If you’re desperate for a job, do it. If not, avoid like the plague. Whilst the 4/4 is a good job, the scheme is not so. They pair you up with another driver for a while and there is structured training to learn the job. If you need to learn the job, right from the beginning it may be a good thing. If you have experience, initiative or confidence then you probably won’t last.
A final word of warning about the bardon depot. Avoid this one! Martin, the manager, is just plain bonkers! I went for an interview for the 4/4 job, did an assessment drive and the usual. It took over a week for them to offer me the job, in the meantime I had found something else. Martin accused me of wasting company time and money. He hurled insults and challenged me to a duel (well, a fistfight) I had to laugh, he is half my size and twice my age!
jbaz73:
If you’re desperate for a job, do it. If not, avoid like the plague. Whilst the 4/4 is a good job, the scheme is not so. They pair you up with another driver for a while and there is structured training to learn the job. If you need to learn the job, right from the beginning it may be a good thing. If you have experience, initiative or confidence then you probably won’t last.
A final word of warning about the bardon depot. Avoid this one! Martin, the manager, is just plain bonkers! I went for an interview for the 4/4 job, did an assessment drive and the usual. It took over a week for them to offer me the job, in the meantime I had found something else. Martin accused me of wasting company time and money. He hurled insults and challenged me to a duel (well, a fistfight) I had to laugh, he is half my size and twice my age!
That is the thing. I do need learn the job from the beginning. Despite your bad experience with them. Would you kindly tell me how the assessment looks with them ? You can spare the details of fistfight
Learner driver…
A manager says “Go,” a leader says “Let’s Go” - John Maxwell
It’s pretty standard stuff. I did a drive round the yard in a unit, hitch up a trailer, quick half hour road drive, reverse between two trailers, uncouple, park the unit up.
Same tired old crap that they make you do everywhere now.
jbaz73:
It’s pretty standard stuff. I did a drive round the yard in a unit, hitch up a trailer, quick half hour road drive, reverse between two trailers, uncouple, park the unit up.
Same tired old crap that they make you do everywhere now.
Any info is good info as I have not much idea about assessments as yet.
Thank you for that.
Learner driver…
A manager says “Go,” a leader says “Let’s Go” - John Maxwell
jbaz73:
It’s pretty standard stuff. I did a drive round the yard in a unit, hitch up a trailer, quick half hour road drive, reverse between two trailers, uncouple, park the unit up.
Same tired old crap that they make you do everywhere now.
Any info is good info as I have not much idea about assessments as yet.
Thank you for that.
Learner driver…
A manager says “Go,” a leader says “Let’s Go” - John Maxwell
You rock up.
You have a chat.
You will in some forms.
You do some basic tests. Like ticking on which road sign is no entry etc…
You do some more basic test - usually around driving hours.
You then wee in a pot for a drugs and alcohol test.
You then go out and do a walkaround check.
Have a little drive. Don’t speed, don’t mount kerbs. Try and drive like you did on your test. Go a bit slower than usual.
You go back and reverse into a parking space.
You might be asked to another reverse - but not usually.
You can change the order around - but that’s general assessment. Worrying if you are new - annoying if you have experience. I still find it worrying. Especially reversing.
jbaz73:
It’s pretty standard stuff. I did a drive round the yard in a unit, hitch up a trailer, quick half hour road drive, reverse between two trailers, uncouple, park the unit up.
Same tired old crap that they make you do everywhere now.
Any info is good info as I have not much idea about assessments as yet.
Thank you for that.
Learner driver…
A manager says “Go,” a leader says “Let’s Go” - John Maxwell
You rock up.
You have a chat.
You will in some forms.
You do some basic tests. Like ticking on which road sign is no entry etc…
You do some more basic test - usually around driving hours.
You then wee in a pot for a drugs and alcohol test.
You then go out and do a walkaround check.
Have a little drive. Don’t speed, don’t mount kerbs. Try and drive like you did on your test. Go a bit slower than usual.
You go back and reverse into a parking space.
You might be asked to another reverse - but not usually.
You can change the order around - but that’s general assessment. Worrying if you are new - annoying if you have experience. I still find it worrying. Especially reversing.
That’s it in a nutshell, usually. Tbh maritime didn’t do the d&a p test (I don’t think they really care if you’re on drugs, it will perhaps help your chances) one important point I did miss, DONT FORGET YOUR WALKROUND CHECKS. Tbh, I had just got up and forgot to mention that point, d’oh!
After completing my HGV training with Scania and with no experience in the haulage industry, I applied to Maritime for a place on their Professional Driver Scheme. As mentioned in previous posts, the assessment afternoon consisted of testing on driver hours, coupling to a trailer with empty container, a 30 minute drive, reverse between two other containers and an uncouple.
I was fortunate to be offered a job and was mentored for the first couple of weeks, spending time with a couple of the other drivers on various runs and learning about the business. I found Maritime to be a good and supportive employer who helped me learn the ropes of the industry. For the duration of my 6 week probation I was paid as much as the other drivers, provided with a uniform and at the end of that period I was offered the opportunity of a 4 on/4 off shift pattern. However, because of personal circumstances I was unable to take the job any further which, even now, 12months on, is a source of great regret to me.
I would certainly recommend this scheme to anyone else who, like me, went from car driver to class 1 driver with no prior knowledge of trucking - it has stood me in very good stead. I am back driving now and still have to resist the urge to wave to my erstwhile Maritime colleagues whilst passing on A14.
