so its been over a year since I got my Cat C a whole year… and what have a learned hell if I know
my luck has gone from bad to worst its just one thing after another
there have been times when I felt that I wasted my money on getting my class 2 and the CPC card and the DIGIcard… money that could have been spent on a new car or a house…
but I chose to try my luck on this… to better my self
I worked as a Kitchen porter for 10 years scrubbing pots and pans and treated like a second class citizen in my own dam country living n minimum wage with no chance of a raise… I used my life savings for this!!!..
and what did it get me… well I lost my job of ten years to a gamble… a huge amount of debt… and stress…
and so I turn my back on this foolish dream of a better life… and leave a wiser weaker man…
and to all those that gave me the same lame excuse of “you need experience” and other lame excuses like that I have one thing to say… MAY YOU ROT AND BURN IN HELL!
QuietJay:
so its been over a year since I got my Cat C a whole year… and what have a learned hell if I know
my luck has gone from bad to worst its just one thing after another
there have been times when I felt that I wasted my money on getting my class 2 and the CPC card and the DIGIcard… money that could have been spent on a new car or a house…
but I chose to try my luck on this… to better my self
I worked as a Kitchen porter for 10 years scrubbing pots and pans and treated like a second class citizen in my own dam country living n minimum wage with no chance of a raise… I used my life savings for this!!!..
and what did it get me… well I lost my job of ten years to a gamble… a huge amount of debt… and stress…
and so I turn my back on this foolish dream of a better life… and leave a wiser weaker man…
and to all those that gave me the same lame excuse of “you need experience” and other lame excuses like that I have one thing to say… MAY YOU ROT AND BURN IN HELL!
Sounds to me like you need to sit down and have a face to face chat with a real driver, preferably one who isn’t “employed”. There are people out there who can help open doors for you and point you in the right direction, the secret is to find them and get them to take you seriously.
Many people come into this industry with dreams of “living the dream” and driving a Mack across America but the reality is so far from the films it is unbelievable. Agencies will ■■■■ you and when you are ready to quit they will ■■■■ you again unless you are armed and ready for them. Companies will expect you to pay them for the privilege of driving their lorries. You really need to have your eyes opened and once you know all this ■■■■ then you might just stand half a chance of making some very very good money.
I am a noob myself, I have my theory booked in for 3 weeks from now and my C test the week after but already I have laid foundations for jobs and agency work.
First thing is first, calm down, after that I suggest you spend today and tomorrow battering the phone to haulage companies and agencies. The more effort you put in the more chances you are giving yourself.
Take it easy pal, no matter how bleak things look you can always turn it around.
Your cat C licence, CPC and digi card are obviously not badges you want to flash just because you’ve got them. But relax a little.
I know the saying " if I did’nt have any bad luck - I’d have no luck at all" - but you need to drop this “I QUIT” thing going on inside your head.
You know why you did LGV\ HGV test. You still have your licence. You are available for work at a drop of a hat.
I don’t know your circumstances - as I don’t know you. But, if you were sitting in my house right know I would make you write out a list of reasons why you actually did invest your money “IN YOU”.
QuietJay:
and to all those that gave me the same lame excuse of “you need experience” and other lame excuses like that I have one thing to say… MAY YOU ROT AND BURN IN HELL!
err…cheers
the fact that you were previously washing pots for 10 years,speaks volumes
Get on the phone, ring every haulage firm in your area, tippers, skip hire, the lot. Tell them your situation, tell them you’re self employed (if you’re not become self employed).
I have CE licence and hadn’t driven an artic since my test, I rang around 5 years ago and got on tippers, tippers led to skips which led to artics, been on for this bloke a fortnight now and I’m happy.
It’s easy to give up, but nothing worth having is easy and nothing easy is worth having.
I have had my class 2 for years and 3 weeks ago passed my class 1 and have digicard DQC etc. The agencies only want to give me class 2 work and flatly refuse to even try to get me class 1. However one agency who is new and struggling to get off the ground got me in with a firm that is miles away. I am working there to get experience and it is costing me. However working for this firm I am delivering to other firms and making contacts. My dream would be to get full time employment at Bibbys who I couldn’t even get through the door to see and put my case as they are in Leeds Bradford airport and I would not even get by the security gate! However because working for Potters I deliver there almost everynight I have managed to get a hearing from the transport manager and now I have left a photocopy of my licences and cards in the office for him to look at. OK I might not get any further with this but I am still getting relevant experience with Potters. This does make people sit up and listen as I am doing the job now! You definitely have o be more positive and keep battering down those doors! I text 4 agencies and a few firms yesterday to say I am available for class1 all weekend including Monday. They have not responded but this does not deter me. One day I shall do this and someone who is desperate for a driver will say right come in and take this truck to Scotland or whatever. Be positive, assertive and don’t quit!
