SuperMultiBlue:
Conor:
SuperMultiBlue:
I actually don’t mind the job itself, handball etc its the 4.30/5am starts that’s the killer. Permanently tired, grumpy and absolute zero social life.
Going on the books next week but I can’t do this for much longer.
If I were you I’d find a job completely away from driving because 4.30/5am starts on days are quite common in lorry driving in this country as are 11/12hr working days. Methinks you didn’t realise what you were getting yourself into.
Behave you idiot. I’m looking for something between 6-8. That extra hour or 2 in bed would make all the difference.
I’ve gone with food service as it was the first regular work that came up. Pallet network looks like it would tick the boxes for me at the moment.
Actually did 2 weeks tipper work for a recycle company right before this job and that was ok. Something to keep in mind.
My thinking is I’ll do another 3 months on food til xmas then see what options are open.
6 month stint to put on cv as first driving position should be ok?
am sorry mate but conor is not an idiot on this one - most of my driving has seen 5am as a lie in.
and an extra hour or 2 in bed means a later finish so less social life.
but feel free to ask advice and insult people 
war1974:
…feel free to ask advice and insult people…
It’s okay to insult Conor, he’s TruckNet’s biggest perma-limper, he’s used to it.
Ok so how long is long enough for earning a few stripes for a newbie by doing food service.
Held licence 6 months, did [zb] all for first 3 months bar 1 or 2 days agency relief. Just completed 3 months on chilled food service but it feels like a [zb] lifetime. I actually don’t mind the job itself, handball etc its the 4.30/5am starts that’s the killer. Permanently tired, grumpy and absolute zero social life.
Going on the books next week but I can’t do this for much longer.
I worked for 3663 Foodservice (now known as Bidvest Foodservice) for 9.5 years (the last 5 years were pure hell) before eventually getting the job I wanted, just over a year ago driving Class 1 for a large supermarket. Do you have your Class 1? If not, I recommend you get it. I had my Class 1 for 4 years before I eventually got the chance to use it.
I was like you and hated the early rises, mostly due to the fact that I wouldn’t get my arse in bed before midnight. Now I get much better sleep. We all want different things out of life, so it’s finding the right balance for yourself. Alot of guys would hate working weekends and backshift like I do, but each to their own. Foodservice handballing is something that will only get harder with age and it’s something I would never go back to under any circumstances.
I would just apply for any job you think you would prefer to what you are doing. Some employers are very open to giving newbies a chance. Just don’t blow it when you get that chance.
Got to say I actually disagree with a lot of above comments stating that you should look for another occupation if you don’t like early starts.
Yes early morning’s 3/4/5am are common across the industry but don’t forget we also now live in a 24/7 world and with the abundance of RDC’s and haulage companies of varying sizes up and down the country it is entirely possible to find work at times that fit your lifestyle.
The only thing going against you at the moment is the fact you only have 6 months experience so may not be in a position to be more picky until you get to a year or 2. Ultimately what type of work/start times/shift lengths suits one person won’t suit another so despite what you read on here you will have to find what it is you like and will only do so by trial and error unfortunately.
4.30 to 5.00 that`s a bit late do you always have a lay in 
Said it before and I’m gonna say it again…started with UYC/DCL September 83… 18 months in freezer/goods in etc, on the 7.5s, up onto 18t’s, 6 wheelers and some artic work and night trunking for last 8/9 years, and now it’s called Bidvest Foodservice…23 years on the multi drop, early starts, late finishes & working ya bollox of all day…hard graft never bothered me but as with others, early starts did! If you can stick with multi drop for a few years, you can crack anything. Yes, it kills you, yes, most days you earn ya money but it’s a step forward. Anyone can do pallet work/tippers etc etc, foodservice is totally hands on. Many threads on here about 3663/Bidvest, have a look…and £500/wk take home is better than ■■■■ all! And after a while, you’ll know the surrounding/delivery areas like the back of your arse! If you want some t-shirts, I’ve got a loft full! And depending which depot, many do nightly trunk runs
Ive had mine for years and I still dont know what the back of my arse looks like.
I spent most of my time in the job ( around 15 years in this case ) starting at 8 and finished around 5-7 class 1 trunking not local multi drop zb.That was 8 pm to 5-7 am though. 
