I’m 56, Passed my class 1 back in '83. Went around the local haulage companies offering myself for a weeks work for free to prove myself and got a job. Did about 10 years using it then gave it up for other types of work. Recently renewed my licence and whilst I understand getting yourself out there for nothing is a bit too old school, I accept I’m back at the bottom of the ladder but willing to take whatever chance I can via agency work etc. and willing to put the time and effort in to get myself where I want to be, albeit on a basic wage currently… My approach and philosophy, as already mentioned, is a positive attitude to whatever I can get, whatever class with a smile… keep legal to protect my own licence (and also the companies O licence) and build from that.
If they want to take/ make shortcuts on the legal side, it’s not the company for me.
I agree mate. Currently signing on between agency work and see a lot of this ‘Free work placement’ business going on which is a guise for a company not needing to take someone on for a wage. I spent the week loading trucks with a forklift or handball, roping and sheeting in the yard as well as a bit of trailer shunting about the local industrial estate to get trailers where they need to be for loading for the regular drivers.
eagerbeaver:
I believe Albert when he says he has plant experience.
Because he is a plant pot.
class
oh and albert i’m on here because i was sacked from my job and now have plenty of time… But don’t feel to sorry for me as i walked straight into another job… Dunno how i managed that though probably just felt sorry for my self on the sofa
Your in Coventry I know full well Palmer and Harveys and Fagan and Whalley need drivers in fact Fagan are advertising on their website for class 1 and 2 drivers and I know PH need drivers cause I used to work there and you can easily earn over 35k a year there.
I think you’re just expecting to walk into a good job but with an attitude like yours I can see why you ain’t landed it.
I’ve been driving trucks for less then a year and in Feb I start for Samworth Brothers 30k+ per year.
My attitude has seen me land a job that trained me upto 7.5t and paid 25k then I did class 2 and got took on as a newbie at PH earning 28k basic then I got class 1 a few months back and I walked into another job paying 28k doing far less work then I’ve pretty much done bar security and next year I’m at Samworths.
You’ve got to want it and go out and get it. Stop being a dreamer and become a doer.
andy_s:
I’m 56, Passed my class 1 back in '83. Went around the local haulage companies offering myself for a weeks work for free to prove myself
To offer for free when going out with another driver is ok but to work for free solo deprives another driver of a paid wage
I’ve heard you say this before ROG but it doesn’t sit 100% with me. I’m more thinking that its yourself that needs looking after more then other drivers. If working for a day free gives me permanent work afterward then hey I’ll take it and run with it. Dunno about doing it for a week but for a day sure look after number one ■■■■ the rest of you. I’d have to be confident that a job would come at the end though and i was not being taken for a ride
+1 there…theres a difference between getting in with an employer and doing what needs done showing intent and goodwill,and being taken for a con artist ride by the " free work placement pish"
if i was looking for the right job then id have no probs heading off for a day,or if it was a weeks trip then id mabey not do it for free,but at least something to cover my outgoings,hence showing good intent from both sides…id have to assume the job was the dogs doo daahs though in the 1st place.
FFS, I’ve never heard such moaning, and I’m pretty good at it myself…
Yes Newbies start at the bottom, what a surprise. As for getting less money I didn’t. Yes I got the jobs others with more experience and therefore choices didn’t want. But again, what do you expect?
As for not being able to find work in Coventry. That just sounds like your lazy and not trying…
I’m easy earning over 30k a year, and on some gigs where u can really put the hours in I’ve averaged a lot more than that. Yes the hours can be long, but there are jobs about that pay 30k without silly hours, in fact I’ve a mate 40 miles from me on 29k contracted for 43 hours a week and he doesn’t even do all of those.
