Hi all. Newbie to the forums here. So it seems i was sold a lie by the UK government. I went in for my class 1 hoping for a change in jobs but all the jobs i have been applying for aren’t interested unless I have experience. But how do you get experience if nobody will take you on. I am quite specific in what I need so maybe that is the issue? I want to start at tea time(ish) but I don’t want tramping. I think most work for me would be trunking? Anyway if anybody knows of any companies in West Yorkshire that take on new passes for an evening shift then please could you point me in the right direction. I have held a bus license for 11 years but i don’t think that will count for anything will it? Thanks in advance.
MeatCannon:
Hi all. Newbie to the forums here. So it seems i was sold a lie by the UK government. I went in for my class 1 hoping for a change in jobs but all the jobs i have been applying for aren’t interested unless I have experience. But how do you get experience if nobody will take you on. I am quite specific in what I need so maybe that is the issue? I want to start at tea time(ish) but I don’t want tramping. I think most work for me would be trunking? Anyway if anybody knows of any companies in West Yorkshire that take on new passes for an evening shift then please could you point me in the right direction. I have held a bus license for 11 years but i don’t think that will count for anything will it? Thanks in advance.
I’m not in that area but try agencies - good way to get that bit of experience
BE5T D4D:
MeatCannon:
Hi all. Newbie to the forums here. So it seems i was sold a lie by the UK government. I went in for my class 1 hoping for a change in jobs but all the jobs i have been applying for aren’t interested unless I have experience. But how do you get experience if nobody will take you on. I am quite specific in what I need so maybe that is the issue? I want to start at tea time(ish) but I don’t want tramping. I think most work for me would be trunking? Anyway if anybody knows of any companies in West Yorkshire that take on new passes for an evening shift then please could you point me in the right direction. I have held a bus license for 11 years but i don’t think that will count for anything will it? Thanks in advance.I’m not in that area but try agencies - good way to get that bit of experience
I have called agencies but they very rarely get perm jobs and if they do it goes to a temp that’s worked there before. I currently have a secure full time job so don’t want to risk the temp route. Thanks
Leeds
Job Type: Class 1 Driver
Shift Pattern: Any 5 from 7 - 16.00 start time
Contracted Hours: 40
Annual Salary: £31,200 - £39,000
Overtime: Yes
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Bradford
Experience required: We welcome newly qualified drivers
carlston49:
Leeds
Job Type: Class 1 Driver
Shift Pattern: Any 5 from 7 - 16.00 start time
Contracted Hours: 40
Annual Salary: £31,200 - £39,000
Overtime: Yes
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Bradford
Experience required: We welcome newly qualified drivers
I have applied for that one. DHL Leeds said no to me but this is Bradford so hopefully i hear something back as I don’t recall the Leeds one mentioning new passes welcome.
Doing agency to get 6-12 months experience is the path that many if not most drivers have taken for years. Employers are reluctant to send out an unproven driver with a quarter of a million quids worth of vehicle and load however as an agency has its own insurance to cover any loss or damage you do they’re more happy to have you work via agency.
Conor:
Doing agency to get 6-12 months experience is the path that many if not most drivers have taken for years. Employers are reluctant to send out an unproven driver with a quarter of a million quids worth of vehicle and load however as an agency has its own insurance to cover any loss or damage you do they’re more happy to have you work via agency.
I have been considering this but i’m not sure if I want to take the risk of giving up a secure well paid job for a temp position without a guaranteed income. I have a mortgage to pay
MeatCannon:
Conor:
Doing agency to get 6-12 months experience is the path that many if not most drivers have taken for years. Employers are reluctant to send out an unproven driver with a quarter of a million quids worth of vehicle and load however as an agency has its own insurance to cover any loss or damage you do they’re more happy to have you work via agency.I have been considering this but i’m not sure if I want to take the risk of giving up a secure well paid job for a temp position without a guaranteed income. I have a mortgage to pay
Iam sorry fella but you didn’t do your research.
You obviously never checked forums before you committed to the hgv course.
You don’t seem willing for anything other than full time but have been given advice how to achieve this experience but you dismiss it.do yourself, your family and a employer a favour a stay away from trucks as its not a set hour job
Nearly there again:
MeatCannon:
Conor:
Doing agency to get 6-12 months experience is the path that many if not most drivers have taken for years. Employers are reluctant to send out an unproven driver with a quarter of a million quids worth of vehicle and load however as an agency has its own insurance to cover any loss or damage you do they’re more happy to have you work via agency.I have been considering this but i’m not sure if I want to take the risk of giving up a secure well paid job for a temp position without a guaranteed income. I have a mortgage to pay
Iam sorry fella but you didn’t do your research.
You obviously never checked forums before you committed to the hgv course.
