somewhere

hi all is there any truck drivers on here. just past my class 1 and im looking for a job. any ideas please

Sally

my dads a truck driver but the company he worked for just shut down so theres hundreds of drivers out looking for work.

somewhere

o ok well thanks for the info. did he do long haulage. who did he work for?

andyt

iTrader: (1)

you will struggle to get with a firm mate as you have no expierance best bet go Agency driving till you get use to it and have a bit of time behind the wheel

Sally

he's a HGV driver, he has been for many years!! he dilivered bread for kingsmill (allied bakery's)

somewhere

yeah i know what your saying mate. gotta be someone out there tho dont ya think? i wanna do long haulage for a while. but yeah part time is the first step i think.

andyt

iTrader: (1)

if you can get on Tramping mate its good money up here it is any wa. Ł500-Ł600 a week in your hand but you go away sunday and come back friday

somewhere

errrr whats tramping mate?

afcgordon

Yeah, i am mate,oops just re-read you said truckers.

somewhere

errr what?

andyt

iTrader: (1)

tramping is you get in your truck on a sunday and get out of it on a friday and in between you go up and down the country dropping off here picking up there etc etc etc

scottbrown

best bet mate is to do agency. Only people who take on just passers pay shit money. tramping u only know what ur 1st run on the monday is for rest of week u being phoned telling you what to do next untill u finish on a friday.

avantage of agency as well is u will drive lots of trucks, new/old, good/shit and all the different boxes that are in them. Plus if u go into a company with the right attitude not the usual agency "i dont really give a fuck" u may be offered to be taken on. thats what they do at our place, cos they have already seen you can do the job if ya know what i mean.

I would also sign on with lots of agencys as some promise the earth but delivery fuck all, it involves extra work on ur part as u will have to keep track of ur own hours for the WTD but u should be able to get work every day this way.

somewhere

well thanks alot for that scott. ill give it ago that way. cheers mate.

Nick80

where abouts are you from m8 you could try a few local firms befor you went 2 agency

JoeE30

My advice is to run very very far away from the transport industry and dont look back....

Grim i know but it is a rubbish job to be in at the moment.

twitchyrear

agency to start as most employers will not take you as you have little experiance in class1,especially if a 50yr old mr.proper comes along,i did 12months aggy driving then went looking ,now employed at amtrac

bigwelshlad

often thought of changing direction from building and getting into this. far less strenuous. havent got a class 1 though. could anyone who has recently applied for a licence let me know what you have to do/declare in terms of fitness? could i be turned away for applying for a class 1 licence just coz i am 25 stone ?

thanks.

JoeE30

Mate you wont be turned away from the driving just cos weight....

Thing is the hours are prob double what your on now.

bigwelshlad

cheers joe mate. one of my biggest fears for applying for jobs is my weight and general fitness. pretty fit from the building jobs tho. just love the ale in the evenings far too much. perhaps it would be worth getting the license just in case. cheers mate !

DAB

could not agree more with that joe anyone thinking about class 1 driveing at the moment dont bother the industry is on it's ass ..
joe where do you work in manchester .??
i run out of trafford park container base have done for 15 years

kevsrs

What's so bad about it? I thought the world was crying out for truck drivers

I'm leaving the comfort of the office for a new life on the open road and got ma test in 2 weeks. Tell me good stuff

DAB

where do i start ..
(1) impossible delivery schedules
(2) long hours
(3) night away from home
(4) snoty transport operators who treat you like crap
(5) to much trafic on the roads
(6) 99.9% of car drivers are brain dead and dont get the idea of braking distances so pull infront of you givin around 4 foot clearance when you are 44 tonne freighted
(7) vehicle inspectorate VOSA..
(8) working time directive WTD
(9) being alone for hours on end

it is hard dont be kidded that it aint

why is there a shortage of drivers

because nobody wants to do the job anymore ..

the money is good but remember the average worker will do a 45 hour week
be prepared to work 70-80 hours a week

all the above is just my opinion.
i work for a small family firm and i am lucky cause i dont work away good luck to anyone coming into the industry but just remember it aint all roses