Hello I am after some advice on how to handle and up coming Driving Assessment at NFT in Alfreton.
Firstly who has been for one of these at NFT and what does it entail?
Is there anything I should watch out for…some companies have little things they like such as Wincanton love their blind sided reverses!
Also how do people deal with the excuse not to go into their current employer?
I work nights (usual finish time 0600) and will not be able to drive on the Assessment Day (midday on Wednesday) if I go into work the night before and also it will restrict my driving hours on the Wednesday night…so I will have to not drive this night either!!
So I have a potential problem.
Advice on dealing with this please as I have not had this issue before. If I have had an Assessment Drive it has been at weekend and not causing an issue. I have asked if this can be changed and it can not.
An employer worth working for would ensure their assessment requirements would fit in with your current job, if NFT can’t fit around your available times then find another company that is worth working for.
Playing the sickie game is not how you gain a rock solid reputation in this industry, and if you ever want a proper job with a good employer, the very last person they will want to see is someone who drops them at a moment’s notice via the sick note farce.
Future employers won’t find out? you’d be surprised just how small this industry is especially in those rare dead man’s shoes jobs, which NFT isn’t by the way.
Apart from that during the assessment if you abide by their appointment what are you going to say when the question of current work hours comes up, tell them the truth you’ve thrown a sickie? that’ll go down well, or start off your NFT career path on lies?
Kynszon:
Hello I am after some advice on how to handle and up coming Driving Assessment at NFT in Alfreton.
Firstly who has been for one of these at NFT and what does it entail?
Is there anything I should watch out for…some companies have little things they like such as Wincanton love their blind sided reverses!
Also how do people deal with the excuse not to go into their current employer?
I work nights (usual finish time 0600) and will not be able to drive on the Assessment Day (midday on Wednesday) if I go into work the night before and also it will restrict my driving hours on the Wednesday night…so I will have to not drive this night either!!
So I have a potential problem.
Advice on dealing with this please as I have not had this issue before. If I have had an Assessment Drive it has been at weekend and not causing an issue. I have asked if this can be changed and it can not.
I hope all this makes sense
Why do you need an ‘excuse’ exactly, (unless you are frightened of them or they actually DO own you) what’s the worst they can do ?
What you need is a ‘reason’ not an ‘excuse’ just tell them you need time off for that reason… an assessment for a potential new job
Who knows, if they are a decent firm they may try and improve on the reason that you want to leave, sort it and maybe you’ll stay.
As for the content of the actual assessment, it will be like most others I would imagine, just to see what you can (or can’t) do.
Just assume every scenario, quality and ability of driving, reversing, trailer changes, whether or not you do prior checks, knowledge of drivers hours and all the rest of it.
Sorry if I appear flippant mate, but ffs!
robroy:
What you need is a ‘reason’ not an ‘excuse’ just tell them you need time off for that reason… an assessment for a potential new job
Or good all round solution tell them that you need to take some holiday entitlement.No reason actually required and the firm is only lumbered with loss of attendance that they are responsible for covering anyway. Everyone wins.
Kynszon:
Hello I am after some advice on how to handle and up coming Driving Assessment at NFT in Alfreton.
Firstly who has been for one of these at NFT and what does it entail?
Is there anything I should watch out for…some companies have little things they like such as Wincanton love their blind sided reverses!
Also how do people deal with the excuse not to go into their current employer?
I work nights (usual finish time 0600) and will not be able to drive on the Assessment Day (midday on Wednesday) if I go into work the night before and also it will restrict my driving hours on the Wednesday night…so I will have to not drive this night either!!
So I have a potential problem.
Advice on dealing with this please as I have not had this issue before. If I have had an Assessment Drive it has been at weekend and not causing an issue. I have asked if this can be changed and it can not.
I hope all this makes sense
Why do you need an ‘excuse’ exactly, (unless you are frightened of them or they actually DO own you) what’s the worst they can do ?
What you need is a ‘reason’ not an ‘excuse’ just tell them you need time off for that reason… an assessment for a potential new job
Who knows, if they are a decent firm they may try and improve on the reason that you want to leave, sort it and maybe you’ll stay.
As for the content of the actual assessment, it will be like most others I would imagine, just to see what you can (or can’t) do.
Just assume every scenario, quality and ability of driving, reversing, trailer changes, whether or not you do prior checks, knowledge of drivers hours and all the rest of it.
Sorry if I appear flippant mate, but ffs!
plus if your working for a semi decent firm they will see that you have driven a truck the next time you download your card - on a day you said you were sick . You could be opening yourself up to a disiplinary charge and possibly dismissal .
Tell them you’re taking a days holiday to attend an assessment, that way you’re ok to drive on the assessment and also when your current Co download your card they’ll not be able to question the “alien” vehicle.
