Hi,
Just a bit of hopefully helpful info for new drivers.
I passed my CE in March 17 with Stobart. I’m ex military and got part of the course paid as resettlement. Training to me appeared very good and the advantage was getting to build a rapport with the examiner during the course. It had the added bonus of a guaranteed job interview at the end.
Long story short: passed the test after a good drive but nearly failed by stalling it on the turn 10 yards from the finish line. Never liked the three pedal opticruise!
Passed job interview-manager ex military like me. Fact is as an ex military policeman it meant some painful banter…
Offered a start date for induction and then onto nights. Rate offered was shocking.
Before the start date I intervened in an incident. 25 years policing without injury…I got sucker punched and knocked cold. The ‘gentleman’ then proceeded to stamp on my head several times.
Result: lots of added metal to my skull. Stobart informed who said they’d get back with a new date. They didn’t and I got promoted to Production Manager at work.
HGV put on back burner.
Fast forward 2 years…concerns about the way the company spent money resulted in lay offs. Then more…I start toying with moving on but have let my medical lapse. Sorting that took longer than expected but in the meantime I applied speculatively to DHL in Stoke working the Dunelm contract, to see how they react to new drivers.
Phone call ensued…very helpful lady tells me to reapply when med sorted.
Weeks later- made redundant. Still waiting on med.
Finally get sorted and job mentioned above expanding again.
Apply on the Monday- phone call asking when am I available for interview and assessment. Set for following Thursday.
Turn up at 10…brought in quickly but a bit of hanging about. Given a quick test on driver regs and highway code but not pass or fail…get a couple wrong on hours…
Quick explanation of what I got wrong.
Office being audited by outsiders so a bit hectic. Delays on getting a wagon for the drive…but fed coffee and decent guys so didn’t really care.
Quick interview…no dramas. Pay hours etc explained.
Panicking about the drive. Last time I’d driven was nearly 3 years ago on test day!
Truck finally arrived. Expecting to do a test scenario on walk around checks but straight into cab and taken through how to boot up the tacho. Then handed a check sheet and given a walk through talk through…big company and advice given to report everything. Like paperwork completed just so!
Nervous about what to expect on assessment drive…taken through all controls and we’re off.
Assessor very laid back…plenty of advice given on an urban and county A road route. Went ok…knew my background.
Back into the yard and reversing…lots of advice reversing into clear bays with lines. Then after 2 goes in a clear area, couple of goes next to another trailer. Then into unloading bays with pipe guides. Seem tight as ****! Assessor full of help and I probably learned more in that time than during both my C and CE courses. I was oversteering before and hopefully now grasped small wheel movements. We’ll see…
Then uncouple the trailer and back into the office. Quick debrief with the manager, offered a start with at least a couple of weeks being supervised.
All drivers on 3 months probation.
Money seems good at a touch over 34K.
Still slots available.
The company quite impressed me with their friendly attitude. I may be after a job but as an ex monkey I dont take being needlessly mucked around.
Great onsite canteen with healthy options and decent prices …and clean shower facilities.
A long post…but hopefully a bit of encouragement for new pass drivers- Not only was I a new pass, I hadn’t touched anything over 3.5t in 3 years.
It’s days with early starts…but once working on my own will have my own cab.
I start on Tuesday for induction…and if this post generates interest, I’ll update it as I find out more.
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