You don’t seem willing for anything other than full time but have been given advice how to achieve this experience but you dismiss it.do yourself, your family and a employer a favour a stay away from trucks as its not a set hour job
I disagree. I don’t think wanting a full time job is unrealistic, and i can’t believe you do. And i haven’t once said i want set hours. all i said was i want as close to tea time as possible which is what a lot of night shift jobs are. I also haven’t dismissed any advice. The fact that there was supposed to be a shortage of drivers. Drivers hours were changed to accommodate. Driving tests were changed to accommodate, I don’t think I am being unrealistic thinking that there may be a job available for me. Do you? You are clearly set in your ways and the attitude shows it. Not all HGV companies advertise they have vacancies. So coming here for a little advice seemed like the right thing to do. Please take your negativity elsewhere
How about signing up with an agency & using your days off to gain experience.
dave docwra:
How about signing up with an agency & using your days off to gain experience.
I was planning on doing this tomorrow. If you have ever worked for an agency could you help me with the following question. I have a 5 week rota could i tell them (the agency) my rota and then they find work like that or would i have to ring for example 1 week in advance. Thanks
You weren’t sold a lie…
You obviously only selectively heard what you wanted to hear regarding the claims of a ‘driver shortage’.
That must obviously mean a shortage of drivers looking for the easiest best quality work, right.
Wrong.
Try class2 local multi drop or hiab building materials deliveries or rail freight shunting and warehouse duties for Tesco etc and suddenly all the opportunities and that driver shortage will appear as if by magic.
when did you pass your test?
January and February is usually the quietest time of year and you might get more luck now onwards into spring securing something permanent
PA22:
when did you pass your test?January and February is usually the quietest time of year and you might get more luck now onwards into spring securing something permanent
I passed on the 1st March. I have applied for about 20+ jobs that fit my criteria. I called my instructor to see if he could recommend anybody and he said the same thing as you about it being quiet at the minute. That’s reassuring to know, thanks.
Dont give up a well paid job for agency work. Register with all agencies within your area. As you say there are round the clock operations so finding back shift or night shift work shouldnt be too hard. There is not and hasnt been a driver shortage. There is a shortage of people who will work for very low pay. Its always been difficult to get your first gig, this is where agencies come in.
alamcculloch:
Dont give up a well paid job for agency work. Register with all agencies within your area. As you say there are round the clock operations so finding back shift or night shift work shouldnt be too hard. There is not and hasnt been a driver shortage. There is a shortage of people who will work for very low pay. Its always been difficult to get your first gig, this is where agencies come in.
Thank you. I think i just need more patience and something will come along. I’ve had some reassuring answers from a few people now. I’m just an eager beaver haha.
As I have said in the past…so called driver shortage with so called big paydays have attracted people who do not understand the nature of haulage and the many stupid rules and hoops to jump through. Blinded by the promise of big money
Should stay on the buses mate this job is garbage anyway
msgyorkie:
As I have said in the past…so called driver shortage with so called big paydays have attracted people who do not understand the nature of haulage and the many stupid rules and hoops to jump through. Blinded by the promise of big money
Should stay on the buses mate this job is garbage anyway
I am happy to take a pay cut to drive a wagon. I enjoy driving, i know what i’m letting myself in for. I didn’t get my license for a big pay day because the job i have now pays more than 99% of any truck driving jobs, and i only do 37 hours.
MeatCannon:
The fact that there was supposed to be a shortage of drivers.
Decent companies to work for with decent conditions and decent money experienced no shortage. The shortage was amongst the bad ones.
Drivers hours were changed to accommodate.
No they weren’t. They were changed to meet a short term spike in demand and reduction in drivers because of Covid.
don’t think I am being unrealistic thinking that there may be a job available for me. Do you?
Almost 30 years in the job, yes I do think you’re being unrealistic expecting there to be dozens of companies queuing up to hire you, happy to hand over a quarter of a million quids worth of vehicle to someone who has only just passed their test who has no idea how to load the vehicle, how to secure the load, how to get from A to B, is going to struggle reversing etc. The company I drive at run an apprenticeship scheme, put drivers through their test then have those drivers shunting trailers in the yard for 3-4 weeks to learn to reverse and tight manouvre then send them out for another few weeks with another experienced driver to ensure they know how to do the job.
As I said they’re more willing to do it with agency drivers because the agency take the financial risk.
Not all HGV companies advertise they have vacancies. S
You’re right they don’t and the ones that don’t don’t need to because they have a long list of drivers with years of experience queuing up to get in.
MeatCannon:
dave docwra:
How about signing up with an agency & using your days off to gain experience.I was planning on doing this tomorrow. If you have ever worked for an agency could you help me with the following question. I have a 5 week rota could i tell them (the agency) my rota and then they find work like that or would i have to ring for example 1 week in advance. Thanks
I get a text on a Monday or a Tuesday asking me for my availability the following week and I get work to suit. I do 3 or 4 days a week, one guy does Mon-Wed, one does Thurs and Fri, one does Fri only but will do the odd extra here and there from time to time.
So yes you can do that with agencies and the more flexible you are with what work you’ll do the easier it is and as a newly minted driver you want to be taking everything they offer regardless of how ■■■■ it sounds and then once you’ve got 6 months in with the agency even if it’s not been full time you’ll find it easier to find a fulltime job and may even get hired by one of the agency clients.
Bedst way is join agency, u can ask agency about your free day they will find work for u. I started like that. I am also full time coach driver, coming some time weekends. Etc. Started weekends job had no experienced. So my advise is keep doing your job as a coach driver and join agency for weekend work to gain experience.