New Pass HGV Vacancies

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS
41

No idea whatca VPN isšŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø? Sorry.

I may have been on here years ago when i first started thinking about driving as a career. Cant be sure, couldā€™ve been a different site, so long ago. They were definately friendlier though.

ā€œLess come backā€ :rofl::rofl:what are you going to do? Send the sheriff of truckville and his posse after me? Your the one that sounds like a tool mate. :rofl:

Just calm down! Im prepared to let it be, i dont have an issue with a bit of verbal sparring, i dont hate you, i just dont see why you have to take it so personally as if my expression of dismay with the industry you clearly love is somehow sticking my middle finger up at you. I get just as bored with seasoned drivers teling ā€œnoobsā€ how little we know and how undeserving we are of a place at your table. Its juvenile and unnecessary so i matched your energy and you didnt like it. I make no apology for that. I remain happy to engage with you anytime but im not here with any other agenda but information and heaven forbid, maybe even a laugh here and there. I wont pester you but i wont be put in my place by you either.

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42

Iā€™ll try and use a bit of tact here.:smile:
Way I see it mate is you have jumped into this job a bit naively.
The horse has bolted now, but what you SHOULD have done is a bit better, and more research into the job before blowing 3k, by asking experienced no b/s drivers who have ā€˜done a bitā€™ and know the score, know what this job is REALLY likeā€¦not crappy paper ads and new drivers still wearing rosy specs.

What I petsonally would have done instead of blowing that 3k first, is went round the local firms sayingā€¦
Look I am dead keen to get started,.about to gamble 3k, what are the chances of you maybe giving me a chance.
90%would most probably say no, but among the 10% that were more positive,.1 would more than likely say ā€˜ok go for itā€™.

Again tactfully saying herešŸ˜„,ā€¦your attitude would need to be ā€˜Mr Humbleā€™ (not the one you are displaying on here) who was prepared to do anything in gratitudeā€¦NOT pick and choose,.and deffo no mention to them of Euro tramping on a premium motorā€¦they will only laugh behind your back.

Problem then is you would owe them and you would get abused and given all the sh, on the oldest piece of crap motor in the yardā€¦but if you sucked it up at least the next interview you go for, you can mention the magic word ā€˜experienceā€™ !
Which makes ALL the difference.

Zac will NOT thank me for this btw :grin: ā€¦but in many ways he comes across as a lot like meā€¦not giving a f who he offends, straight talking,.and not suffering fools gladly (not saying you are a fool btw as I do not know you) , but you do come across as I said a bit naive, ā€¦and prickly, when given (good) advice, the type of which you apppear that you do not want to hear.

Only thing to do now mate is lower your sights, crawl before you can walk in the job,.and take all the sh you say you dont want, with the crap money that goes with it, only to gain experience and recuperate that 3k.

Orā€¦

You can wait for the guy who has a V8 Scania loaded for Porto who is willing to send you to ship out with, because you have ran second man with one of his drivers for 3 weeks and done all the other stuff you were told would be ok in your own type of ā€˜researchā€™ into this crap industry.

But good luck whatever option you go forā€¦(especially if you choose the second one.:smiley: )

Tin hat pulled over my lugs.:joy:

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43

I can only say apply at any transport company for a fork lift driving job or even washing trucks to get a foot in the door at the company, when a driver retires or leaves or someone is sacked this is when a driving opportunity comes up.

I know a lot of companies that had warehouse workers who were then put forward for the company who paid for their driver training and the driving test as long as they stayed loyal to them for a set time period the cost of all that would be nothing,if they left early the cost would have to paid back.

People working in the office wanted a change of job and then went through the driver training scheme.

I know the OP already has the license so I was just putting it out there how every company is different in how they operate or use the apprenticeship scheme, a lower wage to start with but itā€™s a good start in the industry.

As many has said be prepared to drive the worst truck in the fleet otherwise known as the pig, unfortunately it will be disrespected by some drivers and not be clean or hygienic as the thinking is :ā€ Itā€™s not my allocated truck so why should I clean up someone elseā€™s messā€.

It will definitely smell inside the cab.

If a company uses vans, apply for that to get in the door for when a lorry driving job becomes available.

44

The other site you may have been on could have been Truckersworld.

