hi evening all ,just a quick message i am living in cardiff south wales and i have recently passed my class 2 and have also got my cpc driver qualification card as well as my digi tacho card ,so i am all raring to go but no experience is a main problem how can i get experience if i cant get work ■■? 
Tj39:
hi evening all ,just a quick message i am living in cardiff south wales and i have recently passed my class 2 and have also got my cpc driver qualification card as well as my digi tacho card ,so i am all raring to go but no experience is a main problem how can i get experience if i cant get work ■■?
In most cases it seems that its not experience but how long you have held the category on the licence
Many on here have stated that without holding the category for 2 years they did not get a look in
That does not mean many many newbies failed to find anything - some managed to find full time perm jobs within weeks - but I would say from reading many newbie posts that getting between 1 and 3 days a week through agencies within a few months would be a reasonable conclusion … others may disagree
What investigations did you do before spending all that money on what the job reality is for newbie LGV drivers ?
The obvious answer is you cant
but ! you can go round all the local hauliers and show them what an enthusiastic employee you would be , you might be lucky and impress that one tm with ur skills as a guy who knows how to go and get what you want , you will get a lot of knockbacks and you need not to take those personally , it is hard finding a start as a newly qualified driver but read some of the posts on here some people have got lucky , there is no magic wand to wave a lot is luck , always be ready to listen to advice when given even if its been heard a thousand times before , if anyone offers advice I always listen and thank them even if I have been told the same before , it shows you are not a know it all who will go off half ■■■■ and maybe make a mistake , and Im never afraid to ask if not sure of anything , someones signature on here says the only stupid question is the one you dont ask and it so very true ,
Agencies are another route to get your foot in the door so to speak , my first class 1 job was going to a job as class 2 impressing them enough with the way a went about things and them having the confidence in me with the artic to let me loose ,
as Ive said a lot it attitude , impress with the skills you have got , wow them lol
wishing you luck in finding something 
ps dont just go there once , ask if you can come back for a chat another time to see if anything has changed , you never know 
Cardiff & Bristol way , you should be able to get some work around those areas, as Jennie says get yourself around in person , & show yourself willing, tell them what you can do, & be willing to learn. Perseverance is the key. Good luck with the job hunt
As above really. I’d only add that be prepared for rejections but don’t take them personally and stay positive. If you’ve got a C licence tell them you’ll do 7.5t work or if it comes to it van. Better to get a foot in the door and work your way up than only looking for one class of work.
I put my details on job search sites,eventually i was contacted out of the blue and set on with agency,started with co-op,some battered lorries but the experience was invaluable
Jennie:
The obvious answer is you cantbut ! you can go round all the local hauliers and show them what an enthusiastic employee you would be , you might be lucky and impress that one tm with ur skills as a guy who knows how to go and get what you want , you will get a lot of knockbacks and you need not to take those personally , it is hard finding a start as a newly qualified driver but read some of the posts on here some people have got lucky , there is no magic wand to wave a lot is luck , always be ready to listen to advice when given even if its been heard a thousand times before , if anyone offers advice I always listen and thank them even if I have been told the same before , it shows you are not a know it all who will go off half ■■■■ and maybe make a mistake , and Im never afraid to ask if not sure of anything , someones signature on here says the only stupid question is the one you dont ask and it so very true ,
Agencies are another route to get your foot in the door so to speak , my first class 1 job was going to a job as class 2 impressing them enough with the way a went about things and them having the confidence in me with the artic to let me loose ,
as Ive said a lot it attitude , impress with the skills you have got , wow them lolwishing you luck in finding something
ps dont just go there once , ask if you can come back for a chat another time to see if anything has changed , you never know
+1 ^
This is spot on. Most of us have been in your situation at some time. Most agencies will take you on their books with no experience, and you will get work through them. It all depends on how much work they have and how many drivers they have on their books. But don’t despair, register with as many agencies as you can. I’m a massive believer in being at the right place at the right time. So, if you hunt around and approach as many companies as you can, you will get a foot in the door sooner rather than later. If you fail to get an offer on your first round of knocking on all the companies doors, start from the beginning and go through them again, and then again etc. Trust me, the job won’t fall in your lap, you need to go out there and get it. But like Jennie said, if you persevere, you will get there.
Are you going to get that cat C upgraded to C+E anytime? That will definitely make you even more employable too.
All the best of luck matey! 
LJ
hi evening all ,just a quick message i am living in cardiff south wales and i have recently passed my class 2 and have also got my cpc driver qualification card as well as my digi tacho card ,so i am all raring to go but no experience is a main problem how can i get experience if i cant get work ■■?
