THE ONLY WAY IS TO DO IT ALL YOURSELF •
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In reply to Gary Fox (CM 25 Feb-2 March), although not in the haulage business, I am a keen reader of Commercial Motor and I like to know what is happening in the industry.
I am a successful driving instructor, running my own small driving school of two cars, soon to be three. I try to teach my pupils how to pass their driving test; but it does not stop there. Good, thoughtful driving and a high degree of road safety can be gained while learning to drive, but only with experience after passing the test will you improve.
The people who have "a little brown book", and I am one of them, have shown willingness, and paid a lot of money, to become an HGV licence holder. Why is it then, that most of us come up against "Sorry, no experience, no job".
Where on earth are we to gain it if this is the attitude of our industry?
I am not senseless — I
know the importance of tachograph operation, securing a load and driving a laden vehicle — but I am not experienced because I have not been given the chance to learn. Tell me, where did Mr Fox learn to be a competent HGV driver? Could he do all of these operations immediately on passing an HGV test? If so, then he is one of the lucky few.
Maybe the way is to become an owner driver and so gain experience, but this idea has been shunned by many drivers I have mentioned it to.
So where do we go from here? Fortunately my business has kept my family and me going for the past six years, but I would still strongly consider a change if given a genuine chance. A Volvo F12, the occasional night out, and a round figure of about 2250 per week would do me (ha ha). D Walker Birmingham