French HGV Training

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
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Héraultais:
Every town has plenty of agencies as well and it was through them I got my first work, though the company I currently work for contacted me direct after working for a short period for them through an agency.

Good advice, that seems to be the preferred method here in France - I think it’s too difficult for firms to get rid of bad employees, so everyone seems to go through a spell on agencies first, then progress onto CDD (fixed term contract) before landing the much-desired CDI full time contract.

~ Craig

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Hi Craig , how are you these days ? Still in the sunny south I presume?
Who are you working for now , or is it still TFE ?

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pierrot 14:
Hi Craig , how are you these days ? Still in the sunny south I presume?
Who are you working for now , or is it still TFE ?

Yep matey, back with STEF-TFE in Agen, couldn’t stay away! :sunglasses:

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Craig 111:

pierrot 14:
Hi Craig , how are you these days ? Still in the sunny south I presume?
Who are you working for now , or is it still TFE ?

Yep matey, back with STEF-TFE in Agen, couldn’t stay away! :sunglasses:

Is everything ok with them down there? The only reason I ask is because I’ve heard that the Vire depot and the one just south of Caen are outsourcing their traction. They want to concentrate purely on the logistic side of things and get others to pull the trailers. From what ive heard Malherbe are going to be doing it up here.
Let me know if you’ve heard anything
Take care and let me know if your up this way, we can go for a beer.

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Still going okay down south Pierrot; not heard anything negative about Vire, I know the firm is using more subbies across the country for its international work and certain longer domestic runs (we use Guidez for all our runs away), but I’ve seen plenty of Vire’s 14 reg Scanias down here this week. From what I understand STEF is obliged by law to keep a certain number of employed drivers throughout the country, and I’ve seen a couple of driver vacancies advertised internally so I reckon things are ticking over okay still for now.

There’s still time to join the best, matey :sunglasses:

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Hello Mate hope you are well? i have messaged you , with a couple of questions if thats ok ,
take care
CF

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I did once training at Calberson in Paris regarding Loading and Weight-Load Distribution.
Very Professional what they do

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Allo .

The french famously adopted the 35 hour week

Does this apply to truckers ■■

Or is it loads of POA or something ■■

Any info on the workings of this appreciated

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countryfrog:
Hello Mate hope you are well? i have messaged you , with a couple of questions if thats ok ,
take care
CF

PM reply sent.

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boredwivdrivin:
The french famously adopted the 35 hour week

Does this apply to truckers ■■

Not that I have ever noticed! Same EU regs as the UK regards hours.

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Whats the chance of getting work with a rudimentary understanding of French whilst they learn the language better? I go to France a fair bit on hols and away from the tourist parts so know the chances of getting someone who can/is willing to speak english is hit and miss.

Is the DCPC transferrable or would it need to be retaken?

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Truckulent:

Héraultais:
Sorry to disappoint you, I am English! I moved to France In 2006.

Not disappointed at all…someone that understands grammar and spelling is always welcome in this desert of ignorance… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

+1

About time we had much stiffer training and test.
We need to keep the knumbskulls off our roads.

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Conor:
Whats the chance of getting work with a rudimentary understanding of French whilst they learn the language better? I go to France a fair bit on hols and away from the tourist parts so know the chances of getting someone who can/is willing to speak english is hit and miss.

Is the DCPC transferrable or would it need to be retaken?

Apologies for the delay in replying , I forgot you asked a couple of questions.

Not sure about finding work with only basic French skills? Never yet met anyone down here who could speak English in the transport world. Guess it would depend on the work.

The DCPC is Europe wide so valid throughout the EU. Once expired you have to redo it in your country of residence.

HTH

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Thanks for the reply. My experience of english speaking in France is the younger people tend to be able to do it more than the older ones and for some reason most McDonalds staff seem to have basic english. :open_mouth: Some can speak english but refuse to, others don’t at all. The situation I tend to be in a lot is that I can understand/work out what they’re saying but replying in French is a bit more of an issue basically because I murder the language. I do notice that as the holiday goes on I get better as I do if I’m going somewhere on my own so I’m not having to tell the missus what they’re saying so I think its just a case of immersing myself in the language more so I’m just speaking without translating if you understand what I mean.

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Conor:
…so I think its just a case of immersing myself in the language more so I’m just speaking without translating if you understand what I mean.

That’s the key. Once you stop translating (ie you understand what is said and can give an immediate response), then your progress after that moment is exponential.