In common with all respected trainers, I have always questioned the claim of the brokers that there is a driver shortage. But there are indications that this is becoming the case. Keeping this in perspective, driver demand always starts increasing at this time of year on the run up to Christmas and most folks know that. But, this year, the demand seems to be huge in comparison with previous years.
I base this on two facts. Our office is being visited several times a week by reps from agencies who are desperate for drivers. Some deserve to be desperate because of the money they think they can pay. And they are told so in no uncertain terms! But others are paying comfortably the "going rate " (eg £12 per hour for CE) and still cant get drivers. Their clients tend to be blue chip companies running good trucks and running straight. Many of these contracts are long term and lead to permanent work.
The bonus, from our point of view, from their visits is that they bring gifts of wine, posh biscuits, pens, mugs and all sorts of goodies! But it also means that we can say, with a degree of confidence, that there is work out there for newly passed drivers.
The other fact is the increase in companies calling us wanting drivers. Once again, some of them need educating as to what should be paid.
So, on balance, I can safely say that new drivers can get work now much more easily than has been the case for some years. Clearly I can only speak for my area (E. Mids) but I would be surprised if this isn’t pretty well the case nationally.
As an afterthought, most of the work is CE. But not exclusively.
I passed my test last November and up till about a month ago the only work I could really do was the big blue supermarket lorries with my agency
They’re a good agency, nice bunch of people and the last 4 weeks I’ve had a two week stint with Norberts on nights, shunting in a steel mill for BRC,
timber for a local saw mill and next week I’ve a nice week of 07.30 starts with a local haulage firm, I think Palletex was mentioned.
I’ve had a few jobs doing similar when I was driving class 2 so I’m not sure if I’m looking forward to it or not
A massive driver shortage where I’m based in Sherburn in Elmet in Yorkshire.
For anyone who doesn’t know Sherburn in Elmet it has a big industrial estate with a lot of haulage companies based on it.
elmet training:
A massive driver shortage where I’m based in Sherburn in Elmet in Yorkshire.
For anyone who doesn’t know Sherburn in Elmet it has a big industrial estate with a lot of haulage companies based on it.
elmet training:
A massive driver shortage where I’m based in Sherburn in Elmet in Yorkshire.
For anyone who doesn’t know Sherburn in Elmet it has a big industrial estate with a lot of haulage companies based on it.
There are still an awful lot of companies down south which are demanding two years’ experience for insurance reasons. I’ve just done my first week of class 1 work since passing my test (for a scaffolding company). Oddly enough, it seems to be the simpler class 1 work that supposedly needs the experience: this job involved backing into and out of building sites through narrow gates and the like. Haven’t been offered any supermarket work yet.
I agree, there is a lot of work out there at present, I’ve noticed this is the North West, mainly around Liverpool and Warrington. Only problem is, 99% of it is agency work and they keep trying to put me on 3 days a week, at £8.50 an hour, through these “umbrella” type payment methods.
I have to admit though, class 2 work, in comparison to what I’ve heard about class 1 work really is dull. I’m currently saving for my class 1 training/test and I have a job guaranteed where my dad works after passing (will involve doing my ADR training, but the company have already said they’ll pay for that)
I got offered class 2 work 5 days a week 10 hrs avarage shift day time week time 9.50 an hour as a class 2 newbe… think thats ok to start with. Is interdepot or 5 to 10 deliveries a day. This is birmingham area.
sfantu:
I got offered class 2 work 5 days a week 10 hrs avarage shift day time week time 9.50 an hour as a class 2 newbe… think thats ok to start with. Is interdepot or 5 to 10 deliveries a day. This is birmingham area.
Wish I could get that kind of job offer. Most agencies I’ve been to have work, but they always say “3 days a week, to start off on” then it doesn’t materialise to anything more, then it’s usually no more than 8.50 per hour and they always try to blag these umbrella scheme payment methods.
Not saying class 2 work is flawed or anything, but as class 2 drivers, we seem to get offered the dregs that no other driver would take. Perhaps it’s because I’m a new driver? Who knows. I’ll be glad when I’ve got my CE licence under my belt!
Ive been called from about 10 agencies today by now. All offering jobs. Best offer is for dhl on jlr contract in hams hall. 11.50 week day 12.50 week night. 17.50 sat till 12 midday than 23.00 sun 23.00
