Will do mate, thanks again 
In my experience Lee,
I wouldnt waste all your time posting CVâs,
Because to be truthful you have little of relevance to put on yours ( in regard to HGV driving )
With the sole exception:
That you have just proven your comitment to becoming an HGV-DRIVER
i.e by spending a lot of your own money !
Beleave me: The real hands on experience beginâs on your 1st day, & your 1st load.
So, I say go sell yourself on the doorstep, Thats what I did after obtaining my HGV licence
Beleave me, there are firms that will take on newly quaified HGV drivers
Mainy because your less likely to be picky about working conditions & hours etc !
How-ever to locate them, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPAIRED TO DO THE LEGWORK
By going out and selling yourself on there doorstep, nothin beats being there in person.
So I say:
Go visit your local trading estates, park up, put your high-vis on, Put your licence in your pocket.
Knock on doorâs: Be polite, State what your there for, Ask for the transport manager etc.
====================================
If they dont have anything right now:
Most likely there hand you an application form, file a copy of your CV etc.
for me, unless this paperwork is accompanied with a nice cupper, Im already planning my âPoliteâ exit.
i.e Take the application form home, and fill it in at your own leisure,
The job your looking for could be next door, and someone else could beat you there !!
=======================
If they need someone:
Expect them to ask to photograph your licence, and: Be prepaired to start tomorrow.
de Jon ( I have a pal that says âYou learn something new everydayâ and heâs dead right )
PS: if your uncertant about anything:
i.e how to secure the load, best route to dropâs etc. Dont be afraid to ask
Most other drivers are considerate & Helpful, we ALL remember our 1st day too !
if you dont ask, everyone will assume you know what your doing, and wont intervien,
unless its blindly ovious you dont have a clue. !
PPS: I like General Haulage, thou for a new licencee, especialy in CE,
inter-depot trunking will get you in less " Tight situationâs "
i.e turning, or backing into a narrow entrance, off a busy highway, for example !
PPPS: If you intend to use a sat-nav, review the route its planned for you, before driving it.
And for christ sake, Make certant the distination matches were your expecting it to be.
i.e wrong Postcodeâs on invovices are a very very very very common occurrence.
And dont follower the sat-nav blindâly, just because it says âTurn Right hereâ
doesnt mean thats the best way to go, if it looks at all Dodgeây, park up & review the situation.
PPPPS: " Job Center " total waste of time: save the cash, just about everything they have is here: https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/JobSearch/PowerSearch.aspx?q=+&tjt=driver+hgv&where=Dudley%2C+West+Midlands%2C+England&rad=20&rad_units=miles&pp=25&sort=rv.dt.di&vw=b&re=134&setype=2
But as always, its spamâed to heck by agencies, building up there pool of drivers,
ok, occassionally a REAL Job gets posted, but I suggest you start with Leg-Work
a job on your doorstep will save you a fortune on commuting costs !..
also see this tread: New driver advice - NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE) - Trucknet UK
Lee84:
Iâve bought the Phillips truckers road map. It was ÂŁ19.99 but it should be very useful with road weight limits, bridge heights and truck stops. Might have to get a blue tooth headset for my phone. Considering getting a truck satnav too, to be used with the road map and not be totally reliant on it though.
I have that map. The first one I got had 16 pages missing. Online reviews have told me it isnât an isolated incident. Check all the pages, you donât want to find any possible missing pages when youâre out on the road.
And I have the TomTom 5150 Trucknav. It will also bluetooth to your phone and auto answer it for you.