After being with 4 agencies, and countless ringing around local firms in my area, no body will even take a bite with me being 19 and only private Class 2 experience.
The only bite I did get, was from a agency, which then proceeded to get cancelled about 15 minutes later. Ever since, I have been up for standby on the days that I am completely free and I don’t get any calls…
So demoralising, may just be easier to pack it all in and forget about it for now. Just starting to seem like too much trouble for its worth!
Honestly, I don’t think you’re going to have much luck. I’m not saying this as a reflection on you but as a result of the over-insured, paranoid, H&S obsessed society we live in.
If I were in your position I’d be looking for warehouse, office or similar work with a firm that operates anything from a small van upwards.
If you get a position like that, the need will always arise for somebody to nip out and do a quick few drops. If you’re not in the right place you can’t be there at the right time .
Best of luck, and don’t worry, your opportunity will come.
Hi Robert
I must have said this a thousand times on this Forum DONT JUST GIVE UP mate I know its hard work getting that all important Break But It will come one day and you will think wow …
With Agents Dont wait for them to phone You they will forget ya ) let them know that you are keen Phone them and I know it cost money but it will pay you to do it one day I dont know where you are based …but a quike phone call saying Have you forgotten about me as i dont seem to hear Anything from you at all and I will take anything even van or 7.5 TON work just to proove myself … .then once you have a start you will soon move up that ladder mate …nag them till they get sick of it. once you have done a successfull job your in then that does mean that you have to just take the Crap jobs that no one else wants Anymore
Best of luck Roy
Why would you do that? I’m 18, tried for 5 months to find something and then something came up last week on agency. Started Friday there and they told me today they want me back for next week, £9 bob an hour too!
No offense to Happydaze, but don’t listen to him - don’t take warehouse work and don’t settle for anything less than what you want to do. Sit back, relax, keep trying and it will come.
Still very quiet, now with 3 agencies and no real breaks…
I have thought about telling the agencies that I would do a day for free with an accompanying driver, but that idea seems to have very mixed views on this forum
robertsherry:
Still very quiet, now with 3 agencies and no real breaks…
I have thought about telling the agencies that I would do a day for free with an accompanying driver, but that idea seems to have very mixed views on this forum
So frustrating!
I thought about doing it myself but now I would advise against it. Just keeeeep trying.
robertsherry:
Still very quiet, now with 3 agencies and no real breaks…
I have thought about telling the agencies that I would do a day for free with an accompanying driver, but that idea seems to have very mixed views on this forum
So frustrating!
If there is a realistic chance of a job, do a free day, whatever people on here think. Some of the people who say ‘I would never work for free’ would happily drive for an hour to do a three hour assessment drive on the chance of getting a job. There isn’t much difference.
I got my start on Class 1 by asking a man if I could do a run with him to ‘get a feel’. We went out and, after tipping, he asked me if I wanted to drive back (112 miles). A couple of days later he rang me to start work.
What else would you be doing with your time anyway? Do whatever you have to.
Trust to luck or make your own, your choice.
All the best,
Alan
I would do ONE day for free. As Alan said, with no disrespect intended, what else would you be doing?
At least you will gain some experience, get to spend the day out in a truck and decide whether or not you like the company and would be prepared to work for them if they have some work to offer you.
It worked for me. I got a job offer. Working ONE day for free is just an extended interview.
If the company asks for more than that for FREE, that’s taking the mickey and I would politely decline.
You shouldn’t have to do anything for free, but these are very tough times, even for experienced drivers, so I would look at it as investing in your future.
I really hope you get a bona fide job offer out of it.
When you’re in the right place at the right time, you WILL be successful.
Thanks guys for your responses, although only a minute ago I received this from one of the agencies that I signed up to last week:
‘Sorry I have been waiting for my insurance company to get back to me regarding insuring you and they will not reduce the age from 21 years to 19 I am so sorry, to mess you about’
robertsherry:
Thanks guys for your responses, although only a minute ago I received this from one of the agencies that I signed up to last week:
‘Sorry I have been waiting for my insurance company to get back to me regarding insuring you and they will not reduce the age from 21 years to 19 I am so sorry, to mess you about’
So it continues…
Now do you see why I offered the advice that I did?
If you’re in the industry and you’re a willing worker in other areas, you’ve already got a foot in the door. In my experience, a company in need of a load moving will soon get their broker to play ball. Agencies won’t, why should they?
