New Class 1 driver wondering where to get in. Have been toying with car transport, but that was really a stop-gap to what I really want, and that’s abnormal.
Is there still some chance for being started on wide loads as a new Class 1 do you think?
It’s hard to find somewhere. The nearest specialist is 55 miles away. Do I need to be living on the doorstep of a company (move house to their location) or is there scope for being some distance away from where they’re based?
You’re not going to get that sort of work as a new pass, they would want you to have a good few years under your belt, especially for heavy/oversized loads.
I don’t think you would need to be on the doorstep of a company, as long as you don’t mind the commute. Liklihood is you’d only do it a few times a week as you’d probably be tramping, or at least doing a few nights out a week
As Terry says, they’re not going to give newbies a chance on this kind of work, and from conversations I’ve had, beyond just the experience, they seem to be looking for a certain personality type.
Me and a friend of mine were doing some non-driving work with a company who specialize in “Special Order” movements. My friend was really taken by their work, he asked the guy what was his chances of getting a start with them. He has experience, he’s an HGV instructor and TM-CPC qualified so knows a thing or two. They said they wouldn’t consider him at all, too young (early 30’s) and I think the words they used were “too much energy”, they were only interested in “a calm steady hand at the wheel”.
I think that’s understandable when you consider their average movement is more than twice the weight of a standard artic .
To be fair, I’d guess that the overwhelming majority of Class 2 Abnormal Load work is static caravans, sectional buildings etc, where there is relatively little weight and the only real issue is the width. From what I see day-to-day it appears the only requirements for that job are a heavy right foot and an affinity for lots of bright flashing lights.
I get the impression that the Class 1 work is a lot more demanding.
Largely it will be a case of earning your spurs, probably best way in would be to start with a general haulage type outfit on flats doing regular loads to prove yourself. Then maybe a chance will come along.
You might get a chance starting on plant hire, most places will want some level of experience but some will start you off and you can progress up from there.