Hello all,
I am extremely interested in obtaining my class 2 licence, was just wondering what the chances are of getting regular work for an inexperienced driver would be prior to making the investment?. Is there really a shortage of drivers out there? I enjoy driving and am currently a multi drop courier for Amazon but want to go that extra mile (no pun intended) and become a real professional driver.
Cheers
I passed my class 2 at the beginning of August, I completed my 35 hours CPC September 24th, registered with 3 agencies, handed my notice in and start at a large local company through one of the agencies tomorrow morning, all 3 agencies offered me work, this job is for a week or so as the driver has broken his toe. I have applications out there for permanent work, so getting some experience while I await replies.
Thanks, I drive a LWB sprinter at present but want to start driving bigger wagons now. How difficult is it to pass the test in your opinion?
essien86:
Thanks, I drive a LWB sprinter at present but want to start driving bigger wagons now. How difficult is it to pass the test in your opinion?
I went form small vans / sprinter/7.5t work ( not multi drop mind ) to CE took a while ( long story ) but was easy enough
Found a training provider that was ok they sorted medical out mine did take a while to come back but another story they also booked theory & HPT also lent me the training material I needed i.e. theory disc & HPT disc
Booked my training which ended being a shambles although I did pass sorted CE out that too turned into a shambles no real fault of the provider my test was cancelled sever times due to weather a change of provider passed np never been out of work ( until now on sick as fell from the lorry damaged my ankle badly fracture snapped achilles torn ligaments )
So if I was you go for it there is work out there but you will have to look for it if all else fails you can fall back on van driving
Many thanks for the advice, wish you a speedy recovery!!!
I passed earlier this year, and worked agency every day since. There is plenty of work out there, although it may take a bit of time to get on a better contract/firm. I say that because you will see plenty of work in the food industry, and that is because it’s hard work, often with plenty of handballing, so not for all… In my area they seem to permanently need drivers, and will take fresh Newbies. Although I only ever did my first 2 days with one of them, before finding something better…
As for how hard the Class C test is; the answer depends on if they passed first time or not. Those that failed first time will say it is hard, others that passed first time will say it’s easy! I think the national pass rate is either 54 or 56%, yet you will find some test centres (that are also trainers) like PSTT, that have pass rates of 66%, so 2 in 3 people pass who sit the test with them, pass! The figures of all test centres are online somewhere…
Agency wages will depend on where you live in the country, and in my area (Hampshire) you are looking at about £9.50 PAYE, or £11 to £11.50, or possibly £12 as a limited company.
Best of luck pal! 
I passed in feb and had a full time job straight away at bidvest (stay well away) quit that after 2 months and been agency ever since, starting ongoing work tuesday week @ £10 ph. Im happy enough for now.
Agency is good cause you get to learn different trucks and loads and what suits you.
I drove vans before i went in for my class 2 but you cant really compare, just take it easy in the truck, everythings a lot slower and you are not expected to rush so just take your time with it.
I dont push and i wont be rushed by anyone, and i always get asked back to jobs, so just take your time and take it all in. Steady is the key.
Driving a lorry is easy, the hard part is that you have to drive it to a standard set out by the DVLA and you will ignore most of what they teach you once you pass. The roads in this country are too crowded and full of idiots for you to play Mr nice’y nice. Go drive in any big city and you will quickly learn if you don’t force yourself through you will not get anywhere. Once you do pass though, thats when the real fun starts. Tight ■■■ loading bays, annoying customers, nagging planners, the rules and regs, the general population etc. But, but if you can rise above all that then this is the best dam job in the world. Where else can you get paid for a 45 minute nap? Where else can you get paid to see the world go by? Where as can you get paid to met all sorts of different people?
Lots of people say I could be earning more in an office or stacking shelves in Tesco, so what they are earning more, they aren’t having nearly as much fun as I am.
There is loads of work out there but dont go being too picky on what you will and wont do as the first year you just need to gain the experience once that year is over all the doors will open there was only one job i refused on agency and that was recycling lorries good money but i didnt do my class1/2 to be a loader driver like radar said what you get teached on youre test is how to pass the test mainly and driving on uk roads they are too crowded to drive like it all the time but it is worth doing youre hgv i have no regrets luckily i struck lucky passed my class2 in may and class1 in july and started out on artics with just 5 days experience on a rigid i have no regrets what so ever doing my hgv and absoulutely love driving and im lucky as i work for a small company so no nagging planners like places such as stobarts good luck you dont know how you will get on until you try it you either love or hate it