I know what I’m talking about, if I didn’t I wouldn’t post a reply.
Today I got a call (note I didn’t register with this branch) from DriverHire Warrington, who said they had got my details off another office and interested to know if I wanted work.
So had a chat, and the age and experience thing didn’t bother him, he said admittedly some of his clients wouldn’t be able to take me on, but many could and its getting really busy.
I’m not going to get my hopes up too much, but you never know!
Just keep at them dude… I’ve been looking online and ringing all over the place to find somewhere that will take me on without any experience and not having much luck… but I’m not gonna stop trying! just keep kickin yerself up the ■■■■ till you land in a job… good luck dude!
Keep going never give up and one day you’ll find it will come good. I can remember the first day I started driving trucks like it was yesterday. Going over to Ireland and picking up my little green Actros and feeling on top of the world because my dreams had started to come true. Took me nearly 4 years to get a start but it was worth the wait ten times over. Wasn’t so bad for me as I was driving coaches round Europe but please don’t give up, you will without a doubt get there in the end and it’ll be worth it.
with regard to agencies I’ve been with one for about 18 months now and ok I’m only doing 3.5t and recently 7.5t work if you do a good job that company will ask for you when they need someone which looks good with the agency aswell.
I now looking to do the class 2 because i have gained some experience in 7.5t ok i know I’m alot older than you but that doesn’t mean I’ve got more experience .
Good luck and don’t give up
Today I got a call (note I didn’t register with this branch) from DriverHire Warrington, who said they had got my details off another office and interested to know if I wanted work.
So had a chat, and the age and experience thing didn’t bother him, he said admittedly some of his clients wouldn’t be able to take me on, but many could and its getting really busy.
I’m not going to get my hopes up too much, but you never know!
Rob
Its amazing what can just turn up sometimes Often its just about being in the right place at the right time.
After being with 4 agencies, and countless ringing around local firms in my area, no body will even take a bite with me being 19 and only private Class 2 experience.
The only bite I did get, was from a agency, which then proceeded to get cancelled about 15 minutes later. Ever since, I have been up for standby on the days that I am completely free and I don’t get any calls…
So demoralising, may just be easier to pack it all in and forget about it for now. Just starting to seem like too much trouble for its worth!
What do people think?
Rob
get a job as drivers mate delivering white goods to houses,you will gain experience there and they would most probaly give you a drivind job after a while,you will need to find out where
these hauliers are,do you have a Comet main warehouse near you ?,or better still put on this forum where you live and then ask the question someone will know and help you .If you havent got one close to you then you will have to move closer to where there is one this may sound harsh but you may not have a choice and it will only be for a little while and if you want to be a ;lorry driver and your going to have nights out then that will help you to get used to being away from home,im semi retired now after 43 years of being on the road both uk and europe,so i hope you will sit up and listen to me ,the work will not come to you ever not like it used to in the Seventies and eighties,you got to go to them,there is work out there,even here in Harlow,Essex there are driving jobs (not agencies) you got to get of your backside and find it,forget about your motherly comforts you probaly have at home and get into the real world,trust me when i say its not going to be easy but !! it can be only if you want it to be,there are agencies that will take you on and yes i suppose it will give you the experience you want but dont believe all you here please.I dont know where you live but my advice to you is get out of the area and find work elsewhere,i know what you and a lot of people are thinking ,its alright for him to shout he had it easy to find work yep !! your right we had to go from one job to another sometimes to find a company that you didnt have to work 20 hrs a day and believe me there wasnt many around,work was very very hard we never had nice comfortable wagons most had no heaters or they didnt work,windows never shut,doors didnt lock no sleepers just the seats,police never ysed to leave us alone,you lads have got it cushy now there is no work as such in what you do now except to drive the nice truck you are in.please please go out get a job they are out there but make sure yoiu show respect for yourself first and to the company you are going to end up representing thats what they are looking for now and good luck
.
I know its hard work getting that all important Break But It will come one day 
they will forget ya ) let them know that you are keen 
Phone them and I know it cost money but it will pay you to do it one day I dont know where you are based …but a quike phone call 
saying Have you forgotten about me as i dont seem to hear Anything from you at all and I will take anything even van or 7.5 TON work just to proove myself …