Cat C passed im so pleased only 2 minors want to go on to do C+E i just love driving trucks . Ive passed my D now C i want to take my C+E . Although alot of company want experience of 2yrs Does anyone have an opinion on how companies may look at you with a view to having a certain amount of ability when it comes to considering you . What i mean is if you can pass all these cats then surely it must help you to stand out when applying to a company to take you on even if its to drive whatever . I dont know maybe my way of thinking is wrong but from what ive read on site its so difficult to get a break at the minute even for experienced drivers and land that job. The more you have to offer the better the chances?. I would welcome any comments
well done on passing!
from what i can tell, its experience that counts, just having the right categories on your licence for a year or two without ever driving a lorry/bus counts as experience. dont know if having extra categories gives you better chances, iād go for getting HIAB and ADR tests passed as it opens the options up a bit more so you could go and do grab lorry work or tankers/hazardous goods stuff.
Hi SKYE, WELCOME. 
Andā¦
CONGRATULATIONS on your test pass 
Not wishing to rain on your parade, but I honestly think itās a question of luck when you apply for jobs.
Some people make multiple applications and get nowhere, whilst others seem to touch lucky for a very modest effort.
Itās fair to point out that passing a driving test is relatively easy, because you drive an unladen vehicle for test purposes.
However, thatās only the barest minimum to allow you to remove the āLā plates and drive without supervision.
As many other topics on here will prove, passing the driving test is only the start of a very long journey for a newbie due to all the āotherā stuff about the job that you need to knowā¦ 
To end on a happy note, Iād like to wish you good luck in your search for a job, or your progression to C+E, whichever you decide.
Thanks for that Charliebear something else to consider. I suppose i could always consider going back to bus driving if nothing turns up although its a very last resort to make up the 2yrs . Another 11mths of that doesnt really excite me and wont encourage me to get out of bed on these cold mornings.
**:D :smiley: :smiley: Welcome SKYE :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:**
If you click the link in my signature or this avatar pic 
it will lead you to an index where you can access a lot more info which may be of use to you for C+E ARTIC
 :smiley: :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:   :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley: :smiley:  :smiley:   :smiley:  :smiley:   :smiley:  :smiley:   :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:Ive passed my D now C
OK, this is going a bit overboard 
- do I careā¦ 
SKYE:
Thanks for that Charliebear something else to consider. I suppose i could always consider going back to bus driving if nothing turns up although its a very last resort to make up the 2yrs . Another 11mths of that doesnt really excite me and wont encourage me to get out of bed on these cold mornings.
i think with the way things are going with the recession malarkey hanging on to the job you have is best, even if you hate it. one of my colleagues left his job, as he thought he had nailed a job interview, only to find out a few weeks later he didnt get the job he went for, and his old job had been filled by someone else working for half the money. not saying that will happen to you, but the risk is there.
Well done and good luck for the future.
Cheers guys for the comments (((keep them coming))). Its great to read others thoughts . Lovely display rog thanks to all and not over the top at all you wouldnt doubt it was if you seen mine when i passed 
. Im from the same neck of the wood to yourself well leicestershire. So i guess you could say were virtual neighbours.
charliebear:
ā¦ iād go for getting HIAB and ADR tests passed as it opens the options up a bit more so you could go and do grab lorry work or tankers/hazardous goods stuff.
Hi charliebear, i canāt speak for HIAB, having never held that myself, but I do have a piece of advice regarding ADRā¦
For a newbie driver, Iād actually advise against doing the tanker module, because of the unlikelyhood of getting a job that uses it.
Tanker firms tend to want the 2 year experience thingy, but they are (mostly) also known for wanting tanker experience too.
If a newbie wishes to do ADR to broaden their appeal to prospective employers, Iād advise them do do Core, Packages and seven classes especially if theyāre paying for their own training. 
SKYE:
Im from the same neck of the wood to yourself well leicestershire. So i guess you could say were virtual neighbours.
I feel sorry for you
Iām very close to the Walkers Crisps factory
im way south of you rog more closer to magna park almost stones throw away well 10mins drive. Ive been doing alot of ringing around leicester but no one has anything i just ask them to send me applications anyhow for future ref . Walkers seem to do all there recruiting through agencies on site in whatever type of work you are looking for. Can anyone tell me does stobarts have any women drivers maybe i could be their first umm i wish maybe just a little OTT. recon my name would look grand on one of their lorries seeing has they let the drivers choose now and ive not got a wife 
.
