th2013:
It used to be the case that people like to see C+E for around 2 years on your license before the better jobs become ‘available’. If this is still the case (others can say) then getting your C+E while you can still remember how to pass the test is to be encouraged. Apart from the reverse, the drop/catch and even more frenzied mirror checking, it’s essentially exactly the same test on exactly the same routes you learned, with actually slightly less time driving forwards!
So if you can afford it, I would actually encourage you to get on with it, and start the ‘experience’ clock ticking, then in a couple of years you will be on the big boys toys 
Definitely. ^^
Strike while the iron is hot, and all that. Don’t wait until you’re in a dead end job, that you hate, and can’t fund class 1.
If funds allow, get it out of the way.
A company literally 5 minutes from my front door with a really good reputation in these parts, suddenly got a new transport manager, who took one look at his bill for agency drivers every week, and thought “fork this for a lark”
He decided to give newbies a chance, and give them full access to the company trainer to help them out with anything they weren’t confident with.
I’d had my class 1 for 27 months and hadn’t even sat in an artic since my test, one week after my interview, I had my very own MAN TGX 440 XXL, did a days induction on the company policies and paperwork, and another doing real world reverses (the thing that had stopped me taking the jump) on my 3rd day off I trotted down to Dartford, needed a 45 at South Mimms (great fun for a first ever solo reverse on a Friday afternoon)
I had been relatively happy in my old Class 2 job, but continually moving goalposts, and being first man in the yard on a Monday morning and last man out on a Friday night, started to get my goat.
I was in a rush one afternoon, and went to “kick off” at the TM, but didn’t have time to vent my spleen, so just told him I wanted a word with him, in private, and he’d best be ready to free up an hour of his time.
I later found out that he was watching me on my tracker, and going for lunch/home/generally making himself scarce as soon as I got 10 minutes from the yard.
Oh well. I’ll earn at least 5k more than him this year, and I’ll get 8 days more holiday! [emoji3]
And a last tip, never trust anyone who tells you that they’ll put you through your class 1, just won’t happen.
