I’d just like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas & a happy & profitable New Year.
Drive safe all 
Wow thank god I don’t believe a word this lemon has said! 
I have only just booked a medical in so only just starting my journey but I’m fortunate to live near Avonmouth where there is plenty of work and I already have contacts in a few of the companies!
I have never seen anyone with such a bad attitude towards working! going into a new trade you cant just start at the top!
Well perhaps there is a place in this world for CBT counseling! Lol
You don’t start in any game other than the bottom, and while all industries are different it doesn’t take long in this game to get on par with those that have been at it for years if you discount a few very specialist sectors… Yes the ceiling wage isn’t amazing, and reward is normally linked to hours, but there are jobs out there where you can earn a decent crust without breaking your balls. The mate I referenced earlier passed the same time I did and is only 21. So he’s more than happy with what he’s on and what he has to do to earn it. Plus as I speak to him almost daily he knows he’s on a good gig for the effort and that I’ll slap him if he moans or quits!
Albert spoke about sparky’s and plumbers, but I doubt he’s a clue what the job entails. He probably thinks they just spend all day wiring in light switches, and doesn’t consider that they are also crawling around lofts, under floors and generally trashing their bodies. My step father was a plumber, has had 5 hip replacements, 3 shoulder operations and all his other joints are shot. He’s in constant pain now and wished he’d done something else for a living. So one of the reasons I moved into this game after my IT career was because I figured that as long as I keep passing the medical, there isn’t much that should stop me doing this until I retire. And sod working in B&Q, as I’d probably insert some of the products into customers! Lol
sent via phone
You earn your stripes in this game, it’s taken me 9 years to get where I am’ and it’s deffinetly one of the better firms in Hull… To pass and think you’ll be walking into a top job is deluded!
And age does not play a factor in my eyes.
I reckon in whatever career you take up in life, it’s usually a case of not so much getting paid for what you do so much as what you know and any career with that in mind comes down to experience.
over here f you want to jump straight into one of these…then you need to know how to smoke a silage tractor and have cut your teeth on the grass if your a youngster newbie. 
Interesting thread. I passed my Class 2 in September after four years driving buses. Got my licence /CPC card back in November. I was naive and thought because of my previous experience of driving large vehicles up to 13m I would not struggle to get a job. I didn’t expect to get a job with top pay first off but a job.
First thing I did not take into account was the wind down which starts in November. I applied at the local pallet companies nothing… Then I handed out CV’s at other local companies.
Secondly I registered with three agencies but was told it’s a quiet time of year. One did ring me a few times but I was always out or too far away to get to the job quickly, I now realise that I should have pulled all the stops out.
The last ten days have been manic with interviews. First one last week with a well known Builders Merchants that is always looking for drivers. The interview went well til he asked what my salary expectation was for the role. I said 21k a year they said too much. Got a call from a well known Tool Hire Company last Wednesday. I was interviewed for a a 18t driving position on 25th November he rang and offered me the job. I started yesterday straight away there was problems. The extra Truck the company had been promised by HQ had not arrived and was not going to for the forseeable future. So I worked in the warehouse and went out as a drivers mate to help a driver. I done some strapping and tying down loads. Done 11hrs no driving as I was not trained to operate some of the equipment on that vehicle. At the end of the day we parted company as doing warehouse work was not going to help my situation.
Today I had a interview for a Foodservice company,not one of the big boys just a small one who wanted a Class 2 Driver. The firm is 25 miles away from my home so 50 miles a day round trip. Job was advertised at 8.50 p/h ,had a chat with the guy done a 6 page test that was like A-Level Maths and not driving related and a pretty difficult aptitude test. He offered me 7.50ph. I have not heard back but the wage was too low for the distance I had to travel.
During the last ten days I knocked back a couple of agency jobs in the hunt for full time work.
New Year is going to be a new me I’m going back out with CV’s I’m going to sign up with as many agencies as possible and take whatever is thrown at me. I won’t give up. I realise the need is now to get some miles under my belt and a fter 6 months or so a full time job may come.
The OP must realise that he cannot go straight to the top. At the beginning I knew I wouldn’t but now I know I need to take a different approach.
Ron
For what it is worth, my advice to the newbies is to go in with your eyes wide open and become a trucker because you love driving trucks and the trucking lifestyle - that includes long hours, poor treatment, low pay. Don’t do it expecting big money, or think it is easy, the haulage industry is brutal. You’ll take a lot of knocks, so you’ll need the love to see you through.
I’d also suggest that sometimes the crappy jobs provide some of the best experience and learning opportunities for a newbie. I’ve spent the last six months on an agency contract that they regard as by far and away the worst they have - multidrop curtainsider artics with a lot of London back street work. I’ve kept my nose clean, and I’d like to think that it has improved my skills far more than a cosy repetitive trunking run would. You can’t pick and choose realistically, so learn to embrace the low quality work and recognise the advantages it can bring.
