New Class 1 & 2 Pass
Discussion
Hi folks,
Recently passed my Class 1 & 2 practical and finding it very difficult to find a job.
I’ve a lot of experience on multidrop work, though not in class 2.
Shall I dismiss class 1 altogether until I gain class 2 experience? For me it’s like learning to ride a bike without stabilsers and then going back to stabilsers. I know I’ve a lot to learn but would refer to jump straight to class 1 but all firms want experience.
I know of a good agency but they want me to come in on a weekday to register. The industry is manic at the moment and don’t want to let down current employer of a morning to see them.
Even class 2 seems to be difficult to get in to. I’m near Farnham so have tried Frederick Miller and the like but no cigar.
Anyone have any advice as to where to turn? Meanwhile I’m doing 11 hour days, delivering 80-90 parcels with collections for peanuts. I appreciate it’s a job at least and others are not as fortunate.
Recently passed my Class 1 & 2 practical and finding it very difficult to find a job.
I’ve a lot of experience on multidrop work, though not in class 2.
Shall I dismiss class 1 altogether until I gain class 2 experience? For me it’s like learning to ride a bike without stabilsers and then going back to stabilsers. I know I’ve a lot to learn but would refer to jump straight to class 1 but all firms want experience.
I know of a good agency but they want me to come in on a weekday to register. The industry is manic at the moment and don’t want to let down current employer of a morning to see them.
Even class 2 seems to be difficult to get in to. I’m near Farnham so have tried Frederick Miller and the like but no cigar.
Anyone have any advice as to where to turn? Meanwhile I’m doing 11 hour days, delivering 80-90 parcels with collections for peanuts. I appreciate it’s a job at least and others are not as fortunate.
Agency really is the only way to get a foot in the door. I know registering is a pain, but it it’s the only way forward etc. You may find that you end up being offered a job at one of your placements. You will certainly get the opportunity to find out what you do and don’t like with your Class 1. Best of luck.
Try hauliers who are part of a pallet network. They are nearly always looking for class 2 deliveries and collections drivers, generally working between 7am to 6pm weekdays. It can be a bit of a ball-ache of a job and there are easier class 2 jobs out there so tends to see a lot of driver churn as they come for a while then move onto a better offer elsewhere. Good way of earning experience and as you're on multi-drop deliveries already you'll be well accustomed to rushing around everywhere.
Tekno said:
I know of a good agency but they want me to come in on a weekday to register. The industry is manic at the moment and don’t want to let down current employer of a morning to see them.
Anyone have any advice as to where to turn? Meanwhile I’m doing 11 hour days, delivering 80-90 parcels with collections for peanuts.
Read this again.Anyone have any advice as to where to turn? Meanwhile I’m doing 11 hour days, delivering 80-90 parcels with collections for peanuts.
It's good you have the attitude that you don't want to let down your employer but you'll get nowhere with that.
Register with the agency.
GC8 said:
Why do people insist on misusing three decade out of date licence groups?
C+E. You didnt take a 'Class 2' test and if it was old system it'd have been Class 3.
No-one other than HR departments in job ads calls it class C and C+E. Everyone knows it as class 1 and class 2 for artics and rigids. Stop splitting hairs, everyone here knows what he's on about without needing the pointless pedantry.C+E. You didnt take a 'Class 2' test and if it was old system it'd have been Class 3.
When I first passed my test I went to a small local firm explained I’d just passed etc said I’d go out with one of their drivers for a day unpaid to ‘prove’ myself which they agreed to and the next day offered me a proper full time job. If you can’t get on at any firm as others have said get onto an agency, it’s Christmas they are all screaming for drivers! Also it’s a good opportunity to try a few different jobs/ companies see what best suits you.
My advice would be to look only for rigid work. Broadly speaking, no one wants a driver in an articulated vehicle with virtually no experience. Some people might give you a seat as the mental season progresses, but do you want that work?
It may be counter-intuitive, but you might fare better looking for more difficult work. If you want to drive a Stobart vehicle to supermarkets that it barely fits in then no one will help you: youll get a key and a clip board and theyll f
k you off.
If you want to do something which involves a far greater degree of skill, such as asphalt tippers or milk tankers, then you are probably more likely to get an opportunity and certain to get a few days instruction and to be encouraged to take your time.
It may be counter-intuitive, but you might fare better looking for more difficult work. If you want to drive a Stobart vehicle to supermarkets that it barely fits in then no one will help you: youll get a key and a clip board and theyll f
k you off.If you want to do something which involves a far greater degree of skill, such as asphalt tippers or milk tankers, then you are probably more likely to get an opportunity and certain to get a few days instruction and to be encouraged to take your time.
It was I think the 80s when we changed from HGV classes 1 2 and 3 to the current C and CE system
Its about time we stopped using very old terminology because it does not now make sense
Class 3 was 2 axle rigid
Class 2 was over 2 axle rigid
Those are now all C
Class 1 was artic only and could not drive unit on its own without class 1
That is now CE with the unit being a C if no trailer
W&D is a weird one
That was allowed with HGV classes 2 and 3 but is now CE
Its about time we stopped using very old terminology because it does not now make sense
Class 3 was 2 axle rigid
Class 2 was over 2 axle rigid
Those are now all C
Class 1 was artic only and could not drive unit on its own without class 1
That is now CE with the unit being a C if no trailer
W&D is a weird one
That was allowed with HGV classes 2 and 3 but is now CE
GC8 said:
And there are lots of older drivers who took a Class 3 test only, who now have an endorsed C+E (102).
That would be for W&D only and not for articHere is the daft bit -
A driver with the 102 code can go to the test centre without L plates and do the CE test
Put L plates on for the test
Pass or fail remove L plates and drive out
If a pass then 102 code removed
Tekno said:
Hi folks,
Recently passed my Class 1 & 2 practical and finding it very difficult to find a job.
I’ve a lot of experience on multidrop work, though not in class 2.
Shall I dismiss class 1 altogether until I gain class 2 experience? For me it’s like learning to ride a bike without stabilsers and then going back to stabilsers. I know I’ve a lot to learn but would refer to jump straight to class 1 but all firms want experience.
I know of a good agency but they want me to come in on a weekday to register. The industry is manic at the moment and don’t want to let down current employer of a morning to see them.
Even class 2 seems to be difficult to get in to. I’m near Farnham so have tried Frederick Miller and the like but no cigar.
Anyone have any advice as to where to turn? Meanwhile I’m doing 11 hour days, delivering 80-90 parcels with collections for peanuts. I appreciate it’s a job at least and others are not as fortunate.
Waitrose have a massive DC in Bracknell, there's an agency in Teddington who recruit for them IIRC - just google Waitrose DC HGV and it should take you in the right direction.Recently passed my Class 1 & 2 practical and finding it very difficult to find a job.
I’ve a lot of experience on multidrop work, though not in class 2.
Shall I dismiss class 1 altogether until I gain class 2 experience? For me it’s like learning to ride a bike without stabilsers and then going back to stabilsers. I know I’ve a lot to learn but would refer to jump straight to class 1 but all firms want experience.
I know of a good agency but they want me to come in on a weekday to register. The industry is manic at the moment and don’t want to let down current employer of a morning to see them.
Even class 2 seems to be difficult to get in to. I’m near Farnham so have tried Frederick Miller and the like but no cigar.
Anyone have any advice as to where to turn? Meanwhile I’m doing 11 hour days, delivering 80-90 parcels with collections for peanuts. I appreciate it’s a job at least and others are not as fortunate.
Chambers Waste Management are based in Guildford - try them.
As others have said you're going to have to take a few days leave and create a new opportunity - it will be there.
R0G said:
GC8 said:
And there are lots of older drivers who took a Class 3 test only, who now have an endorsed C+E (102).
That would be for W&D only and not for articHere is the daft bit -
A driver with the 102 code can go to the test centre without L plates and do the CE test
Put L plates on for the test
Pass or fail remove L plates and drive out
If a pass then 102 code removed
Venisonpie said:
Tekno said:
Hi folks,
Recently passed my Class 1 & 2 practical and finding it very difficult to find a job.
I’ve a lot of experience on multidrop work, though not in class 2.
Shall I dismiss class 1 altogether until I gain class 2 experience? For me it’s like learning to ride a bike without stabilsers and then going back to stabilsers. I know I’ve a lot to learn but would refer to jump straight to class 1 but all firms want experience.
I know of a good agency but they want me to come in on a weekday to register. The industry is manic at the moment and don’t want to let down current employer of a morning to see them.
Even class 2 seems to be difficult to get in to. I’m near Farnham so have tried Frederick Miller and the like but no cigar.
Anyone have any advice as to where to turn? Meanwhile I’m doing 11 hour days, delivering 80-90 parcels with collections for peanuts. I appreciate it’s a job at least and others are not as fortunate.
Waitrose have a massive DC in Bracknell, there's an agency in Teddington who recruit for them IIRC - just google Waitrose DC HGV and it should take you in the right direction.Recently passed my Class 1 & 2 practical and finding it very difficult to find a job.
I’ve a lot of experience on multidrop work, though not in class 2.
Shall I dismiss class 1 altogether until I gain class 2 experience? For me it’s like learning to ride a bike without stabilsers and then going back to stabilsers. I know I’ve a lot to learn but would refer to jump straight to class 1 but all firms want experience.
I know of a good agency but they want me to come in on a weekday to register. The industry is manic at the moment and don’t want to let down current employer of a morning to see them.
Even class 2 seems to be difficult to get in to. I’m near Farnham so have tried Frederick Miller and the like but no cigar.
Anyone have any advice as to where to turn? Meanwhile I’m doing 11 hour days, delivering 80-90 parcels with collections for peanuts. I appreciate it’s a job at least and others are not as fortunate.
Chambers Waste Management are based in Guildford - try them.
As others have said you're going to have to take a few days leave and create a new opportunity - it will be there.
If you have your class 1.. sorry c+e then I would prioritise finding an artic job, I turned one down to get some experience on class 2 and regretted it straight away. It’s completely different. In the West Country at least if a company is willing to take on new drivers they don’t seem to care if you have rigid experience or not. Phone around all the local hauliers and ask, I have never got a driving job by filling out an application.
Gassing Station | Commercial Break | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff