Only passed my class one last July. I have had enough already. Sick of going to agencies filling in loads of forms doing tests and falling for the lies then getting bits and bobs to cover etc. All this “got to have your licence two years” etc. but at certain times of the year i.e. leading up to xmas suddenly it is OK and they give you work. What has really done me in this week is I went to an agency (new) who I thought sounds really professional and I do still think that actually. Went down on Wednesday did all the forms etc. and what appealed to me was the Arla contract, decent money and the shifts I wanted Friday to Monday nights but I was offered anything I wanted and by the way the agency wants loads of drivers and it is good rates. So she says I have another driver coming for an induction tomorrow at 6am, how are you fixed for then? Well keen as I was I said “yes that is fine”, wish I hadn’t now. She says I will be down there coming around with you two as I need to see the procedure.
Thursday 05:50 I am there ready to go. Met with the lass from the agency who was standing next to a young female who was the other driver. So you got two young attractive females and ■■■■■■■ Shrek here! So the so called “Training Manager” Nick and he liked to remind us of his title every 10 minutes was smitten with the lasses and as he showed us around the transport depot and then up to the dairy he kept making jokes at my expense like “just saw the lads in there and they say keep the blonde and ditch him”. 3 times this happened and to be honest I am thick skinned it never bothered me knowing what drivers are like. Anyway we spent about an hour and a half on the tour and then he said he could not get a classroom yet so we will get the assessments out of the way. The Agency lass and I sat in the hut and waited while he took the other lass out for her assessment, supposed to be an hour each. They were gone 1.5 hours and drivers in the hut kept saying bloody hell where has he took her. So eventually they come back laughing and joking and he says she has passed with flying colours. Then he looked at me and said “come on then”. His mate sitting opposite eating a macdonalds looked at me and said “I bet you don’t last long”. I got a bit worried at that point. So we went to the unit and he had let her park it in the bay frontways I noticed, usually you always reverse them in so that you have a clear exit and avoid accidents. anyway I had to reverse it out of the bay and then take it up to the dairy to pick up a trailer. I got hounded and pressured from the moment I started driving, he criticised absolutely everything even other drivers and did nothing but brag how good he was. I was out 20 minutes and after I allegedly floored throttle to get through some red lights causing mayhem (in reality the lights change to amber as my unit was upon the traffic light so it was too late to brake) he said “You are not in your Audi now you know, right lets get back” and we returned to the dairy. He never let up all the way just about tearing me apart on everything and listing loads of minor faults as he was making them up. Then we dropped the trailer and he went into DVLA Driving Examiner mode and said “Well I regret to inform you on this occasion you have failed the test”. I then had to take the unit back to the transport depot and he insisted of course, as I would expect, that I reverse the unit into the bays (safety procedure). I did not want to face the girls sitting in the hut waiting and my car was before then so I just said “ermm can you tell her I want to get out of here”. I have never ever failed an assessment and have passed my HGV3 and 2 army, PSV, Motrocycle and class 1 first time. I said to him “I think you are being a bit harsh aren’t you?” not wanting to lose this job opportunity but there was no way he could go back now and he had rid of me and an afternoon in the classroom with the ladies.
Gutted I tried to get on for Arla last year when it was with Transline but they insisted on the two years experience. Really thought I had landed a good job at last. Damage is more than that though as I text the agency lass saying I was too embarrassed to come into the hut but thanks for the opportunity. She text me back offering me warburtons at Normanton but I would have to go with the Driver Trainer if she could arrange it. I politely turned it down. So yesterday picked myself up and called this other agency who says we can start you Monday on nights but you will have to get down today to register for Monday start. Rushed down there 3 hours of tests and form filling only for the story to change saying oh that job haws been allocated, great double act I must say, deserved a frigging Oscar, we will call you next week oh the jobs are different rates we can’t help that. So if I get a call it will be HGV 2 multidrop on an impossible timescale for £8 an hour!!
You can only remain positive in this industry for so long
Why is your first and apparently only option an agency, have you not tried going around local haulage firms asking, I personally wouldn’t touch a ■■■■ agency with a barge pole they are only out for themselves whatever they try and tell you, and have gone a long way to spoiling this industry.
It just needs to catch the right man on the right day, tell him you are new but very keen, make a good impression and lrt him see that you mean it. Even if you try 99 unsuccessful ones. no.100 could be prepared to give you a chance.
Many years ago when I employed drivers my answer over the phone was always no, if I did take somebody on it was the guy that came to see me, if he was any good.
Good luck mate anyway, and don’t give up.
Bad experience but you can guarantee if you did pass the assessment then you’ve taken the job and hated it there. Close shave IMO. Onwards and upwards.
Put Hi-Vis, boots, night out gear, day bag, sat nav, cash, maps, books/tablet/laptop in the boot of the car and just drive round all day knocking on doors, speaking to the gaffers, come across positive and confident but not cockey.
Wear jeans and a clean polo, make sure you’ve had a shave.
The other thing with being a new driver that can make you stand out from the crowed is availability, whenever I spoke to a company/agency I told them, I’d drive ANYTHING, I’d work ANY DAY, I’d go out all week or odd nights out, day work anything, I’d do ANY amount of drops to ANYWHERE and finally I’d start at any time.
You have to make it that if they need a driver your name is top of the list because they know you’ll say yes, this gets your foot in the door.
Good luck but if your not prepared to be flexible I wouldn’t hold out much hope.
Forget the agencies and knock on the doors of local hauliers there are plenty around your part of the world you may end up taking a crappy job for a while but you will gain the experience. Then look at better firms or if desperate go back to the agencies remember the agencies are in it solely to make money for themselves and have no interest in bringing new blood on
Sounds like your really fed up, but unfortunately i think thats the way it is, personally in 50 years i have never used an agency, but i will shortly, and i am in the position to tell them where to go if i dont like their terms. Stick with it, get as much experience as you can, and write to a few firms in your local area, even stobarts take on newbies. I know its a bit hard at the mo, and we have all had to put up with some crap at sometime, but trust me you will look back at this in the future, dont be disheartened, and dont take notice of the negatives, try different agencies, but most of all dont give up your dream thats has cost you a lot of money so far and good luck.
Forgot to say being as this is the real world don’t forget to errr…exaggerate your experience a bit , a lot on here may jump on this, but as I said real world.
Well I didn’t read all of it cuz the trainer sounds like a ■■■■ of the highest order after the first few paragraphs. How do these people get these positions of responsibility?
I can only guess that the bloke above him who gave him the job is a ■■■■ too.
Forget the agency buddy, they are a nightmare, even if you’re on for a good one it’s just not that good a deal unless you’re in with the gaffer or your circumstances dictate it.
Asda are retreating from agency & taking
on for the first time in 7 years odd. I could have sworn Arla were going down this route as well although I assume the trainer imbecile has put you off that idea.
Eddie takes on noobs & the work is a doddle. Couple of years learning the ropes then you can pick and choose and not have to deal with guys who think they are gods gift even though they are just ■■■■■■
Visiting small hauliers is a good way forward, as is visiting company websites, as some firms only advertise vacancies on their own websites. I got a job at NFT due to applying via their website. I worked for them for eighteen months. I now drive car transporters delivering new cars at another company - btw, still only had my c+e 23 months!
I’m sorry your assessment turned out that way and your assessor sounds like one of those who makes himself look a prick over a woman driver as so many do.
Just put this to the back of your mind,have a few beers and keep trying as if it never happened.
I worked for Potters for 4 weeks straight after my test last year, in fact that is the photo on my avatar. Trouble was it was 1.5 hrs to get there and most of my wages went in the tank but took it for the experience. Stobarts closed the leeds branch and they are now just down the road from Potters at Sherburn in Elmet. So too far for me I am Guiseley way, stourton and Bradford are my ideal places. I then went to Roadways and I will say no more but I like driving containers. All I am looking for is a night trunking job any nights suit me, weekends not a problem and I don’t have a family and mortgage so don’t need 6 days a week. Somewhere between 3-6 days or nights per week will do me regular trunk or 4/5 drops with tail lift will be fine. I thought I would be in demand. The thing with the agencies is the lies, that gets me.
Silver_Surfer:
Well I didn’t read all of it cuz the trainer sounds like a ■■■■ of the highest order after the first few paragraphs. How do these people get these positions of responsibility?
Got to agree. After a while you learn to just nod your head in the right place, let them get it out of their system and move on.
Why don’t you try H+R in Lethbridge Canada? Give 'em a call?Tell 'em you’re ex-army,all they need is fit young drivers & to hell with UK agency muppets.
harry:
Why don’t you try H+R in Lethbridge Canada? Give 'em a call?
LOL Harry it aint a bad idea as I have a life long army mate from the 1970s who is a Canadian citizen and he reckons it is great there. Lives in Milton just south of Toronto. I might just give him a call but if he says “fill in these forms and you have to have an assessment”…
JFC999:
Yeadon airport Bibby’s I’ll pm you a contact name after I’ve seen my mate later today
Jim
I used to deliver there for Potters you know the horrible jars of that dolmeo stuff had to have loads of straps around it. Anyway I kept putting a cv in there and asking for the TM. would love to get on there I could flipin walk to work. Would appreciate anything you can do, contact number etc. thanks
harry:
Why don’t you try H+R in Lethbridge Canada? Give 'em a call?
LOL Harry it aint a bad idea as I have a life long army mate from the 1970s who is a Canadian citizen and he reckons it is great there. Lives in Milton just south of Toronto. I might just give him a call but if he says “fill in these forms and you have to have an assessment”…
One phone call can change your life - use Skype account ,will cost you 1p @ minute to call H+R?
Remember in UK you’re competing with the dross of EU for peanut money. In CA you’re ahead of the game because of your command of English.
I have seen loads of adverts for Canada. If I was young and single I would be off tomorrow but at 56 and settled in West Yorkshire I can’t just up and leave… errrmm hang on
with a barge pole they are only out for themselves whatever they try and tell you, and have gone a long way to spoiling this industry.
, a lot on here may jump on this, but as I said real world.
