How To Get Your First Job as a HGV Driver.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2024
- In this video i talk about the struggles of finding your first job as a new truck driver in the UK. and give some tips and insight to what you can do to improve your chances of finding your first job.
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#hgv #truckdriver #beginner
I passed my class one in 1972. Signed on with an agency and just lied basically. Exaggerated my experience, and fortunately, they didn't check at all. 40 years later, I retired.
Fantastic advice and a positive avenue for newbies to explore...cheers man!
Good Advice- I would always try to give someone a chance who turns up at our office looking clean,tidy,enthusiastic, be able to string a sentence together, definitely not slag off their old company and has a simple cv with a correct employment history with reference contacts. We have started and trained loads of new drivers, all still with us and all doing well 👍 The internet and over the phone doesn’t work that well with me…
Thanks for shedding the light on this from an employee's perspective, it's something so simple but yet very effective.
I also went for the old school approach I passed in November just gone and like you say not much luck online so printed off a load of my cv and done around 30 firms in a fortnight not all firms were welcoming so have to be friendly and have a thick skin especially when some security guards laugh saying it’s all online now but stick at it i have just managed to get a week’s assessment next week for a local container firm so fingers crossed crossed all goes well and can look at getting work at the end of it this video absolutely hits the nail on the head keep up the great content mate
Well done mate, thats the way to do it, determined and confident 👍
Thanks for the video, I'm exactly where you were 7 years ago. Worked as a project manager (office based) for ages, made redundant, so decided to re-train as a lorry driver, as EVERYONE kept saying they are in high demand. Passed my class 1 on 12th Feb, applied to over 50 online job ads from every job site under the sun. Granted only been a few days, but not heard a single thing yet.
Seeing as there is such a high demand, there seems to be a serious gap between getting your licence and getting that first job.
I'll give it a little longer, but might try the face to face approach if nothing happens.
Starting to feel like it was a fake hook in haha
Yeah, there is a shortage but they want experienced drivers to magically come out of no where.
And the insurance conpanys don't help when they charge double the amount for drivers with under 2 years experience.
Best way to go face to face mate shows your more willing
@@truckitprayle Its also worth looking for firms that self insure as your experience has no effect on insurance. I say this as someone who's started their 1st class 1 job with a firm that does exactly that.
I passed just over a month ago, signed up to an agency and got a few days here, thrown in at the deep end. Managed to get an assesment with a local firm, easy trunking work, no handballing and got offered the job. I am now a week in and loving it, dunno why i didnt do this before. And finally getting the hang of the reversing. 😂
Haha glad to hear mate, and yes reversing can take a while to get the hang of but you will get there.
What did you do before?
@@truckitprayle In my mid 40s now, and was a mechanic for 20 odd years, its taken its toll on me, not getting any younger. Past year or so i started doing car delivery work, monies a bit hit and miss, but found i enjoyed been out on the roads. Someone mentioned HGV bootcamp, so i put my name down and pretty much got accepted straight away, and the rest is history.
Happy days mate, well best of luck to you keep me updated how you are getting on!
Só pleased for you. I passed last week. You make you’re own luck. Smash it! (Not literally:)
@@truckitprayle Month in now and all going well. Few ups and downs, some shit days/nights cancellations etc, but nothing major, just part of the job. Working for a very well known online delivery company (south american river 🤫) So its easy work, too and from depots/fulfilment centres, a bit of bay parking, trailer swaps.
@willrobertson2136 Well done fella for passing, and thanks. All i can say is get out there and get applying. I was extremely lucky and probably unheard of, the first job i applied for, which was at the top of my list, i got. 😲
My advice is to apply to dirty jobs. Smelly dust bin wagons etc, most experienced drivers don't want them jobs unless they want shorter hours. A lot of companies need you to have held the HGV license for 1-2 years or they cannot insure you.
Yeah thats very true!
Done that they want 1 Yr experience as well
@@outlaw6421 - It varies on locations, some waste companies take on new passes, others want experience. Evri used to take on new passes, now they want 3-6 months driving experience at more and more sites. There's a influx of new passes in the market now, so the experienced are more sought after.
@@outlaw6421no they take new drivers
You mean bin dust wagons which is with a huge trailer and walking floor? Those typically pulled be trucks which is much bigger than the standard artics and sits on much higher suspension on a massive wheels. Not sure how someone who never driven a truck, can navigate this thing.
I always took it as a apprenticeship I drove 7.5 vans class 2 the odd class one and eventually it became only class one and as you work lots of jobs you find out what suits you then go for that full time
I was lucky as by trade im a butcher and i managed to get a job in a slaughter house delivering hanging carcass in a 12t box lorry and from there i went onto tippers then a flat bed delivering coal and logs.