As said everything’s possible depends how hard you want to try and get it. If you spent 10 years washing pots how come you didn’t progress? My mrs started out at 16 washing pots a year later she was a trainee chef last week her old place phoned asked her to come back she told her current boss and she gave her a pay rise to keep her she is good at what she does, and it all came from washing pots and pans. Now are you the type off person Who sits feeling sorry for themselfs because everything hasn’t landed at your feet?. Have you spent your weekends driving round as many haulage yards as you can find or spent it watching tv and drinking beer. Nothing gets put on your lap, instead off quiting try using your situation to determine yourself to get out there and try harder. You’ve held your liscence a year you do not need to tell a possible employer you haven’t driven in that year so already they think you have a bit off experience. Try tippers,skips and the like, this time off year they’ll be busy or just quit. Waste that money you grafted for give up and don’t move on with your life. Get in a rut go back to washing pans with no enthusiasm or interest to progress, don’t push yourself or make sacrifices, complain your not gettin what you want straight away and see that dream off driving a truck disappear. Or pick yourself up get on with it stop moaning and try harder to follow your dream. Good luck and before you tell me to go rot in hell sometimes you need to take some constructive critisism like a man and learn from it and appreciate when people tell you that you have no experience or you should think off doing this that or the other they are wasting there own 5 minutes on commenting on your thread to hopefully help you in some way or an other. Good luck.
Karl86:
As said everything’s possible depends how hard you want to try and get it. If you spent 10 years washing pots how come you didn’t progress? My mrs started out at 16 washing pots a year later she was a trainee chef last week her old place phoned asked her to come back she told her current boss and she gave her a pay rise to keep her she is good at what she does, and it all came from washing pots and pans. Now are you the type off person Who sits feeling sorry for themselfs because everything hasn’t landed at your feet?. Have you spent your weekends driving round as many haulage yards as you can find or spent it watching tv and drinking beer. Nothing gets put on your lap, instead off quiting try using your situation to determine yourself to get out there and try harder. You’ve held your liscence a year you do not need to tell a possible employer you haven’t driven in that year so already they think you have a bit off experience. Try tippers,skips and the like, this time off year they’ll be busy or just quit. Waste that money you grafted for give up and don’t move on with your life. Get in a rut go back to washing pans with no enthusiasm or interest to progress, don’t push yourself or make sacrifices, complain your not gettin what you want straight away and see that dream off driving a truck disappear. Or pick yourself up get on with it stop moaning and try harder to follow your dream. Good luck and before you tell me to go rot in hell sometimes you need to take some constructive critisism like a man and learn from it and appreciate when people tell you that you have no experience or you should think off doing this that or the other they are wasting there own 5 minutes on commenting on your thread to hopefully help you in some way or an other. Good luck.
Every time you see a big nasty thundering juggernaut doing 90 mph you see a guy who has gotten past this 2 years experience tosh.They did it and so can you.Get positive and keep trying,there has not been a driver shortage in the last 30 years.I think that your best bet is to try skip or tipper operators and all agencies near you.
alamcculloch:
Every time you see a big nasty thundering juggernaut doing 90 mph you see a guy who has gotten past this 2 years experience tosh.They did it and so can you.Get positive and keep trying,there has not been a driver shortage in the last 30 years.I think that your best bet is to try skip or tipper operators and all agencies near you.
90 mph ? Wish mine did that, could get a lie in every morning & leave the yard an hour later ! Lol.
Not sure where you live. Agencies are your best bet by far. I landed a job within a week of passing my test but this is because i had a plan well in advance and stuck to it. yes the 2 year exp is a pain but there are ways around it. You can better yourself just dont give up. you must be missing something or need some help. Give it another go or you really will have just burnt ya cash
alamcculloch:
Every time you see a big nasty thundering juggernaut doing 90 mph you see a guy who has gotten past this 2 years experience tosh.They did it and so can you.Get positive and keep trying,there has not been a driver shortage in the last 30 years.I think that your best bet is to try skip or tipper operators and all agencies near you.
90 mph ? Wish mine did that, could get a lie in every morning & leave the yard an hour later ! Lol.
He does recommend skip/tipper operators so its probably not a typo
Try 7.5’s. Money isn’t tip top, but worked out for me.
Before I’d even taken the job, I’d decided to do my HGV licences, TM told me I’d be wasting my time, as he already had enough HGV drivers on the books.
Couple of weeks later, I got given a go on the rigids. Central London, ■■■■■■ it and been on them every week since.
My own motor is still a 7.5, but it’s the cleanest motor on the yard, unblemished, the regular class 2 drivers always request that I cover their holidays and days off.
Good…people like you should not be in a customer facing role representing a company.
Why are you still not washing pots & pans? You obviously did something to loose that 10yr job!!
So can you tell us all how many job interviews you’d had for class 2 in this time, how many haulage firms you’ve visited within, say, a 30mile radius of your home??
One thing you need to learn & learn quick ‘people hire people’. Attitude & presentation counts for a lot in this day & age. If your passionate about an HGV career you wouldn’t come on here & post such utter crap, I suspect you won’t come back on here & respond to all the posts, but I hope you do & in a more positive way & maybe just maybe you will get some positive feedback & help.
alamcculloch:
Every time you see a big nasty thundering juggernaut doing 90 mph you see a guy who has gotten past this 2 years experience tosh.They did it and so can you.Get positive and keep trying,there has not been a driver shortage in the last 30 years.I think that your best bet is to try skip or tipper operators and all agencies near you.
90 mph ? Wish mine did that, could get a lie in every morning & leave the yard an hour later ! Lol.
He must mean 90 Kilometres ? That’s all mine will do, maybe 100 downhill
.