Talking to the lad on our wash and he said company is putting him through his hgv,just said he has to agree to stay for 2 yrs( didn’t get involved in how much you got to pay back if you leave) didn’t know they did it.
Maybe worth a call if you want to drive trucks and your struggling to raise the funds to pay for training etc.
Worth the price od a phone call I guess
When I first wanted to get into HGV I called JRT and asked if they would put me through my tests aslong as I signed a contract to stay for x amount of years, the reply was “not any more due to drivers getting their licence and buggering off BUT we do have on site shunter work” I did that for a year then they put me through my tests and the rest as they say is history so there are companies that will do that for you, I signed to say I would reimburse if I left within a year but as each month passed I would have had to pay less e.g £1200 for tests if I left after 6 months then £600, 9 months £300 and so on.
Why pay to train someone when there are already many qualified individuals who are licensed, experienced & ready to go to work…!?
Just because they are experienced doesnt mean they are better, some drivers pick up bad habits along the way whereas a newbie can be moulded to how the company wants their drivers to work.
My employer has trained a good number of drivers who previously worked in the warehouse, many of whom have proven themselves to be very good, experience very often does not a good driver make.
Having said that I feel myself a better driver for having completed a year shunting as you get alot of experience reversing.
I’d say that’s practice, not experience. I think experience is being out reading the road and knowing what other road users may or may not do.
I don’t mean that to sound like I’m being funny or owt because I’m not, just offering my tuppence 
As for companies training people up, I think the right attitude goes a long way, in some cases experience may count for nothing. For example a driver with 20 years experience might be stuck with old habits and not want/able to do things the way the transport manager (or similar) wants.
Any training received which benefits a company whether it be a driving licence or IT training etc is classed as vocational training therefore any contract drawn up to reimburse the company should you leave is worthless and not enforceable.
Pimpdaddy:
Why pay to train someone when there are already many qualified individuals who are licensed, experienced & ready to go to work…!?
I was taken on when I was 18 my boss paid for my 7.5 tonner then my hgvs when I was 21, I knew the family through someone I was with my boss knew I was a grafter but didnt really know me personally. He’s one off those that goes through drivers it’s his way or no way and he didn’t think having his lorries abused and knocked about was part off the job. He took me on and I suppose made me how he wanted me I don’t know any different because I’ve worked for him for 8 years now he acts like he hates me but I know he likes me really or I would off been ■■■■■ off like the rest off em . I’m glad too because he’s old school,straight and although I have to bleed for my wages I’m paid well and looked after. I’ve been offered a few jobs from other company’s based just on the fact they know what my boss is like and if I’ve lasted this long with him I can’t be that bad a worker(note worker not driver I’m not claiming to be any good at that ) there are loads off drivers out there but not many you can mould into how you want them and make them look after there kit like its there own maybe it’s why some company’s pay for there employers to get there licence instead off hiring and firing another driver.
Safeways had a scheme where they arranged a loan for a worker to train for and take their test. If they stayed x years then Safeways paid off the loan; if you left before that - the balance of the loan was left for you to pay.
@Karl86-Good for you & what you achieved, no company has ever invested in & fully trained me for any licence etc, everything I’ve done off my own back!
Anyway I don’t understand the mentality behind it, for example you have a pint of milk In your fridge that’s within date & perfectly edible for days to come, why would you go out & buy another pint before you’ve consumed what’s there already…■■?
Akuji:
Any training received which benefits a company whether it be a driving licence or IT training etc is classed as vocational training therefore any contract drawn up to reimburse the company should you leave is worthless and not enforceable.
Erm it is not worthless, also that training given can benefit another employer so is not for that one particular company also as soon as you sign on the dotted line agreeing to pay back X amount should you leave becomes a lawful contract and the company could lawfully take a person to court and claim money back or even obtain a judgement against said person … nearly all bus companies have been doing it for years was doing it back in 1990’s when i got my licence … also under the wages act 1984, if you agree to have monies taken out of your final wage packet nothing can be done …
regardless of this any person who obtains training from a company should have a moral obligation to stay for the period or pay of the remainder of the agreed contract should they leave!
Its basically promoting from within, rather than outsourcing, or better the devil you know in layman terms.
We regularly put our youngsters through their HGV and ask them to sign a 4 year contract. Not one person has ever complained or tried to leave before this.
We are slightly different in as much as we are a removal company so finding drivers is harder as not many out there want the loading/unloading element of the job, so by bringing youngsters in, training them and putting them through their licences we know they can do the job.
In the current climate, many are appreciative of being tied to a 4 year contract as its job security!!