Yeah just find every local company and explain your situation and show your enthusiastic etc
I did that 2 years ago. Zero experience but a boss of one local company seemed to actually understand that if he didn’t help new drivers eventually there will be non. His point of view is also that your so new you’ve not got bad habits yet so he can get you trained how he wants.
He gave me an assessment with the company trainer where I couldn’t reverse at all and on a tight left turn I clipped the kerb. Even so, he said tell you what come and work for 2 days for me with an experienced driver but I’m not paying you. I was keen and took the chance.
He then gave me a job where I did class 2 for a month where I was able to show that I would bring the wagon back in one piece and not have loads falling over on every bend.
After that he put me on class 1 but put a trainer out with me for 2 days.
So by asking him to give me a chance and showing I was keen by doing 2 days unpaid I ended up getting a job that I’ve still got.
My point is that whilst most companies aren’t interested in new passes if your persistent and keep asking you will find the odd boss who has got time for newbies and will want to help you out if you show your keen.
Give these a try.
http://www.llandrindod.co.uk/users/michael-gough
Good well established company, decent wagons always looked after, high reputation. They also run a couple of 8 wheelers on quarry work.
kjw21:
Owens have got a place at Craven Arms I think which isn’t a million miles away if that’s any use.
The Craven Arms depot is no longer there. The closest depot to you is Wrexham. I used to work out of their Droitwich depot, brilliant company to work for. I left because I was working nights and wanted to change to days but there were no vacancies. I was also thinking about tramping for them but I can’t stand driving MANs at the best of times, let alone live in one, week in, week out.
Honestly, the Owens Group are fantastic to work for as they offer a variety of shift patterns depending on what you want. I can’t rate them highly enough, I really enjoyed working for them!
kjw21:
Owens have got a place at Craven Arms I think which isn’t a million miles away if that’s any use.
The Craven Arms depot is no longer there. The closest depot to you is Wrexham. I used to work out of their Droitwich depot, brilliant company to work for. I left because I was working nights and wanted to change to days but there were no vacancies. I was also thinking about tramping for them but I can’t stand driving MANs at the best of times, let alone live in one, week in, week out.
Honestly, the Owens Group are fantastic to work for as they offer a variety of shift patterns depending on what you want. I can’t rate them highly enough, I really enjoyed working for them!
It may be that you have to be prepared to move around a bit in your search for work. I think Wiseman dairies take on newly qualified. A few years ago they were putting people through training as well.
It is notoriously difficult for newly qualified, and youngsters to gain a foothold in the industry. Employers are wanting 25 plus, and 2.5 years experience.
Maybe if you went to work for an outfit like DPD, they would start you in vans, to see hiw you shape up, then maybe a bit of shunting, or shorter trunks, and you find your way in that way.
Try Sidoli at Welshpool…fridge work
Also don’t stress about the experience side of things too much, I’ve only been in the game for a few years and have never struggled to find work. You may need to be willing to travel a bit, but since you’re willing to tramp you can widen your search parameters quite a bit due to only completing one round trip a week.
Kate:
Try Sidoli at Welshpool…fridge work
I’m sure t.alun jones transport (big yellow V8 scania’s if thats your thing 
) is on that same ind. estate as sidoli too, as is a recycling firm that run a few wagons from there, think they’re called potters or something like that.
good luck
Hi All,
Thank you to ALL for your advice.
To those that suggested Owens Transport. I have applied to them.
One of you mentioned T. Alun Jones - Did a day there for them washing wagons. They haven’t got any work at the moment.
I have a interview with that large firm (Stobarts) next week. So I’ll see how that goes. I did train with them. Also to be honest I know a lot of people have slacked them off on here and that is your opinion of the company. I haven’t had any issues with them.
Cheers for all of advice,
Andy
Now time to be slacked off 
andy02016:
Now time to be slacked off
Doesn’t sound pleasant! 
Best of luck, and look forward to seeing you in the ES 2018 Bridge Strike Calendar…
Everyone moans about where they work, truck driver or not.
It’s a start if they will take you. Getting the first job is always the hardest.
Also it will look good on your CV when you got some experience under your belt.
