Hello everyone,
My first post, hope you find it interesting & informative. 
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/driving_is_still_male_and_older_men_and_we_need_to_change_it_hauliers_look_to_plug_shortfall_in_truck_drivers_1_4636434
As it turns out both companies were correct when they said my lack of recent experience wasnât a problem (over 10 years since i last drove at the time of applying, clean licence), or that they wanted to receive applications for part/time casual drivers (as they were looking to reduce their reliance on agency drivers (ÂŁ10 ph PAYE).
Going by the article contents, the reasons for me not even getting invited for assessment seem to be:-
- Wrong â â â , wrong age, wrong country of origin.
- Wrong pay expectations.
- I donât come with a Govt grant to pay for my on the job training.
- That I hold the TMâs CPC (National & International) and i included that on my applications.
Feel free to draw your own conclusions.
Maybe you didnât just come across that well in the interview?
Maybe putting you had a TM cpc frightened them off? Why arenât you a TM if you are qualified to be one? Do they want someone driving who is more qualified than the planners?
Pay expectations too high? Possibly. Expecting to get x when they know they can only give you y will frighten employers off.
From your first post you seem to have a chip on your shoulder, maybe that was evident in the interviewâŚ
Never even made it to an interview with either, despite my previous experience being with one of these companies albeit 10+ years ago.
I did think long and hard about including my CPC on the applications but concluded at the time it was a good idea, I realise now it wasnât, so i agree with you there.
The point of my post was to ridicule the âdriver shortageâ as itâs only a shortgae of Non White, Non Male, under 45âs, prepared to work for NMW.
That article was bollox, citing; driving licence costs, lack of training and poor working terms, along with poor roadside facilities as the driving factors. No mention of poor payâŚ
But oh wait, just a little further on we get this line; the situation had eased as sharp wage increases
What SHARP wage increases are they then? 
Anyone? 
Keep a Troshin:
The point of my post was to ridicule the âdriver shortageâ as itâs only a shortgae of Non White, Non Male, under 45âs, prepared to work for NMW.
Anytime I applied to a company I got taken in for assessment. Every time. The only problem I ever encountered was the 2 yr experience problem. Once I was past that, I never had any problems.
Reading between the lines of your two posts so far leads me to an idea of what the problem was for you and its nowt to do with qualifications
The-Snowman:
Keep a Troshin:
The point of my post was to ridicule the âdriver shortageâ as itâs only a shortgae of Non White, Non Male, under 45âs, prepared to work for NMW.
Anytime I applied to a company I got taken in for assessment. Every time. The only problem I ever encountered was the 2 yr experience problem. Once I was past that, I never had any problems.
Reading between the lines of your two posts so far leads me to an idea of what the problem was for you and its nowt to do with qualifications
That was my point as wellâŚ
Perhaps your ego and your opinion of what you think you are worth was more than what they wanted to pay
i have emailed around 30 companies offering ad-hoc driving service around me and only one bothered to reply with rates like 9ph.
i know the general recommendation is to knock on the doors, but the impression they either canât use email or are not very interested
Priest:
i have emailed around 30 companies offering ad-hoc driving service around me and only one bothered to reply with rates like 9ph.
i know the general recommendation is to knock on the doors, but the impression they either canât use email or are not very interested
From their point of view, and to play devils advocate mateâŚ
Could you be available at the drop of a hat and be worth the effort of the call, when the likelihood is you wonât be available? Yes you might be cheaper than calling one of their agencies, but they want solutions on the spot with minimal effort!
Evil8Beezle:
Priest:
i have emailed around 30 companies offering ad-hoc driving service around me and only one bothered to reply with rates like 9ph.
i know the general recommendation is to knock on the doors, but the impression they either canât use email or are not very interested
From their point of view, and to play devils advocate mateâŚ
Could you be available at the drop of a hat and be worth the effort of the call, when the likelihood is you wonât be available? Yes you might be cheaper than calling one of their agencies, but they want solutions on the spot with minimal effort!
i know mate, and i am sure agencies provide some additional insurance.
