Decided to take a leap after being made redundant.
Was proud to have made a wee ambition come true, I qualified for class 2, and class 1.Seeing that agencies seem to be screaming for drivers paid my money passed the test and off we go with DCPC.
DCPC hours completed register with agencies and now put the brakes on…catch 22 need 6 months experience■■? how on earth do i get the experience. Odd job here and there driving 7.5 and thats it…in a 3 month period 2 days driving…have tried all local places and loads of national all seem to want experienced drivers.
I even said I would go on a free trial/ training and all have said no its all due to the insurance…SO frustrating want to work, need to work,
Have you been to any places in person?
Bolli:
Seeing that agencies seem to be screaming for drivers
they are screaming for drivers to be on their books - they often get bonuses for that
To other potential newbies … ask those who have recently passed how they got on and do not believe training brokers or agencies
Bolli:
Decided to take a leap after being made redundant.
Was proud to have made a wee ambition come true, I qualified for class 2, and class 1.Seeing that agencies seem to be screaming for drivers paid my money passed the test and off we go with DCPC.
DCPC hours completed register with agencies and now put the brakes on…catch 22 need 6 months experience■■? how on earth do i get the experience. Odd job here and there driving 7.5 and thats it…in a 3 month period 2 days driving…have tried all local places and loads of national all seem to want experienced drivers.
I even said I would go on a free trial/ training and all have said no its all due to the insurance…SO frustrating want to work, need to work,
If you have a Stobart depot where you live give them a ring they take on newly qualified drivers
My advice would be stay positive and be persistent. Keep knocking on doors until you get the answer you want, but most of all don’t give up!
Best of luck from one newbie to another
Look up firms that have gone bankrupt or no longer trading on Companies House website.Put on the cv you worked for them with a glowing report.A future employer can not check and will have to believe what you put on the cv.Find some phone numbers that do not work.It is a dog eat dog world.Do what you need to do to be one step ahead of the next man who will take the job.
In THEORY you will never get a job. Of course the same theory applies to most of the HGV drivers you see on the roads today. Need experience to get experience - cannot possibly work - time to give-up.
Of course, practice doesn’t have to follow theory - that’s why you DO see so many drivers out there - none of them were born with experience.
It is not long since I was where you are. Here’s what I did:
I visited possible employers personally, told them how much money I had ‘invested’ in myself in getting a class 1 licence, etc. Then went back again a couple of weeks later to remind them about me. On the second visit I asked them if they could suggest who I might try, and a few did.
Use your contacts and friends. Ask them if they have any ideas about where you might find a job. That was how I got my first ever HGV job, and it was Class 1.
When you get agency work (even 7.5 tonne stuff), ask at the places you visit - talk to anyone you can - even forklift drivers get to hear about drivers leaving jobs.
I found sending out CVs to be virtually a waste of time. I say virtually because I recently got a reply to one I handed-out 18 months ago - but that was it.
See it all as the final hurdle to being a driver. You jumped the previous ones OK in getting your licence - you can jump this one too. You may just need a longer run-up to it.
Good luck
Alan
Yes Im still in the process of visiting a few more places in person All the advice you guys have have given me is true Ive just one more hurdle to jump with a longer run up.
Many thanks
DJC:
Have you been to any places in person?
yeah loads still got a few places to look 
ROG:
Bolli:
Seeing that agencies seem to be screaming for driversthey are screaming for drivers to be on their books - they often get bonuses for that
To other potential newbies … ask those who have recently passed how they got on and do not believe training brokers or agencies
I fully agree I initially paid a slightly inflated price for my class c learnt my lesson and contacted a training place directly…So much cheeper.