Hi everyone, I’m new to the forum and would like to ask a few question’s about the industry.
I had been told (by the drivers at work) that if I did my C and C+E I will never be out of work, my current employer is re-locating it’s RDC next August and I don’t plan on going with them, so I passed my C the other week and will be taking my C+E in the next few months, I was hoping to be doing some agency work on my days off until I leave (obviously within the working time directive). However after looking through this website I see that it may not be as easy as I first thought to get work.
I had been told about the golden 2 years where most companies want 2 years experience for insurance purposes and know that I will have to do all the ■■■■ jobs before I get something decent.
I was hoping that when I leave I could expect to earn what I am on now which is around £420 p/w before deductions, is that realistic? I’m not bothered about doing nights out or hard work (obviously I don’t want handball work but if it is all there is I will do it as need to provide for my family.
So basically am I being realistic thinking I can earn £400 p/w and will I find work if I’m not bothered what I’m doing?
Oh and my current employer has told me they will ask for me via the agency they use on my days off to help get experience.
The money sounds realistic so long as you can get agency work on a full time basis, now you’ve not got a lot of experience so that’s going to be difficult. Also it depends on where you live as to what work is about, but I very much doubt you’ll be working five days a week.
Once you’ve got your experience you’ll be more employable, but the future ‘never be out of work’ tag is down to you.
Be reliable competent honest presentable etc, in other words a good representative of the company, get a good reputation and learn everything you can about the job, and yes, you will always have work.
A good class one driver shouldn’t earn any less than £20k for a 40 hour week at present rates with no nights out, £30k+ should be about the norm for a reasonable working week, and never but never include night out allowances in your wages when calculating, far too many do this.
I used to work for the transport department as a planner/clerk for the company I’m currently with and I know all too well that people who turn up late, are abrupt/ have an attitude, refuse runs and look like they have not had a wash in a month don’t seem to come in all too often.
I know that if I turn up on time and don’t ■■■■ about, the load gets there in the condition it left in and if your delivery is going to be late let the customer know asap you wont go far wrong.
Keep a bag packed by the door and be available to work at the drop of a hat.
If you jump at every job they offer you, they’ll be more inclined to use you in the future.
Those that hum and harr and turn the work down because they’ll miss EastEnders are the ones the agency don’t ring back.
Where you live has a big impact on your choice of work and the amount of money you earn, it’s not as easy as it once was, you cold finish one job on a Friday and start another on a Monday, be prepared to be flexible and you should be o.k.
Don’t expect to find a good number straight away, in many ways doing the less glamorous work gives a good underlying knowledge and a certain degree of self reliance.
The amount of money you wish to earn would be easily achievable but this depends, like I said on where you live.
Also worth considering, as a general rule agency staff are compulsive liars, It can be counter productive to be a “Yes” man as they will phone you first for the less desirable work, believe it or not there are some good agencies (where, I here you all say) about, find one and build a good relationship, this will give you the opportunity to try different kinds of work.
cieranc:
Keep a bag packed by the door and be available to work at the drop of a hat.
If you jump at every job they offer you, they’ll be more inclined to use you in the future.
Those that hum and harr and turn the work down because they’ll miss EastEnders are the ones the agency don’t ring back.
That can be a two edged sword. If you are known as the guy who will do the last minute jobs with a 3am start then the agency may just keep you for that, while the slightly more choosy drivers get the better work. It’s a hard balance to achieve and I would say that you need to try and build a personal relationship with the agency people.
My advice would be to stay well clear of agencies, it will save you a lot of time, money, hassle & heart ache. Instead follow your current employer who’s relocating if they are offering you a job driving. Get them to train you properly to their standards & there should also be support from fellow drivers you’ve mentioned. Other than that as mentioned fix up, look sharp & go knock on local company doors direct, NOT AGENCIES…!
Pimpdaddy:
My advice would be to stay well clear of agencies, it will save you a lot of time, money, hassle & heart ache. Instead follow your current employer who’s relocating if they are offering you a job driving. Get them to train you properly to their standards & there should also be support from fellow drivers you’ve mentioned. Other than that as mentioned fix up, look sharp & go knock on local company doors direct, NOT AGENCIES…!
I’ll disagree with what Pimpdaddy says about agencies.
I passed my C and C+E in 2008 and was the agency yes man. I did van work, 7.5 tonner and C work at short notice if needed. When I got my C+E I carried on the same, after a short while I was offered C+E shunting work at Honda Swindon and took it (40 miles each way) I was there for about 6 weeks until Honda went ■■■■ up. I accepted another class c job I’d done before and went back there for holiday cover for 2 weeks and that was the bingo moment. A small container company on the site was looking for a driver, I chatted with the boss, went out for a day with him, took his business partner out for a day with me driving, started work the next week. I ws there for three years till I moved on to bigger and better things.
Agency work is a pain in the arse but when you start out you need to gain experience and beggars can’t be choosers.
However I would suggest to you that accepting a job is not the end of it, you should act as a “professional driver” from day one. Treat every assignment as a job interview, ask if you don’t know and if you turn up to a job and if the equipment isn’t right refuse to drive it (you’ll get more respect tht way, even if you don’t get asked back). If you’re working from a yard shared with other companies go and have a chat with anyone around they may know of someone looking for an employee.
