Hi all, new driver looking for advice. I live in Sleaford, Lincolnshire and passed my test in August, went to an agency on a Wednesday and have been working pretty much non stop since the day after. So far I’ve mainly been doing multi drop pallet work in 26t trucks for Rase and Cartwrights but some cage work for co-op and some nights for allied bakeries (Thanks but no thanks!).
My plan is get my class 1 early-ish next year but after that what would you guys do? My girlfriend and I own our house, have no kids and aren’t adverse to relocating. What are the prospects like in Lincolnshire for a young ish artic driver willing to graft? Are the wages comparable to other places in the country? So with hindsight or from experience what would you guys advise to aim for?
Hi. I would go for your ADR and open your opportunities. I live near Norwich and there seems to be some a few jobs advertised at the moment. I have my ADR and working for a decent paid company at the moment. Whilst on my ADR referesher i got talking to a TM from a local heating oil company, he was on the look out for a class one ADR night driver. So there is work around and an ADR is worth doing, even if you dont get to use it straight away it will count as 21 units for DCPC.
Aye, passed in August too, same name and everything! I’ve also done work for Cartwrights, Co-op, Allied Bakeries. Doing work for Driver Hire at the moment, working out of Danwoods just up the A46. Mix of 7.5 and Class 2. What agency you with at the moment. Sounds like QS.
Aye, passed in August too, same name and everything! I’ve also done work for Cartwrights, Co-op, Allied Bakeries. Doing work for Driver Hire at the moment, working out of Danwoods just up the A46. Mix of 7.5 and Class 2. What agency you with at the moment. Sounds like QS.
Yeah I know Danwoods, made a couple of deliveries there last week. Bang on mate I am with QS, you’ve been with them I take it? Would you recommend driver hire?
Aye, passed in August too, same name and everything! I’ve also done work for Cartwrights, Co-op, Allied Bakeries. Doing work for Driver Hire at the moment, working out of Danwoods just up the A46. Mix of 7.5 and Class 2. What agency you with at the moment. Sounds like QS.
Yeah I know Danwoods, made a couple of deliveries there last week. Bang on mate I am with QS, you’ve been with them I take it? Would you recommend driver hire?
Didn’t like QS, theres a guy there that is a bit of a well, ya know… I’m registered with them but I sorta fell out with them over bin work. I asked if said work was guaranteed 8 hours, was flatly told “no” so haven’t spoken to them since. Driver Hire is OK. Not been with them long, Danwoods though has a habit of canning jobs. I had Monday canned but I’m driving their 18 tonn Daf on Tuesday. Only problem with Driver Hire is, if you want to be paid weekly you have a choice of LTD company or umbrella.
I’ve done work for Noble Foods though, they are good. Nice wagons, turning circle is crap though. Nice easy runs, pay was really good too. Only problem is work there is as rare as hens teeth.
Oh right, I’ve considered signing on with another agency but not had any trouble with QS yet. I can’t see bin work being less than 8 hours, have you heard different? Not done anything for Noble, I’ve heard brakes is one to avoid if possible though. Have you done any work for treasure transport?
mattf789:
Oh right, I’ve considered signing on with another agency but not had any trouble with QS yet. I can’t see bin work being less than 8 hours, have you heard different? Not done anything for Noble, I’ve heard brakes is one to avoid if possible though. Have you done any work for treasure transport?
If you don’t like multidrop then brakes is one to avoid yes. Not done any work for Treasure Transport. I’d sign up with as many agencies as you can. There will be a time when QS stops giving you work etc. Most places I’ve been too will gurantee 8 hours minimum, QS weren’t going to do that for the bins so I wasn’t prepared to do it. I’m not working for 6 hours while everyone else works 6 and gets paid for 8.
Radar19:
If you don’t like multidrop then brakes is one to avoid yes. Not done any work for Treasure Transport. I’d sign up with as many agencies as you can. There will be a time when QS stops giving you work etc. Most places I’ve been too will gurantee 8 hours minimum, QS weren’t going to do that for the bins so I wasn’t prepared to do it. I’m not working for 6 hours while everyone else works 6 and gets paid for 8.
That’s fair enough mate. Thanks for the advice I’ll look in to other agencies. Do you live in Lincoln then? Wish i did, hours drive to Rase is killing me, but I like working there.
Radar19:
If you don’t like multidrop then brakes is one to avoid yes. Not done any work for Treasure Transport. I’d sign up with as many agencies as you can. There will be a time when QS stops giving you work etc. Most places I’ve been too will gurantee 8 hours minimum, QS weren’t going to do that for the bins so I wasn’t prepared to do it. I’m not working for 6 hours while everyone else works 6 and gets paid for 8.
