Hi
Prospective new driver here, I’m late in life to do this but after months of talking, researching and reflection I know it’s the right move for me.
One thing that I can’t seem to get a true picture of is the job vacancy situation
I’ve heard all sorts of claims of 50,000 unfilled jobs across the U.K. but is that realistic and if not can anyone shed a little truth on the real situation.
As a new qualified driver (praying) how hard will it be for me to find employment?
Thanks
There is no general driver shortage= fact
There may be odd areas of the UK where some have trouble getting drivers for the busy periods
Most want experienced drivers
Many insurers will not entertain you until you have HELD the category on your licence for a set period of time
Whilst there is no evidence of a real driver shortage, it’s my experience of late that new drivers are finding work more quickly. In particular, the “experience” requirement is often dropped. Insurers aren’t keen on new drivers. But they dont normally forbid them. It just that the operator’s excess will increase for a period. So that is the chance the employer is potentially taking. I believe the balance is that you shouldn’t expect to walk into a prime job the day after you’ve passed your test. But it would be disappointing if you didn’t find work within a short time. You need to be proactive. Visit companies. Dont take “he’s not available” for an answer. The reply to that is “when will be a better time?” And persist. Certainly easier if you hold CE but C on it’s own still works.
So it’s not all doom and gloom and neither will employers being banging on your door begging you to go and work for them.
All the best, Pete 
if you can walk and chew chewing gum at the same time,then most agencies will sign you up and offer you work.
itl be crap work with crap start times,but needs must to get your foot in the door.
sign up with several and have no regards to jumping at the best offer as it arises as despite the friendly voice on the phone,you are no more that a bum on a seat to them and only as good as your last shift.
once your getting regular work,then start to be selective as to start times and working days.
if you want a proper job,then knock doors.
emails are meaningless,and generally ignored,as are phone calls.
go in smart but casual with your work gear in the car,and knock doors…end of.
In my opinion when a job sector welcomes new passers, no experience etc you can come to two conclusions, either the job is ■■■■ with ■■■■ salary or there’s a “shortage”… I tend to think there’s a shortage but it’s not as high as as reported.
Hi,
I passed my Class C August 2019 at the age of 48. I signed up to a couple of agencies and as others have said - I went knocking on doors (OK so I emailed companies my CV direct but it worked).
I self funded my training, CPC and ADR and knocked on doors when I was legally ready to drive that day, so to speak.
Within a few days of registering with an agency I had a fortnight of 7.5t ADR work at £11 ph. Not a bad start in my opinion.
I was still emailing local companies all the time and during my fortnight of agency work I had 2 interviews with a local fuel tanker company.
Before my agency fortnight was up, I had been offered a full time permanent job driving Class 2 fuel tankers, Mon to Fri days.
I was also offered Class 2 LPG minibulk from now until April via agency and also offered full time Class 2 LPG cylinder employment direct, again with training to Minibulk.
Also offered Class 2 Vac-Jet permanent work and of course, PSV training and job with Stagecoach (there’s a good reason they have a high turnover of drivers!)
So (apologies for the long post) it really does depend on your employment skills, location, aptitude and attitude. Not just how long you’ve held C, C+E etc on your licence.
Go knock on doors with a well put together CV, your licences in your wallet and a smart shirt and trousers for any company interviews.
You need to SELL yourself - why are YOU the best employee for that role.
Good luck 
To add to the last post - and take your work gear in the boot of your car 
Thank you all for your responses
I’ll certainly take on the advice you’ve offered
Omega:
HiProspective new driver here, I’m late in life to do this but after months of talking, researching and reflection I know it’s the right move for me.
One thing that I can’t seem to get a true picture of is the job vacancy situation
I’ve heard all sorts of claims of 50,000 unfilled jobs across the U.K. but is that realistic and if not can anyone shed a little truth on the real situation.
As a new qualified driver (praying) how hard will it be for me to find employment?
Thanks
It depends on where you are and who apply to.
Reflecting on my own experience I had very little luck with local haulage firms and agencies (clearly no shortage there).
When I started looking further a field and applying for jobs in west Yorkshire (I quite literally walked into a full time job) and no It wasn’t down luck.
Its all down to supply and demand I think, in some areas there is a shortage of drivers and other areas there isn’t.
Good luck in your job hunting.
Omega:
It depends on where you are and who apply to.Reflecting on my own experience I had very little luck with local haulage firms and agencies (clearly no shortage there).
When I started looking further a field and applying for jobs in west Yorkshire (I quite literally walked into a full time job) and no It wasn’t down luck.
Did you move or something? I’m thinking if I have trouble finding work in my area of Colchester (would be willing to drive 30 - 45 minutes to work everyday), then I’d probably research an area that is in demand and move there. It’s a risky move though but you do what you have to I guess.
Omega:
HiProspective new driver here, I’m late in life to do this but after months of talking, researching and reflection I know it’s the right move for me.
One thing that I can’t seem to get a true picture of is the job vacancy situation
I’ve heard all sorts of claims of 50,000 unfilled jobs across the U.K. but is that realistic and if not can anyone shed a little truth on the real situation.
As a new qualified driver (praying) how hard will it be for me to find employment?
Thanks
Passing the test is the easiest bit.2 years are what they want for insurance and it is woefully annoying.
Agencies will feed you the stuff nobody wants and firms who hire all the time are best avoided like the plague.
It may get better when FOM stops …
It drove me bonkers so I stopped driving lorries…
TruckerWannabe123:
Omega:
It depends on where you are and who apply to.Reflecting on my own experience I had very little luck with local haulage firms and agencies (clearly no shortage there).
When I started looking further a field and applying for jobs in west Yorkshire (I quite literally walked into a full time job) and no It wasn’t down luck.
