Hi,
This is my first post on the forum…be gentle with me!..Here’s who I am -
I’m a 46 year old bloke, ex-motorcycle racer (23 years of racing) who is looking to work as an LGV driver.
So, I’ve just moved to Plymouth (Stoke) and have my Cat C test on 30th January. I’m doing it with Torpedo Training.
My plan is to pass this one (hopefully!) and go straight ahead into the test for Cat C+E to be fully passed by the end of February.
I will also be working my way into the CPC during all this…
I have driven 7.5T before as I had my own Dirt Bike School in Morocco for a few years and drove my Leyland Daf 4x4 support truck across the Western Sahara desert on many occasions plus loads of road trips in it back and forth to the UK. The truck was used as a water/food/bike carrier out there in the desert.
My last role was as an Area Manager for a large motorcycle accessories wholesaler where I covered the entire UK, 175 accounts, £1M turnover, 60,000 miles p.a (all told 150,000 incident free, zero points miles for this employer).
I have driven Cargo’s nationwide as a Track Day Manager for a couple of years too. I was always out there as a sales rep of some sort doing loads of miles!
In total, during my 29 years of driving bikes, cars and 7.5T I will have covered around 800,000 miles!!
If anyone out there can give me any direction to help me find an employer (or tell me the best route to go down) in and around Plymouth, I would be much obliged.
(I have posted some pics of the vehicles we used in Morocco just for interest. Open the icon under my user name).
Cheers, Ian.
Have a decent look in the newby forum on here. There’s loads of decent information and tips for new drivers.
Have a read of the what to take with me type threads here so you have a picture of what kit you want to take.
But decent maps. Phillips navigator is about the best there is.
Read the training tips in ROG’s signature (search for ROG)
Once you’re passed and all DCPC and that VISIT don’t ring, as many tipper or skip firms as you can and sell yourself. In fact any firm that has a lorry bang on their door.
Perhaps once you get CE try your old race team mates and get on transporters
There are always firms looking for a safe pair of hands behind the wheel and don’t listen to the 2 year minimum neigh sayers.
Avoid agencies like you’d avoid a ■■■■■ with AIDS and sharp teeth. They are just ■■■■■■■■ all of them. They’ll pay you the square root of ■■■■ all charge the ■■■■■■■ earth for your services then ream you for an extra percentage through an umbrella scheme.
Good luck with your tests and let is know how you get on
Firms to try in Plymouth;
Gardners
Fergusons
Langdon
Brunel skips
Dusty bin
Trevor Denford
Armoric
Kay transport
Dennis The UK domain name oates.uk is for sale! fridges.
Or Westfield in Truro.
Removal firms that do Europe.
Vosa applications/decisions web pages lists addresses of small to large hauliers in the area.
Try Eures,Rapido and Gumtree job sites.
Free advert in truck magazine.Employers find and call you.
Thanks for the advice, I will look at the areas you suggested on the blog.
You also confirmed my intention of physically visiting potential employers rather than using the agencys…I will put together a simple document as a leave behind or get a business card produced at a Prontaprint type place.
Cheers for now, I will report back with my progress.
Ian.
Vista print do leaflet style hand outs very cheaply. They look quite good for next to bugger all
Hi gents,
Just to keep you up to speed, I’m pleased to say I passed Cat C on my 1st attempt today.
I will be dropping my card to the companies that you kindly listed on my post.
Any other advice would be appreciated…I’m thinking about purchasing a truck GPS to help me particularly with local stuff. Any suggestions of your preferred unit would be appreciated as I don’t want to buy the wrong one !
Cheers, Ian.
Sat nav remember is only an electronic map handle with care it is usually a woman 
If you look here pocketgps.com that may be able to help with that
See what other transport companies are in your area you a bit far for me or not only haulage firms anyone that has that size vehicle
Company,s you could try
7.5 tonnes
Aspreys - Lee Mill Ind Estate
Tuffnels - Lee Mill Ind Estate
D EX - ( Formerly Nightfreight ) Language Ind Estate
HGV
Appleby Westward - Saltash
Palmer & Harvey - Saltash
3663 - Lee Mill Ind Est
K&N - Lee Mill
Most of the driver opportunities for the Post Office is controlled by Manpower Agency in Plymouth and the other big player appears to be Driver Hire …Good Luck hope that you find something
Dennis Oates, Westfields, Conway Bailey might be a bit far for you as they are down West Cornwall. Amoric, unless they have changed, are extremely hard to get on for.
