Hi guys, so up and coming on the 19th Of March i have a Driving assessment with Stobart/Culina. Just wondering as this will be the first time i have drove a Truck and Trailer really since passing my test back in November 2024.
Any Hints and Tips
and also Anyone here who works for the company Shed any light on what its like as a new pass to work for the company?
many thanks
If you feel a little rusty or need a confidence boost, would an hour in a school vehicle be a help?
When you take the assessment make it plain that you haven’t driven for a while etc. Any half way decent assessor will take that on board.
ring around the driving schools near you. The going rate for an hour’s drive is around £60, many schools offer assessments for wannabe drivers anyway at around that too.
Useful if you can find somewhere still with a manual cab, 4 over 4, then if you feel stretched on the practice, when you go for the actual assessment and it’s an auto box, one less stress. Just remember what you were taught in November, not all that long ago, it will come back to you. Steady on the corners, they should want to know you are accurate and safe, not fast.
I went around 6 months after passing before getting into an artic, but then felt right at home.
Oh i aim to let the staff no whats going on.
I am not in a position to be able to just give out £60 for some reversing hours to be honest. As much as i would want to feel the benefit from it but Ill just after hope and pray they are nice and take on im actually still a new pass with not much expierience at all.
Hi,I had an assessment with stobart back in October,it consisted of theory questions and then practical,I’d say if you don’t hit anything you’ll be fine.
Surely they’re aware of your level from the CV/application you’ve sent .Don’t worry too much (even if you are sh*t @ reversing)
If they take you on you’ll be with a buddy for few weeks.
Best of luck 
Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes they no my competency level as i explained at the open day i was a new pass and not driven anything other than the 2 class 2 rigids since passing my test. So hopefully things will be good and smooth. Hopefully I’ll be able to reverse slowly and move to make it work perfect if not i ge the relevant help i need lol.
Well it wont be long before i am doing it. .
Just don’t expect to get paid a decent amount lol. Stobarts will even deduct money to cover the increased NI on employers. The latest pay deal is garbage.
Oh I didn’t think the latest pay deal was out yet? Send it over if you no it?
Well, there’s taking the P and then there’s taking the 9P!
that’s taking the michael.
Obviously they’re not listening to Rachel Reeves too well.
Reeves is asked by a journalist from The Sun if the National Insurance increase (she announced in October) is actually a tax on working people.
Reeves replies that wages are rising at twice the rate of inflation. The national living wage is going up and inflation is coming down, Reeves says. People are starting to see extra money in their pay packets and living standards are going up, she claims.
Funny but our food bill went up another 10% this week. Unlike our wages.
Maybe we misunderstood her when she said
see
Yes we will see extra money in our pay packets that goes everywhere except our pockets
When she said PEOPLE are starting to see extra she meant PEOPLE like her NOT people like you 
Very poor. Is that rate for all weekday hours worked? No o/t rate?
something is a foot 
Doncaster is hardly south in pay terms, but this agency is offering quite a bit more than the pay offer that Stobarts are offering direct.
This agency is advertising loads, I mean loads of positions and Doncaster was one of the lowest pay.
Been the cynical red that I be, when an agency suddenly throws dozens of “adverts” on a jobs board like that, it smells suspicious to me. Either they are full of ■■■■ and just trying to suck you into registering with them, else Stobarts are planning on strong arming their drivers - accept the new pay terms else you walk home. They have the agency drivers ready waiting in the wings to pick up the slack so Stobarts don’t drop their contracts, but as soon as they get enough drivers to accept the low pay, the agency lads are shown the exit too.
Yes, but it’s ad hoc which means you only work when they want you, at short notice and no guaranteed hours. You might only get 1 shift a month-or less!
When she said people will see more money etc. she really meant people on minimum wage have a pay rise.
She was on radio earlier going on millions today have had a pay rise that’s good more money in people’s pockets to then spend.
All makes good headlines.
There only on more because government dictates the rise.
What about the millions more who haven’t had a pay rise because company’s can’t afford to after increase in minimum wage.
All our office staff etc got there rise we got nothing. The pay gap between non skilled staff and us drivers is getting smaller as the years go by
