Evil8Beezle:
ash 001:
P.S I couldn’t put up with Evil for 15.5 hours he would want to be sharing the [zb] bunk!!Again?
Next time, wipe some lube on it, turn the night light out, and think of it as practice for your next DVSA stop 
F-reds:
Next time, wipe some lube on it, turn the night light out, and think of it as practice for your next DVSA stop
LOL - I’ve yet to experience that. And the closest I’ve come is an ADR shakedown from a “keen” policeman, which went on for close to 1 hour 45 mins… Boy it was painful! 
So I expect it would be similar, and guess all you can do is take it like a man! 
ash 001:
Rader W+D seriously?! I expect you have your reasons before I take the ■■■■Where’s that shelf stacker earning 40k? Where does he work?! Will they pay me that much for sitting on my arse all day every day?!
I didn’t realise know and no were two different words they both sound the same don’t they?
P.S I couldn’t put up with Evil for 15.5 hours he would want to be sharing the [zb] bunk!!
What of it? Its the same license at the end of the day…
F-reds:
Evil8Beezle:
ash 001:
P.S I couldn’t put up with Evil for 15.5 hours he would want to be sharing the [zb] bunk!!Again?
Next time, wipe some lube on it, turn the night light out, and think of it as practice for your next DVSA stop
■■■■! Is that what he had in his pocket, he kept telling me to go to sleep if I was tired?! 
Radar19:
ash 001:
Rader W+D seriously?! I expect you have your reasons before I take the ■■■■Where’s that shelf stacker earning 40k? Where does he work?! Will they pay me that much for sitting on my arse all day every day?!
I didn’t realise know and no were two different words they both sound the same don’t they?
P.S I couldn’t put up with Evil for 15.5 hours he would want to be sharing the [zb] bunk!!
What of it? Its the same license at the end of the day…
Yes it is the same licence, but W+D this prepares you for absolutely nothing, unless your first class 1 job will be W+D. What I am trying to say is it handles nothing like an artic and is completely different to drive and reverse ect. How are you going to pass a driving assessment in something you have never driven before? That’s all I am saying I know it is personal choice I suppose.
Mr_Wobble:
It’s not impossible. It can be done. I have.I must be a similar age, with driving cars and vans for over 30 years. Worked as a storeman and fork lift driver on a night shift for over a decade, and needed a change from the often backbreaking job of handballing boxes all day, and incompetent management.
I spent a year looking at job ads to see what would pay at least as much as I was on, often better, and I would like to do. Eventually deciding on HGV driver. Then spending a year going all the way up to getting my Class 1 licence. I live in a modest seaside town of about 30,000 people, with a few small towns around within a half hour’s drive.Yet, within six weeks of passing my Class 1, I’ve landed a job driving Class 1. Six axle 44 ton capacity trucks, often hauling loads within half a ton of that too.
Despite that, it’s not a great job. It’s definitely at the more unglamorous end of trucking (no illuminated signs, festooned with running lights, or tassels on curtains there). But it’s a start. I’m working for a farm, mainly hauling potatoes. It’s long days. Cold, muddy, mucky, filthy work most of the time. And don’t even ask about the toilet and canteen facilities. I’ve even ended up without a truck to drive, or anything else to do for an hour and a half, so asked to help on the line, grading potatoes as they whizz by on a conveyer. I imagine most people would tell them to stick the job. But they’ve given a newbie like me a go. They took on another, in his twenties, a few months back, and he’s working out ok, so I think based on that they decided to give me a go. Plus they needed a night driver, and I love working nights.
Currently I’m on days, learning the ropes, and once they’re confident in me, will put me on permanent nights. And it’s a 20 minute drive from my doorstep to work.I had noticed them advertise several times in the past couple of years, especially for nights. Agencies ran ads for drivers for them too. That does start the alarm bells ringing. And I’ve heard that some drivers left after days, or didn’t even bother turning up. And after two weeks of doing the job, I can see why. I’m having second thoughts, mainly due to the bloke who runs it day to day. But the Transport Manager (and driver) is a good bloke, with over 30 years HGV driving behind him, and determined to do things right. He acts as a buffer, explains problems, and smooths things out between the drivers and the people running the farm. And the other two drivers (making four of us in total), say he’s not all that bad. Bark worse than his bite, etc.
And it’s not the only job that’s come my way. A couple of weeks before I went for an interview and test drive. Class 2, moving on to Class 1 in the future. But it was going to be days, long days, early starts, about three nights out a week, and often a requirement to work Saturdays. I was worried about how safe it would be to suddenly change from nights to days and do that. I was worried I wasn’t going to be safe to do that. Good bloke, good job, good money (over 30K pa), and willing to give a newbie a try. Now I’ve been doing days for a couple of weeks, I think I may have been able to do it. However, the Saturday working cuts in to time I get to spend with my daughter (it’s the day I usually have her). Maybe when she’s grown up, and with a little more experience, it may be the ideal job.