45

With some companies they have drivers that have been working for them for many years, when joining a new company it can take years to be issued with an allocated truck for tramping all week, if a driver goes on holiday or off sick the manager will either put their own driver in the seat or an agency driver, then when the driver returns to work all hell breaks loose when the cab has been left in a right mess with spilt drinks, biscuit and sandwich crumbs, stains on the mattress from spilt drinks or food, muddy footprints on the dash, nail clippings, dandruff, hairs but not if you are bald left in the cab.

Then there is the blue eyed boys who must have some special relationship with the traffic planner or manager as they probably play darts or skittles with them when off duty or are related somehow, these drivers tend to always get their own way with the cream of the work such as the best run, a nice long one with one drop, or jump the queue for a brand new truck when others have been waiting far longer they get one instead.

They may even get the yard worker or fork lift driver to strap down their loads with ratchet straps so they donā€™t have to get wet and wait in the canteen in the dry.

46

Quite possibly, not that worried. Im sure i can get all the info i need here. Iā€™ll take a look though, thanks

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47

No problem, only happy to help out, with deliveries to places that were not designed to have large vehicles such as narrow rural lanes and the locals ask what are you doing here,this is all down to the clueless public who click away with an order online because the goods are cheap but they have no idea how the pallet will actually get there, they then expect the driver to drag a ton of compost or turf over a shingle driveway and say just put it at the back of the house up a gradient using a pump truck with tiny wheels, or they say the regular driver always helps out.

Itā€™s a kerb side delivery they have paid for, thatā€™s it, drop it there, sign the paperwork and leave and non of this can you strip down five pallets and put it all in the cellar, basement or up five flights of stairs because the regular driver does it, no he doesnā€™t.

48

If in doubt, always get out, as in if it looks too tight, get out and walk down that narrow lane or tight delivery spot, just that few minutes of walking can save hours or all day of embarrassment if the lorry gets stuck or is damaged to the point itā€™s VOR and waiting for it to be recovered and towed away.

If the side mirrors are smashed in, thatā€™s game over for the day, or stuck in a ditch or stuck in mud.

49

I appreciate your response. For the record i havent jumped into this industry without doing any research but i accept that the people i spoke to were obvously talking out of there backside. I dont feel iā€™ve ā€œblown Ā£3kā€ either. Im very pleased to have obtained my licence and i look forward to getting my chance when it comes along. The point i clearly made which zac seemed to ignore was that i do not see the hgv industry as crappy at all. Ive always admired what you guys do and ive always respected that but it seems i can post that opinion clearly but as soon as i express dissapointment in the wages, which by the way seems to be a gripe for drivers new and old, and i was surprised that all im likely to get without rubbing shoulders with someone who can fast track me into a good job (of which there are many) like the blue eyed boy you describe, then my praise for the industry gets forgotten or ignored.

Iā€™m sorry you feel i should have displayed more humility on this site but i get ā€œpricklyā€ when i get told that i know nothing, im less than useless and how dare i try to work in an industry that doesnt want you! If i listened to everyone who told me ā€œget seriousā€, ā€œdream onā€ and if i gave a crap about people sniggering behind my back then i wouldnt be in a good position in my life right now, a self employed carpenter, im pretty sure most people on here will be aware of what guys like me earn so i dont need to soell it out. So forgive me but ill stick to the approach that has served me just fine so far.

I didnt set out to offend anyone but if people get offended then tough! I get offended by pople all the time, but i dont have a special right to never be offended so all i can do is give it back to those dishing it out, its upto them how they take that.

I have already been offered a job flicking between 7.5t and class 2 work for a local firm (who i had already approached prior to booking my course by the way) so i think its fair to say that im preparred to start at the bottom (if i accept that position) but am I not allowed to feel frustrated that the insurance companies are the biggest barrier to getting into class 1 work? I dont think my opinion on that is unreasonable but i accept that it appears to be unrealistic.

You say that zac doesnt suffer fools gladly, well if you havent gathered by now, i must tell you that neither do I and whilst you make clear you are not calling me a fool, you pretty much are saying that im being foolish and i accept thats your opinion and your entitled to it, maybe one day ill look back at this post and my cheeks will flush red and iā€™ll cringe at my own words but as far as telling a seasoned pro like zac that i wont just disappear to facebook because i dared to fire back at him and he fidnt like it then youll be waiting a long time before i get scared off by ridiculous threats of ā€œcome backā€ from just some other bloke online.

