Having now lived and worked in France as a driver for 4 years I can honestly say… It’s very hard to find any sort of driving work.
Please bear in mind, most companies insist that you speak at least partially fluent French, there aren’t as many English speakers out there as you’d think, or if they do speak English, they don’t admit it!!!
A good French CV is a must, they like all things tacky so as many clipart pics as you can squeeze in.
Experience is very valued in France so if you have any less than 2 years of continental driving experience, I would expect it to take you a while to find someone who will give you a break.
It’s adviseable to come over here with at least 2 or 3 years money to live on, as a contingency plan, just in case that job hunt takes longer than you thought it would!
Also, although we all want to live in the Rural areas, it’s even more difficult to find work in the sticks than it is if you are based near a large city/town IE: Lyon, Paris Etc.
Even better, contact companies and get a definate offer before you move! They aren’t as willing to outbase drivers as I thought they were when I was last searching.
Am willing to offer advice if you want it, but I am not able to guarantee anyone a job.
What you [zb] on.Why would anyone want to come over to France and try to earn a living if they were not french.At best and I mean AT best working for less than six quid an hour(9-10 euro,s)agencies that will only pay 4 hours min even if you turn out at 3 in the morning(manpower).
That said if anyone comes to france and wants do a day here and there just to keep a "hand in"it can be done but the shifts are really ■■■■.
Some of our drivers are worked from home whom live in France but are paid in the UK. They then also have Health cover in France as they pay NI contributions in the UK…
2 years after they cease working for a UK company they then have to pay for treatment in France!
Once you reach 65 France you are given free health cover.
caveman Ok . I thought you meant the la Cruese near Colmar ,where you could of worked for a Swiss firm. Yours is an area closer to Limoge,not so many trucking firms around there ,but Vos of Oss used to have a depot there a few years ago…
Where do you get those facts from about health cover ? The only way they would get health cover is by using a E112 .If they are resident in France they have to go into the French health system and pay a top up insurance (mutial).I would suggest they “live” here but not registered
" Once you reach 65 you get free health cover" , wrong, the mutial covers it ,but you still have to pay the mutial monthly
No one as even mentioned the fact that without a FCOS or a FIMO it would be all most impossible to get a job driving in France,the fact that the EU lets any one with a HGV licence drive in any country means [zb] all in France the french just add something else that a driver must have.[zb] the french and all the paper chase.
It’s true what Kerbut says. But as far as getting cover in another European Union country is concerned you get the same cover as if you were in your own, as long as you have your Euro Medical Card which replaced the old E111. Despite years of paying into the NHS my wife and I have to flash the card if we want treatment in England.
She, by the way, is the exception to the ‘Mutual’ rule that Kerbut mentions. Because she received Incapacity Benefit for some years before she left England she gets all her treatment absolutely free, apart from the €1 everyone pays these days for every event, doctor or pharmacie. Thus paying a Mutual would be a complete waste of money.
To answer Froggie. People come to France not for the money, but for the way of life, the people, and the health service. I have said before in these forums my wage rates were far from spectacular but I could afford to live on them and the benefits have always far outweighed the modest income.
kerbut:
Ossie
Where do you get those facts from about health cover ? The only way they would get health cover is by using a E112 .
Perhaps I misunderstood him but a work colleague said he had a “card” for health cover issued by the French. He had to pay for part of the treatment but claimed it back as he was still paying NI contributions whilst working for a UK company. He definately said that it would cost him NOTHING for any treatment although he had to pay up front. He also said that once retired the government gave him FREE health cover. He also stated that should his wife reach retirement age earlier than him he could claim FREE treatment as a spouse.
I will try to get the lowdown from him next time I meet him and update this forum…
froggy:
No one as even mentioned the fact that without a FCOS or a FIMO it would be all most impossible to get a job driving in France,the fact that the EU lets any one with a HGV licence drive in any country means [zb] all in France the french just add something else that a driver must have.[zb] the french and all the paper chase.
Froggie posted while I was still thinking about it. FCOS or FIMO are essential it is true, but I worked here for over 2 years before anyone even realised I didn’t have one, and then I was sent off on the 3 day course toute de suite.
A very bitter man, that Froggie, must have had some bad experiences, but I have met many more like me that have only good to say about the country and its people.
ossie:
[ He also said that once retired the government gave him FREE health cover. He also stated that should his wife reach retirement age earlier than him he could claim FREE treatment as a spouse…
Well, I’m retired (French pension), and no-one gives me free cover and my wife is also retired (British pension). I pay at the doctor’s and the government gives me 70% back (sometimes 65%) and my mutual makes up the difference. At the pharmacie I pay nothing, the governement and mutual settle the bill automatically. I pay about €500 a year for my mutual cover but the health service here is excellent and worth every penny. You go to the doctor, you need a specialist, the doc rings the man direct on his mobile and you have an appointment within the week. If anything needs to be done your feet hardly touch the ground.