I also signed up with an agency I’d heard good things about. They came up with a job about a half hour drive away. An interesting job. Wagon and drag, with demountable body. Spending two weeks maxing out hours delivering up and down the country, then doing stores work (load, unload, and other duties) on normal hours for two weeks. In a rota with another driver. I can see many drivers wouldn’t go for it, as they wouldn’t like the stores element. But coming from a stores background it seems ideal. And gives two weeks of normal life inbetween the driving. The agency called me back about it just after I’d said yes to my current job. And have called me back since, trying to persuade me about it. It would definitely be a cleaner and warmer job. It’s even close to where my daughter lives. I’m due to return a call to them, and still considering it. Just unsure about how that will look on my CV (job hopping), and would mean I’d be unlikely to get a job back with the current company if I snub them like that (as said, they are virtually on my doorstep, and potential source of work in the long term future if I’m between jobs).My current thinking is to give the agency a call (it’s at least a polite courtesy, and keeps on good terms too, showing a level of professionalism). Maybe go for an interview about the job they have.
But I’m thinking of sticking with the current job for a few years, driving 44 ton artics, will count for a lot in the long term for other employers. In about three to three and a half years time, when a lot of people’s CPC’s are running out, and they’re quitting, there could be a real shortage (not just the current shortage for good experienced drivers), and I may be able to have a pick of work available.
Tough one. Tough call.The way I’d started to get call backs was to prepare a well laid out CV on one piece of paper. Then write a cover letter, adapting each one to various companies. Then either physically going to them, sometimes getting a brief chat with someone in HR or the Transport Manager. Or posting the letter and CV to them. Also enclosing business cards I’d had made up (250 from Vistaprint isn’t that expensive). Putting some time and effort in. Maybe I just got lucky. But I think it paid off for me.
So, no, the driver shortage isn’t what it’s made out to be. It’s for good, experienced, drivers. But the 2 years experience requirement is dropping slowly. Some now say a year. Some even as low as three months Class 1 experience. And some are happy if you’ve had a year or so of Class 2 (even 7.5 ton for that matter). And some are willing to take on a complete newbie. But you may have to compromise on money, lifestyle, or type of work (don’t compromise on two or more of those - my compromise is the type of work).
So, it can be done. Keep the faith. You will get there if you get out there.[/quotherw is no glamatous side ti the job tgat is it e]
Does anyone knows of any company looking class 2 drivers and willing to take on a newbie .
I would be prepared to travel or relocate to get a start .
Or recomend a agency that I should Reg with .
Kido:
Does anyone knows of any company looking class 2 drivers and willing to take on a newbie .
I would be prepared to travel or relocate to get a start .
Or recomend a agency that I should Reg with .
Handtrans in Immingham have a sign up.
Thanks radar19 done a google on the company, will be giving them a call .
ash 001:
Yes it is the same licence, but W+D this prepares you for absolutely nothing, unless your first class 1 job will be W+D. What I am trying to say is it handles nothing like an artic and is completely different to drive and reverse ect. How are you going to pass a driving assessment in something you have never driven before? That’s all I am saying I know it is personal choice I suppose.
I took mine in a W&D but never driven 1 since it only ever arctics does give the same licence at the end of the day & as he has said he did take it in a arctic but failed so if he takes it in a W&D he will have some experience of that as well ok not a lot
Sorry lads I am a newbie!
W&D ?
Is this a drawbar trailer ?
Kido:
Sorry lads I am a newbie!
W&D ?
Is this a drawbar trailer ?
It is! 
Or a VAN driver towing his caravan as I like to say! 
Called
Handtrans in Immingham today unfortunately they are not looking class 2 drivers at present thanks for the pointer anyhow radar19 .
Has anyone else got a contract that would be willing to give a newbie a start ?
Try your local undertakers.
They are usually dead busy.
eagerbeaver:
Try your local undertakers.They are usually dead busy.
Especially atm with all these people dying to get in there for the NYE party
I wouldn’t be seen dead in a undertakers .
Quite right. If you are ill, stay well away.
It’s considered bad manners to go in coffin and spluttering.
It’s also not a good idea to deliver a coffin late for a funeral either, that was awkward… 
Evil8Beezle:
It’s also not a good idea to deliver a coffin late for a funeral either, that was awkward…
Why cant you carry it across the car park?! LOL
ash 001:
Evil8Beezle:
It’s also not a good idea to deliver a coffin late for a funeral either, that was awkward…Why cant you carry it across the car park?! LOL
Curbside delivery mate. Once its off the wagon, its not my problem! 
Radar19:
Curbside delivery mate. Once its off the wagon, its not my problem!
Agreed, and that’s the policy with 99% of the drops I did on Class 2.
But it feels a bit different when you’re delivering a child’s coffin…
We also have a policy/agreement with that funeral director, where we take the chipboard box it comes in, away.