I know where you are coming from, I was in the exact same position as you and found out no agency would touch me without experience. You are best off asking to do anything to start maybe Loader, Cleaner, Warehouse Packer, Car/ Van driver, anything, once you get a reputation as a good worker you will get work and some experience.
A few that take on new drivers are Manpower, Smart Solutions and I have herd Best Connections but was told I need at least a year after signing up and disagreeing with there tax scheme, no luck anywhere else. But as I say they may not entertain you if you ask purely for driving work
bob96:
hi evening all ,just a quick message i am living in cardiff south wales and i have recently passed my class 2 and have also got my cpc driver qualification card as well as my digi tacho card ,so i am all raring to go but no experience is a main problem how can i get experience if i cant get work ■■?I know where you are coming from, I was in the exact same position as you and found out no agency would touch me without experience. You are best off asking to do anything to start maybe Loader, Cleaner, Warehouse Packer, Car/ Van driver, anything, once you get a reputation as a good worker you will get work and some experience.
A few that take on new drivers are Manpower, Smart Solutions and I have herd Best Connections but was told I need at least a year after signing up and disagreeing with there tax scheme, no luck anywhere else. But as I say they may not entertain you if you ask purely for driving work
Not strictly true. I passed my Cat C at the beginning of April, I was already signed up with The Best Connection, and was offered a few days work on class 2 within a week. On Friday just gone, I called in to Reliance, signed up, and within 2hrs had a call offering me work for Saturday, which I couldnt do, but again tonight I’ve had them on the phone, days work for a local company, possibly ongoing. Incidentally, while I was on the phone to Reliance, TBC sent a text asking if I wanted some class 2 work tomorrow.
On the other hand, I had a knock back today from another agency, they were totally honest and said my lack of experience goes against me, and to come back in a year.
And when you register with an agency, keep in touch with them, a phone call or text at the end of the week with your availability for the next week, same again at the beginning of the week with that weeks availability, and a few calls through the week, keep yourself fresh in their minds.
The work, and the agencies willing to take a chance on you, are out there, you’ve just got to find them.
Nip over to Warburtons on Severn Beach.
Theres a sign outside that they want Class 2 drivers.
Not strictly true. I passed my Cat C at the beginning of April, I was already signed up with The Best Connection, and was offered a few days work on class 2 within a week. On Friday just gone, I called in to Reliance, signed up, and within 2hrs had a call offering me work for Saturday, which I couldnt do, but again tonight I’ve had them on the phone, days work for a local company, possibly ongoing. Incidentally, while I was on the phone to Reliance, TBC sent a text asking if I wanted some class 2 work tomorrow.
On the other hand, I had a knock back today from another agency, they were totally honest and said my lack of experience goes against me, and to come back in a year.
And when you register with an agency, keep in touch with them, a phone call or text at the end of the week with your availability for the next week, same again at the beginning of the week with that weeks availability, and a few calls through the week, keep yourself fresh in their minds.
The work, and the agencies willing to take a chance on you, are out there, you’ve just got to find them.
SuffolkLad
SENIOR MEMBERPosts: 168
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:26 pm
Not strictly true. I passed my Cat C at the beginning of April, I was already signed up with The Best Connection, and was offered a few days work on class 2 within a week. On Friday just gone, I called in to Reliance, signed up, and within 2hrs had a call offering me work for Saturday, which I couldnt do, but again tonight I’ve had them on the phone, days work for a local company, possibly ongoing. Incidentally, while I was on the phone to Reliance, TBC sent a text asking if I wanted some class 2 work tomorrow.
On the other hand, I had a knock back today from another agency, they were totally honest and said my lack of experience goes against me, and to come back in a year.
And when you register with an agency, keep in touch with them, a phone call or text at the end of the week with your availability for the next week, same again at the beginning of the week with that weeks availability, and a few calls through the week, keep yourself fresh in their minds.
The work, and the agencies willing to take a chance on you, are out there, you’ve just got to find them.
SuffolkLad
SENIOR MEMBER
Well this is truth in my experience seriously when I first got my licence I had a calling sheet of at least a dozenall saying the same thing. Obviously It depends on the person and area , but I am referring to my personal experience in Cardiff area, obviously workloads depends on the area influencing the scope for drivers.
I have a class 1 licence, experience and various tickets but do not get anywhere with them when the tables have turned and want holiday work . The agency I recommended are good with new drivers and are transparent, yes there are agencys out there but have no idea about logistics or new drivers. IMO If you can you are best applying directly to employers, instead of paying agency’s ■■■■■■■■■■■■ to find you a job get your CV professionally drawn up and apply directly, I have got a regular job this way.