I thought that this thread may just help Any one who has just got there hgv 1/2 or is looking for the best way to find work in the industry … Ok here we go back in April I hit rock bottom after working as an entertainer for 15 yrs and then having to give up to look after my farther in law who 90 and has parkinsons …was 3 months behind with the mortgage and things could not get any worse so off i went to JCP to see about getting the funding to get back in to work full time when asked what can you do i said lol Sing tell gags and Drive so i would like to take an HGV course 
It took weeks but i got an LVP fund and was asked to get a few quotes and i did … then I was sent with a Trainer that the JCP picked from a tender list who had no reviews at all and although I Did warn them of this they still insisted that i went with him 
…from day one it was a flop … he spent more time on his Phone than training me … shouted and balled and gave me a complex on a roundabout … but i did get my class 2 at the 2nd attempt …then failed my CE twice so threw the towel (with him) in even though he said its ok il just bill JCP again for another test and 3 hrs truck hire … he was having no more money to waste on a pointless exersize …when this all started in April I OK.d it with JCP and regestered with a couple of Agents part time to start gaining expearience on 7.5 Toners 16 hrs a week .
once I passed my C and told that trainer That his easy money maker was gone i went full time and came off the £55 A WEEK Carers benefit Got a job on tippers as well as the Agents work for a few weeks and started saving like mad and moved up a notch from 7.5 ton to cat C then the wife Fought and got back some money that the bank owed her in ppi so I re-took my CE with a proper Trainer Paul at Hindley green hgv wigon and OK i failed my CE again due to nevrves / Confidence
on the same roundabout So re booked it and passed on the 4th feb 2012 Thanks to Paul on the 6th i went round all the Agents im with by then it was 7 Agents IN ALL 
took my pass certificate and said this is going to swansea this after noon when it come back as a CE licence can you try and give me some CE work please two said yes 4 said no two yrs expearience ( we have all heard that time and time again ) and one said only if you have Public liability Insurance …ok it cost £153 but i got it now … .
THE MORAL OF MY STORY IS IT CAN BE DONE
1 ) Within 2 weeks of getting my C licence i was driving one and earning money .
2 ) Within 4 weeks of passing my CE last night i drove one for the First time and earned money .
3 ) My Mortgage is now up to date and i dont have too live on beans on toast any more lol ( only kiddin)
4 ) If I can do It then Anyone can but you gotta start at the bottom with 7.5 ton work Prove your self and then move on up the ladder to C prove your self again and finnaly you will get there C+E …
Ok in 55 yrs young in may and i had a C1 licence on grandad rights and had a psv D licence but No Expearience with C or CE …at all
The one thing is to stay POSATIVE All the time dont give up and make a Plan and stick to it dont let the negatives in to your head at all then pin up a picture of the truck that you want to drive and look at it every day (mine was a peterbuilt yank) lol and one day I will drive one even if i have to Hire it for the day
The wife thought I had gone mad because every time i passed an artic on the motor way i said that will be me soon 
I hope this helps you all If I did it you can
best wishes Roy
Hi Roy,
Really good to hear you got your first class 1 out of the way … Positive from day one, £153 is pennies now you will get regular work from the agencies.
if you try hard you will get what you want, I hope other newbies will do this and succeed like you have
Disco
very good post , exactly the kind of thing we all want to be hearing in the newbie section .
- 5 million from me
A very positive post. Great to hear things are on the up for you, and so many others.
Sounds like you have had a tough time of it and come out the other side.
Fantastic.
Best of luck to you in the future Roy
Excellent post with lessons in there for all of us.
Focus and the right attitude can achieve so many things, and you had both.
You just went out and did the things that so many posters recommend, and kept doing them until they worked.
Congratulations on your job and your attitude.
Alan
Hi All
well I once read a book called (Bring out the magic of you mind by) Al Koran so thats where the posative thinking came from and also the little trick with pinning up a picture to visualize exactly what you want in life . That Book has been like a bible for me 
most people may think oh what a lot of Bull s**t
But It has worked for me Nothing ever comes to you you have to go out and take it and if you want something bad enough then you will eventualy get it … but if you are halfhearted about something then forget it .
