I would advide strongly get your cv printed and get agencies adresses and go to them and speak them face to face.I tried on the phone 6 7 months and all they said 1 year 2 years experience and I went to their office and they registered me and they said we will look for you some 7,5 tonne jobs and a week later they phoned me for class 2 job thats how I started to drive.
hope you will get there soon mate …
If I was running a haulage company and found a lack of experienced drivers applying for any vacancies I had, I would without doubt take on any newly qualified driver but with a couple of conditions…
I would not send them out on their own immediatly, but ask them to show me they are keen and capable by working alongside an experienced driver of the company for a few weeks to be shown the ropes. I would get the new driver to do all the driving and the experienced driver would show the new driver all aspects of the job and the way the company likes things to be done. He can also point out anything he sees as a concern in order to get that rectified so it doesn’t end up in a costly mistake when the new driver goes it alone.
I would also state that the new driver needs to be willing to do the job for a few weeks being shadowed by an experienced driver for a smaller percentage of the normal wage, while he is in ‘training mode’ and I’m sure nobody getting a chance would have a problem with this. Some have even offered to do this for nothing, and I can honestly say that if after a long time of not getting my first chance, this was something I would have also considered. Luckily, I got my chance quickly after getting my C+E licence, but that was simply down to being in the right place at the right time, which is nearly always the case.
I know most managers wouldn’t do this because of the cost of paying two people doing one job for a few weeks (even though one will be on less money), but I think it would be a far safer bet doing it this way, as the driver would then hopefully not make any silly mistakes because he will already be doing things correctly before being let out on his own.
Cheers! 
My point exactly LJA (it was much earlier in the thread) 
Unless the new driver is a complete knob who passed the tests(s) by pure luck on the day he/she should be able to get the truck from A to B without too much drama. Certainly without causing the destruction and mayhem some would have us believe is the norm…
It is the other stuff they need to learn. When and where to take breaks to maximise driving hours, how to load certain types of load, how to secure it. How to operate different types of tailer or adjust the 5th wheel to suit. The endless and constantly updating list of ‘other work’ skills that drivers need to become competent and efficient…
iDriver
animal:
Ok Senorio hereI am the manager of a haulage firm
I advertise for a driver I then receive several CV why should I employ you as a new driver as opposed to an experienced driver or ex army
All of what I am about to list below is personal experience
A new driver goes to connect (CE) but when nearly done the unit starts to roll forward it stops when it hits another container causing several thousand pounds of damage so now have to claim off insurance that in turn goes up & also have to hire / replace the unit until damaged 1 is sorted ( so after this insisted on 2 yr experience )
The driver is asked to start at 10.30am but stops at 12.00 due to fact it is dinner time but when asked where he is gives that then he is asked how & has he been to load yet "Oh is it not loaded for me "
A driver leaves the yard drives approx 10mile with trailer break on dosent see the sparks or other drivers trying to catch him eventually the boss gents receives a call to say there is a prob with trailer so calls driver who then does stop fortunately no damage
Driver leaves with a full load on has the trailer break on but this time not so lucky as above as 3 tyres are ripped so now a fitter has to be called ( tyres at pprox £200 each ) then the call out fee etc so quiet an expensive mistake also the delivery is late
Yes there are a couple more so why should I employ you & what makes you so different to the above
Sorry, that senario is total crap, any driver could do that, When I was a new driver, i asked the op desk what was exactly required as it was my first time here etc, they tell you if you ask, I agree if he is a billy big bollox who thinks he knows it all then yes.
Re the trailer, old drivers do it … personally i think newer drivers are more cautios and check re check re check and re check again … sorry but i have been to plenty of placed where the “older driver” who know it all told me dont worry bout park brake mate nobody puts them on … i ignore them and do it anyway … new drivers normally will make a little mistake but old drivers do it also personally I wouldnt give a hoot who I employed as long as they could do the job and actually newer drivers would be better, purely as they have not been around along time thinking they will no it all like some older drivers think.