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To be honest I’ve not seen one single company talked about on here where everyone says they like it and don’t have a bad word about it. Everywhere some like it, some don’t. Which is good! If we all liked and disliked the same work and same style of company then only a select few would have be happy in their work as there wouldn’t be any jobs at the “good” ones.
Some advice from a fellow 19 year old class 1 newbie, who’s only just got himself a job:
Keep searching. Make it a goal to phone at least one firm every day. Drop by yards looking presentable, keen and ready to work. Pretty much everything everyone here has said. 
You’ll get the strange ones - one firm sat me down to lecture me about the long hours (which I was aware off, since two of my mates have been trucking for the last 2 years) and about divorce rates in the industry due to the distance. I told them that my girlfriend lives in London. 
But I guess I might have come across as being naive to them, owing to my age. Looking younger than 19 doesn’t help. 
Good luck in regards to Stobart. They gave me an assessment but I failed for being too slow.
From passing my Class 1 in February its taken me just under 3 months to get myself a job. What surprises me is that it wasn’t a big multi depot company with a large fleet who took me on, nor a small firm running banged up 06 plate DAF CFs. But a family run firm running fridge trailers with a fleet of Volvo FH500 Globetrotter XLs. You’ll be surprised at the sort of companies that’ll take you on mate, so try every single one you find.
Good luck mate!
qwertyqatar:
Some advice from a fellow 19 year old class 1 newbie, who’s only just got himself a job:
Keep searching. Make it a goal to phone at least one firm every day. Drop by yards looking presentable, keen and ready to work. Pretty much everything everyone here has said.
You’ll get the strange ones - one firm sat me down to lecture me about the long hours (which I was aware off, since two of my mates have been trucking for the last 2 years) and about divorce rates in the industry due to the distance. I told them that my girlfriend lives in London. But I guess I might have come across as being naive to them, owing to my age. Looking younger than 19 doesn’t help.
Good luck in regards to Stobart. They gave me an assessment but I failed for being too slow.
From passing my Class 1 in February its taken me just under 3 months to get myself a job. What surprises me is that it wasn’t a big multi depot company with a large fleet who took me on, nor a small firm running banged up 06 plate DAF CFs. But a family run firm running fridge trailers with a fleet of Volvo FH500 Globetrotter XLs. You’ll be surprised at the sort of companies that’ll take you on mate, so try every single one you find.
Good luck mate!
very inspirational and motivational. Well done pal
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andy02016:
Hi All,
Thank you to ALL for your advice.
To those that suggested Owens Transport. I have applied to them.
One of you mentioned T. Alun Jones - Did a day there for them washing wagons. They haven’t got any work at the moment.
I have a interview with that large firm (Stobarts) next week. So I’ll see how that goes. I did train with them. Also to be honest I know a lot of people have slacked them off on here and that is your opinion of the company. I haven’t had any issues with them.
Cheers for all of advice,
Andy
Now time to be slacked off
Be sure when you go to Stobart that the person interviewing / assessing you knows that you’ve been through the training academy!
I did my training with Stobart in Runcorn, and thought it was top notch. When I got to the assessment at the depot near me, they didn’t realise I had come through the program.
I didn’t end up working for them, I chose a different job, but take what you can get as others have said.
Good luck!
Chunkzilla:
You could try A W Jenkinsons, they have motors running out of craven arms and new bridge on wye. Monies not the worst and you will soon get the hang of driving artics, a lot of people slate them but I found the job to be decent enough if you’ve got a backbone. Look on their website and there’s a contact number for each office.
Jenkies defiantly worth a shot, can’t speak for your end of the country, but Penrith depot put me on in Feb, chap that did my assessment said they were desperate for drivers, had just taken on two lads who had just passed class 1, said they were a less scary ride than some of the old timers, not bothered about slow and steady, reversing obviously not great but that’s expected.
Again not sure about down country but for new boys ive heard they do some hand holding for a few days to show you what’s what.
Jobs a doddle though, start time is whenever you fancie and the only time you hear from them is when your empty, basically a salaried job though but your not chasing redonkulous hours for it. Oh and don’t go anywhere near a chipliner, like slave labour compared to a walking floor!