Don’t believe anyone who says that you have to start at the bottom doing zb work.When you can bet that many of those telling you that will have/be jumped/ing into the right types of job soon after getting their licence.While you’re still lumbered with doing all the zb they don’t want. 
tmcassett:
Got to say I actually disagree with a lot of above comments stating that you should look for another occupation if you don’t like early starts.
Yes early morning’s 3/4/5am are common across the industry but don’t forget we also now live in a 24/7 world and with the abundance of RDC’s and haulage companies of varying sizes up and down the country it is entirely possible to find work at times that fit your lifestyle.
The only thing going against you at the moment is the fact you only have 6 months experience so may not be in a position to be more picky until you get to a year or 2. Ultimately what type of work/start times/shift lengths suits one person won’t suit another so despite what you read on here you will have to find what it is you like and will only do so by trial and error unfortunately.
This is what my topic was all about really. Posters telling me to look for something else because I don’t like early starts is laughable. Seems like there are some proper bitter people on here.
I consider anything before 6am too early and unsociable. I have done 6am starts for years on the forks.
6 months … held licence.
3 months work experience to put on cv.
It’s not really that much is it with a view to phoning up local companies for jobs.
And yes class 2. Class 1 is probably 12 months away for me at the moment.
SuperMultiBlue:
tmcassett:
Got to say I actually disagree with a lot of above comments stating that you should look for another occupation if you don’t like early starts.
Yes early morning’s 3/4/5am are common across the industry but don’t forget we also now live in a 24/7 world and with the abundance of RDC’s and haulage companies of varying sizes up and down the country it is entirely possible to find work at times that fit your lifestyle.
The only thing going against you at the moment is the fact you only have 6 months experience so may not be in a position to be more picky until you get to a year or 2. Ultimately what type of work/start times/shift lengths suits one person won’t suit another so despite what you read on here you will have to find what it is you like and will only do so by trial and error unfortunately.
This is what my topic was all about really. Posters telling me to look for something else because I don’t like early starts is laughable. Seems like there are some proper bitter people on here.
I consider anything before 6am too early and unsociable. I have done 6am starts for years on the forks.
6 months … held licence.
3 months work experience to put on cv.
It’s not really that much is it with a view to phoning up local companies for jobs.
And yes class 2. Class 1 is probably 12 months away for me at the moment.
I wouldn’t necessarily say bitter as that’s the wrong word to use but some people are stuck in the mind-set that because you are a lorry driver that automatically means that you should have to do and accept that stupidly early morning starts and overly long hours are an inevitability. Yes its right to point out that in a lot of cases that is true but I will re-iterate and state that it doesn’t have to be if you don’t want it to be.
I am exactly the same as you about early mornings. After leaving permanent employment about 30 months ago to go on agency work I initially found myself starting at 3 or 4am most days and it turned me into a constantly tired, grumpy and miserable person who had no social life. Needless to say after 6 months I put a stop to it and said never again. For the last 2 years no matter where I have worked I now work on a 6-10am start window, won’t start before 6am, no negotiation, it doesn’t suit me personally and that’s it! - I am prepared to go the other way and start later than 10 but rarely been asked. Never been a problem and never not had work.
I would say in your case based on what you have said I would say supermarket and/or other retail store work could be a good bet based on what your after in terms of hours. I have certainly loved doing it at numerous places. Despite what often gets written on here it can be a very good gig and if you’ve done food service (as I first did - mine was on class 1 with all that handball mind) then supermarket/store work will be a doddle for you.
SuperMultiBlue:
its the 4.30/5am starts that’s the killer. Permanently tired, grumpy and absolute zero social life.
You’d bloody hate my hours (me too)
To throw you slack some people really aren’t morning people (who is at 1 am). You’ll find something else. It is transport. You could drive those library wagons. Doris won’t be up at 4am and you’d be back in time for beer
I done 12 months class 2 on agency with various companies. I hated every 6 and 7 am start with a passion. The first thing I done when passing class 1 was to get lunchtime starts and that was 16 years ago. I’m still on those times now but full time with a decent company.
Oh yeah I choose to shift pattern and work every weekend too, some people think I’m a bit strange