So I went for my 1st job interview Tuesday. Class 2 tramping.
At the interview they knew it was going to be my 1st job.
They said they would keep me local for the week doing shed work. I could start the next day.
Later on in the day they sent an email saying bring overnight bag.
When I turned up on the Wednesday morning, they said I would be going to Felixstowe docks about 10 miles away, then back to them with the load.
Then around lunchtime I’d be on my way to the Northeast for 2 nights.
1st delivery near Scarborough. Then onto Newcastle area for 3 drops, followed by a trip to Carlisle to pick up to take back to there yard in Suffolk.
At the interview it wasn’t mentioned I’d need my own sat nav.
I was given a fuel card, but it wasn’t mentioned that it would only work at some services.
I was told they had an account for truck stops, but didn’t mention only certain truck stops.
I was reluctant to set off especially with no sat nav, but took a chance. Bearing in mind I’ve never even secured a load before. Luckily the forklift driver helped before I set off.
Got to Goole Glew services in Yourkshire by evening where I spent the night.
Next morning I made the 1st delivery, without a sat nav by luck of heading in the right direction. I only have a basic phone and it appears Service areas don’t sell maps anymore.
I refused to drive any further north blindfolded.
I rang the yard and said I was returning before I smashed the truck up and kill myself. And got back around 10pm last night.
The last 36 hours has taught me a few things.
Ask more questions at interviews being 1 of them.
Yeh sorry to hear you had a bad day, but I wouldn’t do tramping right of the bat I would do trunking runs … so 1 or 2 drops at big rdc
You seem a but old fashion everyone has smart phones now so it has car maps built in but if your new buy a tomtom
And take it easy don’t rush around if your stuck and unsure with tacho at every given unloading point stick it on break until you get the hang of it
If you have a iphone get copilot free trial to start,
If no iphone, get a iphone, android
lots of advantages for newbies doing nights, That where i started (straight to class1)
Take what they say with a pinch of salt. Your just a number to them, ask other drivers
Most drivers will help, if you ask
I don’t have a decent phone as I have a habit of dropping and smashing screens.
Would rather just have a Chepo that takes calls and texts.
With regards to sat nav, I’m not sure a normal sat nav would be any use.
Especially driving around the country.
I can imagine driving down a country road, only to come across a low bridge, that you can’t go through.
And the road being to narrow to turn around.
Don’t know what would happen in that scenario….maybe a crane to turn it around?
It was unfair for the employer to give you that job.
When new, this job has a steep learning curve, but you should have gone out the first week with an experienced driver to help you learn the ropes.
The good thing was that you called it a day before having an accident, and will now have a much better idea of what you need to learn.
Bridge height atlas and basic car satnav are all you need.
Lorry drivers do not follow the directions of an electronic gadget, they plan their route from a real atlas and then let the satnav run alongside doing what it’s brilliant at…spotting turnings coming up, knowing the names and speed limits of roads even if there’s no signage, confirming the correct road off a roundabout or side road is being taken even if there’s no signage.
The satnav is an invaluable pocket sized street map of the country.
You can buy decent smart phones that are virtually unbreakable, CAT make some but there are other rough service phones too including iphone if you have money to burn, designed mainly for contractors and builders they are perfect for our job, waterpoof and drop/shockproof.
Maybe you’d be better off on local work for a while until you get your head around what this job is about.
Seems they still through you in at the deep end?
Would Google maps on your phone not suffice?
i managed to get through the first 30 plus years of my hgv driving career without a sat-nav,or a fancy phone 
as Juddian say’s…get a Truckers Atlas,from WH Smiths,or wherever,and a car sat-nav,and you’ll be fine…and i still don’t own a fancy phone 
Getting a better phone will help you, Keeps that new delivery place anxiety, in check
I have a truck satnav, but use the phone as well, finds new places better, you can also checkout street view.
nothin worse, as a new driver,than going wrong, and having to reverse a long way. Helps avoid bridges
Order a truckers atlas online.
Juddian:
Bridge height atlas and basic car satnav are all you need.
Lorry drivers do not follow the directions of an electronic gadget, they plan their route from a real atlas and then let the satnav run alongside doing what it’s brilliant at…spotting turnings coming up, knowing the names and speed limits of roads even if there’s no signage, confirming the correct road off a roundabout or side road is being taken even if there’s no signage.
The satnav is an invaluable pocket sized street map of the country.
You can buy decent smart phones that are virtually unbreakable, CAT make some but there are other rough service phones too including iphone if you have money to burn, designed mainly for contractors and builders they are perfect for our job, waterpoof and drop/shockproof.