I was lucky with tippers as my friend was the planner so he got me in the door there but i noticed after a while that he only really took on inexperienced drivers because he liked to pile on the work and because u didnt know any different u thought that u should.be able to get it done in the time frame but in reality u had to.break rules to do it done.
It was only when i went onto another firm i realised how ridiculous the work load he expected us todo was.
Thats it mate, some firms will take the p*ss out of new drivers, however it's just about getting that experience under your belt.
@@truckitprayle sad thing was the pay wasn't even that good as he had u on a day rate and would push it to the max.......he had it in his head we could start at 6 do something like 400 miles of driving and do 4 loads on route and be done by 3 o'clock on 9 hours driving(that included loading and tipping and 45min break) I finished at 7 with 10 mins left on a 10 hour drive.
Yeah thats not on, but i have been there aswell mate. I. Just glad i found a decent company now.
Thank you 😊
Thank you 👍
Just passed my ADR today. One year doing store deliveries under my belt. Bring on the big money 💷
Thats it mate, earning those stripes!
and thats why everyone wants those jobs. tuff to get in, but if you bide your time all will be ok.
@@itwoznotme I'll have to bide my time alright. It would appear that ADR drivers are ten a penny. Company called Isotank here in Manchester was advertising for ADR drivers for £13.20 an hour with nights out.
Good luck to them.
I did the knock on doors thing even before becoming a HGV driver, it does work. Now I've got nearly 2 years under my belt on agency I've got 2 interviews coming up for cracking jobs just be using a bit of cheek. If you send your CV by email it gets missed or just swallowed up in the pile of them they get emailed all the time. Be different, show your face, it shows willing, some sit up and take notice. Don't be afraid of agency work either, it pays the bills and gets your foot in the door along with proven experience. The thing with agencies is ask around, don't be fooled by false promises, be mercenary, sign up with several and give loyalty to the one who gives you the most work. Ask other drivers in the area which agency is busiest and that'll help. Remember it's YOUR money and YOUR bills etc, I just swapped agencies and the work is flying in. But yeah a permanent job is what is ideal yet hard to come by up here.
Thats brilliant mate, And sime sound advice. Hope you get the job!
What is the job doing? As in containers/tippers etc.
@@truckitprayle one is hauling steel with maybe 3 nights out a week, excellent money and own unit but I don't have steel experience so I'm up against it. The other is for a very local company and it's trunking and general haulage to a lot of places I know well, 200 mile range, and very nice trucks. I'd be happy with either job but the more local would be better for my personal life.
@@truckitprayle by the way my first attempt at a vlog is up, it's pretty damned awful but hey if you can stomach the drag til the delivery at Leeds it's true to life lol
th-cam.com/video/a9AkGORbWBs/w-d-xo.html
nice one mate, i just watched it and subscribed.
just remember it's a long game youtube.
and hit me up on facebook if you need any help with it mate.
Ive just passed my class 1 after doing my class 2 late last year. I applied to agencies last year expecting to get the odd day here and there, but nothing. I think the cold calling at the places in person is a good idea. I'll print off some CV's and get my best telephone voice at the ready. 👍
Give it a go mate, you have nothing to lose and only good can come from it.
@@truckitprayle thanks mate 👍 really nice seeing videos like this helping out newbies!
I have class 2 over 2,5 years and I was in tons of different places from south to midlands, from west to east. The trucks I usually drive was the fridge 26t, which is over 12m long. The biggest frame legally allowed for rigid and I’m perfectly navigate these vehicles in a tight spots and driving around London. In two weeks time I will be doing class 1. When I get license, will I be considered as a new drive or my class 2 experience also will be taking into the account?
Obviously I will be a new driver to pull a trailer but not a new driver to drive a truck.
It will put you at an advantage over others that have gone straight from car to class 1 for sure mate
Hi bro , i am thinking about doing job in trucking. so, could you let know whether the companies provider sponsorship to new drivers easily or not
Thank u
Yo sam! I just recently got my class 1 licence at the start of januar, im currently working with tesco in the distribution centre but they dont start hiring untill march time would you say its worth to just wait it out? Im desperate to get in the drivers seat but unsure wether to leave gain experience or stay untill something comes up 🥴.
Hope you and the family are well! Didnt even know you had this channel untill i search hgv stuff here and see you of all people! 🤣
No way!
Well as a new pass it can be pretty tough finding your first job so if it's likely you can get on the road where you are then id probably wait it out for a bit mate.
