I have my class 2 training with Mr Smythe in a couple of weeks so decided that it would be a good idea to send some feeler emails to a couple of local companies to find out if they take on new drivers.
Now I specifically want to get into recovery work so emailed a couple of biggish firms in the area.
Within 24hrs the owner of one of them called me back and said could I come in for a chat next week. I said I could no problem but just to be clear I have my test on 17th Sept so all being well I’ll be a brand new driver seeking work and would this be an issue?
The response I got was quite strange, well I thought so anyway…
He said he’d take on anyone with the right attitude but a new driver would be made to sign a form to accept that they would cover the cost of any damages. Seriously?! I’d understand perhaps a high excess to pay for the first year or something but I was literally told it would be that I’d accept I’d have to cover the costs of any damages.
He told me any company in the industry would be the same taking on a new driver. Sounded like rubbish to me!
Someone tell me it’s a one off, haha
I’m going to wait until I have had my test before phoning more but this answer just threw me a bit!
I have my class 2 training with Mr Smythe in a couple of weeks so decided that it would be a good idea to send some feeler emails to a couple of local companies to find out if they take on new drivers.
Now I specifically want to get into recovery work so emailed a couple of biggish firms in the area.
Within 24hrs the owner of one of them called me back and said could I come in for a chat next week. I said I could no problem but just to be clear I have my test on 17th Sept so all being well I’ll be a brand new driver seeking work and would this be an issue?
The response I got was quite strange, well I thought so anyway…
He said he’d take on anyone with the right attitude but a new driver would be made to sign a form to accept that they would cover the cost of any damages. Seriously?! I’d understand perhaps a high excess to pay for the first year or something but I was literally told it would be that I’d accept I’d have to cover the costs of any damages.
He told me any company in the industry would be the same taking on a new driver. Sounded like rubbish to me!
Someone tell me it’s a one off, haha
I’m going to wait until I have had my test before phoning more but this answer just threw me a bit!
It’s ■■■■■■■■. That’s what insurance is for.
He’ll attract a higher excess with inexperienced drivers at the wheel. But that is not your problem, nor responsibility.
What’s the pay like? If you’re using a tilt and slide there’s less risk than using only ramps for example. Can you afford to go out for a couple of days for free? It might be worth it to get a feel for the place before automatically just saying no. The other drivers might help you decide.
While there should be plenty of options for new passes right now, there are often lots of downsides to recovery work. I won’t say don’t do it as it was the route I took for my 1st class 2 job, but generally pay is poor compared to general work, you can often be working off tacho so under GB Domestic there is scope to be called out overnight and work 7 days straight, if that is expected rather than optional might depend on the boss.
It’s inevitably messy work and just working on hard shoulder means some level of risk to life, along with winching stuff out of ditches, righting roll overs etc. There is quite a lot of training available through the IVR, ideally the core modules 1-3 will give you the fundamentals though may not be available or on offer straight away from the employer (a fair number of new starters don’t last once they are faced with the reality of the job), unless it’s with a big operator I would expect you will get some 1 to 1 training to get you started but there is lots of learning as you go, if in doubt get advice / ask for backup/ defer the job to someone else. Quite often until you rock up on scene no one especially the control room may know what the actual situation is so may need specialist / hiab / two trucks etc… especially if you are doing police work.
Probably the cleanest / safest option would be AA, who I think will fund class 1 after 6 months (keeps you legal for one on the bed, 1 on the spec), and have plenty of H&S policy to limit what you do (don’t even climb onto the tilt bed!), tougher jobs they can just pass over to a 3rd party subby…!! They only have a limited number of operating bases though and trucks get used double shift. If yo are on call with a independent firm you may be able / be expected to take the truck home after shift to be able to respond to on call jobs.
Rich T:
Couldn’t you just do general haulage for a couple of years to get a decent amount of experience?
To be honest I’m getting into the industry specifically as the recovery side of it interests me. I’m not actually massively interested in the HGV driving side of it - I love driving but that’s just part of the recovery role for me rather than ‘wanting’ to be a driver if that makes any sense!
For me the idea of doing a few years with a tilt and slide then moving into heavy recovery would be a dream. I like the technical side of recovery as well as the variety.
