Just to introduce myself...

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

Hi I’m Matt

I passed my Class 1 test in November 2013 after years of 7.5t multidrop jobs and a few years
as Transport Team Leader for DHL in St Phillips Bristol

I decided to take the plunge after becoming completley dissillusioned with management and walkiing
out of that job. Passed Class 2 first time but took 3 attempts for Class 1
Luckily my local agency sent me to Tesco for an assessment and started working for them out of Magor
I’ve also done frozen from Avonmouth but the RSU site really gets on my ■■■■ so prefer Magor
I’ve also done an odd day for Hick’s in Newport and two weeks for Norberts

A lucky move i guess as when I started at Tesco I was chatting to a young lad who passed his test 3 years before
and never driven since so at least everything i had learnt was still fresh in my head. All the shifts are given to my agency
by ADR and working for between £10 ph weekdays, £12ph Saturdays and £14 for sundays
I’ve done the usual newbie ■■■■ ups, the kind that makes a horrible crunching noise that sticks in your head so you never do
it again and traps the unit :slight_smile:

Although I enjoy the supermarket work (just) it’s sarting to get repetitive, same old thing every day which I dont like
and when I reach that feeling I know it’s time to move on. Alas I can’t really drive for anyone else because I havent had my
licence for two years and I havent got drivers neg insurance which my agency doesn’t provide. Although there are agencies out there that
provide DNI i prefer the agency I’m with as I’ve never had a problem with them

I’ve done some research on becoming a tramper as I’d like to get out of Newport where I live so what better way to do that
than live in a truck and come back home to this horrible town just for weekends :slight_smile:
(no offence to anyone who lives here but I just can’t stand it anymore)
I’ve no idea what companies are near me apart from S&K Haulage who are in Cwmbran I think
No idea how I’d go about it and no idea what tramping is all about. Write ups and youtube videos are ok
but doesnt give you a real life experience

Anyhoo, I’ve been lurking on this forum for a few months now and really enjoy the write ups, debates and rants
and thought I’d say hello so err…hello

Sorry if it’s a boring read and it goes on a bit but should kill some time while on your break :slight_smile:

cheers, Matt

2

Don’t understand what you mean by agency not providing neg insurance.

Try another agency or
Visit other companies.

3

As far as I was aware drivers neg was something the agency could tout to clients so there was some assurance that they wouldn’t be left as heavily out of pocket if the driver crashed the motor. Its a bit of a scam like gap insurance is when you finance a car.
The only way I can see this affecting you is if they have a particular client that insists all drivers placed there are covered. Doesn’t mean they can’t send you into other companies.

4

It seems with agencies that they are happy to send me on Class 2 & 7.5t work pretty much anywhere (had license over 2 years) but class 1 (less than 2 years) I only get sent to the smaller clients. I was told by an agency(!) that some clients (seems to be blue chip ones) ‘require’ that I’ve had the license for 2 years, whereas others are ‘alright with it’ and don’t require 2 years. I’d imagine there must be some cost saving or benefit for the clients to take people with under 2 years otherwise why would they risk it? Best thing might be to try some more agencies as I’ve been fobbed off with the 2 years stuff for a few places, yet others are happy to get me on the books and get me work.

5

Keedwells got a place in Newport down by the transporter bridge also Owens are that way too .

6

I had not had my licence 2 years & never had a problem with the agencies ( apart from 1 which I had done cat C work for :unamused: ) Had loads of work in fact had to turn some down as needed weekly rest & some of this was for a big company ( although I prefer working for a smaller company which I do now )

Cross hands just up the road NR Evans are there