Got my second job! Don't believe what agencies tell YOU!

Passed my class 1 only 4 weeks ago today Friday.

Started for Potters on Wednesday following my pass on Friday 2/8/13. Trouble is I drive 25 miles to the job and it is killing me on time and fuel so was looking for something closer to me.

My other 3 agencies said chuck your licence in the drawer and continue with class 2 multi-drop etc. I said NO I want class 1 and stuck to my guns. Now it has paid off, I start with a leeds firm on Monday woo hoo and it is containers so more experience for me.

Just goes to show they do want class 1 drivers and newbies if you stick to your guns they will find you work as they have lots of contracts but no drivers to fill them.

I am pleased the way things have gone for me, I thought I would have a real struggle with the new class 1 licence and that is what all the agencies were telling me.

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Congratulations - excellent news, and good luck on the boxes.

I thought I would have a real struggle with the new class 1 licence and that is what all the agencies were telling me.
Since The Agency Workers Regulations 2010
Being told you have to be sole trader or no work blar blar blar
agency only look after number one Themselves
there are a few exceptions.

Good to know, thanks mate.

I’ve got my class 1 booked for 23rd September, so I’ll be in the same boat looking for class 1 work.

Cheers
Gareth

I passed my C+E on 3rd August to, who u got set on with mate - PM me deails etc if u can, cheers!

First night last night. Baptism of fire but I was extremely lucky to get a lovely lady to look after me.

I followed her down to Felixstowe both of us taking a container down and one to bring back.

She got separated from me as she was dropping the whole trailer with the box at the depot in Felixestowe docks and they did not have another trailer for her. So she had to go to our other depot down the road to pick another one up. Bless her, she had just uncoupled and she had to couple up again and go get this other trailer. She did not moan and was more concerned about me being on my own in the docks knowing nothing about the procedure or the layout etc. and I had to get my RHIDES card from the police! She drew me a map and wrote down a lot of instructions. She gave me tips about positioning under the crane etc. in her break time. Thanks to her I sailed through the docks :smiley: dropped my container and picked the other one up. Getting back to Leeds I find she had beaten me by an hour! Her unit was slower than mine. If you are on here, you know who you are, thank you very much for your help.

I believe I will be down at the docks tonight as well so anyone in Felixstowe tonight Hi :wink:

Sounds fantastic! Well done alder! Sounds like you’re spoilt for choice.

Can you give me a rough idea of hours, start times and pay? Don’t feel obliged, I’m just nosey.

Cheers

Take it easy with those boxs on they can be dodgy buggers on corners. Best of luck with the job :slight_smile: You think 25 miles is bad, I travel 35 miles each way, work 12 hours and then get 2 hours to myself before I’m in bed to do it all again. :stuck_out_tongue:

DAF_MAN:
Sounds fantastic! Well done alder! Sounds like you’re spoilt for choice.

Can you give me a rough idea of hours, start times and pay? Don’t feel obliged, I’m just nosey.

Cheers

Start at 1700 get my unit hook up to trailer usually container is already on but sometimes has to be dropped on for you. £11 per hour right through until 06:30. I aim to get a bit faster but sometimes there is nothing you can do. Last night had a 40 footer to take down and a 20 footer to bring back on Trinity docks Felixstowe. The 40 footer went off without a hitch but the 20 was in the THA (Temporary Holding Area) so whilst waiting with other drivers for it I asked a driver for guidance on the configuration of my Skeletal? Anyway what a nice chap he got out of his cab and took me through it, very easy. Put the red line on the connector reversed back until the retracted pins were passed the location holes then put the red line back on the normal connector and put the trailer brake on and shunted forward until the big click and voila trailer in position for laden 20 footer! Oh and we got the swivel locks ready for the “drop”.

Get £15 an hour if I work Sundays

Faffing about on Trinity was a bit of a hold up and the driver who showed me the trailer configuration (if you are on here THANK YOU :smiley: ) said the dock workers were on a go slow for their bonuses or something so it was 01:30 when I got the 20 on and I was hoping to be off the docks by 00:30.

I like this work :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: