I’ve been asked to do a 2 day assessment for agency work at Sainsburys. My attitude is a bit of screw that, life’s too short. Anyone know what it entails and what exactly takes 2 days ?. And, if you pass is it worth it ?.
Are you expected to do that unpaid?
Not sure, thought i would ask for advice before posing that question and maybe telling them to stuff it.
It will depend on the agency, I did an assessment in Basingstoke almost a year ago and blew it on reversing, the bay was tight and there was a wall on the pass side. Basically I didn’t position the unit right. I couldn’t see how much space I had so got out and looked, unfortunatelly one of the trailer wheels was touching a cone which was simulating another trailer, even though the cone was nowhere near the painted ‘lines’.
This was the drill.
Day 1). License check, reversing manoeuvre, drive for about 1.5 hours, reversing manoeuvre.
On the driving side you have to pay exceptional attention to any signs as they will ask about them and if you go through Basingstoke ‘tunell’ and don’t turn on your side lights its a fail.
Day 2). Theory Test, if pass invited for an induction/training with other driver.
First 2 days unpaid, the Induction/Training would have been paid, you go out for a delivery with an experienced driver and if all is OK you’re let loose on your own.
Things might have changed since then but they are ■■■■ hot on regs and you have to keep to 50mph.
That was the deal I was offered by an agency a while ago, two days assessment at Gist, unpaid before I could start there. Obviously that isn’t an assessment, it is job training but they wanted me to do it out of the goodness of my heart I think. Naturally, I told them to go ■■■■ up a rope.
I made the mistake of not asking the agency before I went in, and after blowing it on the first day was told by them ‘sorry no pay’. Would you like to try again, asked if it’s going to be paid and getting the same answer I politelly declined, and still do to this day.
It’s outrageous that an agency would send you off to do that without telling you that you aren’t going to be paid for it.
I did an assessment for Sainsburys a few years back,which consisted of leaving their yard at London Colney,driving to the London Colney Sainsburys HyperMarket ( or whatever its called now )reversing it on the bay and that was it.
Short and sweet.
A 2 day unpaid assessment is really extracting the urine.
They are all at it, had a call from another agy asking if I’d do a tesco assessment(not so far from my place of abode). Asked what it involves and was told this.
Reversing and stuff in the yard followed by 2 store deliveries.
So what is the rate for this (asks I)
‘It’s all unpaid, this is an assessment with a view for the future.’
So you want me to do a days work and don’t get a penny, when I put a tacho into the machine I’m working, so I expect to get paid.
‘Oh you don’t have to put your tacho card in’
So whose card do we use?.
‘as far as I know there is no tacho needed for this assessment’
The conversation ended there and then by me telling the agy that this is illegal and please don’t call me with crap like this anymore
Did agency work in Sainsburys up at East Kilbride, their driving assessment involved going in doing about 10 questions on drivers hours rules, think you had to get 60% correct to pass.
Then involved going out hooking up to a trailer, then going out a drive, was mostly down small streets, had a few that were designed to catch you out turning into a street on the left, where you needed to use both sides of the street you were turning in to, to avoid clipping the kerb, clip the kerb its an instant fail, the street is busy so drivers get frustrated and take a chance.
Go back do a few easy reverses in the yard, finished. I got paid for it but had already been working there for ages and tagged the assessment drive onto the end of a shift.
Also brought in, inductions which i think i mentioned before is just a paper signing excercise so they can try and get out of you suing the company should something happen. That was 8am till 4pm. Watching videos then signing paper work, we got paid for doing it plus we got lunch paid for us as well, dont pay for lunch anymore so no idea maybe not even pay you for doing the induction.
James Bateman:
I did an assessment for Sainsburys a few years back,which consisted of leaving their yard at London Colney,driving to the London Colney Sainsburys HyperMarket ( or whatever its called now )reversing it on the bay and that was it.
Short and sweet.
A 2 day unpaid assessment is really extracting the urine.
London Colney is an NFT site not Sainsburys. Waltham Point is a two day job because it’s run by sainsburys 
I did their assessment a few years back, it lasted half a day and I was paid for it by the agency. It was a couple of tests on tacho regs and general driving followed by about an hours drive. I really didn’t want the agency to send me there so tried my hardest to [zb] up the driving part so they couldn’t get me to work out of there and by failing I wouldn’t have to point blank refuse. I clipped kerbs, including with the front axle which takes a special kind of stupid, and did various other questionable things but the assessor still passed me. 
Coffeeholic:
I did their assessment a few years back, it lasted half a day and I was paid for it by the agency. It was a couple of tests on tacho regs and general driving followed by about an hours drive. I really didn’t want the agency to send me there so tried my hardest to [zb] up the driving part so they couldn’t get me to work out of there and by failing I wouldn’t have to point blank refuse. I clipped kerbs, including with the front axle which takes a special kind of stupid, and did various other questionable things but the assessor still passed me.
Probably because you need few seconds to recognize good driver, i.e the way he climbs to cab.
i did sainsburys assesment and it went vey well, assessment lasted 40mins max…10-15 questions(basics ie how many hrs befor break etc etc) coupling up
(slpit coupling). MAKE SURE YOU TURN YOUR ENGINE OFF ,this is a thing they look for but they will tell you anyway,
check mot disc on trailer,check tax on unit,check for seal on tractor fuel cap and seal on fridge tank cap, check for any leaks. and away you go…driving side… try &use youre your cruise control as much as possible and approach traffic lights/stationary traffic slow so as soon as lights change/vehicles start movin you will have not stopped and changed gear. …unless you REALLY HAVE TO STOP. otherwise you will have no probs, nearly all off the assessors have a laid back attidude and all they want you to do is drive safely and slowly as possible…i know it sounds mad but if thats how theese s/market knobs want you to do it and it gives me regualar work then so be it…
sorry fo the duplicate reply…
my post vanished ■■?
These assessments with no pay are a joke.I was asked to do one of these for a supermarket, including a store delivery.Eight hours i was told to see if they like you, but no pay. Now at 10 pound an hour which i can earn for class 1that is 80 pounds.
Try going into a supermarket, getting 80 pounds worth of food and saying “i will pay you if i like the food”
leslie g heath:
These assessments with no pay are a joke.I was asked to do one of these for a supermarket, including a store delivery.Eight hours i was told to see if they like you, but no pay. Now at 10 pound an hour which i can earn for class 1that is 80 pounds.
Yes, ridiculous, if you deliver their goods to their store then you have done work for them and you should be paid for it. If they don’t like you they are at liberty to decline to use you again.
I did an assessment for Co-op, Mounted the kerb and almost pulled out from a junction in reverse instead of 1st and still passed? WHAT THE FUNK!?!
Charlie873:
I did an assessment for Co-op, Mounted the kerb and almost pulled out from a junction in reverse instead of 1st and still passed? WHAT THE FUNK!?!
That’s because Co-Op is desperate for drivers 
Or assessor had a good day