Just curious as to who has given you a chance, without experience, class 1 or 2, if class 1, did you have any experience on class 2?
Sam
I started as a coach driver, aged 18. I wanted to do this from early teens so made a nuisance of myself visiting coach yards at every opportunity, talking to drivers, mechanics etc. Eventually I progressed to washing coaches, sweeping out, mopping and was eventually trusted with cleaning windows. All for no pay. But the company I did this for over about 2 years gave me the opportunity to train as a driver and immediately set me on full time.
At the ripe old age of 19 I was sent by them to RTITB and qualified as a PSV Instructor (there’s another long story behind that) - believed to be the youngest ever. Aged 21 I moved onto HGV instruction. Then went HGV driving (yes I know it’s the wrong way round but that’s what I did). Have spent the last few years since I was 21 training new drivers. And still love it nearly 40 years on!!
I’m well aware that times have moved on and there’s all sorts of reasons why this may not work now, but that’s my history for what it’s worth.
Sam, serves you right for asking!! Pete 
No I appreciate the reply Pete! You’ve been on quite the journey eh?! 
I just know someone who obtained their class two, never drove one in work and then passed Class 1 and got their first job (in driving) driving artics. So the reason I ask, if anyone has had a similar experience, I just want to find out who it is so I could maybe explore my choices and go job hunting. I’ll be sitting my Class 1 soon hopefully providing all goes well.
If I get a Class 2 offer then I will snap their hand off never the less but obviously I want to drive artics. You just feel like you’re floating when you’re in them haha.
two days after passing my class one (21) i was down the road in an artic , the first two i drove were an f89 lefty and the mighty 142 
the only reason i walked into a job was the owner was a family friend so i was lucky .
straight for class 1 then so no need to touch a class 2.
i passed my test in july 81 and started driving a skip lorry in dec 81 worked for 3 years then became self employed, so dont worry somthing will turn up for you soon enough so dont let it get you down. heres another thing sam you could sit your cpc if you have the time and funds while you are looking for a job and it may show potential employers you have another string to your bow, it will always be usefull in the future if you needed it.
Someone has taken a chance on me at every job I have done, the thing is to learn from each experience and store it away for future reference. I was lucky enough to get onto tankers at an early age because I was in the right pub as the bloke needed a driver. An old farmer who I knew said, "he’ll be alrite, he can drive a grey fergy with a rulley behind it
When I passed my PCV @ 18, i was restricted to 50k from Depot 31 miles … So dont know how you got to drive a coach more than that unless the law changed you were driving trucks before i was born and I have held my PCV 18 years now.!!!
I took my class 2 and passed. Stayed in my job in the warehouse at the time untill I passed Class 1 at which point I got lucky.
My options were few as I’m under 25 but I went to an agency, explained that I wanted to drive, any vehicle, but going for assessments was going to be difficult as I was working full time. By pure luck, an RDC had just opened and was using exclusively agency during the start up, so it was weekly work. Did a couple of weekends for them whilst I was working my notice, then went on to do trunking for a couple of months before being taken on full time. There’s another lad there under 25 with little previous experience also taken on, aswell as some older guys on the agency who are recent passes. I took a chance on them, they took a chance with me and so far it’s worked out ok. I honestly think it was a case of right place, right time more than anything, and if nothing else it will give me the much needed experience.
I guess the best thing to do, which has been said many times on here is to put yourself out there and see if anyone is willing to give the chance, then if you get one keep your head down, get on with the job and after that, who knows?
When I passed my PCV @ 18, i was restricted to 50k from Depot 31 miles … So dont know how you got to drive a coach more than that unless the law changed you were driving trucks before i was born and I have held my PCV 18 years now.!!!
That’s correct. And that had to be regular service or contract. And I didn’t drive any more than that except empty or on training (strangely, no licence required) and minibuses.
I was training people at the age of 19 who ended up with a better licence than the one I had!!
Impossible now, but that’s what happened then.
Pete
Peter Smythe:
When I passed my PCV @ 18, i was restricted to 50k from Depot 31 miles … So dont know how you got to drive a coach more than that unless the law changed you were driving trucks before i was born and I have held my PCV 18 years now.!!!
