of them.
Drivers have had their “initiative and get up and go” drained from them by poor pay,Constant increasing costs to obtain and retain their licences,which interestingly as with the CPC the only people who seem to think it’s a good idea are those that financially benefit from it like yourself.
Do you share your views of time served drivers with them whilst they are paying you for such courses or do you reserve your views for places such as Trucknet ect?!
I might add,on a personal level I’m very happy with my job,employer and wages and do believe contrary to your opinion of us drivers I have plenty of all the qualities you claim we don’t have.
Wow what a broad sweeping generalisation of drivers on the whole you have made there,good job your livelihood depends on new drivers and not existing drivers with the view you have of them.
Think you’d best read my post again!
there is a shortage of licence holders with initiative and get up and go
In no way is this a sweeping generalisation.
I hold the vast majority of drivers in the greatest esteem (remember I used to be one). But my statement stands and is backed up by operators on a regular basis. To hold a licence just isn’t enough.
Two days after someone posted looking for walking floor drivers on £65 per day we get this the cynic in me thinks is it the same company now paying for training and then not paying decent wages for a year or two
mac12:
Two days after someone posted looking for walking floor drivers on £65 per day we get this the cynic in me thinks is it the same company now paying for training and then not paying decent wages for a year or two
Why don’t you get in touch and find out, it would hardly be rocket science.
Keep up the good work, i agree with your comment about shortage of drivers with the necessary get up and go, those that have those qualities and who take a pride in their work usually find their way to the better end of the industry one way or another.
As a piece of general unsolicited advice for new and potential new drivers…
I’ve been in this game a long time, i started off at the dog end of the industry as most did and do but always chased the money not the lorry, if you take a pride in your work don’t take the ■■■■ out of your employer (sickies etc) skill yourself up do your best and earn yourself a reputation as a reliable efficient honest employee this industry can provide a decent living and one where as you age you get increasingly desirable to the better employers on more specialised work where care and customer service is valued more…now not many industries can offer that, in many walks of life you’re on the scrap heap at 50…but hear this, the better end of the industry is a small world and your reputation is everything, how you behave and how you progress how reliable you are and how competent you can become can open some very good doors for you, but if you doss about take the ■■■■ and can’t be arsed to earn your pay that reputation too can shut those better doors.
I suspect some of the more negative posters on this site fall into the latter camp.
Thing is i’m in one of the better jobs, and most of us there are ageing it must be said, my company which i won’t name is very aware of this and tries to recruit those younger people who appear at least to have the right potential, with it must be said very mixed results because some of the younger ones can’t seem to grasp that you have to get your feet under the table and prove yourself on the shift pattern you start on for a time before you can apply for better shifts, they also can’t belt around doing damage the job is not that type, but the rewards in good work, short for the industry hours, regularly renewed fleet, and most importantly serious pay and a job for life are there to be earned…but you have to invest your best efforts and learn the job well.
Those youngers drivers who have the right work ethic have IMO very good prospects for the future in this industry as the older ones retire, many of whom will have hung up their driving gloves within the next 5 to 10 years.
That minor sermon is only to endorse what Pete said about the get up and go, i don’t know Pete he doesn’t know me and i have no vested interests in agreeing with him.
Personally if i was a reliable young un who genuinely wanted to get on the lorries i’d be beating a path to Pete’s door sharpish re these walking floor jobs.
