Hi,
I am looking to go back on the artics after having been doing local work on a class 2 for 18 months after driving a class 1 for 20 years.I notice now that alot of the agencies are saying they want 180 days of continuous hgv 1 experience to get on the books.
Does this mean that my 20 years of experience on class 1 counts for nothing.
Is this agency claptrap or is it now the norm to have this experience? Dont want to be stuck on class 2 work for ever. 
Cheers.
in your case I would not worry about it unless its the client of the agency that insists upon it in which case you are stuffed
No. It doesn’t count any more.
Back in the day when we roped, sheeted, drove dodgy British lorries and had to find our own return loads it would’ve counted for somthing.
We’re now pulling cutainsiders with auto boxes in trucks more up-spec than my car, between trunking destinations and under no circumstances must we actually make a decision…indeed, we don’t need to.
Hard to swallow for some, but its an eeeeasy job.
Ok, now some one will come on and say how complicated their job is…fine. I,m generalising here.
I haven’t got 180 days continuous artic driving experience and I’ve driving them full time for nineteen years.
I would look for an employer who has a better idea of the criteria they are asking you to meet…
W
just tell any agencies a load of lies and bullcrap as thats all theyl do to you
1asp:
just tell any agencies a load of lies and bullcrap as thats all theyl do to you
Agree. Simply lie. Its not as if you cant do the job is it? Also, as much as Im a career agency driver and I wouldn`t have it any other way, they DO lie all the time to us.
If the agency staff are allowed to lie to their drivers without any fear of retribution (save perhaps a length of two-by-two round their head), would it be OK for a driver to do the same thing? And if not, why not? Would any agency’s management care to comment?
I’ve never heard anything like that. Go to another agency, sounds like bull to me.
1asp:
just tell any agencies a load of lies and bullcrap as thats all theyl do to you
This 
Retired Old ■■■■:
If the agency staff are allowed to lie to their drivers without any fear of retribution (save perhaps a length of two-by-two round their head), would it be OK for a driver to do the same thing? And if not, why not? Would any agency’s management care to comment?
Depends how BIG the lie is. I see no harm in a little white lie such as “of course I’m flexible on start times”. It can start to get serious however if you start to lie about the BIG things, like borrowing a mates licence along with his whole identity to get a job.
It’s safe to treat agencies with a little bit more contempt than they treat us, their drivers, it is after all a battle of the wits, which means most agency scumbags are on a loser before they start.
180 days continuos I think vosa wouldn’t be too happy about that
malcolmj:
180 days continuos I think vosa wouldn’t be too happy about that
fatigued driver, 
no breaks either, 
how strongs the coffee? 
i am sure Rich the Stag said his rigid
could tow a trailer so C+E = class 1
its normally 180 days driving of the class of vehicle in the last 2 years but cant see why they wouldn’t use you!
Nobody gives a ■■■■ nowadays matey, dog eat dog world we’re in now…
Unless you’ve been working for Boyles, then I’d have to say NO ONE - not even full timers doing 5-6-5-6 patterns - has a “continuous 180 days work”, since they are taking at least one day off a week already - right? 
What you’re really being asked is “did you ever work 6 months in the same place within a reasonable recent past period”.
Of course the answer is going to be YES unless the ink on your C+E is still wet, which is who I think they’re really trying to vet out methinks…
by september next year when the dcpc shortage kicks in (if it’s true) they will beg anyone to do the job as long as they’re legal.
More and more agencies are coming up with this now…work is slow so its a way of weeding out people.
The way I see it you have 2 options
1, ■■■■ it up till sept/oct time when things start getting manic
2, yeah I drove for so and so until they went bust so I can’t prove it