That’s correct. And that had to be regular service or contract. And I didn’t drive any more than that except empty or on training (strangely, no licence required) and minibuses.
I was training people at the age of 19 who ended up with a better licence than the one I had!!
Impossible now, but that’s what happened then.
Pete
Cheers Pete,
I thought it was a stupid new law brought in by the EU in the late 70’s, or like the trucks you could get licence on grandfather rights … What made you leave the training all them years ago … I am in Australia now, just got my HC (heavy Combination) I want to get assessed and be approved by the Rail and maritime dept who let people be assessed rather then take a test … $1600.00 £1100 they charge for 8 hours assessment over here raking it in!
discoman:
. I am in Australia now, just got my HC (heavy Combination)…
Congratulations.
Just looked this up. So you can now drive the b-doubles.
Will be seeing you on WTT next series then? 
Hi Dean,
No mate, they have the MC for that Multi combination … like a class 1 plus 1 if that makes sense … WTT??
what is that … i just [zb] that i cant see new series of eddie stobart lol
how is first getting on ■■
i suspect i’ve been really fortunate if you’re looking for a bit of inspiration from recent times…
i took and passed my cat c in october, and by driving round and knocking on doors in my area i was taken on by a general haulage firm driving a 6 wheeler (rigid), three days after passing my test. i had no experience, couldn’t open a curtain or insert a tacho disc. i learnt quickly…
rather than shelling out for cat c+e straight away i wanted to give the job a chance and see if it was right for me. the lifestyle suits me and lets say i’m at my happiest when left to my own devices.
over the last month i have been doing cat c+e training on my weekends which culminated in a successful test pass last monday morning. i was given the opportunity to do my first artic run on wednesday. you may have read my other post.
i’m now hoping for a full time artic position to become available.
i know that a lot of posters are struggling, and i hope that this is a big positive for you. you will get employment, just get out there and make your own luck…
cheers
discoman:
Hi Dean,No mate, they have the MC for that Multi combination … like a class 1 plus 1 if that makes sense … WTT??
what is that … i just [zb] that i cant see new series of eddie stobart lol
how is first getting on ■■
Oh yeah. Ignore me getting carried away lol.
I read up about HC then linked to MC and then had it in my head you had MC. Any plans of upgrading?
First is still a go as soon as CRB check comes back. Just twiddling my thumbs ATM. Grrr
Straight out of Class 1 training I got 2 chances but picked the wrong one and after a week ended up jobless.
Been fighting the “2 year rule” for a month with no joy at all.
I’ve got an interview/assessment on wednesday afternoon and I’ll say more afterwards whatever the result. If I don’t get it I’ll have to go back to coach work and just forget that I’ve got the class 1 for the forseeable future.
My dad, but i had to pay for every thing
Sam Millar:
Just curious as to who has given you a chance, without experience, class 1 or 2, if class 1, did you have any experience on class 2?
As some of you on the forum already know, I upgraded my Cat C licence (which I’ve held since 2004) to C+E in mid-January 2012, and within weeks I was lucky enough to be given a C+E job from a local company. The unit and trailer I was given are not on the small side either! 
So, for all those out there who think these companies won’t look at you if you have no experience, think again. It does happen! (I guess it does help if you’ve had some Cat C experience or even just 7.5T experience). Just keep looking and applying and one day you will be in the right place at the right time and get your chance.
It goes without saying though, you really need to sell yourself and show you are keen and very capable of doing the job. 
All the best!
Builders merchant that i knew well gave me a start on rigids then when i passed my trailer test they let me drive their artic but that was only for a month, i was gutted at the thought of coming off it so called a couple of companies and now working for another firm on permenant class 1.
cars to vans to7.5t to tippers to car+trailer to c+e to wag and drag to …allways been set on with no experience cos" i can do that" usually works
Saaamon:
Builders merchant that i knew well gave me a start on rigids then when i passed my trailer test they let me drive their artic but that was only for a month, i was gutted at the thought of coming off it so called a couple of companies and now working for another firm on permenant class 1.
Only companies I haven’t tried around here are builders merchants cause of the HIAB, I don’t have that and don’t have the money to do it either.