Hi guys/gals! 
I haven’t been around the forum for just over 12 months as I got a new job, moved home and not had a decent internet setup until now.
So, have I missed anything? 
Not much, it turns out that Harry Monk is gay and Rob K has been promoted to forum manager. Oh, and Conor is the font of all knowledge.
Sorry, who are you?
LJA:
Hi guys/gals!I haven’t been around the forum for just over 12 months as I got a new job, moved home and not had a decent internet setup until now.
So, have I missed anything?
NO
WHO ARE YA? 
LJA:
Hi guys/gals!I haven’t been around the forum for just over 12 months as I got a new job, moved home and not had a decent internet setup until now.
So, have I missed anything?
Moved on from Waldrons then mate!
What were they like?
LJA:
Hi guys/gals!I haven’t been around the forum for just over 12 months as I got a new job, moved home and not had a decent internet setup until now.
So, have I missed anything?
Welcome back.
Nothing has dramatically changed in the year.
Hope all is well with the new job.
Who are you on for now?
Pat Hasler:
NO
Erm…is that ‘NO’ nothing has changed or ‘NO’ we ain’t missed ya? Hmmm… charming! 
DaiDap:
Not much, it turns out that Harry Monk is gay and Rob K has been promoted to forum manager. Oh, and Conor is the font of all knowledge.?
LOL. Harry? 
DaiDap:
Sorry, who are you?
Oh, don’t be sorry. I’m a nobody. Trust me…just a nobody!
Fatboy slimslow:
WHO ARE YA?
LOL. Obviously nobody you know! 
Will_161:
Moved on from Waldrons then mate!
Hiya Will!
Yeah, unfortunately I got made redundant after a few months with them. The work dried up a bit and before ya know it, it was like “Last one in, first one out!” 
It was a real shame because I was really enjoying it there. I had my own truck, only worked Monday to Friday, got paid over £8.50p an hour, up to 40 hours then over £12 an hour after that plus the £84 a week cash from the 4 nights out. So, I never needed to draw any money out the cashpoint for the week, I just used the ‘night out’ money and the rest stayed in the bank to cover rent and bills etc. It’s a shame the job couldn’t have lasted 12 months or more, as I would’ve been in a sound financial position now! 
Will_161:
What were they like?
They were good mate. Like I say, I was enjoying it there and of course I was really lucky and grateful at the time, because they took me on knowing I had only just upgraded the licence to C+E a few weeks before joining them. Hey ho, all good experience I guess!
dar1976:
Welcome back.Nothing has dramatically changed in the year.
Hope all is well with the new job.
Who are you on for now?
Hiya matey! Thanks.
Well, after being made redundant from Waldrons in Bromsgrove in May last year, I struggled to find another job. I was even looking for cat C work as well as the C+E, but nothing was coming up and I really didn’t want to have to go through all the rigmarole of signing on again, but my money was running out! 
It was then that my sister who lived in Penzance, Cornwall told me to go and stay at her place for a week, and try a company called ‘Conway Bailey Transport (CBT)’ in Redruth. Her boyfriend at the time had a mate who works there part-time and was sure they were looking for a new driver. So I done just that. I went in the place, had a quick chat with a manager, went out on a 30 minute assessment drive and was put on a trial period. I then decided to put my notice in on my flat and I moved to Cornwall that month. I actually got my keys to my new flat (just outside St Austell) on April 23rd 2012, so I have now been working here for just over a year.
However…after my trial period, I was approached by the chap who does all the driver training and tacho checks etc (the same chap who took me out on the assessment), and he put some paperwork in front of me. He sort of laughed and said, “this is your contract…it’s a contract to say you haven’t got a contract. If you know what mean!” I looked at him with a confused look on my face, asking what the hell he was on about. He basically told me that I wasn’t going to be put on salary, but on a kind of ‘zero hour’ contract, which means I am employed by them but they don’t have to offer me any hours if they don’t want. It also meant that I didn’t have to do all (or any) hours they offered me if I didn’t want to either. I was taken aback by it at first to be honest, but this chap did say that I would probably be better off this way than being on salary anyway, as the company are always busy and so I will always have loads of hours offered if I want it, but I won’t be in the position of being able to say no, like all the guys who are on salary. They don’t get a say, and have to work all hours and days the managers tell them. They don’t get any extra pay or time off for weekends or bank holidays etc. Whereas, I can just say, I ain’t gonna be available! Now, this has been great for the past 12 months as I have indeed always been offered work all the time. Basically, as soon as I finish a six day working week, then had a couple of days off, they are on the phone asking if I can start another week again. This has been ideal, as I have always managed to give myself a couple of weeks off when I actually wanted them (not just to fit in around the company or other drivers) to go on holiday or travel back up to Stratford-upon-Avon and spend some time with my Mom at her place. 
