Hello,
My name is Simon, 41 and out of work for a while now because of the obvious but also struggling with mental health. Its got me a bit shaky.
My main question (today) is, “what can I expect as a new start? what sort of job and money?”
I did contact an agency and spoke to a man there. He said as I have no experience he would start me on a £9ph job hand balling and stuff. Then after a few years go up to something larger. I feel like this is a man trying to con a starter with a job that no one else will take. Watching videos on youtube from media, either brexit bashing or trying to sell the job as a £50,000 year job.
It all has me a bit wobbly as the cost is high and could be a big waste if I can not handle the stress.
Do the agencies/managers check up on you? while working I mean. Like phone calls/texts asking “where are you, what you doing”?
I am thinking about doing some sort of trial drive to see what it is like. I would like to do the C + E as hopefully it would be cheaper in the long run. Not sure about how the medical would go, I am going for a health check before hand to see if I can progress. Working on the highway code mock exams and playing eurotruck sim, hoping the procedures may help me remember certain things.
All the best
Simon
simon1138:
Hello,
My name is Simon, 41 and out of work for a while now because of the obvious but also struggling with mental health. Its got me a bit shaky.
My main question (today) is, “what can I expect as a new start? what sort of job and money?”
I did contact an agency and spoke to a man there. He said as I have no experience he would start me on a £9ph job hand balling and stuff. Then after a few years go up to something larger. I feel like this is a man trying to con a starter with a job that no one else will take. Watching videos on youtube from media, either brexit bashing or trying to sell the job as a £50,000 year job.
It all has me a bit wobbly as the cost is high and could be a big waste if I can not handle the stress.
Do the agencies/managers check up on you? while working I mean. Like phone calls/texts asking “where are you, what you doing”?
I am thinking about doing some sort of trial drive to see what it is like. I would like to do the C + E as hopefully it would be cheaper in the long run. Not sure about how the medical would go, I am going for a health check before hand to see if I can progress. Working on the highway code mock exams and playing eurotruck sim, hoping the procedures may help me remember certain things.
All the best
Simon
Hi Simon,
No idea how bad your mental health issues are but a lot of us have been there at some point. Being out of work won’t have helped on the confidence front.
Wages are on the up but there are still a lot of crap jobs out there paying a crap wage. In the same way there are good and bad agencies.
I’d tend to agree with you on the 9 quid an hour job.
Hi Simon. Firstly, welcome to the forum. I’m known for telling the truth so I hope you’ll trust the information I’ll give.
The whole process of learning, testing and truck driving is loaded (forgive the pun) with pressure and stress. If you’re “wobbly” a lot of the time, this might not be for you. However, if the “wobbles” come and go, you may be able to cope with it. That’s for you to decide.
Agencies wont normally be on your case once you’re out and working. They’re happy you’re making money for them. However, the truck operator will want to know that you’re getting the job done and few will tolerate someone not getting the job done in a timely manner.
And this is where the pressure can build and make for a miserable life.
A skilled instructor should be able to coach you to test standard - but only you know how you will deal with the inevitable stress of the test.
A bonus is that the reversing exercise is being carried out by authorised trainers shortly so that will take some of the stress out of the main test.
Make sure you visit trainers before you book that you think might be able to help you. The only exception is to book on rock solid recommendation - such as the forum sponsor.
Having just passed my test in my view whilst it is a large outlay initially I think it will be worth it in the end, I will be trying to get a full time job first off and leaving agency work as last resort if all else fails.
Where are you based as people in your area may be able to help with leads to a good reputable company for your training, I am in Sunderland and did my training with Sunderland lgv who were brilliant from start to finish.
Hello,
I am based in Portsmouth, Hampshire. There are a few companies close by, one that I am going to contact about trials and things. They also have a few instructional videos on youtube as well. I have looked at the idea of going to a company, my sister had mentioned something about Amazon and a signing up payement? I have seen this a few times, sign up and get some extra money? is that worth while or are they tying you into something?
simon1138:
Hello,
I am based in Portsmouth, Hampshire. There are a few companies close by, one that I am going to contact about trials and things. They also have a few instructional videos on youtube as well. I have looked at the idea of going to a company, my sister had mentioned something about Amazon and a signing up payement? I have seen this a few times, sign up and get some extra money? is that worth while or are they tying you into something?
My place pays a £1500 recruitment bonus.
£500 in the first months pay packet and a £1000 after month 3.
I’m sure Amazon will be something similar
Hi Simon. Welcome! £9 is a load of rubbish for Portsmouth, I’m only just up the road from you in Surrey, I don’t have my license yet so I’m driving only 7.5t trucks and I’m on £14 already. I expect much much more as a new CE Pass when that hopefully happens.
