Recently passed both my Class 2 and Class 1 after a couple of months training etc. Passed both first time and was made up.
I instantly set about finding some work practically chapping on the door of every haulage company in the district. Each time coming up with the same result “We require drivers with a minimum of 2 years experience” Now I appreciate this is due to insurance but how are you expected to gain experience if you cant get a start anywhere. I decided to sign up with a couple of agencies as they assured me that a small handful of their clients would take newly qualified drivers. A couple of weeks passed and after several phonecalls from myself to the agency they came up with something. A start with Eddie Stobart working out of their Appleton Depot. Be there for 5pm Friday Evening (Tonight) your doing a nightshift. I was over the moon with this, its about a 40 minute drive from my home but I wasn’t gonna complain! Now I had my reservations about this as I thought “Are they gonna let me jump straight behind the wheel with zero experience?” But the man from the agency said it was all sorted and they were expecting me. I arrived at the depot 30mins early as eager as a beaver and reported to the operations office. Gave them my name explained what agency had sent me etc… The manager asked what experience i had. “None” I said. Passed my test 4 weeks ago. The guy was absolutely gobsmacked, he had no idea that the person that was being sent to do the shift had no driving experience. Obviously crossed wires somewhere. He said he couldn’t let me out on a Friday night with high traffic volumes as it was too much of a risk. He was fair with me and said he had a duty of care etc which is understandable. I asked if i could possibly shadow another driver for the night to learn a bit about the job but that wasn’t possible. That was me turned away to go home. I was not happy about this, not so much with Stobarts as they dealt with me fairly but with the agency, they should have been sure that it was acceptable for me to work before having me do a 2 hour round trip to get turned away. Anyway thats my rant over with.
I am 26, Clean licence. Live near Preston, Lancashire. Is anyone aware of any firms that take on new drivers locally to myself.
You should have said “I’ve got loads of experience, I’ve just got back from a trip to Milan” and you would have been sat in the seat five minutes later.
Harry Monk:
You should have said “I’ve got loads of experience, I’ve just got back from a trip to Milan” and you would have been sat in the seat five minutes later.
Shouldn’t have sent you there with no experience, just do anything get some experience you will then gain confidence and beable to say you have experience.
thats a bum thing to happen , make sure the agency give you payment for the day as you went out (not your fault you couldnt work !) id book a timesheet with 8 hrs see what happens ?
Jennie:
thats a bum thing to happen , make sure the agency give you payment for the day as you went out (not your fault you couldnt work !) id book a timesheet with 8 hrs see what happens ?
Your fault tbh, when you got to stobarts you should have kept ya mouth shut, you got the license so you can do the job don’t go telling any tm’s that you can’t . When the magical 2yrs have passed even without a days driving nobody will ask about your experiance. Don’t fret your break will come
so after 2 years with no experience you can walk into any job without hassle?, ive ben told 180 days and 5 yrs by one. Does it get easier after 1yr, do they check for days worked on references?
I think some people get off by saying this and get a bit of a thrill out of it, but for sure paying a trucker £7-8 per hr aint going to get a high caliber of experienced drivers.
bob96:
so after 2 years with no experience you can walk into any job without hassle?, ive ben told 180 days and 5 yrs by one. Does it get easier after 1yr, do they check for days worked on references?
I think some people get off by saying this and get a bit of a thrill out of it, but for sure paying a trucker £7-8 per hr aint going to get a high caliber of experienced drivers.
The magical 2yrs ain’t about experience its about ■■■■■■■■ insurance companies ripping people and companies off, Did you take your car test then told you needed 2yrs experience before they would insure you ?
Yeah I see what you mean it is difficult for a 18 yr old to get insured without paying silly prices. Can’t really moan in any other field you are usually up against 50+ applicants and need to show intelligence and good personnel hygiene, being a trucker you can just turn up and say job.
Not everyone is bad but it seems it depends who you are rather than experience the experience line is just to tell you to go away. Without blowing my own horn I have had opportunities and had some chances, there are a few that take on beginners
