Hi all I’m Ron
I’ve had my licence 12 years but have been out of it for 2 years so I’ll pretend I’m new .
I have a 2 day assessment at DHL Manton wood
I have a few questions
What does the 2 day assessment consist of ?
What is the company like to work for ?
And what are the trucks like for trampers ?
Thanks in advance for all help provided
DHL take all the box-ticking during training very seriously and are very by the book. If taken on direct, you can expect at least two days in the classroom signing various pieces of paper.
How good they are to work for may be dependent on the local management and also the particular contract you are on. Some contracts overtime doesn’t kick in until 48 hours, but some may be less than that. The devil is in the detail to a large extent, so when you go, I would take the attitude that you are interviewing them as much as the other way around.
I didn’t do a 2-day assessment, but it may be due to the type of work. Expect a drive and a reverse as a minimum I would say.
I worked on various contracts with them on agency. I’m not there now.
Thanks mate are you a tramper ?
I did a one-day assessment with them some years ago, it was pretty full on. Based on that I would suggest you:
Expect a written test test on drivers hours, WTD.
Expect to be able to demonstrate good load security and knowing all the current requirements of that to avoid a penalty.
Expect a requirement to demonstrate a high-standard walkaround check
Expect to be expected to know how to do a proper manual entry up to modern standards (ie no using “?” for anything)
Expect a big emphasis on Vulnerable Road Users, manual handling, and maybe a bit of customer service thrown in for good measure.
And of course the practical assessment on the road, showing consideration for other road users, with some manoeuvering in the yard too.
The big companies are spoilt for choice these days, there’s about a hundred candidates for every vacancy, so they can afford to be picky.
I currently work for DHL on one of their contracts not a million miles from you. Some of the points I would have made have been covered above. I would say it is contract/site specific as to whether the job is good or what you think of it. Therefore it’s impossible to generalize about DHL themselves as a company.
The job I currently have is the best I’ve had in the industry, both in terms of the job, but also hours, pay, nature of work etc. However I have heard horror stories from people about other contracts so you probably won’t know till you try. I am a day driver, no tramping or nights out where we are so can’t help you on that one.
Very OTT on paperwork & health and safety. Everything is done 100% by the book. Don’t be alarmed if every other day you have a piece of paper shoved under your nose to read and sign because something has happened somewhere within the network. It’s all just bottom covering. As long as you do things properly and how they want you’ll be fine (well in my experience). I can look past the OTT things all things considered, but some of the more old school drivers just tar them as one of the large logistics companies ruining the industry because they don’t operate like things were in the “good ole days”
Thanks mate what are the trucks like tramping wise ?
Ours are min spec day cabs as we don’t do nights out. I was more just trying to give you a heads up about DHL overall. My advice would be that if it sounds acceptable on the face of it then give it a go. If it doesn’t work out you can always move on.
Thanks mate
No, I can’t comment on that side of things.
Thanks for the advice mate