You never know, perhaps if your current Co are worth their salt they’ll actually ask why you are thinking of leaving and just maybe will address and rectify some or all of the issues you currently have with them.
the maoster:
You never know, perhaps if your current Co are worth their salt they’ll actually ask why you are thinking of leaving and just maybe will address and rectify some or all of the issues you currently have with them.
To be quite honest ‘assessment drives’ should be tacho exempt. Why shouldn’t they be, anyone else in any other industry has the right to change employer why should it not be the case in transport without hacking a job to find another
Jimmy McNulty:
To be quite honest ‘assessment drives’ should be tacho exempt. Why shouldn’t they be, anyone else in any other industry has the right to change employer why should it not be the case in transport without hacking a job to find another
I agree, in practice as a body of workers we are being discriminated against as during our applications for other jobs our current management’s are being informed, if we had a decent member of parliament in the house it’s something that should be looked at to be changed.
In practice for experienced drivers applying to the better jobs assessments are carried out purely as a formality, sometimes after the driver has started working there, this was the situation for me in my current job, if someone has a proven track record it’s almost an insult to assess whether they can drive a lorry when they’ve been doing it for years already.
For those starting out in the industry, understandably it’s not such a take for granted consideration, and in the big logistics mobs they wouldn’t have a bloody clue what they had sat in front of them at interview stage anyway, one size fits all rules apply.
the maoster:
Tell them you’re taking a days holiday to attend an assessment, that way you’re ok to drive on the assessment and also when your current Co download your card they’ll not be able to question the “alien” vehicle.
You never know, perhaps if your current Co are worth their salt they’ll actually ask why you are thinking of leaving and just maybe will address and rectify some or all of the issues you currently have with them.
There’s no chance of the company caring…2-3 drivers a week leave and in come another 2-3 Eastern European’s
robroy:
Why do you need an ‘excuse’ exactly, (unless you are frightened of them or they actually DO own you) what’s the worst they can do ?
What you need is a ‘reason’ not an ‘excuse’ just tell them you need time off for that reason… an assessment for a potential new job
Who knows, if they are a decent firm they may try and improve on the reason that you want to leave, sort it and maybe you’ll stay.
As for the content of the actual assessment, it will be like most others I would imagine, just to see what you can (or can’t) do.
Just assume every scenario, quality and ability of driving, reversing, trailer changes, whether or not you do prior checks, knowledge of drivers hours and all the rest of it.
Sorry if I appear flippant mate, but ffs!
Wot Rob said. You simply speak to your employer, tell him you won’t be able to do a full shift on the day(s) concerned. Maybe they’ll OK you to take a couple of days’ holiday, maybe they’ll be able to juggle your shifts/hours to allow it to fit in, or maybe they’ll simply not pay you for the day(s) in question. By giving them a couple of days’ notice, they do at least have the chance to arrange cover.
the maoster:
Tell them you’re taking a days holiday to attend an assessment, that way you’re ok to drive on the assessment and also when your current Co download your card they’ll not be able to question the “alien” vehicle.
You never know, perhaps if your current Co are worth their salt they’ll actually ask why you are thinking of leaving and just maybe will address and rectify some or all of the issues you currently have with them.
There’s no chance of the company caring…2-3 drivers a week leave and in come another 2-3 Eastern European’s
So why are you even bothered then?.. enough to look for an ‘excuse’ and/or lie to them, if they are that type of ■■■■ poor outfit.
the maoster:
Tell them you’re taking a days holiday to attend an assessment, that way you’re ok to drive on the assessment and also when your current Co download your card they’ll not be able to question the “alien” vehicle.
You never know, perhaps if your current Co are worth their salt they’ll actually ask why you are thinking of leaving and just maybe will address and rectify some or all of the issues you currently have with them.
There’s no chance of the company caring…2-3 drivers a week leave and in come another 2-3 Eastern European’s
So why are you even bothered then?.. enough to look for an ‘excuse’ and/or lie to them, if they are that type of ■■■■ poor outfit.
There’s no chance of the company caring…2-3 drivers a week leave and in come another 2-3 Eastern European’s
And does that not tell you something
Why are your worried about just telling them
They won’t sack you
You might even get a bit of respect
Oh for ■■■■■ sake. If you are ready to leave, who cares what the shower you presently work for think? If the company you want to go to have asked you to come for an assessment, you already have they job, unless you’re really crap. The fact that you looked for, found, applied, and had an interview for, this new job , means you’ve already had enough of your present job.
Just blioody hand your notice in, and tell the other company to wait a few days.
I’ve been driving for 30 years, have changed companies more often than the Beaver, have been stiffed over a new job once (take a bow John Raymond… ), been asked to reconsider a few times, and always been wished good luck.
Dont ■■■■ your employers about. Be honest. And dont burn a bridge unless you really know you’ll never want to cross it ever again.
(I wouldn’t puss on John Raymond if they was on fire.
), been asked to reconsider a few times, and always been wished good luck.