Hi all.
New to this so if my question has been answered before I apologise.
I was in the Royal Navy for 7 years and I presently working as a search dog handler in the public sector and have been for many years. I’m 43 now. I took and passed my class 1’ 5 years ago and did some casual work for a few local driving firms however I haven’t done much in the last 2 years. It is still my desire though to attempt to make a career out of driving and my question is how do I go about it ? I live in the Cannock area of Staffordshire. Any advice will be gratefully received, thanks in advance. Chris.
sign on for an agency is 1 way.
Gives you experience and gives you an idea on what sort of driving you would like to do.
ive done this a few times now, when ive been out of work, just made myself avaible for
the agency again, and in a short time ive been offered a full time job at the placement ive been on.
getting a job is more offen the case ‘who you know, not what you know’
pqlo3f:
Hi all.
Hi Chris, 
I couldn’t improve on the advice given by Boneheed above, but I’d just add that it can often pay to register with several agencies, which might then give you some more scope for choice. 
totally agree…
i was with 3… thats as much as i could handle.
DieselDave is right, you can find that there is days when you got nothing from 1 agency
and this is filled by work for the other…
word of warning… dont turn down jobs, always have a reason ie - tell them you are working on another job.
so do as much as its legally posible, the agency likes someone who they are rely on and someone
who can be there at a drop of a hat. Once you got the ball rolling, the jobs will keep coming your way,
do your best and always ask questions on each job if you are not sure about anything.
If you get a job asking for you back by name, you’ll goto the top of the agency’s list and first to call
when a job comes up.
There will of course be placements where the trucks are so bad, that trying to find a gear is like
stirring a bowl of soup… (ahh there is a gear in there somewhere). But after a little while you will
find which ones are good or bad, and which to choose when the jobs come up.
But like i said, dont turn down jobs if you can help it.
failing to do any of this, will result in being the last one they call, and you’ll have minutes to get to a job
rather then being given plenty of time to arrange where you are going.
Yep, as above.
Sign up with 3/4/5 agencies and for the first month or two turn nothing, driving, down (even a day on vans!) and you will soon be offered work 6 days a week, nights or days.
It’s all a big game to play, as has been said never turn anything down without a reason, and don’t turn ANYTHING down’ for the first 6-8 weeks.
If its an availability thing then ring them every Thursday/Friday and give them, over the phone, your available days for the following week. If you get a job elsewhere then email/ring the other agencies straight away to let them know you aren’t available.
They like communication, it makes them feel they are busy and important. If they get to a point where they are ringing you and they just keep getting a “no” then they will stop ringing you.
Your work for the first few weeks will probably be nasty, multi-drop store deliveries nobody else wants. After that they start giving you the better stuff, as long as you are good anyway!
One of the big keys is to be as friendly and helpful as possible to the staff at the customer place, because once they start asking for you by name the agency will do anything to get you to go into their other customers. They are all paranoid a client is going to jump ship and will do anything to stop that happening, a driver asked for by name is worth his weight in gold!
all i can add is
turn up ten mins early (at least)
be clean and tidy (no dirty jeans , clean hi vis , no outrageous tee shirts (no one cares if your favourite band is black bride whores ) ( go and by a couple of short sleeve collard ■■■■■ ) clean’ish safety boots
carry a good map ( as well as a prat nav if you got one )
be polite no matter how long they keep you waiting (the clocks ticking pennies in the bank)
ask where to fill up (the employed drivers like getting into a full wagon but spit there dummy’s if its not 
)
take all your rubbish out of the cab (and anything else you find like cans crisp wrappers but leave any ■■■■ where it is 
)
I know this is all very basic but you wouldn’t believe some of the mongrels that have turned up to drive at our place (food transport ) they only get one shift but the good ones are getting 4/5 a week inc Sundays
Gentlemen, (I assume you all are ?) Many thanks for your replies. Your advice is appreciated. Looks like agencies here I come. Thanks again, Chris.
Good luck pal!