Since I started this thread I have turned down 4 jobs 2 agents wanted my to cover work this afternoon and 2 for tomorrow but i cant do any of it due to daily rest and being on a job tomorrow anyway its a bit sad realy as one of the clients had asked for me by name and thats another First and a positive …But i have mobile phone number dedicated just to work so that when that Phone rings i know its gonna be an Agent or client or a job i have aplpied for so that phone is permenantly on and when im Driving its on my Blue tooth hands free so as not to miss a call … I have found that Agents dont call back twice if you dont Answer then they just call the next guy on their list and eventualy they give up on you but if you answer even though you cant take the job just say sorry but im working then they are ok Show the Agent that you are keen and he will give you the work .
regards Roy
Congrats on passing and finding work.
This post gives us newbies Confidence, that there is work out there. Just to keep on trying and it will happen.
Gareth
Nice post Yambol
A lot of the time if you keep positive the rewards come as people can here misery in a voice and switch off so you get nowhere, enthusiasm and willing can always get you a break good on ya mate and glad life has finally turned out good for you , and the post certainly gives others hope
(just realised as well I was born not far from you in Billinge even though bin living down south longer than lived up north I still consider meself a wigan lass )
heres to the a brill future for you
all the best
Jen x
ha ha Jen that makes you a PIE EATER 
Lol was offered a night trunk for tonight from Wigan To Liverpool then upto Carlisle and back to base in wigan For £75 BUT I slipped off a loading bay last night in the dark 
lucky i landed on my ar** and only hurt my Pride lol But I was feelin a bit stiff this morning But thats a first for a long time 
so im having the weekend off …But I had seen that same job advertised on the nett for £100 A SHIFT DIRECT FROM THE EMPLOYER LAST WEEK .
Like you say there is work out there and its all about attitude Agents like to know where thay stand also im in touch on a daily basis with them all to let them know my availability for the next 24 hrs and Its First come First served although i have been asked to cancil a job last minute from one agent to work for Another Agent My anwer was No I wouldnt do that to you and I wont do it to him either But thanks for the offer 
The only Agent i will go out of my way for is the One who gave me my first break last april when i had No work reffrencies due to being self employed and then a carer for yrs …they started me on 7.5 ton jobs and as my licence went up a catagery so did the work and im booked every tuesday with the same company through them for next few months at least . And if they are realy stuck they Phone and say we wouldnt ask you because its a handball job and we are stuck are you free and they always pay me extra if I have to travel far …
My Next Goal is Europe Ive done it many times in a car and a 7.5 ton Iveco campervan out as far as Bulgaria and although This will be a Challenge I Will get there one day Just a matter of being in the rightplace at the right time .
YAMBOL57:
ha ha Jen that makes you a PIE EATER lol
Theres only room for one pie eater on this forum I aint in the same league 
but at least ya didnt call me a woolyback
jx
Jennie:
but at least ya didnt call me a woolyback
Now that’s a photo I’d like to see!!
Oops, sorry I forgot to reply to the OP! (I wonder why? )
Nice one Roy!
That is a good post and should hopefully give good inspiration to other wannabies out there. It just goes to show that if you really want it, you can get it if you are determined enough. I really hope you manage to get that permanent C+E you’ve been hoping for soon mate. I’m sure as things improve, you will be in the right place at the time and get that job. Obviously, in the meantime doing work through the angencies pays the bills and gives you great experience too.
Keep up the good work mate! 
LJA:
Jennie:
but at least ya didnt call me a woolybackNow that’s a photo I’d like to see!!
not literally
It’s actually an insult but not these days goes back to dockers in Liverpool anyone outside merseyside ie st Helen’s Wigan cheshire etc how they used to carry bags of cotton on backs they were taking the scousers jobs so called em wooly backs ,
There ya go even get history lessons on this forum
Jx
ha ha
Totally agree about agencies you have to keep in touch with them otherwise they will forget about you.
I’ve been with a couple for over a year only doing 3.5t work and the odd 7.5t job just gone with another agency driving a 7.5t and I’m really enjoying it even the driving into central london everyday.
Now seriously thinking about taking class 2 wish I’d done it years ago when i could of jumped striaght in a class 1