Closed Circle.

Wilk:
Such a closed circle thanks to employers’ stupid rules. First of all, I did some driving Class 1 vehicle last year - a few weeks, actually. When searching for a job on the web I often see the following:

  1. To be at least 25 years old due to insurance purposes.
  2. To have at least 2 years experience in driving Class 1 vehicle.

99% job advertisements contain information on experience required by the employer. It is 6 months, 1 year or 2 years. My question is: where am I supposed to get experienced by driving regularly as no one wants to offer me the employment? I had the assessment yesterday. I got in the cab the first time in seven months. Of course, I failed because I did not feel confident enough to drive and the assessor was afraid to take me on the road. Yes, I agree it was like my first day driving a tractor unit ever due to several months break and even made a mistake when coupling the trailer. I was told to get some extra training. Here we go:

Are you aware of the cost of the refresher course? It is going to be over 350 pounds for just one day. Such amount exceeds my basic weekly wage. Will the one day training reflect a day as a professional driver? I believe not. There are so many different routes and one day training would only let me to know controlling the vehicle, coupling/uncoupling the trailer.

How should I start again in your opinion? Many of you might say to sign up with the agency, however, the agency also wants you to be experienced or assessed on the site of the potential employer. Where is the employer which would give me a chance or boost? A few months left to be 25.

Ask yourself if you had a £90k car would you let a “newbie” drive it,Insurance and cost of a vehicle is the main reason a "newbie"has a struggle to get a job,especially one who can`t the basics right on assessment

tachograph:

Wilk:
Any good ideas what to do with this case in Bristol and whereabouts to knock on doors and not to be told “sorry but we are looking for experienced drivers”?

Wisemans take on new drivers and they have a depot at Avonmouth, I don’t know how many artics they have there but it may be worth checking them out.

I used to work there in the warehouse. I know it is not a place with high turnover of drivers. Drivers struggle with shifting from Class 2 to 1, so they go somewhere else.

Do you think I would find an owner driver who would take me on the board? Is the owner here on the forum living in Bristol? I would like to get some practice to pass the assessment without any issues. I paid for my refresher course today but I am looking for extra opportunities to make sure I will not fail. There are jobs around but I need to do some driving before.