I have my class 1 practical beginning of Feb so I want to send speculative emails to a handful of companies in the assumption that I will pass. You know, positive thinking and all that. I have noticed simpson brothers and murray hogg knocking about near my area. Before I fire off my c.v. can some knowledgeable soul offer insight into what these two companies like to work for? Thanks in advance.
If I were you I’d focus on passing the test first, bear in mind there’s not much work out there anyway especially at that time of year.
Port of Tyne have 4 extra trucks on order and are hiring now. Container work, home every night. It’s unlikely you’ll get on without experience, but you can try. Check out their website. Of the other two, Murray Hogg are ok, but you couldn’t pay me enough to work at Simpsons…
All good.But he has’nt got his licence yet.
What happened to needing two years experience to get a job??
fdm:
What happened to needing two years experience to get a job??
I don’t know. I got my full time class 1 job after 2 months.
Like the tesco hater says there, get your license boxed off first, the rest will come, I did my class 1 2 years ago and I’ve been tramping around the last 18 months on tankers doing quite well for myself. Got a dr10 on my license and didn’t need any experience, focus on the here and now
Absolutely, my train of thought was send off,have chat and maybe even meet, go and visit and introduce, then if passed test let em know. I supposes there is no need to be so quick off the mark but when I get the bit between my teeth I go for it.
Hi, sorry mate but i would not start asking round till I had the paper in my hand.
A lot of these firms are busy they don’t need a guy/ girl testing the waters. I have recently been looking around for a change and the biggest thing I found was needing to give a months notice. And thats with a clean C+E. I have been told to my face that I can have the job if I could start on such a day, maybe I was stupid but I didn’t want too shaft my current boss. So I ended up walking away. All well that ends well. I did my last download today, and start with a new firm on Sat.
Don’t give up there are plenty of firms out there that will give you a chance, I would say do not lie, you will be found out.
Maybe do some agency get a few drives while you apply, better to be working and driving while applying than sat on your arse.
I’m a born again class 1, told the new boss this but also I have done a few weekends agency. He said he was happy to train me up, and I will be following one of his regular guy’s next week. Still get my own motor, still earning. And I have had my class 1 since 98.
Just my two penneth worth.
Happy hunting
Smudge
instantKarma:
Absolutely, my train of thought was send off,have chat and maybe even meet, go and visit and introduce, then if passed test let em know. I supposes there is no need to be so quick off the mark but when I get the bit between my teeth I go for it.
The class 1 test is not as easy as you think out of 5 of us only me passed, they dont like it if you are over confident and you must drive there way
Staying in the positive mode I can tell you that Murray Hogg are not taking on at the moment, and don’t bother filling in their online application it doesn’t work & they don’t read them anyway. I’ve been told that Simpsons have their own agency on the go now, it works out of their depot in Birtley, so that’s where you could end up, possibly a way of having a look at you before taking on full time. There are relatively few operators that will take you on with a fresh licence but you never know.
There will be plenty that will tell you not to bother but I know that Pollock Scotrans take on new drivers, I worked opposite one when on agency work earlier in the year. The job consisted of running from port of Blyth up to a depot, change trailers, return to start. The day guys usually deliver & reload around Yorkshire and back. It’s easy work & like I say they do take on new drivers, the day guy had only had his licence 3 weeks when he started, he’s still there btw.
Another that might give you a chance is Ramage, again not the most popular but when you want a job in this game you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet your princess.
Yep thats me Billy boy, only had my Class1 3 weeks & was taken on, been there 3 months now & learnt /learning alot. For the OP - what I have found is that EXPERIENCE is KING in this industry! It doesnt matter a jot if you have a good CV from your previous line of work its completely irrelevant. I gained some experience (Class 2) working out of Simpsons yard for there own agency (Agency Solutions) & even had calls off them to do the last minute Class 1 jobs that they needed to fill as soon as I had passed my test. You must get your foot on the ladder & things will progress from there.
Im still looking for something that pays more than Pollocks do as a day driver but until I do Im gaining valuable experience. Also, I work with a guy who has been in the business for 30 odd years & his help / tips on all aspects of driving Im taking onboard like a sponge absorbs water, again all valuable EXPERIENCE that you couldnt buy. Hope that helps.
Seems a bit daft applying for jobs that you’re not qualified to do.
Go for it, fire off a few clearly worded email or letters, nicely written, copy of CV etc. Explain the situation much as you’ve said. Focus on what you have done and how good you were, planning a career move and so on. Don’t hound them, but stay in regular contact, progress updates and all that.
You never know, if Old George is retiring soon, they may take you on to learn the ropes (straps?) before he goes.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Hope this helps, but my glass is always half full.
Cheers
Paul
Well, cheers peeps. I can’t help myself when I get my head into something. So I fired off 3 speculative c.v.'s and had a reply on all. 1 they thanked me for the enquiry but said they need 18 months experience and to contact them again when I have. The other 2, well looks like I will be going in for a chat in the new year. Shy bairns get nowt, who dares wins, got to be in it to win it, nothing ventured nothing gained 
Wait til you get the pass paper in your hand, update your cv , & go knock the door in person & put yourself forward, ’ shy bairns get nowt’ !! 
Imo i would not bother firms at this busy time of year for nothing more than a test of the water,get your test passed and go in person.
Pimpdaddy:
If I were you I’d focus on passing the test first, bear in mind there’s not much work out there anyway especially at that time of year.
Thats probably the soundest advice youll get today
cheers! merry chrimbo all
I’ve had my class one just over a month and start my first class 1 job tomorrow. If you contact people before you have passed the test it will get ripped up and binned. After you pass your test then go mad filling in forms and calling or emailing places. I done that and it took a month to get invited in somewhere which is not bad. You have more of a chance with the big companys.