Spacemonkeypg:
Not sure if its any help or not, but as a TM trying to find class 2 multi drop drivers it is hard. Most people go straight into the C+E and from then on deem themselves to important to drive a rigid.
There are jobs there on the likes of palletline and other such networks, people will scoff at them as they are not the glory £20ph, mobile christmas tree wallet on a chain style job BUT they are your door way to experience. 3663, Brakes and other food cage work is the same.
what is the pay difference between your C and C+E drivers Spacemonkey?
Why not do what I did when I was younger and starting out…
I started out out driving vans delivering pesticides to farms, it was here that I got the chance of driving a 7.5 tonner (grandfather rights back then).
After a couple of years of driving puddle jumpers I then paid for my HGV 2. HOWEVER I kept driving the 7.5 tonner for a couple of years with the odd day here and there on a 26 tonner rigid thrown in.
That gave me the 2 years under my belt in order to move up the food chain to a haulage firm driving a tipper. Then I took my class 1 and simply moved onto the firms bigger motors.
So to repeat…
Downsize to a van/7.5 tonner for 2 years untill you get that under your belt…it WILL slot into place if you are patient.
damien88:
IVE POSTED A FEW THREADS NOW ASKING FOR ADVICE AND IT HAS BEEN GOOD ADVICE BUT…
Last may i spent close to 2grand after the theory and hazard perception, medical and practical test and CPC.And now i have my class c licence but no job. Im on direct gov every night and ive got the indeed app on my phone constantly looking for jobs. Ive google mapped haulage firms in shropshire and rang LOADS of companys and they dont want to listen.
the closest ive got is “come on your day off and we’ll send you out with one of our drivers”…i go out the bloke im with say ive done great with a few nasty reverses involved…not crashed, not killed any1, not come close to causing any damage but…still all i get is “get some experience and come back and we’ll give you a shot”
ive posted on here done everything, rang everyone and still NOTHING.
So to people looking on this site …thinking “id love to be a trucker”…dont waste your money because no one wants to give in experienced drivers a chance…not even the agencies.
Do you mind if I ask who exactly you’ve tried in shropshire?
Good advice msgyorkie but I’m afraid some won’t like doing that. I got straight on artic tippers because I the boss knew one of the supervisors in the sawmill I worked in. A few years on log grabs and loading shovels was enough to persuade them to take a chance.
A lot of folk think that a licence means getting a driving job straight away.
Anyone and everyone…where haven’t I applied…ive rang the quarries…companies within the quarries…loosemores harlescott…google mapped road haulage services in Shropshire…applied for tons of online advertisements
damien88:
I’m in craven arms m8…i cant see the point wasting about another grand for class 1 licence
I refer you to my ealier post…drop down a level, get yourself onto the vans/7.5 tonners. Its all experience of the road, it will help you on your journey to the big rigs.
Just might be down to your location Damien88… should have research this before getting training up on class 2, might just have to settle for being a delivery driver until something comes up
damien88:
Anyone and everyone…where haven’t I applied…ive rang the quarries…companies within the quarries…loosemores harlescott…google mapped road haulage services in Shropshire…applied for tons of online advertisements
don’t just ring mate…go and knock on their door! show them you’re keen…that’s how i got a good start in transport.might cost you a few quid in fuel but it’ll be worth it in the end i’m sure
Have you tried telling lies about your experience? That’s what I did and got away with it. It was only after I had been driving for a while for a company through agency that they noticed the passed date on my licence. By then I had been driving for them for a couple of weeks they were happy with my work so just let me carry on.
Worth a go if you have not tried, what’s the worse that can happen.
Palmer and Harvey take new class 2 drivers. Try the Coventry depot. Its about 1.5 hours drive unfortunately but it depends on how much you want to get into the game. Class 1 is also very difficult to get into. I was lucky,but having said that,i instantly after passing hit the internet,got on the phoneme-mailed etc.
