How to find a job/s which match what I'm actually seeking?

Hello guys, I was hoping some of you may be able to give me some advice/tips/guidance on something… :slight_smile:

After having spent the past 14-years working in the public security/and prison service, I’m now looking for a career change to becoming a driver | Quite simply because I actually enjoy long-distance driving, and so want to do a job which I actually enjoy.

I’m currently preparing to do my theory test, then plan on doing my Class 2 training & test within the coming months…
However the biggest question I currently have is how exactly I should go about finding (and hopefully obtaining) driving roles within the industry which match what I’m actually wanting / avoid what I personally am simply not interested in?

I genuinely don’t meant that (nor my following sentences) to sound ‘pretentious’ or ‘arrogant’ in any way, as that’s really just not my style tbh;
But ultimately I’m not looking to become a driver because I ‘‘need a job & income’’… Instead will be doing it as a controlled & planned ‘‘lifestyle choice’’, for the specific purpose of ‘‘obtaining a more desirable daily work-life vs my current job role’’.

I spent 6-months, (many years ago now), working as a driver’s mate delivering furniture & heavy electrical-appliances…
So know for sure that I have literally 0% interest in manual-handling/heavy-lifting work as a career-path / Plus also have no passion for driving around cities & towns, especially whilst trying to follow a satnav, so am not looking for a multi-drop delivery job tbh. :unamused:

Instead I’m basically just looking for ‘‘long-distance, single-drop/2-4 drops per day’’ job roles.
(Ideally £14-£16p/h)

Ultimately the driving industry is completely new to me though, and thus trying to workout how to successfully navigate the recruitment aspects of it is pretty daunting/confusing to me still vs what I know & am used to. :cry:

In the security industry for example though, you choose which type of environment of security job-role you want to do (office building reception based / retail shops / public venues),
then simply apply either directly to the companies (for in-house jobs) / Or apply to the security-contractor firm which provides staff for those roles (but would know exactly job role you’re applying for).

But so in the HGV industry:

  • Are there certain ‘keywords’ of job titles which you should search for, to specifically find long-distance minimal-drop job roles?
  • Do agencies request that info, and then allocate you jobs accordingly?
  • Is the only way to achieve a specific type of role by applying for job directly with a certain company, as agencies will offer you random jobs each week?

Thanks in-advance, plus sorry if any of my questions come across sounding silly.

You’re unlikely to fall into that type of work until you have got some experience under your belt, so you might have to do some ‘less favourable’ jobs before those opportunities arise.
However, the best, and biggest piece of advice I can offer, based on what you are after, is don’t bother with class 2, it will just be a waste of money as the work you’re after just doesn’t exist on class 2. Save the extra money and go straight for class 1 then look at tramping jobs as that will probably be the closest fit to what you’re looking for

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What Terry said. Straight to class 1, be prepared for 6 months to a year of getting experience before your ideal role. I’m sure there must be long distance trunking jobs out there which would let you get home either every night or every morning. Geoff on the supermarkets seems to get 2 or 3 drops a day, others might say if that’s realistic or not.

stu675:
Geoff on the supermarkets seems to get 2 or 3 drops a day, others might say if that’s realistic or not.

Do you mean me? I only work Sundays, but 4 drops is the most I’ve had in any one shift.

Supermarket work could be a good starting point to get some experience - clean and not too heavy, but I’d agree that you’re better off getting Class 1. Whether you do that by getting Class 2 first, then passing class 1 is up to you. I passed Class 2 just before the government changed the rules allowing you to go straight to Class 1, but I don’t think I lost out too much and enjoyed both courses!

Anonymous86x:
Hello guys, I was hoping some of you may be able to give me some advice/tips/guidance on something… :slight_smile:

After having spent the past 14-years working in the public security/and prison service, I’m now looking for a career change to becoming a driver | Quite simply because I actually enjoy long-distance driving, and so want to do a job which I actually enjoy.

I’m currently preparing to do my theory test, then plan on doing my Class 2 training & test within the coming months…
However the biggest question I currently have is how exactly I should go about finding (and hopefully obtaining) driving roles within the industry which match what I’m actually wanting / avoid what I personally am simply not interested in?

I genuinely don’t meant that (nor my following sentences) to sound ‘pretentious’ or ‘arrogant’ in any way, as that’s really just not my style tbh;
But ultimately I’m not looking to become a driver because I ‘‘need a job & income’’… Instead will be doing it as a controlled & planned ‘‘lifestyle choice’’, for the specific purpose of ‘‘obtaining a more desirable daily work-life vs my current job role’’.

I spent 6-months, (many years ago now), working as a driver’s mate delivering furniture & heavy electrical-appliances…
So know for sure that I have literally 0% interest in manual-handling/heavy-lifting work as a career-path / Plus also have no passion for driving around cities & towns, especially whilst trying to follow a satnav, so am not looking for a multi-drop delivery job tbh. :unamused:

Instead I’m basically just looking for ‘‘long-distance, single-drop/2-4 drops per day’’ job roles.
(Ideally £14-£16p/h)

Ultimately the driving industry is completely new to me though, and thus trying to workout how to successfully navigate the recruitment aspects of it is pretty daunting/confusing to me still vs what I know & am used to. :cry:

In the security industry for example though, you choose which type of environment of security job-role you want to do (office building reception based / retail shops / public venues),
then simply apply either directly to the companies (for in-house jobs) / Or apply to the security-contractor firm which provides staff for those roles (but would know exactly job role you’re applying for).

But so in the HGV industry:

  1. Are there certain ‘keywords’ of job titles which you should search for, to specifically find long-distance minimal-drop job roles?
  • Do agencies request that info, and then allocate you jobs accordingly?
  • Is the only way to achieve a specific type of role by applying for job directly with a certain company, as agencies will offer you random jobs each week?

Thanks in-advance, plus sorry if any of my questions come across sounding silly.
[/quote]
Ok… This is a good question. The type of work you want is the only type I do.

Firstly, I do not do it full time. I have other income streams so can in some instances afford to be fussy. Secondly, I’ve had my class 1 13 years almost and have a fair bit of experience.

I echo the others’ advice regarding class 1. Class 2 work doing what you want will be virtually impossible to find.

You may have to accept a compromise to start with - but should be able to get what you’re after eventually.

Regarding agencies. They will tell you anything to get you to the job… I recently went for an induction and assessment drive for long distance fridge work. I turned up to find it was actually multi drop and collection on locals. (Class1). I didn’t hang around and went straight home. The agency blamed the company and vice versa. There was no assessment or induction. It was all B S to get me there to do work no one else wanted.

Currently I have 3 agencies all nagging me to work for them. They’re all promising me long distance trunks… (trunking is generally longer drives with tip and/or trailer swap then back. ) Do I believe any of them? No, I ■■■■■■■ don’t… ! I will find out when I get there… I have told all of them if the job isnt as described I’ll walk off the job there and then. When I first started though, I had to be a bit more flexible and tolerant of their lies.

In essence then, you need your class 1. Then I’d probably look at some of the parcel companies. The money isnt the best, but you will get longer runs mostly and trailer swaps generally. You can build experience that way.

The better money can be had with agency work, but you need to box clever a bit to cover the leaner months, or, as I do, have other income streams. If you’re paying a mortgage you may well find the employed status is much better. Initially you will get resistance as you’re a new driver. They will say you need experience. But stick at it, you’ll get something and you will be in. My first jobs were containers, and I really enjoyed it…

Feel free to PM if you want more details how I try to track down the longer runs etc…

Good luck!

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