There is always Samworths (Ginsters) at Callington. good firm so hard to get on for.
Evans Transport at Barnstable (also a depot at Exeter)
Gregory’s are not a million miles away at North Tawton
If supermarket is your thing there’s a place at the back of Bridgewater services…used to be somerfield, don’t know who it is now. Co-op?
There is (or was) a co-op place in Plympton…I remember it well, first time ever with cages and I broke my arm tripping on the tailift.
Semtex:
Dennis Oates, Westfields, Conway Bailey might be a bit far for you as they are down West Cornwall. Amoric, unless they have changed, are extremely hard to get on for.There is always Samworths (Ginsters) at Callington. good firm so hard to get on for.
Evans Transport at Barnstable (also a depot at Exeter)
Gregory’s are not a million miles away at North TawtonIf supermarket is your thing there’s a place at the back of Bridgewater services…used to be somerfield, don’t know who it is now. Co-op?
There is (or was) a co-op place in Plympton…I remember it well, first time ever with cages and I broke my arm tripping on the tailift.
apparently Samworths pick face at Bristol is closing at some point soon I would think it would be even harder to get on as Bristol will become an out base trunk station
Don’t know who supplies DHL in Plymouth with agency staff but they have a small shared user depot up by the Wrigley’s factory on Bush Park.
They have Boots , New look Hovis and another contract in there. all do Cat C I know its multi drop but worth a shout,
IIRC, there’s the bakery in Plymouth (British bakerys) or Allied bakerys at Launceston. Mostly class C but some artics. Very early starts though
Semtex:
IIRC, there’s the bakery in Plymouth (British bakerys) or Allied bakerys at Launceston. Mostly class C but some artics. Very early starts though
that’s closed fella, that’s why its trunked to DHL
nick2008:
Semtex:
Dennis Oates, Westfields, Conway Bailey might be a bit far for you as they are down West Cornwall. Amoric, unless they have changed, are extremely hard to get on for.There is always Samworths (Ginsters) at Callington. good firm so hard to get on for.
Evans Transport at Barnstable (also a depot at Exeter)
Gregory’s are not a million miles away at North TawtonIf supermarket is your thing there’s a place at the back of Bridgewater services…used to be somerfield, don’t know who it is now. Co-op?
There is (or was) a co-op place in Plympton…I remember it well, first time ever with cages and I broke my arm tripping on the tailift.apparently Samworths pick face at Bristol is closing at some point soon I would think it would be even harder to get on as Bristol will become an out base trunk station
What they are shutting that place of their’s at Cribbs then ?
bald bloke:
nick2008:
Semtex:
Dennis Oates, Westfields, Conway Bailey might be a bit far for you as they are down West Cornwall. Amoric, unless they have changed, are extremely hard to get on for.There is always Samworths (Ginsters) at Callington. good firm so hard to get on for.
Evans Transport at Barnstable (also a depot at Exeter)
Gregory’s are not a million miles away at North TawtonIf supermarket is your thing there’s a place at the back of Bridgewater services…used to be somerfield, don’t know who it is now. Co-op?
There is (or was) a co-op place in Plympton…I remember it well, first time ever with cages and I broke my arm tripping on the tailift.apparently Samworths pick face at Bristol is closing at some point soon I would think it would be even harder to get on as Bristol will become an out base trunk station
What they are shutting that place of their’s at Cribbs then ?
I dont know the full story but the Pick face is going so they might just have a cross dock for pallet distribution only.
nick2008:
Semtex:
IIRC, there’s the bakery in Plymouth (British bakerys) or Allied bakerys at Launceston. Mostly class C but some artics. Very early starts thoughthat’s closed fella, that’s why its trunked to DHL
ah, right. I’m a bit out of touch, been out of Cornwall nearly 2 years now
DHL plymouth use Best Connections. But its a little quiet at the moment. But still get in and register. …