Two years in and I’m over the critical experience barrier, the agency can present me to other clients as well skilled because I have survived the grotty jobs.
DJR1:
I’m going to sign up with as many agencies as possible and take whatever is thrown at me. I won’t give up. I realise the need is now to get some miles under my belt and a fter 6 months or so a full time job may come.The OP must realise that he cannot go straight to the top. At the beginning I knew I wouldn’t but now I know I need to take a different approach.
Ron
That’s my thinking as well mate. Used to be a dab hand on trucks a long while ago, but know getting back into the game after years of doing other things, I’m at the bottom of the ladder and willing to take ■■■■■■ pay to prove myself as not only being a good driver, but reliable, a ‘team’ player as they call it now and willing.
Agency pay is generally not great, but it’s (imo) a two way thing, they use me, I use them for the experience.
You know i would LOVE to see some statistics of the rate of newly passed drivers that actually find work and for how long they stick at the industry before moving away to easier work
andy_s:
DJR1:
I’m going to sign up with as many agencies as possible and take whatever is thrown at me. I won’t give up. I realise the need is now to get some miles under my belt and a fter 6 months or so a full time job may come.The OP must realise that he cannot go straight to the top. At the beginning I knew I wouldn’t but now I know I need to take a different approach.
Ron
That’s my thinking as well mate. Used to be a dab hand on trucks a long while ago, but know getting back into the game after years of doing other things, I’m at the bottom of the ladder and willing to take [zb] pay to prove myself as not only being a good driver, but reliable, a ‘team’ player as they call it now and willing.
Agency pay is generally not great, but it’s (imo) a two way thing, they use me, I use them for the experience.
Exactly what I was thinking. It’s a two way thing the agency need cheap labour and I need hours behind the wheel it should be partnership made in heaven.
I think in a few months you will be getting lots of work mate, the fact is even although it was a while back you still have lots of experience and know how and that will count if you find a good agency.
Ron
Don’t be disheartened if the agencies let you down in January/February, it is traditionally a difficult time to find casual work and the hauliers tend to slacken off. Hopefully you’ll be lucky, but be prepared for the harsh reality and persevere until things pick up again towards Easter.
ORC:
Don’t be disheartened if the agencies let you down in January/February, it is traditionally a difficult time to find casual work and the hauliers tend to slacken off. Hopefully you’ll be lucky, but be prepared for the harsh reality and persevere until things pick up again towards Easter.
I’ve decided if things get really tight I’ll try and get in at a local bus company as I’m a PCV holder also. Once things pick up again I’ll get back on it. Failing that it’s FLT work if I can get it.
Ron
DJR1:
Job was advertised at 8.50 p/h ,had a chat with the guy done a 6 page test that was like A-Level Maths and not driving related and a pretty difficult aptitude test. He offered me 7.50ph. I have not heard back but the wage was too low for the distance I had to travel.Ron
£7.50 per hour ■■?
You can earn more in McDonalds what an insulting offer.
Albert1:
My advice to anyone thinking at mid 40’s is do not bother in the trucking industry ! .And here is just a few reasons why .
Firstly you see the advert earn £30 k .Bullderdash!!! That is the cream, and you have absolutely got to be that gaffers son … ,you will be lucky to get minimum wages for the hours you will have worked.Secondly the 2 years experience ,Ok this means sorry we dont want the risk of damage, and trucks in for repair ,Because that means lost money! Thanks to johnny foreigners, for buying a licence and battering bridges everywhere also !,It is not all about insurance though ,And fair play i would not want some [zb] smashing my £100k vehicle up !!
Thirdly ,you had the confidence and ability to pass all the tests ,medical ,theory,hazard perception.class c ,class c+e
They are actually just a worthless code on your licence if you cannot use them , and they cost an absolute fortune,It is a rip off ! ,it is not just in cash it is your time and effort ,Travelling stress etc ,all for not a lot of return ,In fact be ready for knock back city ,what you must know ,Is most big haulage firms will not touch you with a barge poll !You might get ES ,But if you go there prepare for being thrown in at the deep end ,and long long days for a pittance .
You will get rejected again and again ,Then you are forced to the leeching agencies ,who then force you to sign the official secrets act,well it might as well be! ,Because signing on an agency can take up to four hours each time you do ffs !What is that all about ?,Even then if they send you to a company ,You get yet more tests to do ,Test ,tests, tests! Be prepared for it ,Or you will be looking like a right prat .These trainers only teach you how to pass a test.They have nothing free ,every little bit they can charge you for they do!!!
Then the Agency leeches may call you if they get desperate ,As they have already been payed to sign you up !Your a nobody once you leave the office .you must pester them day in day out …
And then they start the B,S .The jobs up on there page at £12.50 ph woohoo.but sorry your £10 ph as you are new ,same job.oh and no night out allowances ,because your green and there greedy .