Did you move or something? I’m thinking if I have trouble finding work in my area of Colchester (would be willing to drive 30 - 45 minutes to work everyday), then I’d probably research an area that is in demand and move there. It’s a risky move though but you do what you have to I guess.
No I didn’t move I live about eighty miles away from where I work.
I applied only to class 2 tramping jobs (as I only have a class 2 licence), so I sleep all week around the country and come home on a Friday.
It can be difficult on a Monday if they want a very early start as that means a very very early start for me so as to get there, but like I said got no where locally.
Tseal:
TruckerWannabe123:
Omega:
It depends on where you are and who apply to.Reflecting on my own experience I had very little luck with local haulage firms and agencies (clearly no shortage there).
When I started looking further a field and applying for jobs in west Yorkshire (I quite literally walked into a full time job) and no It wasn’t down luck.
Did you move or something? I’m thinking if I have trouble finding work in my area of Colchester (would be willing to drive 30 - 45 minutes to work everyday), then I’d probably research an area that is in demand and move there. It’s a risky move though but you do what you have to I guess.
No I didn’t move I live about eighty miles away from where I work.
I applied only to class 2 tramping jobs (as I only have a class 2 licence), so I sleep all week around the country and come home on a Friday.
It can be difficult on a Monday if they want a very early start as that means a very very early start for me so as to get there, but like I said got no where locally.
■■■■ that’s like an hour and half drive minimum? But if you’re only doing that drive once or twice a week it’s probably not so bad.
I wasn’t aware Class 2 vehicles can have bunks in them, thought tramping was strictly a class 1 gig.
TruckerWannabe123:
I wasn’t aware Class 2 vehicles can have bunks in them
Try buying a LGV C or CE without a bunk in it - you can but they cost MORE !!
TruckerWannabe123:
I wasn’t aware Class 2 vehicles can have bunks in them
Try buying a LGV C or CE without a bunk in it - you can but they cost MORE !!
TruckerWannabe123:
Tseal:
TruckerWannabe123:
Omega:
It depends on where you are and who apply to.Reflecting on my own experience I had very little luck with local haulage firms and agencies (clearly no shortage there).
When I started looking further a field and applying for jobs in west Yorkshire (I quite literally walked into a full time job) and no It wasn’t down luck.
Did you move or something? I’m thinking if I have trouble finding work in my area of Colchester (would be willing to drive 30 - 45 minutes to work everyday), then I’d probably research an area that is in demand and move there. It’s a risky move though but you do what you have to I guess.
No I didn’t move I live about eighty miles away from where I work.
I applied only to class 2 tramping jobs (as I only have a class 2 licence), so I sleep all week around the country and come home on a Friday.
It can be difficult on a Monday if they want a very early start as that means a very very early start for me so as to get there, but like I said got no where locally.
■■■■ that’s like an hour and half drive minimum? But if you’re only doing that drive once or twice a week it’s probably not so bad.
I wasn’t aware Class 2 vehicles can have bunks in them, thought tramping was strictly a class 1 gig.
I did some 7.5t work years ago stayed out a few nights that had a bunk in.
TruckerWannabe123:
Tseal:
TruckerWannabe123:
Omega:
It depends on where you are and who apply to.Reflecting on my own experience I had very little luck with local haulage firms and agencies (clearly no shortage there).
When I started looking further a field and applying for jobs in west Yorkshire (I quite literally walked into a full time job) and no It wasn’t down luck.
Did you move or something? I’m thinking if I have trouble finding work in my area of Colchester (would be willing to drive 30 - 45 minutes to work everyday), then I’d probably research an area that is in demand and move there. It’s a risky move though but you do what you have to I guess.
No I didn’t move I live about eighty miles away from where I work.
I applied only to class 2 tramping jobs (as I only have a class 2 licence), so I sleep all week around the country and come home on a Friday.
It can be difficult on a Monday if they want a very early start as that means a very very early start for me so as to get there, but like I said got no where locally.
■■■■ that’s like an hour and half drive minimum? But if you’re only doing that drive once or twice a week it’s probably not so bad.
I wasn’t aware Class 2 vehicles can have bunks in them, thought tramping was strictly a class 1 gig.
The commuting I don’t find that bad, its the loneliness of being a tramper driver I do struggle with.
Tramping is mainly a class 1 gig, but you do get class 2 tramper driver job vacancies, there is just not as many as with the artics.
TruckerWannabe123:
I wasn’t aware Class 2 vehicles can have bunks in them, thought tramping was strictly a class 1 gig.
All our NISA 26t vans have beds - tested one of them when they gave me a 14.5hr run during my second week in the job I loved it and if only my family situation was different, I would defo go for a tramping job.
The Morrisons 18t vans in our fleet don’t have beds (apparently they were cheaper), so whenever we need to do an overnight run they have to place us in a hotel 
Rav
Just wanted to check back in on this thread and mention something else. In my area of Colchester I’m looking on Reed and searching for Class 1 / C+E jobs and literally every single vacancy, even ones that are still up after a month have “be one of the first ten applicants” which means that virtually every job advertisement receives less than 10 applications.
This isn’t because they’re bad jobs, it’s because there’s so few applicants, which does indeed point to a general shortage. I don’t know what it’s like in your area but millennial’s don’t want to be truck drivers.
Fun fact, the average age of truckers in the UK is 55!
TruckerWannabe123:
Just wanted to check back in on this thread and mention something else. In my area of Colchester I’m looking on Reed and searching for Class 1 / C+E jobs and literally every single vacancy, even ones that are still up after a month have “be one of the first ten applicants” which means that virtually every job advertisement receives less than 10 applications.
More likely to mean that there are so many applicants for each job that only the first 10 applying will be considered because they cannot be bothered to look at hundreds of them 