Maybe you’d be better off on local work for a while until you get your head around what this job is about.
Tbh, it wouldn’t make any difference whether he goes to Carlisle from Felixstowe or stays in the vicinity of Felixstowe. If he hasn’t got any means to find places then he’s wasting his time being a driver as that’s basically the number 1 requirement of the job - to find places and deliver to them. Hiding behind “my phone is too old” or whatever is no excuse. You can pick up a secondhand smart phone for about £20 which will have googlemaps on it and that’s all you need as it’s served me well for the past 20 years.
I agree that delivering sheds (on a flat bed?) for his first class 2 job AND tramping as well, was certainly thrown in at the deep end, but he has a tongue in his head and should learn how to use it and say “no” if the job detail is not to his liking. Arguing that they didn’t tell him in advance is not an excuse - you make sure you find out these things BEFORE you accept it. Don’t be afraid to turn it down as the agency won’t care and will simply dial the next mug on their list.
I think getting as far as Scarborough and then turning round and bringing the truck back, letting down all their customers, was a [zb]ty thing to do imo. Your reputation is everything on agency work.
Thanks for all the feedback, especially carlston.
I think my decision to head back without carrying on further north was the best decision I could have made. No one got hurt, no damage done.
I knew my life and other road users was worth more than 6 pallets of protein bars and 3 pallets of labels.
I’ve learnt many lessons from this 1st experience.
And now realise if you have a heartbeat and the licence there’s companies who don’t give a [zb] from that point on.
Your attitude to the navigation is of course completely reasonable. It is possible to fit truck satnavs to the vehicle and also in a way so they are fixed down and can’t be removed easily. This just isn’t the way most of the sector operates unfortunately.
In the situation you were in I would say it is reasonable for a driver not to feel compelled to buy a truck satnav. The solution normally is to use a car sat nav and keep a close eye on height and weight restrictions. For class 2, if your height isn’t particularly high, then this can work. At some stage this probably will add time to the runs you do, because you will have to re-route (especially if you are inexperienced). This is where the company loses out because it has to pay the fuel and your extra time in doing this. In this kind of situation, I wouldn’t stress because you haven’t been given the tools to do the job in the first place and it takes as long as it takes.
I hired a car in the USA for a fortnight.
I went fully prepared with this, they are still only £8 over 20 years later.
I collected the car in New York and dropped it off in San Francisco.
Wheel Nut:
I hired a car in the USA for a fortnight.
I went fully prepared with this, they are still only £8 over 20 years later.
0
I collected the car in New York and dropped it off in San Francisco.
Great advice……shame you didn’t undertake driving job interview.
Wheel Nut:
I hired a car in the USA for a fortnight.
I went fully prepared with this, they are still only £8 over 20 years later.
0
I collected the car in New York and dropped it off in San Francisco.
And why the “Big Road Atlas GB” isn’t sold in some of the countries biggest truck stop service areas is a mystery. I would have happily paid £50+ for one 3 days back.
Have been thrown in at the deep end more than once but got through have stoped & asked for directions more than once
Never trust a sat nav they are only a good guide
I have a smart phone ( son old one ) had a screen protector put on ok cost a bit but worth it also a good case have dropped my iPhone more than once never cracked the screen the protector may have damaged but that all so way round
I have never worked at a company where they have provided a sat nav you are expected to have your own or a map easy to get from Scarborugh to Newcastle we do speak the same language you know you could have asked we are quite friendly up here
animal:
Have been thrown in at the deep end more than once but got through have stoped & asked for directions more than once
Never trust a sat nav they are only a good guide
I have a smart phone ( son old one ) had a screen protector put on ok cost a bit but worth it also a good case have dropped my iPhone more than once never cracked the screen the protector may have damaged but that all so way round
I have never worked at a company where they have provided a sat nav you are expected to have your own or a map easy to get from Scarborugh to Newcastle we do speak the same language you know you could have asked we are quite friendly up here
Yes I did all that but got fed up after asking the 30th person. Yes tried to get a map.
I have to say that to start any driving job without a map is poor planning on your part, the first rule for a successful career as a driver is the load must be delivered with out a delivery your wages won’t get paid or those of your fellow workers. No excuse not to phone office or even a friend and ask for directions to be sent by text or even old fashioned pen and paper write them down. Or phone the customer and ask for the best route in to them. What ever did drivers do before sat navy and I phones
If you cant find a map, buy a compass. I hope they didn’t pay you for driving to Scarborough and back to Felixstowe