Moving forward I very much hope my visits to this site will prove engaging and informative just dont expect me to grovel at someones feet just because they are ā€œboredā€ when a ā€œnoobā€ asks questions heā€™s heard before. Perhaps HE needs to find another site if he feels this one has become repetitive? Alternatively just dont respond to posts he feels heā€™s addressed on occasions too numerous to mention.

See, your lugholes have not been abused at all, i hope you agree.

50

Hey Andy, hope you are well.

I am getting emails from Gregory every week advertising day work and tramping from Haverfordwest. Wondered if you had any luck with them yet?

51

There certainly are some well paid jobs around. I donā€™t know whether there are many?
That is why, as you say, even experienced drivers gripe about wages.

As a newbie you will probably only get a lower paid job.
When experienced you are more likely to get a better paid job, but it is a long way from sure.

The exceptions when new drivers get a start on interesting well paid jobs do exist, but they are rare.

52

Cheers mate, youā€™ve took my opinion in the context in which it was meantā€™, youā€™re a gent, ā€¦and well said.:+1:

53

dont be fooled by the insurance chestnut they just tell you that so they dont have to argue with you and to get you out the door. a 17 year old could get insurance on a 3.5 million bugatti if they are prepared to pay enough thing is though its their car and its their insurance. Companies cant afford to take the risk on new drivers as its the companyā€™s insurance and o licence etc.

You have already said you have been offered 7.5 tonne work go take it. then in a few months after proving your attitude and ability with no accidents turning up on time every day and helping out where practical etc speak to them about class 2 work then again after a good few months speak to them about class 1 work if they do it.

54

Hi. Yes i got a telephone call about 4 weeks ago from gregory! Quick informal chat, a new contract in haverfordwest. A new creamery needing drivers. New passes welcome! Too good to be true!
Upshot is, ive just finished my first week delivering 38 tons of caged milk to rdc in bridgend.
Loving it! Wished iā€™d done this years ago!
Trouble is, my reversing into bays is painfully slow. All else is ok i think. I think they still need other drivers though if anyones interested. :+1:

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55

Thatā€™s a pretty accurate assessment: I donā€™t set out to offend necessarily, but if people do get offended then maybe they deserved it.

I reckon I have even less tolerance for offenders than you do (which is why our new friend has rapidly made it onto my blocked list). I just word things differently than you do.

56

Oh no I made zaccypants blocked list, how will i sleep!

58

Brilliant news, nice one! If I was a bit closer to Haverfordwest Iā€™d be very interested. What is the money like for them? DM me if youā€™d prefer.

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59

Ive never missed a day of work other than occasional illness and iā€™m never late so they wont have a problem with that from me. The only time theyll see a bad attitude is if they give it to me first. Dont get me wrong, everyone is entitled to a bad day and sometimes you can cop the rough end of it if your timings not great, im old enough and ugly enough to take that for what it is, other than that its all good.

A friend of mine worked as a lorry driver for over 30 years and he told me some horror stories sbout some bosses hes had but thats ok, i wont work for that kind of person anyway.

Im resigned to doing the stuff i would prefer to swerve for a while no problem but i just cant do it indefinitely and end up feeling like oliver twist, hoping for mercy and the odd crumb thrown my way thats all.

I may well decide that ive left getting my licence to late and i wont be able to make the career change as planned but that wont be the end of the world, just a shame thats all. Weā€™ll see, i remain hopefull of a positive outcome soon enough.

60

Yep I can do ā€˜tactā€™. :sunglasses:
My Mrs taught me it, (with a couple of other qualities she has that comes natural to her and not me) ā€¦during all the years she has spent (almost) ā€˜tamingā€™ me. :joy:

61

Yeah, im chuffed!
Its 15.91 per hr at mo.
4 on 4 off
But obviously room to expand that if u like paying the taxman!
For me its similar pay to previous job, but only working half the year!
Overtime standard pay.
Only double pay comes in on xmas, boxing and new years day i think.
Have said im up for odd night tramping but not interested on a regular basis.
And, as a final note,
Its only now that i realise how terrible the standard of car drivers are!!! Geez! :grin:

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