Think long and hard before you fund these trainers .Ask your selves the questions ,Driving a hgv is it really worth all the grief and financial outlay ? Stress and rejection your about to receive ?
You are probably better off spending half of the money , becoming a sparky or a plumber .
Less hours ,nice friendly people .Good pay for a hard days graft ,you know where you will be and how many hours you will be getting payed for ,and most of all save your life savings in the process .So think on,If your happy to take the knock backs ,your happy to let some agency piggy back off your earnings ,Your happy to do test after test after test .You have rhino skin for the abuse you will get for just trying to get into this job,Then
your a better man than me .At 47 i think im far to old for all this nonsense .
I gave it until Christmas .i am going back to Fabrication and welding .
This industry is a puzzle to me .good luck if you work it all out .I can niw see why you lads on here are always squabbling and moaning about it .In my opinion it is a thankless industry, and full of far too many rules and regulations too boot .Buy in plenty paracetamol as your going too need them !
Good luck.
Its a job you have to climb in to get the 8 hour cushy number deal with £30k but there are lots of people trying to get their break ahead of you. Personally I love my job. All fridge work decent rate compared to most ive found. Im in my first year so im doing high hours but its criminally easy work for £37k so I dont mind. If you need the easy lifestle its not a good time to start trying to climb ladders in this game. But one or two years down the line just get a supermarket or parcel gig and you will find it much better. Or give up and leave the door open for people who like their job.
re that last posters sermon…im thinking that the word “bullderdash” should mabey be going into the 2017 buzzword trucknet escaping the naughty word autocensor catagory the same as robroys “prickend”…do i hear an 2nd to that??
i.e that prickend is talking bullderdash…definately has a good few opotions there…
albion:
Evil8Beezle:
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![emoji38] [emoji38] [emoji38]
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 [emoji38] ).
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.
All I seen in that post was double manned and 40k. Sign me up lol.
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yt03:
You earn your stripes in this game, it’s taken me 9 years to get where I am’ and it’s deffinetly one of the better firms in Hull… To pass and think you’ll be walking into a top job is deluded!And age does not play a factor in my eyes.
I’m kinda lucky that I’ve passed and walked into a top job lol.
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DJR1:
Interesting thread. I passed my Class 2 in September after four years driving buses. Got my licence /CPC card back in November. I was naive and thought because of my previous experience of driving large vehicles up to 13m I would not struggle to get a job. I didn’t expect to get a job with top pay first off but a job.
First thing I did not take into account was the wind down which starts in November. I applied at the local pallet companies nothing… Then I handed out CV’s at other local companies.
Secondly I registered with three agencies but was told it’s a quiet time of year. One did ring me a few times but I was always out or too far away to get to the job quickly, I now realise that I should have pulled all the stops out.
The last ten days have been manic with interviews. First one last week with a well known Builders Merchants that is always looking for drivers. The interview went well til he asked what my salary expectation was for the role. I said 21k a year they said too much. Got a call from a well known Tool Hire Company last Wednesday. I was interviewed for a a 18t driving position on 25th November he rang and offered me the job. I started yesterday straight away there was problems. The extra Truck the company had been promised by HQ had not arrived and was not going to for the forseeable future. So I worked in the warehouse and went out as a drivers mate to help a driver. I done some strapping and tying down loads. Done 11hrs no driving as I was not trained to operate some of the equipment on that vehicle. At the end of the day we parted company as doing warehouse work was not going to help my situation.
Today I had a interview for a Foodservice company,not one of the big boys just a small one who wanted a Class 2 Driver. The firm is 25 miles away from my home so 50 miles a day round trip. Job was advertised at 8.50 p/h ,had a chat with the guy done a 6 page test that was like A-Level Maths and not driving related and a pretty difficult aptitude test. He offered me 7.50ph. I have not heard back but the wage was too low for the distance I had to travel.During the last ten days I knocked back a couple of agency jobs in the hunt for full time work.
New Year is going to be a new me I’m going back out with CV’s I’m going to sign up with as many agencies as possible and take whatever is thrown at me. I won’t give up. I realise the need is now to get some miles under my belt and a fter 6 months or so a full time job may come.The OP must realise that he cannot go straight to the top. At the beginning I knew I wouldn’t but now I know I need to take a different approach.
Ron
Have a look at http://www.adrnetwork.co.uk
They have many places who take on newly passed ect… Just be prepared for the test they give you it can be tricky and they won’t sign you up unless you pass it.
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Agencies and crappy starter jobs are just a learning curve most new passes to through,most of us have unless you get a permanent start straight away,fair play if you do there are companies that have the patience to realise it will take time to go from passing your test to be confident to be out on your own all day dealing with the crap on the roads.
That said you never stop learning in this game no matter how long you have been driving even tho some on here reckon they know everything lol