Hi
Quick re-cap;
Passed class 2 in 2007 and didn’t finally use it until mid-2012 doing part time work. Got the bug again and took class 1 at PSTT in Nov’ 13 but continued with part time for the duration although in a fleet renewal we’d now gone to all 7.5T
All changed a month ago, I really wanted to get some relevant artic experience so went out a few days with an uncle (dock runs and some deliveries) during my summer leave from full time job. Although I wanted to change careers I honestly felt my best chances to get on class 1 would be post CPC deadline and into the run up to Christmas this year
On my final day a driver didn’t turn in for a class 2 multi-drop shift and the TM asked me if I could do them a favour and take the run. It was a hard day with a lot of unfamiliar premises/handball etc but I completed it and returned their wagon and paperwork all present and correct.
The following week I received a phone call from my uncle asking if I was interested in full time work- I said I was but not class 2 multi drop ( I could have gone onto this at anytime with the firm I’d worked part time at) as I had a class 1 licence and wanted to use it- he then told me not to panic it was a class 1 driver they were after.
I went up the following Friday for an informal interview with the TM and waited a reply which I got Monday afternoon offering me the job.
Last Monday I started as a full time C + E driver. Most of the work I’ve been doing so far is container runs to Felixstowe and back which isn’t hard but learning the intricacies and procedures of the container ports takes a bit of time.
Tuesday was my most difficult day- I had to do 3 deliveries to businesses in the south which were in some difficult access places and again the handballing. To someone with no real reversing experience two of them were quite a challenge to get into and I also had a tandem axle trailer- me still being wet behind the ears I wouldn’t be able to tell the handling differences v’s a tri-axle.
So far though I haven’t hit anything or caused massive traffic chaos and so have took a lot of positives. It took a lot for me to finally leave my previous job of 13 years and change career and I hope it’s for the better.
SaintAndy:
Tuesday was my most difficult day- I had to do 3 deliveries to businesses in the south which were in some difficult access places and again the handballing. To someone with no real reversing experience two of them were quite a challenge to get into and I also had a tandem axle trailer- me still being wet behind the ears I wouldn’t be able to tell the handling differences v’s a tri-axle.
So far though I haven’t hit anything or caused massive traffic chaos and so have took a lot of positives. It took a lot for me to finally leave my previous job of 13 years and change career and I hope it’s for the better.
Your a driver not a handball merchant the sooner you realise this the better 
nick2008:
SaintAndy:
Tuesday was my most difficult day- I had to do 3 deliveries to businesses in the south which were in some difficult access places and again the handballing. To someone with no real reversing experience two of them were quite a challenge to get into and I also had a tandem axle trailer- me still being wet behind the ears I wouldn’t be able to tell the handling differences v’s a tri-axle.
So far though I haven’t hit anything or caused massive traffic chaos and so have took a lot of positives. It took a lot for me to finally leave my previous job of 13 years and change career and I hope it’s for the better.
Your a driver not a handball merchant the sooner you realise this the better
Why? I haven’t a problem with it
nick2008:
SaintAndy:
Tuesday was my most difficult day- I had to do 3 deliveries to businesses in the south which were in some difficult access places and again the handballing. To someone with no real reversing experience two of them were quite a challenge to get into and I also had a tandem axle trailer- me still being wet behind the ears I wouldn’t be able to tell the handling differences v’s a tri-axle.
So far though I haven’t hit anything or caused massive traffic chaos and so have took a lot of positives. It took a lot for me to finally leave my previous job of 13 years and change career and I hope it’s for the better.
Your a driver not a handball merchant the sooner you realise this the better
Remember he is on containers they sometimes have to in there contracts although depends if deep sea or short sea
