New drivers ambitions?

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
21

Tarrman:
Hi all,

I’m going down to my training company of choice at the end of this month to put a deposit down on my course etc etc.

After reading some of the stories above it nearly put a dampener on it but with me, its been a life long dream to drive trucks for a living ever since I passed my car test when I was 17 (Im 30 in december). To cut a long story short its only now that I’m in a position to pay for it all due to not being restricted by age or points on my license etc etc.

Anyway, I’ve been working at an Iceland RDC for the past 7 years in the freezer department as a warehouse opp’ doing order picking and driving the FLT’s, and I HATE it. at first it was good but for the past few years I feel like I’ve been stuck in limbo, running round staring at the same 4 walls, same environment, same artificial lighting, been watching people come and go and people come and rise up the ranks. I feel like everything is passing me by. I don’t want to become a manager as they have to put up with even more crap and to be honest I’m not really one for standing in front of a crowd of people telling them what to do. Thats not me. I could always try and transfer to the transport dept but then I would be stuck behind a desk, hence me going for my LGV license and hopefully being able to drive for them, if not them, then onwards and upwards at some place else.

I really love driving, thats where my real passion is, getting out and about, seeing different cars/trucks/vans/panes etc etc, anything automotive is of interest to me, especially big diesel engines, just summat about them being noisy and powerful and smelly lol.

I’ve got a wife and 2 kids (aged 3 & 4) and I love them all dearly which is why I have to be careful with what hours I would work, although I completely understand that when first setting out in a new career you basicly have to take all the crap for the first couple of years or however long it takes to settle into a routine. But you gotta start somewhere.

I’m quite lucky to live in quite an idustrial area (North West) and Trafford Park is about 10 miles away so I’m confident that there is driving work to be had, just a case of sifting through sh*te to get a foot in the door somewhere half decent.

I know one thing is for sure, I can’t carry on where I am now for the sake of decent money alone, its just not enough anymore. I’ve got to start getting some sort of job satisfaction somehow amnd driving is where its at for me.

Hopefully when the DCPC cuts in in 2014 the majority of good drivers will Jack the job in making way for the people like me with a year or 2 of experience. Hopefully anyway. It might sound crude on the drivers who genuinely love driving but dont like the way its changed, but I gotta look out for my best interests in the long run and for me the industry hasn’t really changed as I’ve never been in that line of work where I drive for a living (done various van jobs in the past with Iceland so not a complete newbie to delivering/driving).

I hope this doesnt upset anyone, just giving it from my point of view, although everyone is entitled to their opinion so I stand ready to be shot down :open_mouth: :smiley: :wink:

Won’t Iceland put you in for your test ?
If it’s been a life long dream ( and it has for you ) to drive trucks - then get on with it young man !
Good luck pal. :wink:

22

Hi James,

I’ve been asking Iceland for the “Warehouse To Wheels” programme for years but with no joy. I can’t see them paying for it. maybe they’ve done it in the past for other folk at other sites but where I am now they run a real tight shift. Even if they did pay for it I would be tied to the company for a few years at least, don’t get me wrong I would jump at the chance but if I can get it done myself I’m free to do whatever wherever.

It would be ideal to stay with them for the time being as I have years of service and it’s a good secure job, but in the long run I want to drive everything, from rigid box vans to petrol tankers to driving on the continent, really want to make a career of it as get experience of all things truck.

That’s the plan anyway! If I have to leave Iceland I will do, even if it means working longer hours for less money. There’s nothing else I want to do or can do. I certainly don’t want to stay in a warehouse that’s for sure.

23

Tarrman, why don’t you try to get a job driving for a builders merchants? Most of the time its Mon - Fri 0730-1630. Pay is not too bad for the hours you do either. Pretty good if you wanna get home every night to see your kids. Jewsons send you on 5 day Hiab course as well so you won’t have to pay for that. hth

24

Hi all. I passed my cat c in August then went straight in to do class 1 which I passed early sept. also completed my cpc in August. The trouble I’m finding is that the companies in my area (Durham, north east) is that they are only wanting experienced drivers. I’ve registered with several agencies to try and get some weekend work but in the last 4 weeks since reg not 1 call. I’m ok money wise as I have a ft job but not in this industry which is my dream job hence why I went for licences. Now I just don’t know where to go from now!!!

25

bellgerr8:
Hi all. I passed my cat c in August then went straight in to do class 1 which I passed early sept. also completed my cpc in August. The trouble I’m finding is that the companies in my area (Durham, north east) is that they are only wanting experienced drivers. I’ve registered with several agencies to try and get some weekend work but in the last 4 weeks since reg not 1 call. I’m ok money wise as I have a ft job but not in this industry which is my dream job hence why I went for licences. Now I just don’t know where to go from now!!!