I can tell you that since I passed my Lgv licences I haven’t been without work.
I now have a great job earning decent money for 4 on 4 off shifts, which suit my lazy attitude.
That 2 year rule,get a mate to print up some false work records,most firms wont have the time to ring the numbers that do not exist,it does not pay to tell the truth to get that job you want,everyone bends the truth,look at the MP scandal and duck house`s for their ponds.
be honest clean and upfront with everyone send a cv and follow up with a visit you will always find work. A smart appearance gets you a long way just look at the state of some drivers common sense is the way to go and dont give up trying the more noes you get the closer you are to getting a yes. good luck
toby1234abc:
That 2 year rule,get a mate to print up some false work records,most firms wont have the time to ring the numbers that do not exist,it does not pay to tell the truth to get that job you want,everyone bends the truth,look at the MP scandal and duck house`s for their ponds.
Spending the evening sipping the Toilet Duck again?
Sensible arguments abound. Pretty much the main risk is getting on the books of the right agency as has been said!
You’ll be kissing a few frogs before setting yourself up with the proverbial “prince” of agencies!
A good agency will have most of their regular work covering known leave, and block driver bookings. This kind of work forming the bulk of regular agency work is of course KNOWN ABOUT in a reasonable timeframe. Eg. you’ll be phoned on a friday for a mon-fri cover next week, or a wedneday afternoon for a shift thursday.
Someone who ends up covering for merely another agency who’s bod decided “not to show” (you know, 45 minutes notice at 3am type stuff!) is someone who’ll always be stuck with that kind of work. Being offered “only the last minute work” indeed suggests that you are held in low esteem by that agency.
You could say there’s a pecking order for a good reason. It isn’t the “yes” men that get the plummy work - it’s those who put in a professional effort first time, every time.
I consider myself settled in after just over a year of agency work - Being able to rely on at least a token amount of shifts per week/month as a base to build upon I think is key to staying on top of your working life with an agency. I didn’t know about the “bleakness of January” this time last year for example. Next year, I’ll just be taking January off as Holiday, so it’s a learning curve!
My suggestion to those considering starting out with an agency is to join one that does PAYE and specialises in Drivers.
Yeah that’s what I thought, my advise if your not ready don’t rush because being a new driver you will get thrown ■■■■ at you to start off regardless, without sleep and basically doing the stuff noone else wants. Also if you make a mistake the industry can be quite unforgiving, and your reputation counts for everything, i’m at the stage where I have to explain my mistakes before applying because I am known already.
Depending from where you are also factors if you are not from the area the jobs will preferably go to someone who is from the area which is fair enough. some places have more jobs than others, probably best to check out the job center or indeed.com to see potential jobs around your area without the “experienced” or 2 yr tag. IMO Dont believe you will always be in work doing agency’s most of them are lyres and will screw you over, at the moment I cant get a shift in a Warehouse or even a Drivers Mate
Pimpdaddy:
My advice would be to stay well clear of agencies, it will save you a lot of time, money, hassle & heart ache. Instead follow your current employer who’s relocating if they are offering you a job driving. Get them to train you properly to their standards & there should also be support from fellow drivers you’ve mentioned. Other than that as mentioned fix up, look sharp & go knock on local company doors direct, NOT AGENCIES…!
Firstly I want to thank everyone for taking the time to give me advice about what to expect.
Pimpdaddy if I could move with them I would, but I will be living 70 miles and a 2 hr drive each way, away from the new CDC so moving with them is not an option as I’m not prepared to pull my wife and kids away from their grandparents/parents and other family members. I had read articles saying that there are 4 driving jobs for every driver looking for work, that you can walk out of one job and into another the next day and the old saying there is a national shortage of drivers.
I have also been told that in 2014 its going to get worse because people who are coming up to retirement or drive part time will not be prepared to pay the £350-£500 to do the DCPC 35hr course.
@Saaamon this is what I have been told, if you have get up and go and don’t care what you do to get on the ladder someone will give you a chance…
It’s all BS mate, a marketing gimmic by training providers or people who will benefit financially from saying such crap. There hasn’t been & never will be a shortage of drivers, I estimate that in some parts it’s more like 10+ drivers chasing 1 job. @ the end of the day do what’s right by you & your family, always follow your heart…
NewLad: @Saaamon this is what I have been told, if you have get up and go and don’t care what you do to get on the ladder someone will give you a chance…
Work for a ■■■■■■■■ doing ■■■■ work because after that when you go to a different firm what the other drivers think is hard crap work you’ll find easier and will happly do it because you know how bad it could be.
Pimpdaddy:
It’s all BS mate, a marketing gimmic by training providers or people who will benefit financially from saying such crap. There hasn’t been & never will be a shortage of drivers, I estimate that in some parts it’s more like 10+ drivers chasing 1 job. @ the end of the day do what’s right by you & your family, always follow your heart…
Yeah knew it would be bull, I have seen the state of the agency drivers, 80% of them in Nottingham look like they haven’t had a wash in months and many of the take the p, turning up late with an attitude etc. I have learned how not to behave.
good luck