it was mostly intended to comment on the " they wanted to receive applications for part/time casual drivers (as they were looking to reduce their reliance on agency drivers)" so that it might not always the case and looks like in my area deffo not the case
Priest:
Evil8Beezle:
Priest:
i have emailed around 30 companies offering ad-hoc driving service around me and only one bothered to reply with rates like 9ph.
i know the general recommendation is to knock on the doors, but the impression they either canât use email or are not very interested
From their point of view, and to play devils advocate mateâŚ
Could you be available at the drop of a hat and be worth the effort of the call, when the likelihood is you wonât be available? Yes you might be cheaper than calling one of their agencies, but they want solutions on the spot with minimal effort!
i know mate, and i am sure agencies provide some additional insurance.
it was mostly intended to comment on the " they wanted to receive applications for part/time casual drivers (as they were looking to reduce their reliance on agency drivers)" so that it might not always the case and looks like in my area deffo not the case
Fair point mate, and what management say is often bollox!
Evil8Beezle:
Priest:
Evil8Beezle:
Priest:
i have emailed around 30 companies offering ad-hoc driving service around me and only one bothered to reply with rates like 9ph.
i know the general recommendation is to knock on the doors, but the impression they either canât use email or are not very interested
From their point of view, and to play devils advocate mateâŚ
Could you be available at the drop of a hat and be worth the effort of the call, when the likelihood is you wonât be available? Yes you might be cheaper than calling one of their agencies, but they want solutions on the spot with minimal effort!
i know mate, and i am sure agencies provide some additional insurance.
it was mostly intended to comment on the " they wanted to receive applications for part/time casual drivers (as they were looking to reduce their reliance on agency drivers)" so that it might not always the case and looks like in my area deffo not the case
Fair point mate, and what management say is often bollox!
indeed mate, that article is just a â â â â , wonât be surprised if it has been created by an âarticle randomiserâ with general everyday office BS
Darkside:
Maybe you didnât just come across that well in the interview?
Maybe putting you had a TM cpc frightened them off? Why arenât you a TM if you are qualified to be one? Do they want someone driving who is more qualified than the planners?
Pay expectations too high? Possibly. Expecting to get x when they know they can only give you y will frighten employers off.
From your first post you seem to have a chip on your shoulder, maybe that was evident in the interviewâŚ
Iâm a qualified TM, my interest in being one is nil, my skills for being one would be nil (took and passed it 5 years ago, not touched it since) so I drive for a living. I bet a good portion of people on TNET who are qualified to be a TM arenât in fact TMsâŚ
F-reds:
Darkside:
Maybe you didnât just come across that well in the interview?
Maybe putting you had a TM cpc frightened them off? Why arenât you a TM if you are qualified to be one? Do they want someone driving who is more qualified than the planners?
Pay expectations too high? Possibly. Expecting to get x when they know they can only give you y will frighten employers off.
From your first post you seem to have a chip on your shoulder, maybe that was evident in the interviewâŚ
Iâm a qualified TM, my interest in being one is nil, my skills for being one would be nil (took and passed it 5 years ago, not touched it since) so I drive for a living. I bet a good portion of people on TNET who are qualified to be a TM arenât in fact TMsâŚ
Yes, Iâve got an Operatorâs CPC but wouldnât be interested in working as a TM. Canât imagine it would be a handicap if I applied for a driving job though?
We had a driver with a CPC, it wasnât a plus or a minus as regards him being a driver.
're emailing, we donât have a sales@albionhaulage type address, so if I see an ema I donât recognise, it generally gets deleted without me opening it. We donât use any ad hoc or agency drivers anyway.
I have a o cpc, but would not, and have not, declared it on any applications, same as my cycling proficiency certificate, and my certificate for winning the egg and spoon race at junior school, as they are all irellevant to being a DRIVER, so why would I/you.
robroy:
I have a o cpc, but would not, and have not, declared it on any applications, same as my cycling proficiency certificate, and my certificate for winning the egg and spoon race at junior school, as they are all irellevant to being a DRIVER, so why would I/you.
I used to have a licence to buy strychnine. I have never needed to put this on an application form either.
Iâve a firearm licence, 
but I donât take my weapons to work. ANYMORE! 
Alot of the problem will be you emailing companies these usually just get deleted. Get out and knock on doors take kit with you so your ready to start there and then even if its out for the rest of the week.