So take your head out your arse pal, wipe away the tears and get a grip…
P. S. I’ve limped for 18 months and only ever had a problem with getting work when i first started. And even then that was only in the choice of work… Since then with my growing experience its become a doddle getting work, the hard part is finding a decent gig that suits me and my life. And that search continues. But in the mean time I’m earning good money and had contracts where I’ve grossed 1k a week. Yes the hours on those have been long, but it’s more an apprentice sparky or plumber could earn. So you can sit there and moan, and after you’ve had your moan, you’ll still have no experience and limited options…
I’m relieved Albert is going back to welding. Can you imagine if you ended up with him working at your depot. When I read Albert’s first comment I thought it’s just another newbie that’s maybe feeling a little bit down after failing to find work and could do with a little bit of encouragement and advice from other forum members. Being a newbie myself in cov working on the tankers I have got to know other drivers from tanker companies in the area and I always get to hear of vacancies from them. I was going to direct Albert to a rival of our company that pays decent money and has been known to take on newbies but as I read through the comments I thought ■■■■ that! Who would want to help someone with this kind of attitude!
Newbie7064:
I’m relieved Albert is going back to welding. Can you imagine if you ended up with him working at your depot. When I read Albert’s first comment I thought it’s just another newbie that’s maybe feeling a little bit down after failing to find work and could do with a little bit of encouragement and advice from other forum members. Being a newbie myself in cov working on the tankers I have got to know other drivers from tanker companies in the area and I always get to hear of vacancies from them. I was going to direct Albert to a rival of our company that pays decent money and has been known to take on newbies but as I read through the comments I thought [zb] that! Who would want to help someone with this kind of attitude!
Correct mate, only help those that deserve it, as at some point you might be working with them!
Newbie7064:
I’m relieved Albert is going back to welding. Can you imagine if you ended up with him working at your depot. When I read Albert’s first comment I thought it’s just another newbie that’s maybe feeling a little bit down after failing to find work and could do with a little bit of encouragement and advice from other forum members. Being a newbie myself in cov working on the tankers I have got to know other drivers from tanker companies in the area and I always get to hear of vacancies from them. I was going to direct Albert to a rival of our company that pays decent money and has been known to take on newbies but as I read through the comments I thought [zb] that! Who would want to help someone with this kind of attitude!
Correct mate, only help those that deserve it, as at some point you might be working with them!
Cos we double man, you have to be half reasonable and the rest of them have to get on with you - can you imagine being stuck in a cab with Albert ( I need an icon with tears for that one ).
It doesn’t actually matter if you are a new pass at 40 or 21, I would not rule you out of employment. I believe in giving new starts a chance, so I do if we have a vacancy. I’m fine that double manning and euro work isn’t what a lot of drivers want, but if you are OK with it, then it’s over 40k ( and actually the work isn’t that difficult).
We are just up the road from F-reds and that’s two of us on here that would offer a new start a chance. As he says, it’s all about attitude. You can tell those like karl91 and few others that have made an effort, some had luckier starts than others, but they’ve got that start because they had the right attitude.
@andys - I’m with ROG on working for free. On a different forum, I had someone ask me if they could work a week for free and I said no, not so much because it deprives someone else of a wage, but because if you do a days work then you deserve a days pay in my book. Because our work is high security stuff, we can’t have someone doing a week shadowing the main driver, but if we did something different, then I’d be happy to do that and no doubt slip them a few quid at the end of the week.
Some of the above replies ,I mean you really do believe your own hot air ,Thank you too some of the self inflated bafoons on this forum,I had a good laugh reading the high and mighty brigades replies this morning .My attitude towards "My"Real life in “Real” life would put most of you internet trolling no alls to shame …I actually value my life and time a little more than most of you do.
As for Peter Smythe comment ,It is a Good job your trainers have personailty pal.
And with that ,Im done on this forum .
Albert1:
Some of the above replies ,I mean you really do believe your own hot air ,Thank you too some of the self inflated bafoons on this forum,I had a good laugh reading the high and mighty brigades replies this morning .My attitude towards "My"Real life in “Real” life would put most of you internet trolling no alls to shame …I actually value my life and time a little more than most of you do.
As for Peter Smythe comment ,It is a Good job your trainers have personailty pal.
And with that ,Im done on this forum .
Perhaps in hindsight (I got a degree in that ) you might have been better to ask for advice in your first post along with the issues you are having - the response would have certainly been different IMO
( I need an icon with tears for that one 
) you might have been better to ask for advice in your first post along with the issues you are having - the response would have certainly been different IMO