Another alternative,dependant on your circumstances could be to move to another area where there is much more work about.
The guys and girls on here are brilliant-take all the advice given to you. As others have said,its all about attitude Damien. Take this as an omen…
All my driving jobs came from walking into their yards and asking.
After 20 years away from driving class 1 doing my currant job I now drive on my days off and will go full time in a couple of years.
The feedback I got from the TM’s I spoke to was and I quote “I wish more drivers would come in and ask as it shows more commitment than just sending off cv’s to loads of firms” I was offered a job straight away from all three companies I visited just recently.
Maybe as some have said its due to too many Class C license holders? Dont give up on driver if it is something your passionate about and want to do. Maybe i was lucky, i paid for all my tests myself while working a factory job. Passed both licenses withing 3 weeks of each other. I did like yourself and searched jobcentre applied for a few and heard nothing, signed onto 3 or 4 agencies with the prospect of little or no work (2 years experiance malarky) so i popped on my nicest trousers and shirt with a tie, buffed up my shoes and went knocking on doors. Anywhere and everywhere that had a truck in their yard. The rejections where disappointing to say the least. One TM even suggested going back to my factory job for 2 years then trying again when i had “had me license 2 years” even tho i`d still know nothing, crazy or what.
A few days later Dave rang me as one of his drivers had thrown a sickie. asked if i could come in and do a rigid run, 3 drops was all so duly turned up at the yard 30 minutes later and off i went. scary as ■■■■ first time out on your own but took my time, completed my jobs, messed up my tacho break completely but enjoyed it. When i got back Dave asked me if i could do a couple of days with his other driver. got 120 quid cash in hand for the 3 days and he set me on as a “holiday relief driver” which he promised 20 hours a week.
dont get me wrong, it was farm work. smelly, dirty, cold and sometimes hard work at times. but i loved it at the time and stayed 5 years before moving on.
IF its what you really want then anything is possible you just gotta keep it lit and crack on drive good luck with the job search and i`d personally say ignore the guys saying to downgrade to vans and puddle jumpers, get your c+e and go for gold buddy
There is usually good availability for c drivers albeit multi drop, it may not be what you want to do, but it will give you experience, & that in turn will nudge the door open to better things.
damien88:
IVE POSTED A FEW THREADS NOW ASKING FOR ADVICE AND IT HAS BEEN GOOD ADVICE BUT…
Last may i spent close to 2grand after the theory and hazard perception, medical and practical test and CPC.And now i have my class c licence but no job. Im on direct gov every night and ive got the indeed app on my phone constantly looking for jobs. Ive google mapped haulage firms in shropshire and rang LOADS of companys and they dont want to listen.
the closest ive got is “come on your day off and we’ll send you out with one of our drivers”…i go out the bloke im with say ive done great with a few nasty reverses involved…not crashed, not killed any1, not come close to causing any damage but…still all i get is “get some experience and come back and we’ll give you a shot”
ive posted on here done everything, rang everyone and still NOTHING.
So to people looking on this site …thinking “id love to be a trucker”…dont waste your money because no one wants to give in experienced drivers a chance…not even the agencies.
Mate you really need to change your attitude because if your are going for jobs with the kind of attitude your displaying your going to get NO THANKS every time !!!.
My story is this - I moved to Australia from the UK and i couldn’t find work, I hadn’t driven trucks for 20 years but still had my class 1 licence as I was a heavy vehicle mechanic many years ago. So had an assessment to get my class 1 swapped onto my Ozzie licence, had a few lessons to refresh myself…applied to every agency and company… even went to transport depots and spoke to the transport manager, made my CV Look the dogs bolloxs. Within 2 weeks I got agency work, within 8 weeks was taken on full time with Toll Logistics who is one of Australia biggest logistic companies…I’m 47 and have held senior manager jobs - I love the job and the freedom, for me I don’t need to chase the big dollars - the jobs what you make it !!! yes its hard but be positive !!!
