Hopefully this will give newly passed drivers a bit of inspiration. It can be hard to get interest from employers but don’t give up hope! I passed in March and applied for everything. I tried to keep it mainly class 1 (CE) at first. In my opinion class 2 (C) driving doesn’t account for class 1 experience. If you know your way around the road network then there’s no point in going for class 2 to gain experience of LGV driving, just go straight for class 1 as most companies require experience of Class 1 driving anyway.
As time went by I started to get more desperate and started looking at Class 2 work and even 7.5t driving just to get me out on the road, but the pay drop would of been too much. After months of trying and getting messed around at work I finally got a call from an agency who could get me class 1 work at the weekend, I’m still waiting for a call back from them but I never chased them up as I then had a call from a local general haulage company (class 1), who asked if I would be happy to go down for an assessment drive, I was told to wait for their call for more details. I’m still waiting for that call although I never chased it up as I got ANOTHER call from a well know haulier asking if I could go down for an assessment drive (class 1) and a potential interview, which brings me onto the write up:
So I’ve just been for an assessment drive at a well known company! Had to be there for 7:30 and got there for 7:30 bang on and after a bit of confusion at the security desk a nice young girl comes round from transport and walks me around to the transport office.
I have a quick chat with the assessor where he takes my licence details etc, he says he’s in a good mood 
I explain how new I am and that I’ve not driven since I passed my test in March, he says just drive how you did on your test.
Anyway after a bit more cheerful small talk we go out to the wagon, I jump in and put my digi card in and start the daily in cab checks. I must say my nerves must of shone through as he was quite forgiving and gave me a few prompts. Next was onto the walk around checks, done with no problems. Then it was time to couple up to the trailer. It was a tri-axle fridge trailer so I had to do a split couple. He talked me through it and after a few more checks and another prompt (I nearly forgot to put the clip in 
) and we were off. Had I of been on my own I would of gone through the couple up procedure and not missed it but because there was a walk though and explanations I forgot
Next was on to the drive. It was a quick 20 minute drive with a hill start and a few busy roundabouts. Nothing too drastic but I managed to crunch a few gears and I stalled the buggering thing at a set of lights. Got back to the yard and had to reverse between two trailers. I got the positioning all wrong and tried to blind side it in. Basicly made a right pigs ear of it. He told me to stop and said right, I’m gonna give you one more chance, go up the yard turn it around and do it this way. He then told me how he wanted it done. I did as I was told and found it went in rather easilly with a shunt
After a brief chat he told me that I had passed Said he was happy the way I handled myself when I stalled and that by doing the reverse the way he said had been the final clincher. Overall a safe, smooth and confident drive. We shook hands and I then had to have an interview with the operations manager.
To my amazement the operations manager was the old operations manager at my current place of work 
so we immediately hit it off!
At the end of it they’ve offered me a position which I will be more than happy to accept. I’ve got to wait for a confirmation letter/more details to arrive by post which should be here Friday or Monday, then I’ve to give 7 days notice with my current employer. I can’t quite believe it to be honest, whats that old saying, when something seems too good to be true… but all I can do now is wait for my letter.
I feel sick with nerves and excitement Been at my current place for going on 10 years (taking into account my time when it was Safeway) so a change of job at a new place doing what I love is exactly what I need. Let’s just hope it all takes off as it should!
So my advice to newly passed drivers? Listen to the fellow trucknetters who say not to give up, it really is true. If you want to drive class 1 (or CE) vehicles, don’t settle for anything less unless of course you’re desperate to get out on the road. I think with me I could of got driving sooner had been able to do agency work, but that’s not possible as I’m in full time work and I need to go straight into another full time position to have a secure wage.
I hope this post is if some use to someone, just hope I get my start date.
)
Will see what he brings tomorrow. It’s killing me waiting.