That’s fair enough mate. Thanks for the advice I’ll look in to other agencies. Do you live in Lincoln then? Wish i did, hours drive to Rase is killing me, but I like working there.
Smack bang in the centre of Lincoln. I was never offered Rase work, that with QS?
ajs68:
Hi. I would go for your ADR and open your opportunities. I live near Norwich and there seems to be some a few jobs advertised at the moment. I have my ADR and working for a decent paid company at the moment. Whilst on my ADR referesher i got talking to a TM from a local heating oil company, he was on the look out for a class one ADR night driver. So there is work around and an ADR is worth doing, even if you dont get to use it straight away it will count as 21 units for DCPC.
Good idea mate I’ll look in to adr, I know a few places that offer it near me
Radar19:
Smack bang in the centre of Lincoln. I was never offered Rase work, that with QS?
Yes, had a week 3 weeks ago had last week and next week. They’ve taken on a couple of qs guys full time recently but i think they’re fully staffed now so it’s just holiday/adr training cover there. They’re up at Wickenby airfield, arse end of nowhere.
Radar19:
Smack bang in the centre of Lincoln. I was never offered Rase work, that with QS?
Yes, had a week 3 weeks ago had last week and next week. They’ve taken on a couple of qs guys full time recently but i think they’re fully staffed now so it’s just holiday/adr training cover there. They’re up at Wickenby airfield, arse end of nowhere.
That rings a bell. I asked another agency about something simualr but they said I needed more experience. How did you find working at Co-op?
Radar19:
Smack bang in the centre of Lincoln. I was never offered Rase work, that with QS?
Yes, had a week 3 weeks ago had last week and next week. They’ve taken on a couple of qs guys full time recently but i think they’re fully staffed now so it’s just holiday/adr training cover there. They’re up at Wickenby airfield, arse end of nowhere.
That rings a bell. I asked another agency about something simualr but they said I needed more experience. How did you find working at Co-op?
I found it quite good to be honest, only had a couple of dodgy loading bays to deal with but it’s all good practice. Bit weird how you load half at Doddington Rd then have to go and mess about with it all at Whisby Rd though…How did you find it? I only had a couple of weekends there.
Radar19:
Smack bang in the centre of Lincoln. I was never offered Rase work, that with QS?
Yes, had a week 3 weeks ago had last week and next week. They’ve taken on a couple of qs guys full time recently but i think they’re fully staffed now so it’s just holiday/adr training cover there. They’re up at Wickenby airfield, arse end of nowhere.
That rings a bell. I asked another agency about something simualr but they said I needed more experience. How did you find working at Co-op?
I found it quite good to be honest, only had a couple of dodgy loading bays to deal with but it’s all good practice. Bit weird how you load half at Doddington Rd then have to go and mess about with it all at Whisby Rd though…How did you find it? I only had a couple of weekends there.
The people there were great, the wagons not so much. I was using an MAN and while I loved the auto box, getting them in and out of places was annoying. Got boxed in at a store in Navenby.
Radar19:
Smack bang in the centre of Lincoln. I was never offered Rase work, that with QS?
Yes, had a week 3 weeks ago had last week and next week. They’ve taken on a couple of qs guys full time recently but i think they’re fully staffed now so it’s just holiday/adr training cover there. They’re up at Wickenby airfield, arse end of nowhere.
That rings a bell. I asked another agency about something simualr but they said I needed more experience. How did you find working at Co-op?
I found it quite good to be honest, only had a couple of dodgy loading bays to deal with but it’s all good practice. Bit weird how you load half at Doddington Rd then have to go and mess about with it all at Whisby Rd though…How did you find it? I only had a couple of weekends there.
The people there were great, the wagons not so much. I was using an MAN and while I loved the auto box, getting them in and out of places was annoying. Got boxed in at a store in Navenby.
Autos are a treat aren’t they…Got an auto 2013 Scania for the day at Rase my first week, was really nice. Splitter makes you feel like a proper trucker though lol
the maoster:
Try Mountains Matt. They are looking for class 2 drivers on skip motors. No idea of pay though, but you won’t use much fuel getting there!
Lincoln City Scrap are looking for Class 2’s. Not sure what the pay is though. Only seen a sign for it.
Loads of class 1 work around Sleaford area…Decent pay if you negotiate, never work for what is offered, always try and do a deal.
I worked for Masons who are known for paying well, but I left there and went on for someone else with better pay, avoid the big concerns as they mostly employ skis and the conditions are crap.
I did a couple of stints for QS on the Noble contract class 1…The QS guys are young and inexperienced, you need to lead them, not the other way around
All agencies are there for you to use them, not the other way around