But now, apart from going in to the office and completing a days CPC on Monday (which I won’t get paid for), I haven’t been asked to work anything since finishing a six day week the previous Monday! So, I am hoping this ‘lull’ the work won’t last too long or I will once again be forced into looking for something else yet again!
So what about you anyway? Last time I was on here, you just started your training at First. Was I right, are you enjoying it?
Sounds like you struck lucky. Lets just hope they stay busy.
I was driving for First and had a bit of a spat with the management so moved on.
I got a few months with Downtons on Artics. That was great.
I am now Self Employed Trade Plating. It keeps me busy and pays the bills.
Glad it’s all come good for you. Well Done.
dar1976:
Sounds like you struck lucky. Lets just hope they stay busy.I was driving for First and had a bit of a spat with the management so moved on.
I got a few months with Downtons on Artics. That was great.
I am now Self Employed Trade Plating. It keeps me busy and pays the bills.
Glad it’s all come good for you. Well Done.
Thanks mate.
Oh, right! I’m surprised you aren’t still there to be honest mate, I really am. How did you find the training and work there?
OK on your work for Downtons. Yeah, I see their trucks all over the place. How come that didn’t last then?
Hi LJA , welcome back ,
glad you found some sort of work , & hopefully the ‘lull’ won’t be lasting too long, good luck with the work
LJA:
dar1976:
Sounds like you struck lucky. Lets just hope they stay busy.I was driving for First and had a bit of a spat with the management so moved on.
I got a few months with Downtons on Artics. That was great.
I am now Self Employed Trade Plating. It keeps me busy and pays the bills.
Glad it’s all come good for you. Well Done.
Thanks mate.
Oh, right!
OK on your work for Downtons. Yeah, I see their trucks all over the place. How come that didn’t last then?
Training at FirstBus was great. Just a shame that the reality of working there was a lot different.
I was with Downtons through an agency and they told me I was not needed anymore.
I had an interview last week for a coach firm as a casual driver. Just waiting to hear.
bonnie lass:
Hi LJA , welcome back
glad you found some sort of work , & hopefully the ‘lull’ won’t be lasting too long, good luck with the work
Thanks bonnie lass!
Yeah, luckily I don’t have too many outgoings and have now paid off all previous debts and just have the one car loan to pay off, so can get by during these short lulls in the work etc. I just hope that the lulls don’t last more than a few weeks at any one time.
dar1976:
Training at FirstBus was great. Just a shame that the reality of working there was a lot different.
Oh, right. That’s a shame Dean. I did follow your posts on your blog and was pleased to see you really enjoyed the training like I expected you would. I really thought then you were on way to being there at least the full two years. I remember when I worked for First in Redditch (back in 2006), I loved it and only left after about 6 months through complete and utter boredom of doing the same 6 or 7 routes day in day out. I actually told them that and said it is with real regret I am leaving but I am totally bored out my head doing the same routes. They just didn’t have enough routes out of that small depot that was the problem. I thought the pay was good enough, the pension & share scheme was good and I really liked the free parking I could get 24/7 in the main car park in the shopping centre! However, I couldn’t take the boredom anymore.
So, in what way was it different to what you had expected? Problems with the hours or days or not enough time to learn routes or what? Did you put your notice in and serve it or just walk out? And have they chased you for the cost of getting the licence since leaving?
dar1976:
I was with Downtons through an agency and they told me I was not needed anymore.
Ah, yeah. I know what you mean there. It’s great if there’s always work but when it’s quiet, you’re the first one out the door.
dar1976:
I had an interview last week for a coach firm as a casual driver. Just waiting to hear.
Oh right. Well that sounds better than nothing mate. So what are you up to at the moment then, just getting odd days with various agencies?
I was given 2 weeks holiday at First and went to work elsewhere. Actually it’s only now I remembered I went to work for Steve Walker up in the Midlands before going on to Downtons.
I’m just Trade Plating cars at the moment. Some nice cars, some are right old bangers lol. I am self employed so get a decent rate for it and can pick and choose the jobs so they link up. Not too much interim travel which is a killer on the funds.
dar1976:
I’m just Trade Plating cars at the moment. Some nice cars, some are right old bangers lol. I am self employed so get a decent rate for it and can pick and choose the jobs so they link up. Not too much interim travel which is a killer on the funds.
I see. I have seen this type of work advertised a lot recently. How does it work?