Feel free to hit me up on facebook if you need any help.
@@truckitprayle cheers man and will do!
What I'd like to know is where does it stand experience wise,from class 2 to 1. Ive got just under 7 years experience on class 2 with various jobs. One of my old jobs was in house trained shunter,so i have experience with moving trailers. Im a fresh pass (3 months ago) for class one. Would it be easier for someone who had more class 2 experience to be considered going towards a class 1 job?
Definitely will give you an advantage mate, if you go speak to transport managers and tell them you have done shunting aswell that will definitely give you a better shot.
I finish my license on the 19th, everything I've heard and read is very discouraging, seems like I might not be able to find a job as easily as I was promised.
Yes mate, there are many jobs out there but companies are reluctant to take new drivers for insurance purposes. You just need to get your foot in the door anywhere you can to get that experience then the worlds your oyster.
Iv been applying since January for hundreds of jobs and nothing.. there's no hope left
Where abouts in the country are you?
@@truckitprayle East London / Essex .. I'm looking for work in the barking and Dagenham area Havering or Grays Thurrock Purfleet
How does it work with having points on your licence? Surly that is a negative as well as being a new driver ? Really want to have a go but obviously don’t want to pay and not have a job after. Cheers
If im honest mate im not 100% sure some companies will allow 3 points.
@@truckitprayle sound cheers appreciate the reply! 👍
#phreaker_giggreinstatement is the best in solving all Amazon issues
Points are a disadvantage for sure, 6 or more and you become virtually unemployable.
Agency work?
4 years Experience and in Bristol so dead everywhere now . all agency quiet now
Oh really?
Any idea why that is?
Have you got any experience with agency work. Are they any good with finding work for new drivers?
I have a little experience with agency, and i have never tried finding people work to be honest.
What area are you in?
@truckitprayle i am from Manchester. The company I am training with said they help with getting jobs through agency.
@@hindustanicricket - The training company you use will sell you every dream they can. They're selling you something. They'll literally forward your CV to a company and that's their "help finding work" finished.
My instructor told me it was 9-10 hour jobs for HGV driving, my first agency job was 15 hour days and 13's. I only finished in 10 hours or less when I was with an experienced driver learning and he was blowing through 7.5 T weight limits.
I’m 30 miles from Southampton docks full licence including bus n can’t bloody get a job as no experience what a waste of money on my licence
It's not easy mate, but you have to stick at it, try walking in a few places and having a word like i said networking is the best way in this game. Best of luck fella!
@@truckitprayle cheers mate feel super hard at 37 years old plus 7 years bus and forklift experience now I regret paying so much for my licence and all the bits like DP world cart etc etc and no one fancy giving me a job 😂😂😂 hope to be soon out there and see you on the road god bless you
well i've tried this approach with a local company and my god the guy was rude! he told me to go online and apply, he'd not take my cv, he basically didn't even want to see my face! it really off putting..
Yeah i get that mate, theres always gona be one or two dicks out there but i gound generally most people are polite even if its just a simple sorry we don't have any vacancies.
Print off your CV, fart on it and then post it to him. You'll have the last laugh.
You should take that experience as a good one, it’s the first company to put on the list of never work for them, you don’t need to work for someone with that sort of attitude. I’d take his advice to go online, but not to apply! Leave them a lovely review instead 😉
Still waiting for pt 2 canada lol
Hey mate i did explain in the cideo after that things had been put on hold for the time being, however we are getting married out in canada in july and will be doing some research into it more then.
What agencies can I go apply at and is there any to avoid ?
All depends where you live.
okay okay i’ll try to speak with some local transport managers , let’s do it Old school style - don’t disappoint me ))! , but if I don't get the job I'll dislike this video and unsubscribe 😆!
Thanks 💪🏿
Hahaha well then not just for your sake but mine also, i reallly hope it works out for you! 😅
Pointless video - not everyone has friends in the hgv industry!
Didn't say you have to have friends, just go speak to transport managers.
@@truckitprayle the only way to speak to transport managers is to go and work in warehouses as a general warehouse operative/Flt driver if one has the certificate.. but what about the people who are changing careers? Let’s say an office worker or retail worker, how on earth are they going to come across a transport manager unless they are lucky enough to personally know one? You gotta be more specific..
Did you get problems getting your first Class 2 job or later moving onto Class 1? I got my first Class 2 job very easily. I wonder what it will be like switching to Artic.......
Class 2 was easy for me aswell however there seems to be a bigger demand for class 2 drivers getting into an artic seemed a little harder but you just have to be persistent mate.