Hi ladies and gent,
Been a while since I last visited the site…in fact just over 2 years! My last post was not long after a passed my C+E and had my first solo run. It’s been a interesting couple of years since I’ve exceeded the magical " minimum of 2 years experience" milestone things have been much easier with loads of doors suddenly opened.
Ironically one of the companies I drive for said to me a few months ago you can drive for us now you’ve got 2 years experience even though I’d done regular shifts for them for the last 12 months.
Decided to stay with the agency that gave me my first class1 break and they have been very good to me, I’ve read a few posts here tonight about the umbrella schemes and there seems to be mixed feelings about them.
Personally I’m fine with it as depending on how desperate my agency are for a driver that dictates what they will pay, this is not meant to sound like I’m gloating but I’ve had more than a few £180.00 week night shifts and during the really bad winter of 2010 let’s say I was well compensated for coming out in the bad weather.
Agencies are perfect for me as having a little one who’s not yet at school I can choose not to work full time all the time and I actually like the challenge of finding out where I’m going on the day.
Been offered a few full time jobs recently through people I know who already work for the respective companies, one offering a massive £7.30 per hour for day gen haulage which was a no and another which was for a events company doing european runs which my misses said I was not allowed to do when I told her I might be gone for a week or so at a time.
In the last two plus years I’ve learned that if it’s moved by road this industry covers it so my message to the new C+E drivers would be keep an open mind and don’t limit yourself to just one sector and don’t write off agencies and they can give you a valuable insight in to where you might want to be.