Hi all, I’ve had my class 2 license since September last year, and have had no luck gaining that elusive first job until the last few weeks, and I have been asked to do a trial day in order to show that I’m worth giving a job to. I’m a little bit nervous about it as I really need the job, basically so I can pay the mortgage! I’ll be expected to complete around 25 drops as its multi drop, but please, any serious help and advice on how to perform and show myself in a good light would be gratefully recieved. Thank you.
@Brown:
Hi all, I’ve had my class 2 license since September last year, and have had no luck gaining that elusive first job until the last few weeks, and I have been asked to do a trial day in order to show that I’m worth giving a job to. I’m a little bit nervous about it as I really need the job, basically so I can pay the mortgage! I’ll be expected to complete around 25 drops as its multi drop, but please, any serious help and advice on how to perform and show myself in a good light would be gratefully recieved. Thank you.
Are you going out with another driver ?
I was out with one of their drivers last week when we had a unholy 65 drops to do! This time I will be out by myself…
@Brown:
I was out with one of their drivers last week when we had a unholy 65 drops to do! This time I will be out by myself…
And being paid ■■?
Not a chance of that yet! I may bring the subject up at the end of the day along with asking when can I start, assuming I haven’t stuffed up good and proper!
Are you telling us that you are going to work alone for a whole day for free therefore taking money out of another drivers pocket and giving the company something for nothing ■■?
What I’m trying to do is get a foot on the ladder in anyway I can, and if I have to give up my spare time to do so, then so be it. I’m stuck in a poorly paid retail job that’s beneath my qualifications, struggling to earn £200 a week with a mortgage to pay and kids to feed. What a company chooses to do is their issue, at the moment I’m trying to simply get myself a job, and am prepared to work dammed hard to do it.
Personally I’d tell them to stick the job where the sun don’t shine but that’s me I guess, you’ve worked for a day supervised so why would they need another days work for free to know if you are likely to be able to do the job or not.
Are you doing this through an agency or directly for the company ?
@Brown:
What I’m trying to do is get a foot on the ladder in anyway I can, and if I have to give up my spare time to do so, then so be it. I’m stuck in a poorly paid retail job that’s beneath my qualifications, struggling to earn £200 a week with a mortgage to pay and kids to feed. What a company chooses to do is their issue, at the moment I’m trying to simply get myself a job, and am prepared to work dammed hard to do it.
You will find that the greater majority of drivers on this and other sites will totally disagree with you working for free where it takes money from another driver
tachograph:
Personally I’d tell them to stick the job where the sun don’t shine but that’s me I guess, you’ve worked for a day supervised so why would they need another days work for free to know if you are likely to be able to do the job or not.Are you doing this through an agency or directly for the company ?
I suspect its to see if he has the initiative to sort the job and potential problems for himself rather than ride shot gun with someone who already knows the pitfalls, its not usually a good thing to work for free, i did exactly the same thing for a pallet network job on class 1, i treated it as a “drivers audition”, proved i could do it and was offered the job, although i didn’t take it in the end as i was offered more money elsewhere.
Usual rules apply, buy a decent truckers atlas, it won’t be a wasted purchase they always come in handy, do not rely on sat navs , use google maps/ street view on a smart phone to check for access problems at delivery points, ( saves you time and potential damage doing questionable maneuvers whilst in a panic ) i.e would it be beneficial to reverse into delivery points if access is tight or no where to turn around. If you have to do the list in drop order, then fine, if not, navigate the shortest distance to the nearest drop first and so on and so forth you get the general idea, do not be afraid to point out that you will have saved the company time and fuel , whilst showing initiative (trust me they will like that !) 
, wear appropriate clean clothing with a well groomed appearance you will be an ambassador for the company (extra brownie points) , be friendly and assertive but not cocky. Good luck.
It isn’t my intention to take money from other drivers, this company has been advertising for a 7.5 tonne driver for months now and I finally plucked up the courage to knock on their door. As I said, I am desperately trying to get a foot on the ladder because I need the experience and I can’t seem to get that anywhere, even agencies are telling me I need experience before I can get on their books. Are you telling me I should leave this company alone and try elsewhere? They have been the first to do anything other than close the door on me and I assume that all new drivers would need some sort of trial when going for a first job.
@Brown:
Are you telling me I should leave this company alone and try elsewhere?
I’m not telling you anything other than what I would do, it’s easy for me to say I’d tell them where to stick the job but then I’m not a new driver trying to get a break.
I understand your predicament and hope working for nothing doesn’t come back to bite you on the arse, though if I’m honest I suspect the next thing may be that they may give you a start on lower than normal rates but I could be wrong and hope I am 
If you’re comfortable with the situation go for it and [zb] what anyone else thinks
Good luck and I hope it works out for you
Thank you, may need the good luck! I just need to do anything to get that magical experience and then fingers crossed I can earn some decent money.
In fairness- it wasn’t that long ago that i was looking for a first break and i would probably have done a day free to get a foot in the door. If you really want this particular job then go for it.
SaintAndy:
In fairness- it wasn’t that long ago that i was looking for a first break and i would probably have done a day free to get a foot in the door.
You don’t think you should live up to your user-name then! ? 
Sounds a loadof bollox to me working for free. Im all for doing an assessment but a days work for free no way you should name and shame them.
Go for it mate I got lucky I knew of my boss through someone he was fed up of having drivers who didn’t want to do things his way and took a punt on me not the easiest of people to get on with but before my 19th birthday paid for me to take my 7.5tonner then my hgv when I turned 21, he seems to be happy with me (I’ve been sacked god knows how many times but I’m still here) I think sometimes you need luck I’ve gained nearly 8 years experience at 26 but company’s only want experienced drivers behind there thousands if pounds worth of motor and if no one gives you the chance you’ll never have the required experience its a vicious circle I got a bit of luck I’ve worked hard to keeps job look after my truck keep it clean etc but I wonder how I’d get on if I passed my test yesterday and went looking for a job, probably not all that great. Take what you can get and enjoy your time behind the wheel make the most of it and good luck!
Karl86:
Go for it mate I got lucky I knew of my boss through someone he was fed up of having drivers who didn’t want to do things his way and took a punt on me not the easiest of people to get on with but before my 19th birthday paid for me to take my 7.5tonner then my hgv when I turned 21, he seems to be happy with me (I’ve been sacked god knows how many times but I’m still here) I think sometimes you need luck I’ve gained nearly 8 years experience at 26 but company’s only want experienced drivers behind there thousands if pounds worth of motor and if no one gives you the chance you’ll never have the required experience its a vicious circle I got a bit of luck I’ve worked hard to keeps job look after my truck keep it clean etc but I wonder how I’d get on if I passed my test yesterday and went looking for a job, probably not all that great. Take what you can get and enjoy your time behind the wheel make the most of it and good luck!
I’m sorry but I’m trying to figure out how any of that relates to the OPs predicament 
You was given a job by someone who was willing to pay for your licence, the OP is being expected to do two days work for nothing which may or may not result in him getting a permanent job, or may even result in him being asked to do even more work for nothing.
Well if no one one else is willing to give him a go he has little choice then to do a day for nothing and hope he gets the job if this is the only firm who has given him the opportunity and he wants to get his foot in the door that badly he hasn’t got alot of choice other than sit indoors I would however do the trial and if they asked me to do another day for free to just. “Make sure” I was the right candidate then I would throw them the keys and tell them to do one! One day free may turn into a years salary that’s all.
So your basically working two days for free.really you find this a great plan.it makes you look a mug