I have toyed with becoming a driver for a few years now but for various reasons it would never have been convenient until now. I can pay my own way through my tests. I found out a friend who I haven’t spoke to for some time had become a driver after we lost contact and I’ve been speaking to him about it recentley. He says that this is probably the best time to become a driver. He reckons if I pay my way through my courses and get my licenses then I’m almost guaranteed a job straight away or with very little job hunting anyway. Indeed I have seen a lot of job advertisements on Reed and they typically only seem to have a couple of people applying to them so this suggests that there is more of a demand than is being fulfilled.
In a nutshell is the driving jobs market currently in your favour as a new driver? Even with no driving experience are companies likely to give me a chance if I’ve got licensed on my own?
This is a good time to start driving. My company are taking on new drivers something that they have never done before. They are having too as they are finding it hard to get drivers through the door.
As ROG indicated, it will be interesting to see how much the demand falls after Christmas. Pre Christmas is always busy whilst the opposite applies post Christmas. Having said that, there are certain signs of an increasing driver shortage. This is well documented in respected publications including Commercial Motor. So IMO, there will be a decline, but I don’t think it will be enormous.
Just taken me six months to get licence, medical, do theory and hazard perception tests five days of cpc and do my class 2… Everyone I approach for work so far has had issues getting staff for driving. But my problem has been that a lot of companies also can’t get insurance for new drivers and can only take on drivers with two years experience.
Even some of the agencies who were advertising at the driver traning school i went to to do my Class 2 and state they are looking for new drivers have said the they would struggle to find me work… Even as a mature driver with with a level head and a clean licence with 18 years no claims on my car insurance.
Having spent almost £ 2.5k to get to this stage I am left wondering if it is worth spending another £ 1-5-2k getting my class 1 if I can’t get any work…
Thruxton:
Just taken me six months to get licence, medical, do theory and hazard perception tests five days of cpc and do my class 2… Everyone I approach for work so far has had issues getting staff for driving. But my problem has been that a lot of companies also can’t get insurance for new drivers and can only take on drivers with two years experience
Well that doesn’t sound too promising.
I’m 23 years old will that massively work against me?
Thruxton:
Having spent almost £ 2.5k to get to this stage I am left wondering if it is worth spending another £ 1-5-2k getting my class 1 if I can’t get any work…
Thruxton:
Just taken me six months to get licence, medical, do theory and hazard perception tests five days of cpc and do my class 2… Everyone I approach for work so far has had issues getting staff for driving. But my problem has been that a lot of companies also can’t get insurance for new drivers and can only take on drivers with two years experience.
Even some of the agencies who were advertising at the driver traning school i went to to do my Class 2 and state they are looking for new drivers have said the they would struggle to find me work… Even as a mature driver with with a level head and a clean licence with 18 years no claims on my car insurance.
Having spent almost £ 2.5k to get to this stage I am left wondering if it is worth spending another £ 1-5-2k getting my class 1 if I can’t get any work…
Sign up with more agencies. I’ve had no trouble getting work since I passed in August and thats only class 2.
PARD:
I have toyed with becoming a driver for a few years now but for various reasons it would never have been convenient until now. I can pay my own way through my tests. I found out a friend who I haven’t spoke to for some time had become a driver after we lost contact and I’ve been speaking to him about it recentley. He says that this is probably the best time to become a driver. He reckons if I pay my way through my courses and get my licenses then I’m almost guaranteed a job straight away or with very little job hunting anyway. Indeed I have seen a lot of job advertisements on Reed and they typically only seem to have a couple of people applying to them so this suggests that there is more of a demand than is being fulfilled.
In a nutshell is the driving jobs market currently in your favour as a new driver? Even with no driving experience are companies likely to give me a chance if I’ve got licensed on my own?
Any feedback appreciated!
If you’re happy to work for peanuts at cowboy companies then yes, plenty of opportunities for you. If you want decent work with good money, then you might want to think on. Too many companies still stuck in the dark ages, but you can’t blame them really because most drivers are content to sleep in a tin box all week doing 80hrs for £450 in the bank.
Reed is an agency btw, so take any agency ads with a load boat load of salt when it comes to money. As a newbie they’ll have your pants down as they prey on people like you I’m afraid.
So is my age a limiting factor or is that really a non issue?
