I passed my LGV C driving test, and CPC in June 2011, and I really believed it to be a positive career move. However, I feel I was mistaken, because despite there being quite a few jobs advertised, I cannot get one. I’ve had agency work, but even that seems to be dying out. I got a temp to perm job with a company in Kings Langley, Herts. It lasted 2 days, because their insurance company said get rid because I hadn’t held my licence long enough. I’ve had that same problem so many times. It seems that only in this damned country, no matter how hard you try, there’s always something to hold you back. What is the point?
There are companies out there that will take on newly qualified drivers. Keep trying.
I found a company that needed drivers but they were unsure about taking me on after I’d just passed my test. I phoned them everyday and visited in person a couple of times. Eventually I got to speak to the director and was offered a permanent full-time job on the condition that I stopped phoning him everyday.
Had my Class 1 since May and so far all I get is you need two years experience. Seems to be a major lack of agency work at the moment despite the Christmas run up. Everywhere I contact I get the response loads of drivers on the books but no jobs thanks for calling!!!
Yep, just keep plugging away, some firms will take on newly qualified drivers.
Thanks for your replies ppl. I think the whole set up in this country is absurd to be honest. You can pass your C test, then not drive for a living for 2 years, and have no experience at all, then lie on your CV, get a driving job, and get into a truck and drive it with no experience at all. That situation wouldn’t be impossible to acheive, but wouldn’t a person be a danger to everyone else on the road if they hadn’t driven a truck in the 2 years since their driving test? It isn’t reasonable to expect that a person spend so much money learning to drive to a professional standard, then not drive for a living because no company will employ you because their insurance company says no. That job at Abacus Transport in Kings Langley that I had for all of 2 days, was a good little number and I was gutted to lose that… the manager was very apologetic, and explained that he was happy with my work, and wished he could keep me on, but insurance company said get rid. It really is stupid. I think that the best time to build on your driving skills and gain experience in the handling of a large, heavy vehicle is straight after your driving test. But no, not in this ■■■■ country.
I’ve been doing bits and pieces with agencies, but you’re right when you said there doesn’t seem to be much agency work. I’m registered with 4 agencies at the moment, and I’m getting no calls at all. I’m getting worried now, because Christmas is just over 2 weeks away and I’ve got no money. I don’t know what else I can do, I am trying hard to find a job but am getting nowhere. Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. Doug[/b]
But it not always the case of just holding your licence for 2 years now some want recent proven experience
This is due to supply & demand there was poss a few years ago a shortage but not now as a lot of people trained so supply has outstripped demand just like most other professions
This 2 years is not new either I encountered this in the late 70’s
You just have to keep trying eventually something will turn up
Do you phone the agencies each day 
go visit company regular
i was lined up for a job working on the m25 doing the free recovery in the roadworks area
then the boss decided he would only take on new people that had class c so i had to take that to get the job.
eventually passed the test then got the job when a vacancy came up a month later!
what i’m getting at is that there’s other class c work out there apart from just sitting behind a wheel all day.
maybe try some local recovery firms,scaffolding,council,builder etc,it may not be what you’re after but not every company uses agencys.
and not every rigid on the road is a delivery truck! 
just my tuppence worth 
I think the only money made is by the trainers! Not a sign of a job in this area. Some of the jobs I have looked at have had over 50 applicants. Hope the Christmas rush picks up soon.
dean68uk:
I think the only money made is by the trainers! Not a sign of a job in this area. Some of the jobs I have looked at have had over 50 applicants. Hope the Christmas rush picks up soon.
What christmas rush have heard that some company’s in this area are making redundancies as not enough work around
let’s face it were competing aganst every person in europe that can drive a truck not just other drivers from a certain catchment area like it used to be
paullus:
let’s face it were competing aganst every person in europe that can drive a truck not just other drivers from a certain catchment area like it used to be
Can’t see it getting any better either. Certainly no driver shortage!
I know that its very difficult to break your duck. Try skip and tipper firms also I sometimes do agency on a sewage tanker,they are not great jobs just something to get on your C.V. Ask at Comet and P.C. world who drives their wagon it could be Driverhire . just check out everyone.
I had exactly the same provblem. Agencies are a complete waste of time, as are all the online sites where so far as I can see, about 100 people apply for every job. I got round it by going online for a list of all ther haulage/transport firms in Sussex where I live and emailing/writing to them individually asking if they might have any vacancies now or in the near future for which, based on my letter/email and CV, they thought I might be suitable. Pay attention to your CV, keep it brief, relevant and use clear headings under which you can bullet point the separate things you think are relevant.
It quickly became clear that most are looking for safe, hard working, flexible people they can rely on to turn up and not let them down. I got my first job doing it this way in March of this year and although they have closed down for the winter thery have asked me to go back in late January. They said the fact that I approached them direct showed some initiative and a genuine interest in doing the job. Money isnt brilliant, but if I put in the hours I can take home around £400 a week after tax, although I would need to be out two nights out of 5 to achieve that.
