I’ve related on other threads that my son was made redundant last May after 4 years on 7.5 for a local company when they parked up the whole fleet of 7.5s.
The firm were fair enough and paid a good redundancy plus a £1,000 bonus.
Rather than ■■■■ the money up,my lad had invested it in further training.He took an ADR course,CPC,Hiab and renewed his counterbalance forklift licence with an addition to reach.
In between,he has done some agency jobs,most of them real crap.
Last week he took his class 2 and passed.
Most of the jobs advertised round here are through agencies.
One firm was advertising a week or two back through one of the agencies for a class 2 driver,then this week,the same job is advertised through another agency.
My lad rang and got the expected reply,no chance without 3 years experience! 3 ■■■■■■■ years■■?. I know 2 years is the norm,but 3 years FFS!
It’s my guess that because the first agency couldn’t find a driver,the job has been put to another agency.
Trouble is,there are many qualified drivers out there,but with no experience,no chance.So I can’t see this other agency having any more joy finding a driver with the required “experience”.
When is all this ■■■■■■■■ coming to a head,when older drivers,like myself,call it a day,where are the new drivers coming from?
There are many who have posted on this forum saying how much they have paid to obtain a licence and now can’t get a job.
But just be proud that you’ve done it,and it’s something they can’t take away.
It may take some time,but this inequality can only go on for so long before the country runs short of “Experienced drivers”,and then something has got to change.
For the moment,my son is trying every vacancy advertised,hoping to get even a 7.5 tonne job with a firm that he can move up to a class2 with.
Surely you would think the 7.5t experince would count in some way.
Hope he finds something soon and they wonder why people don’t want to become hgv drivers.
At the moment as you know too well there is a glut of drivers scrambling for jobs, I understand you totally when you say that 3 years experience is required - load of toss!
Good luck to him.
Hi,
I beleive Nisa based at Stoke have got a new contract needing class 2 drivers for shop deliveries - worth a phone call.
Good luck
Ruddy
How about Bargain Booze in Weston Rd. Crewe, I think they also have rigids based in Newcastle - not far from your place (Fedex…)
A couple of years ago now. I asked my agency if i could drive for a firm on their books. A blue chip company i was told. Only want drivers with experience. Few weeks later phone call can you go to same company start monday!. Must have been short of drivers. Was told by them everyone here must have an assement drive at some time. Ok. Guess what?. I must have been there three years and no assesment.
Could try DPD parcels. They are pretty good at finding 7.5 tonne work, with progression up through the classes likely. I started there on 7.5. its secure work. The pay isnt brilliant and the work can be hard at times, but money goes into the bank on time. The 7.5 tonne trucks upwards are fairly new, and you get career progression. If only for a short time it will get on ladder. There is depot in stafford and I think Longton.
bestbooties:
my son was made redundant last May …Last week he took his class 2 and passed.
Please pass this onto him …
bestbooties:
I’ve related on other threads that my son was made redundant last May after 4 years on 7.5 for a local company when they parked up the whole fleet of 7.5s.
The firm were fair enough and paid a good redundancy plus a £1,000 bonus.
Rather than ■■■■ the money up,my lad had invested it in further training.He took an ADR course,CPC,Hiab and renewed his counterbalance forklift licence with an addition to reach.
In between,he has done some agency jobs,most of them real crap.
Last week he took his class 2 and passed.
Most of the jobs advertised round here are through agencies.
One firm was advertising a week or two back through one of the agencies for a class 2 driver,then this week,the same job is advertised through another agency.
My lad rang and got the expected reply,no chance without 3 years experience! 3 [zb] years■■?. I know 2 years is the norm,but 3 years FFS!
It’s my guess that because the first agency couldn’t find a driver,the job has been put to another agency.
Trouble is,there are many qualified drivers out there,but with no experience,no chance.So I can’t see this other agency having any more joy finding a driver with the required “experience”.
When is all this ■■■■■■■■ coming to a head,when older drivers,like myself,call it a day,where are the new drivers coming from?
There are many who have posted on this forum saying how much they have paid to obtain a licence and now can’t get a job.
But just be proud that you’ve done it,and it’s something they can’t take away.
It may take some time,but this inequality can only go on for so long before the country runs short of “Experienced drivers”,and then something has got to change.
For the moment,my son is trying every vacancy advertised,hoping to get even a 7.5 tonne job with a firm that he can move up to a class2 with.
Don’t worry, it will change. Turkey will join the EU.
Seeing as anyone who passed their driving test after whatever the date is, has to take Class 2 to get 7.5 these days, why doesn’t he just say he has got experience in that category?
Wouldn’t be a lie would it.
Scarab:
Seeing as anyone who passed their driving test after whatever the date is, has to take Class 2 to get 7.5 these days, why doesn’t he just say he has got experience in that category?Wouldn’t be a lie would it.
Rigid LGV experience would be truthful
The pass date for C is on the licence so telling porkies about that is not likely to go down well when the potential employer checks the licence at interview!!
A lot of agencies now want at least 6mth proven experience in that category
Unfortunately 7.5t driving doesnt count towards Cat C never has
Sorry for your son but have you taken a read in the "Newbies forum " on here might be worth it
Thanks for all your comments guys and gals.
A bloke i know got his class 2 and really really struggled to find work where mates i know passed their class 1 and got work within a couple of weeks and have never looked back.
Firstly congratulations to your Son on the class 2 
I think the only way is to keep trying, one day he’ll be in the right place at the right time, lots of drivers will have found themselves in this position, most of them got there in the end.
In your day BB, you could leave a job in the morning and have another one by the afternoon, although it wasn’t spoken about there can only be one reason for that, a shortage of drivers, now that isn’t so much the case, so it’s a buyers market and they can pick and choose, obviously they go for experience.
Or you could try the other way of the past, nepotism, you’ve been around a long time now, speak to everyone you know, tell them about your boy, you never know 
I read this post yesterday and I’m still incensed that 4 years of driving 7.5 tonnes counts for nothing!
Best of luck for your lad in the (near) future!