Nothing would tempt me back.
Spardo:
[ no-one gives me free cover I pay at the doctor’s and the government gives me 70% back (sometimes 65%) and my mutual makes up the difference. At the pharmacie I pay nothing, the governement and mutual settle the bill automatically. I pay about €500 a year for my mutual cover but the health service here is excellent and worth every penny. You go to the doctor, you need a specialist, the doc rings the man direct on his mobile and you have an appointment within the week. If anything needs to be done your feet hardly touch the ground.
Nothing would tempt me back.
That makes two of us!
As for the health care… It is second to none, I broke 3 ribs and damaged my spleen by falling off a ladder Had 8 days in hospital, was seen in casualty straight away, and had had my x-rays within 30 mins of getting out of the ambulance. The Samu (Paramedics) were awesome, so were the Pompiers (Firemen) who stretchered me out of the house. As far as the hospital went, could not find fault with them!!
This thread was only started as a FYI, as I have had people contact me expecting me to work miracles and find them a job straight away. Thanks for sending them MY way David
Salut, or in Davids case Salaud!
Chris.
Ps: David… I met up with one of your old collegues at work the other night, bloke with grey hair and a pony tail…
I will second what Spardo and Caveman have said about the French health service. Two years ago I cut off a finger with the lawnmower,I ended up oin Pontivy hospital and had an operation ,cost nothing with my mutial . Caveman,looks as if we worked for the same man ,I used to be at Tours and was made a prefect and moved to St Malo.
caveman:
[
Ps: David… I met up with one of your old collegues at work the other night, bloke with grey hair and a pony tail…
Ah! It’s you Didier was talking about, he collared me at the sunday market and told me about the meeting. You working for Limousin Express now then, or still on agency?
Good bloke Didier, one of the first I met when I started, we’ve been friends ever since. Says the job is going downhill now though, muttered ‘pire et pire’ and something about ‘pas de manger’. Sounds like the same all over, push, push, reckon I got out at the right time.
Quote"Froggie posted while I was still thinking about it. FCOS or FIMO are essential it is true, but I worked here for over 2 years before anyone even realised I didn’t have one, and then I was sent off on the 3 day course toute de suite. …"
Both you and I know that because we started driving well over 20yrs ago we do not need a FIMO only a FCOS,other wise we would have to spend X pounds on a FCOS and a month in a classroom learning how to BECOME a truck driver,when a french driver could come over with a HGV 1 licence and start working the next day.The truth is it is just another way the french screw the system for the french.And as for being bitter,just hope that anyone driving a truck in France thinks working over 220 hours for less than £1200 per month(and that can include a sat)as is the convention does not make them bitter to…That is less than £300(before owt is taken out) per week for an average of 54 hours.Bitter no no me,I have walked out of more jobs over here than is good for me as I do not need the money that bad
froggy:
Quote"Froggie posted while I was still thinking about it. FCOS or FIMO are essential it is true, but I worked here for over 2 years before anyone even realised I didn’t have one, and then I was sent off on the 3 day course toute de suite. …"
Both you and I know that because we started driving well over 20yrs ago we do not need a FIMO only a FCOS,other wise we would have to spend X pounds on a FCOS and a month in a classroom learning how to BECOME a truck driver,
Well either your reading or your experience is at fault because if you read what I wrote
I was sent off on the 3 day course toute de suite.
you would know that I meant the FCOS, the FIMO takes 3 weeks.
Which brings us back to your lack of experience, you obviously weren’t doing FCOS if you spent a month in a classroom.
Oh, and BTW, the boss paid the € 450 for the course. Nasty people eh?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Froggie, if you hate the place and its people so much why are you still here? Or have you sloped back off to Blighty without telling anyone? Your choice mate, but for me I love it and intend to stay and that goes for Chris and I think Kerbut too.
Spardo,you are now showing the fact that you are an OAP,read my post.Nowhere do I say I needed a FIMO,and if you read that it to my post you really are an 'old duffer.
Now as for living in France I intent to stay here and not on a pension(whole or partly)like some old timers,I paid for my FCOS myself and did not sponge off any french hoodwinked gaffer .
ps down here more people speak spanish/catalan than french,not like the brit speakers near you in 24 doddyshire,at least the french are on to you lot and are doing their best to stop the cash in hand mob by bringing them to the attention of the rest of France,je vu french tv aswell.
Etc.
Had 8 days in hospital, was seen in casualty straight away, and had had my x-rays within 30 mins of getting out of the ambulance. The Samu (Paramedics) were awesome, so were the Pompiers (Firemen) who stretchered me out of the house. As far as the hospital went, could not find fault with them!!