SKYE:
im way south of you rog more closer to magna park almost stones throw away well 10mins drive. Ive been doing alot of ringing around leicester but no one has anything i just ask them to send me applications anyhow for future ref . Walkers seem to do all there recruiting through agencies on site in whatever type of work you are looking for. Can anyone tell me does stobarts have any women drivers maybe i could be their first umm i wish maybe just a little OTT. recon my name would look grand on one of their lorries seeing has they let the drivers choose now and ive not got a wife
Ah a Lady trucker - wait for the pic requests
Who was your driving school for C 
dieseldave:
charliebear:
ā¦ iād go for getting HIAB and ADR tests passed as it opens the options up a bit more so you could go and do grab lorry work or tankers/hazardous goods stuff.Hi charliebear, i canāt speak for HIAB, having never held that myself, but I do have a piece of advice regarding ADRā¦
For a newbie driver, Iād actually advise against doing the tanker module, because of the unlikelyhood of getting a job that uses it.
Tanker firms tend to want the 2 year experience thingy, but they are (mostly) also known for wanting tanker experience too.If a newbie wishes to do ADR to broaden their appeal to prospective employers, Iād advise them do do Core, Packages and seven classes especially if theyāre paying for their own training.
i see, thanks for clearing it up for us new people .
iād be tempted to do hiab or similar as theres a few plant hire/grab hire companies round my way, though iād guess that its worth looking to see what kind of companies operate near you and try to get the relevant courses done, if the company is willing to pay then thats a result.
yet to do my cat C and C+E but im getting some kind of practise in the form of driving tractors and the artic livestock lorry around my uncles farm. knowing how to not get it stuck in the mud is a valuable skill too i reckon.
hi ,from what i was tiold about the two years experience, its the insurance companys that demand it, not the companys , but i have had a letter from stobart saying they would start any driver with or without experience,hope this helps and good luck
rob1234:
hi ,from what i was tiold about the two years experience, its the insurance companys that demand it, not the companys , but i have had a letter from stobart saying they would start any driver with or without experience,hope this helps and good luck
I think Stobarts have an assessment for all potential drivers and everything is based on that no matter how much or little experience a driver has.
ROG:
SKYE:
Im from the same neck of the wood to yourself well leicestershire. So i guess you could say were virtual neighbours.I feel sorry for you
Iām very close to the Walkers Crisps factory
Walkers use Right 4 Staff for their agency and have an in house office. Walkers tend to take from the agency as the drivers have been assesed by their own trainers etc, they have a few ridgedās there and 7.5t 's dont know if they use them much on the weekend thoughā¦
Mixed fleet the new stuff in the artic range is Daf CFās then they have a few new Mercās used on the potato pickups runinig max weight and a load of T to 52 plate scanias. I think the T to X plates are going after xmas and there was talk of having our 54 Scanias there and giving us new Daf CFās which i cant see happening at the moment
Well done on your pass SKYEā:Dā
All the best with your job search
Stu
Thanks for that response nick very informative. I have seen a couple of rigids myself in passing just wasnt sure what the score was with recruitment or what agencies were based on site there. I do remember barker ross being one of the dominent figures up there several years ago but i think that was mainly for the packing side. Thanks anyway nick and a big hi to all if anyone wants to pm rather than forum thats cool im a complete beginner so any advice /tips/chat great .
SKYE:
ā¦ magna park ā¦ 10mins drive.
Get to Magna and arm yourself with a load of CVs - take flask and sandwiches - start knocking - Now then, who is it on Magna that has the rigid drop bodies that does deliveries that are all handball ā ā ? - they are always short of drivers - I think it is fashion deliveriesā¦
Skyeā¦
In answer to your Stobarts question,
Yes they do have female drivers, and according to at least one of them they are perhaps one of the more enlightened companies in accepting women into their employ.
The one I spoke to a year or so ago couldnt talk highly enough about them. She had worked for more ātraditionalā companies where her being female was an issue, at Stobarts she just felt like another driver.