Sorry to say not a lot up here in the North work wise

You have the licence wait till all pick up then look as there are a few companies in your area

26

Driv3r:
Tarrman, why don’t you try to get a job driving for a builders merchants? Most of the time its Mon - Fri 0730-1630. Pay is not too bad for the hours you do either. Pretty good if you wanna get home every night to see your kids. Jewsons send you on 5 day Hiab course as well so you won’t have to pay for that. hth

I wouldn’t mind that to be honest, most builders hauliers tend to use rigids so I would quite happily do that until summat better came along or I got bored of drivin rigids and wanted to move up to artics, would certainly help money wise in the short run. A HIAB cert’ wouldn’t go amis though which could be money spent towards the C+E course and ultimately better pay/more job options. It would nice if it worked out that way where I fell into a decent job after passing just my Cat C but let’s be honest, the chances of that are slim lol. Would be safer for me to get the C+E and try and get in driving for Iceland, if that fails then I would be in a much better position to get in somewhere else.

27

Driv3r:
Tarrman, why don’t you try to get a job driving for a builders merchants? Most of the time its Mon - Fri 0730-1630. Pay is not too bad for the hours you do either. Pretty good if you wanna get home every night to see your kids. Jewsons send you on 5 day Hiab course as well so you won’t have to pay for that. hth

I did hiab and did a few shifts for b& q and jewson through agency as well as minsters j(jewsons ) as well.
Went for a job with same jewsons and everything was going great until he saw my licence one year at the time of class 2 , said he want allowed to give me a job until 2 years even though the agency used me and sent me to them , it was there insurance wasnt valid :imp: I know the catch 22 , no experience = no work , no work "= no experience.

Only thing is try and try to get that first start, weekends, bank holidays, nights ,
One of my first shifts on agency was a DHL Nught shift trunking boxes from Cov all night! :frowning:
It does come eventually

28

blueroom1:
I am just interested to know of the ambitions of the new drivers currently taking their HGV.

Career , stop gap, or neccisity like when I became a driver.

I’m only asking as I don’t see many young drivers on the road and often wonder what it’s going to be like in a few years, especially when the driver CPC comes into force for all drivers , not just the ones passing after 2009.

I wouldn’t drive one if I didn’t have to and I don’t suppose many would , so what’s the future of this industy.

I do like driving a truck , I love it, but the wages , the hours and the conditions are all pretty awful so how are we going to get good quality drivers in the future ?
Just a thought :smiley:

CONDITIONS!! try knocking asbestos off pipes in a boiling hot plant room or trudging in mud in the pouring down rain on cold winters day, so cold you cant feel your fingers

29

bellgerr8:
Hi all. I passed my cat c in August then went straight in to do class 1 which I passed early sept. also completed my cpc in August. The trouble I’m finding is that the companies in my area (Durham, north east) is that they are only wanting experienced drivers. I’ve registered with several agencies to try and get some weekend work but in the last 4 weeks since reg not 1 call. I’m ok money wise as I have a ft job but not in this industry which is my dream job hence why I went for licences. Now I just don’t know where to go from now!!!

I too have always fancied driving a truck so paid out for the training back in January and gained my pc and class 2 licence. I too however keep being turned away, being told… you need 2 years experience mate. I’m in Derbyshire and seem to have the same luck with agencies. I was gonna take my class 1 after Xmas but now I’m not so sure.
Keep trying I keep being told… I guess that’s all I can do to realise my dream

30

rusty919:
Career for me, although i’m now 38 and have left it late i have always wanted to drive trucks. I have been working in construction but i am now fed up of getting wet, cold, dirty, muddy, injured etc etc so i have finally taken the plunge. Passed my theory and hazard perception a couple of weeks ago and had my free on road assesment which went well. I am all booked up for training beggining 9th Oct after my hols. This will hopefully be my proffesion now until i retire !

Don’t think I’ll be back working in Construction Management again, too much BS now.

Rusty919 I could not agree more even though I’ve got another 10 years on you. The credit crunch was my turning point. I now work for a firm 5 mins from home driving a number of different rigids and even an artic so for me its Happy Days all round :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

31

For me its a career i plan on driving till i stop working if i can afford to… I want to do it all aswell euro land, heavy loads if i can blag the wife i would like to try driving in canada but i think i have more chance winning the loto

32

Canada is short of drivers at the moment as the price of minerals has been rising there is a lot of quarrying work going begging.Could be a heads up for the younger guys on here.

33

i just love driving most driving jobs around where i live are same wage as im on if i can drive a rigid for more than £6.50 a hour then i will happily drive something i will enjoy for more than im on now i wont complain

34

alamcculloch:
Canada is short of drivers at the moment as the price of minerals has been rising there is a lot of quarrying work going begging.Could be a heads up for the younger guys on here.

How easy is it to move to Canada…? Do you need to apply for a visa etc…?

35

COOKiEEES!!:

alamcculloch:
Canada is short of drivers at the moment as the price of minerals has been rising there is a lot of quarrying work going begging.Could be a heads up for the younger guys on here.

How easy is it to move to Canada…? Do you need to apply for a visa etc…?

go ogle it a lot comes up most of them want you to have exp over the water but they seem to sort everything out. Im sure someone will fill everything else.