Meanwhile, try MANPOWER as an agency. They have a specialist Logistics division and I found them to be a really professional outfit. Unlike most agencies who will have you registered and out the door in ten minutes flat, I spent nearly 3 hours with them doing conmputerised knowledge tests on Tacho regs etc as well as generally picking their brains and trying to charm them into finding me some work until end January. It worked and they have got me driving for Royal Mail over Xmas which is all good!
The name of the game is perseverance mate!
Good luck.
The name of the game is perseverance
animal:
This 2 years is not new either I encountered this in the late 70’s
My mum was still a nipper in the late 70’s and you already had a HGV licence?
SmashedCrabFace:
animal:
This 2 years is not new either I encountered this in the late 70’sMy mum was still a nipper in the late 70’s and you already had a HGV licence?
Yes, it’s a tricky one isn’t it?
Who’s the best person to look to for advice, someone who has been in the haulage industry for over thirty years or some kid who hasn’t been doing it for five minutes? 
The 2 year “rule” can sometimes be circumnavigated by clever negotiation of insurance excess. Typically, the insurance excess will approximately double for a new, or very young, driver.
It’s a hell of a big ask, but suggesting that you would stand the difference in insurance excess might help. It will certainly make sure everyone drives carefully!! But you also take the chance on sheer bad luck.
I’m not saying this is the right thing to do, or that it’s a good thing to do. Merely a tool in the toolbox for getting work.
Just a thought. Pete 
PS The insurance on our training vehicles increases by £1000 as soon as an 18/19/20 year old gets behind the wheel. But we take the risk and would never think of asking any trainee to carry that.
Its not just specific in England. This problem is rife in Ireland too. Everyone is only interested in people with 2+ years experience.
I was lucky enough to start out my time driving a skip truck when I got my provisional licence and I’ve moved on from there. I had a stint away from the road after I got my E+C licence and was lucky enough to get a job with a guy who was known to hire people with no experience to give them a start. Including young drivers. (I was about 20 at the time). I got my experience for my CV with him and the rest is history.
I was chatting to one of his drivers there the other day who’s with him for just over a hear. He’s 20 now and got the start from him driving vans, then up to rigids and now he’s on the artic full time.
Peter Smythe:
The 2 year “rule” can sometimes be circumnavigated by clever negotiation of insurance excess. Typically, the insurance excess will approximately double for a new, or very young, driver.It’s a hell of a big ask, but suggesting that you would stand the difference in insurance excess might help. It will certainly make sure everyone drives carefully!! But you also take the chance on sheer bad luck.
I’m not saying this is the right thing to do, or that it’s a good thing to do. Merely a tool in the toolbox for getting work.
Just a thought. Pete
PS The insurance on our training vehicles increases by £1000 as soon as an 18/19/20 year old gets behind the wheel. But we take the risk and would never think of asking any trainee to carry that.
Can’t agree with this idea Peter. It is not your responsibility to pay anything in case of an insurance claim even if it was your fault. The excess is paid by the firm not you.
This 2 year scam is a result of insurance companies (and agencies) dictating to a haulage firm what they can and can’t do with regard to their workforce. It’s the tail wagging the dog. If you’ve passed the test - that should be enough. If you discriminated on the basis that the candidate was black or female or WHY they’d never get away with it.
I attended an induction day for Sainsbury’s. They didn’t notice that i’d only had my licence 10 months until half way through the day, at which point they threw me out. Of all the drivers I sat the tacho test with - I did the best - some were clueless and some had been driving for 25 years… it doesn’t mean you’re incompetent just because you haven’t been at it 25 years…
But they were still there and I had to leave… 
Harry Monk:
Yes, it’s a tricky one isn’t it?Who’s the best person to look to for advice, someone who has been in the haulage industry for over thirty years or some kid who hasn’t been doing it for five minutes?
Yes is it a tricky one Harry.
Doug ■■■ 69er wanted some advice about getting a job having just passed his test. Who would be the best person to look to for advice, someone who did it 30 years ago or some kid who did it 12 weeks ago?
Don’t get me wrong, I respect some of my elders, yourself included. Please don’t dismiss the advice of some kid though just because you think you know best, especially when the only advice you offered was a shortened version of what I already said.
Dr Dre once:
Times is changing, young black gentlemen is aging,
Becoming old gees in the game and changing,
To make way for these new names and faces…
SmashedCrabFace:
Doug ■■■ 69er wanted some advice about getting a job having just passed his test. Who would be the best person to look to for advice, someone who did it 30 years ago or some kid who did it 12 weeks ago?
Somebody who did it 30 years ago, who would have far more idea of which firms to try and which not to try and would have built up numerous contacts in the industry in that time.