I will however take whatever I’m given whenever I pass. I live 5 minutes from the base of Roger Warnes and I’ve heard good things about them as well apparently will take on newbies so there’s another avenue there.
silberrucken:
What’s the pay like? If you’re using a tilt and slide there’s less risk than using only ramps for example. Can you afford to go out for a couple of days for free? It might be worth it to get a feel for the place before automatically just saying no. The other drivers might help you decide.
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That’s a very good point and something for me to consider. The role itself I know isn’t the best paid but it’s what I want to do. I wouldn’t for example do pallet multidrop or something when the motivation to get into the industry is because I want to do recovery. Spent the last 10 years climbing the walls of an office because the money kept me quiet, I’m at a point in life where the enjoyment and urge to want to do a job is more important now!
njl:
While there should be plenty of options for new passes right now, there are often lots of downsides to recovery work. I won’t say don’t do it as it was the route I took for my 1st class 2 job, but generally pay is poor compared to general work, you can often be working off tacho so under GB Domestic there is scope to be called out overnight and work 7 days straight, if that is expected rather than optional might depend on the boss.
It’s inevitably messy work and just working on hard shoulder means some level of risk to life, along with winching stuff out of ditches, righting roll overs etc. There is quite a lot of training available through the IVR, ideally the core modules 1-3 will give you the fundamentals though may not be available or on offer straight away from the employer (a fair number of new starters don’t last once they are faced with the reality of the job), unless it’s with a big operator I would expect you will get some 1 to 1 training to get you started but there is lots of learning as you go, if in doubt get advice / ask for backup/ defer the job to someone else. Quite often until you rock up on scene no one especially the control room may know what the actual situation is so may need specialist / hiab / two trucks etc… especially if you are doing police work.
Probably the cleanest / safest option would be AA, who I think will fund class 1 after 6 months (keeps you legal for one on the bed, 1 on the spec), and have plenty of H&S policy to limit what you do (don’t even climb onto the tilt bed!), tougher jobs they can just pass over to a 3rd party subby…!! They only have a limited number of operating bases though and trucks get used double shift. If yo are on call with a independent firm you may be able / be expected to take the truck home after shift to be able to respond to on call jobs.
Thank you for the reply, some useful advice there so thank you.
It echoes what I’ve gauged from conversations with drivers over the years. It seems as though it’s a job people do for 6 months and loath or they love it and do it for life.
I’ve always had a natural interest in vehicles/mechanics and volunteer for a 4x4 rescue charity so for me as per my posts, I want to be a recovery driver moreso than being a HGV driver if that makes sense, it just happens to be the required license and vehicle!
Ive got a lot to read up on and I think the idea of volunteering a day or two to see what the job is like would be good if I can arrange it.
Fair play, if you have some experience in winching 4x4’s then you have some good grounding already. Some firms may send a service van out 1st response then send the truck after, but if you are comfy doing some basic diagnosis then that can also be an asset as you cover 2 sides.
It’s probable that between any two firms the working conditions, pay, expectations, training on offer etc could vary considerably. As you say yourself, lots of guys in the industry have been there for years and often at the same firm, so are happy enough with their lot. When I left I didn’t actually want to give it up but felt I needed some time doing class 1 before pushing for a move into the heavy side, but after 6 months of earning more on basic salary for doing less work, I couldn’t really make a case to myself to move back. That said one of my old colleagues used to pull in good money at another firm when working in a service van with RDT, on top of basic there was bonuses for roadside fix, selling batteries, tyres etc, plus mileage for recovery done and probably on call extras.
silberrucken:
What’s the pay like? If you’re using a tilt and slide there’s less risk than using only ramps for example. Can you afford to go out for a couple of days for free? It might be worth it to get a feel for the place before automatically just saying no. The other drivers might help you decide.
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That’s a very good point and something for me to consider. The role itself I know isn’t the best paid but it’s what I want to do. I wouldn’t for example do pallet multidrop or something when the motivation to get into the industry is because I want to do recovery. Spent the last 10 years climbing the walls of an office because the money kept me quiet, I’m at a point in life where the enjoyment and urge to want to do a job is more important now!
I could have written your reply myself mate. I think there’s a few of us on decent pay in offices but just getting to the point of being sick of it. Moving vehicles for money is a good way to get out and about.