Hi Folks, I recently got Class 2 qualified and registered with a few agencies. 1 of those agencies got me a temp job driving a 7.5t in the Mansfield area which I immediately jumped at so as to get some experience. Went for the first shift and it was to cover for a chap who had a heart attack the day before (he’s okay by the way). All I was tasked with was to go with the manager to Birmingham so he could see the driver in hospital and then go recover the vehicle. None of this was a problem apart from me probably showing my inexperience but it wasn’t a problem (I thought) and the vehicle was brought back to base. Thinking I was starting next day at 06:30 to start work delivering bathroom supplies I said my goodbyes and a “see you in the morning” and when I got home I had a call from the agency saying that the firm wanted someone with more experience and to hit the ground running so no more temp job! Imagine my disappointment and the fact that I had not been given much of a chance. So much for trying to get the experience in the first instance. What is wrong with these people, has left a bitter taste in my mouth to say the least…
Keep your head up mate, you are still getting experience even if it’s only a little bit at a time, and each assessment or job you get can build on this for the next one.
When your agency no one cares about you they care about what suits them best,you’ll be glad to know this continues when your employed too 
We have a stipulation on our insurance that we cant use anyone that doesn’t have a minimum of 2 years experience.
But we have been burned by agency’s in the past, when they do not tell me that the driver has no experience.
Like what happened a couple of weeks ago…
Booked a class 2 driver for a 3 day multi drop. Find out after the driver has left that it was his first time out since he passed his test. Got a phone call the next morning from the driver to say he was stuck down a lane, and wanted to know who he rang to get out! Told him he’d have to try and get himself out. Only to be told it was impossible as it had taken him 4 attempts to get the truck round the last bend and that the lane was now much narrower than the truck. Anyway, fast forward an hour and he’s managed to reverse out but damaged a wall with both sides of the truck (both sets of wheel nuts caked in concrete), ripped both wings and the o/s step off, bent the under run bars on o/s and n/s, mangled the front n/s wing and n/s step, bent the rear under run at 45 deg under the truck and ripped a hole in the roof. £1500 to tow it back and a bill of £4000 for repairs (should have been more, but we have brilliant maintenance and body work firm looking after our trucks).
He was travelling from Matlock to Lincoln and it looks like he had been blindly following a car sat nav, and somehow ended up down a lane he dint even need to be down as it horse-shoes back on to the same road and he even passed an “unsuitable for HGV” sign.
I understand that you have togain experience somewhere, I’ve been there myself. But I can guarantee that the company’s who are wary of agency drivers, have had an issue with one at some point in the past.
Best thing to do with a newly passed driver is, put them on 7.5 until you have a measure of their driving capabilities or put them out with a skip company. Plenty of reversing practice into the small driveways with ornate gates and fancy walls to try and avoid
There’s drivers with 20 years plus experience that have received similar calls from their agencies. ‘Experience’ was merely an ‘excuse’. The horrible fact is, agencies are low life scum who ‘EXPLOIT’ both the employer and the employee by bringing them together and taking a cut. They care about neither.
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apart from experience is there anything that newly qualified driver can do (apart from praying ) to increase there chance of getting work? further driver training for example.
LE1erRE:
apart from experience is there anything that newly qualified driver can do (apart from praying
Nope. Just be in the right place at the right time.
LE1erRE:
apart from experience is there anything that newly qualified driver can do (apart from praying
Just keep applying for permanent jobs, surely one will give you a chance. Food delivery companies usually take on newly passed drivers.
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netty201:
We have a stipulation on our insurance that we cant use anyone that doesn’t have a minimum of 2 years experience.
But we have been burned by agency’s in the past, when they do not tell me that the driver has no experience.Like what happened a couple of weeks ago…
Booked a class 2 driver for a 3 day multi drop. Find out after the driver has left that it was his first time out since he passed his test. Got a phone call the next morning from the driver to say he was stuck down a lane, and wanted to know who he rang to get out! Told him he’d have to try and get himself out. Only to be told it was impossible as it had taken him 4 attempts to get the truck round the last bend and that the lane was now much narrower than the truck. Anyway, fast forward an hour and he’s managed to reverse out but damaged a wall with both sides of the truck (both sets of wheel nuts caked in concrete), ripped both wings and the o/s step off, bent the under run bars on o/s and n/s, mangled the front n/s wing and n/s step, bent the rear under run at 45 deg under the truck and ripped a hole in the roof. £1500 to tow it back and a bill of £4000 for repairs (should have been more, but we have brilliant maintenance and body work firm looking after our trucks).
He was travelling from Matlock to Lincoln and it looks like he had been blindly following a car sat nav, and somehow ended up down a lane he dint even need to be down as it horse-shoes back on to the same road and he even passed an “unsuitable for HGV” sign.
I understand that you have togain experience somewhere, I’ve been there myself. But I can guarantee that the company’s who are wary of agency drivers, have had an issue with one at some point in the past.
