I very recently passed my class 2 and have just started looking for work.
I thought it might be a good idea to sign up with an agency so I went and signed up with a well known specialist driver agency. They offered me some van work which I thought might be worth taking while i’m waiting for my CPC card to come back. They then insisted that I sign up to an umbrella company etc etc etc - took one look at the terms and conditions and the actual take home pay for each class and left the agency immediately and requested that they delete all my personal information.
Does anyone know which companies take on new pass drivers in the Surrey/ Sussex area or could recommend any agencies which are not con artists. I don’t mind hard graft and I’m happy to take on anything to get going but can’t deal with scumbag agencies like that.
I’m a newbie myself having passed C+E in early September. I am Wiltshire rather than Sussex/Surrey - but imagine all of these names are more nationwide.
I have been working through an agency called Pertemps for 5 weeks now, and I have been impressed with them - they are fair and honest, and their communication is good. In case you want to consider investigating vacancies direct, four companies that they have placed me with who are happy to take newbies are Wincanton, Freightroute, Bensons for Beds and Bookers Foodservice. I also know that Muller Milk and DHL are actively taking newbies, but I have not worked at either of those so far.
Good luck with the search. My advice would be don’t compromise down to vans initially - lots of handballing, low money, not particularly great experience for the rigids you want to work on. Instead, be willing to travel further, and work less sociable hours to get that first experience. Once you have a few weeks with no incidents, and can be trusted, more opportunity opens up.
You probably know this already but mentally prepare yourself for the first couple of weeks being hard and long. It is a vertical learning curve at the start, and you will be slow. The gap between what training/test tells us and the real world is large. Always ask the other drivers on-site for help, they are always willing and helpful - no matter how basic the question.
Martin.
ps: You are allowed to drive commercially whilst waiting for your CPC card to arrive. The agency and the clients are happy seeing CPC mod 4 pass certificate instead for those first couple of weeks. You must have your actual driving licence and tacho card though.
MJJ_ZX6RR:
I’m a newbie myself having passed C+E in early September. I am Wiltshire rather than Sussex/Surrey - but imagine all of these names are more nationwide.
I have been working through an agency called Pertemps for 5 weeks now, and I have been impressed with them - they are fair and honest, and their communication is good. In case you want to consider investigating vacancies direct, four companies that they have placed me with who are happy to take newbies are Wincanton, Freightroute, Bensons for Beds and Bookers Foodservice. I also know that Muller Milk and DHL are actively taking newbies, but I have not worked at either of those so far.
Good luck with the search. My advice would be don’t compromise down to vans initially - lots of handballing, low money, not particularly great experience for the rigids you want to work on. Instead, be willing to travel further, and work less sociable hours to get that first experience. Once you have a few weeks with no incidents, and can be trusted, more opportunity opens up.
You probably know this already but mentally prepare yourself for the first couple of weeks being hard and long. It is a vertical learning curve at the start, and you will be slow. The gap between what training/test tells us and the real world is large. Always ask the other drivers on-site for help, they are always willing and helpful - no matter how basic the question.
Martin.
ps: You are allowed to drive commercially whilst waiting for your CPC card to arrive. The agency and the clients are happy seeing CPC mod 4 pass certificate instead for those first couple of weeks. You must have your actual driving licence and tacho card though.
Apparently Freighroute doesn’t take newly qualified drivers anymore. Called two days ago and was told that 12-month previous experience now is needed.