Left hand down!:
If you’re happy to work for peanuts at cowboy companies then yes, plenty of opportunities for you. If you want decent work with good money, then you might want to think on. Too many companies still stuck in the dark ages, but you can’t blame them really because most drivers are content to sleep in a tin box all week doing 80hrs for £450 in the bank.
Reed is an agency btw, so take any agency ads with a load boat load of salt when it comes to money. As a newbie they’ll have your pants down as they prey on people like you I’m afraid.
I guess the problem is not many jobs that you can get without college or an apprenticeship pay £450 after tax these days.
PARD:
So is my age a limiting factor or is that really a non issue?
Left hand down!:
If you’re happy to work for peanuts at cowboy companies then yes, plenty of opportunities for you. If you want decent work with good money, then you might want to think on. Too many companies still stuck in the dark ages, but you can’t blame them really because most drivers are content to sleep in a tin box all week doing 80hrs for £450 in the bank.
Reed is an agency btw, so take any agency ads with a load boat load of salt when it comes to money. As a newbie they’ll have your pants down as they prey on people like you I’m afraid.
I guess the problem is not many jobs that you can get without college or an apprenticeship pay £450 after tax these days.
But there’ll be plenty paying £225 for a 40hr week…
That’s what people fail to see when it’s put in front of them.
Left hand down!:
But there’ll be plenty paying £225 for a 40hr week…
That’s what people fail to see when it’s put in front of them.
But that’s under minimum wage. Do you mean that you are forced to work more hours than you are actually paid for because of trying to meet deadlines and such? Sorry for the questions I just want as much information as I can get!
There’s plenty of decently paid work about. The days of £225 for 40hrs are long gone. Class 2 is typically £8 per hour. Class 1 nearer to £10. Yes, there are exceptions. But there are exceptions BOTH ways.
I wish the prophets of doom would find another way to occupy their time! It’s more than a little misleading.
Peter Smythe:
There’s plenty of decently paid work about. The days of £225 for 40hrs are long gone. Class 2 is typically £8 per hour. Class 1 nearer to £10. Yes, there are exceptions. But there are exceptions BOTH ways.
I wish the prophets of doom would find another way to occupy their time! It’s more than a little misleading.
Pete
Ok you seem helpful and obviously know what you’re talking about. How much is age a limiting factor. I am 23, will this put companies off? If it is a limiting factor is it still better to get my license now even if I can’t find work immediately?
How much is age a limiting factor. I am 23, will this put companies off? If it is a limiting factor is it still better to get my license now even if I can’t find work immediately?
Most companies would prefer someone who’s in their late thirties with 15 years good experience. Sadly, those folks have already got jobs so the employer has to lower his sights! Traditionally, it’s been 2 years experience and age over 25. Supply and demand is taking control very quickly (more quickly than I remember previously) and the bar is being lowered all the time.
So, at age 23 and no experience, TBH, you’re not the favourite but you will find a job if you look. Certainly, it’s well worth getting the licence even you don’t get work immediately. (But, as I said, that’s not likely).
We train drivers of all ages week after week and I don’t know of any who haven’t found work if they want to.
Peter Smythe:
There’s plenty of decently paid work about. The days of £225 for 40hrs are long gone. Class 2 is typically £8 per hour. Class 1 nearer to £10. Yes, there are exceptions. But there are exceptions BOTH ways.
I wish the prophets of doom would find another way to occupy their time! It’s more than a little misleading.
Pete
Ok you seem helpful and obviously know what you’re talking about. How much is age a limiting factor. I am 23, will this put companies off? If it is a limiting factor is it still better to get my license now even if I can’t find work immediately?
Sometimes it depends what work you want if you want to be a labourer with a license you will get work, if you want to be a driver you may not.
I can only speak with authority and 1st hand knowledge on my area - Mansfield. There is a chronic shortage of drivers, signs up outside haulage yards, agencies going properly mad, drivers walking away from the training centre then calling back in within days telling us where they are working.
It’s better now for a new driver than I can recall for many years.
Go labouring with a licence if you want to. But, IME, there’s no need to. Enough “proper driving” jobs out there.
What I don’t understand is why have they lowered the age to 18 for having a HGV licence when they know very well that companies won’t employ these guys/gals due to insurance and being under 25?