Best thing to do with a newly passed driver is, put them on 7.5 until you have a measure of their driving capabilities or put them out with a skip company. Plenty of reversing practice into the small driveways with ornate gates and fancy walls to try and avoid
Yeah sorry about that! 
But I did call before I did the damage, and you did tell me to sort it out myself! 
Yes the driver was at fault for doing the damage, and for me the real blame here sits at the door of the agency. You have suffered the financial cost of what happened, and I suspect the Newbie driver suffered the emotional damage of it and I suspect ruined their confidence. I’d suggest most Newbie drivers take a little while to find their feet, and this poor lad was probably set back months by this.
It’s all very well saying that Newbies should possibly be sent out in a 7.5 for a while, but from my experience firms that do pallets generally use this size of vehicle to do the really tight drops that the bigger Rigid’s have failed the previous day. Where I used to work, the 7.5t drivers had way more scrapes and incidents than the 26t Rigids…
Sadly the way most Newbies (unless they are really lucky) will get experience, is do the crappy hard labour jobs that others wouldn’t touch with a barge pole! Not that it has to be forever, but if Newbies coming into the game can accept this, and know it’s only temporary, they won’t be disillusioned when they start…
Just keep trying, something will come up.
Ask yourself a question. Do you yearn to drive a lorry, the bigger the better? Or do you just want to be able earn a decent wedge by driving any lorry?
If its the second option, you won’t be looking for work for long I’m sure.
You’re not alone mate. I got my entitlement back a few months ago (C+E) and I haven’t driven trucks on over 20 years but when I did, I had a good few years of driving all classes in general haulage. I thought it wouldn’t be that hard to get back into the swing of things but keep hitting a brick wall. Initially tried the approach of applying for permanent jobs (mainly small trucks and up to class 2, didn’t expect a class 1 job straight away) and nothing’s come of that yet so I signed up with an agency few weeks ago and have heard nothing. Guy talked about going with Nova which I’m not keen on but I said it ‘might’ be something I’d consider for the future, I don’t know if that made him reluctant to give me any work: if they have a pool of readily experienced drivers and don’t have to worry about PAYE for them I guess I’m at the back of the queue.
Seriously thinking of getting my forklift licence renewed and doing that for similar, if not better money lol.
LE1erRE:
apart from experience is there anything that newly qualified driver can do (apart from praying
You’re along the right lines. One way is spend more money. Agencies and the general job pool are awash with people with ‘just’ a driving licence. It helps if you stand out from the rest,having things like ADR,CSCS,HIAB,EPIC etc.
As far as being an agency driver goes, i’ve no experience but I suspect they’re just interested in putting a bum on a seat to get their commission. Having said that,agencies seem like zero-hours contracts in that they suit some people.
In my short experience,directy employed seems the best way. When I passed I went a year with nothing from my two agencies then one came up with my first job. It pays very good money but you have to put the hours in. However it’s serving the purpose of a ‘start’. Since I’ve been driving the last three months I’ve turned two directly employed jobs down,due to the money. One was 18-tonner doing pallets with a reasonable wage but never any o/t,regardless of finish time. The other was driving a dustcart for the council.A poor wage due to it being a 37hr week.How I wished I could live on the money
If your outgoings are reasonable and you’ll do just about anything there’s loads about. The current thing seems to be Bidvest. I was sat in Clacketts the other week and there was a swarm of them.
Hi buddy, i passed my test in april did a little agency driving the odd day here and there and eventually got offered a full time job driving a 26T refuse truck,
Not what i wanted to do but its all good experience especially some areas i have to take this thing alot of the areas have 7.5T weight limits but i have access to get to the customers bins and there the roads that are the worst there not designed for HGV’s at all,
Anyway my point is could you not try recycling companys in your local area? They usually pay poor wages which is why there always wanting drivers my area [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY]
Keep your head up pal you will get something in the end, i found face to face handing cvs in got me better responses.
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Where abouts are you based? If you’re near Lutterworth concorde logistics take on new drivers. You’ll get some good experience their driving down streets delivering furniture. It’s not an easy job but great for experience also PH might take you on if you have a class 2 licence…
JaxDemon:
Where abouts are you based? If you’re near Lutterworth concorde logistics take on new drivers. You’ll get some good experience their driving down streets delivering furniture. It’s not an easy job but great for experience also PH might take you on if you have a class 2 licence…
Who are PH mate?
Orangerick:
JaxDemon:
Where abouts are you based? If you’re near Lutterworth concorde logistics take on new drivers. You’ll get some good experience their driving down streets delivering furniture. It’s not an easy job but great for experience also PH might take you on if you have a class 2 licence…Who are PH mate?
P&H food service
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Palmer and Harveys. Place I was at is based in Coventry.
It’s not for the light hearted or work shy. You’ll be sweating buckets and knackered every day but for driving experience in a class 2 it’s as good as concorde logistics. Had a few people from companies i applied for and agencies saying Concorde and Palmer and Harveys is great experience. If you can drive and deliver for PH you’ll never be out of work. Mainly due to some of the crappy estates you’ll deliver to and places with really rubbish access. You’ll be tested that’s for sure.