Getting into an "HGV"

[Josho]

So I want to build a heavy 6-7 tonne recovery truck.

Mainly for moving vehicles about so it will be hire and reward not just recovery.

So I need to go and get my C1 license?

May as well get +E to allow trailers.

I then need an O license yes?

The 6-12 weekly inspections are not a prob as we are a garage anyway.

What I'm basically trying to ask is what's it going to cost?

License well after 1997. The insurance isn't an issue it's just the rest of it. It's all confusing online just need to know if I'm going to be able to afford it before I even start.

[Fun Bus]

For the O-licence you'l also need a named Transport Manager with a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). For the driver(s) they'll need driver CPCs.

It used to be the case that for O-licence applications you needed to show you had the financial backup to ensure maintenance.

[italianjob1275]

Is it for your own business or are you moving cars for other people? If it’s your own you can run on a restricted O license, and (I believe) you don’t have to show financial standing which IIRC is around £8k for every vehicle you intend to run.

Getting C+E would require taking 2 tests. For anything over 7.5t you’ll need cat C, it’s exactly the same test as the C1 (below 7.5t) so you may as well do that. You’ll also need to pass your driver CPC before doing any paid work.

[carmadgaz]

italianjob1275 said:

Getting C+E would require taking 2 tests. For anything over 7.5t you’ll need cat C, it’s exactly the same test as the C1 (below 7.5t) so you may as well do that. You’ll also need to pass your driver CPC before doing any paid work.

Don't know about the O-license side of the game so I'll step out on that subject.

As quoted you have to do your "Test" (Be it B, C1, C, D1 or D) before you can take the "+E" test for the catagory. If you are going to the cost and theories of doing your test you may as well go straight to the "C" license (Rigid above 7.5T) as it will give you C1 anyway.

Recovery rules are slightly different to "normal" trucking so it's worth learning the exemptions etc (I don't have a link to hand but there is a page somewhere)

Callmedave had a great thread on the subject of starting out in the world of LGV that a few people gave great advice on (I used it myself when starting out in Feb)
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Recovery is hard graft and weird hours though. I just use a 4x4 and trailer when moving personal stuff as it's easier. Good luck either way

[citizensm1th]

You might want to take a look at this before you even start

http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/sims/manuf/3...

There is a very high risk of serious injury to people at work providing roadside assistance from other road users. For example, three out of every five serious motorway accidents involve a broken down vehicle on the hard shoulder, and in 1996, 13 of the 165 motorway fatalities happened on the hard shoulder. One of the trade associations estimates that there are approx. 6-8 fatalities every year amongst the 5000 or so RRR technicians. However, as many of these Road Traffic Incidents (RTIs) are not reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), the exact numbers of workers killed or injured is not known.

It is also not quite as simple as building your own wrecker any more either


It is not a job i would like to do.

[D_T_W]

Josho said:

So I want to build a heavy 6-7 tonne recovery truck.

Will that be the Gross weight of the vehicle including any goods it's carrying?

Josho said:

So I need to go and get my C1 license?

Related to above, as the C1 entitlement will restrict you to a Gross weight of 7.5t

Josho said:

Mainly for moving vehicles about so it will be hire and reward not just recovery.

Josho said:

I then need an O license yes?

If you are doing Hire and Reward work then you will require a National 'O' License, with the various requirements that brings with it (good repute, CPC qualified Transport Manager, financial standing etc)

Josho said:

May as well get +E to allow trailers.

If you're going down that route I would argue you're actually better off just doing the whole C+E rather than C1+E

Josho said:

The 6-12 weekly inspections are not a prob as we are a garage anyway.

What I'm basically trying to ask is what's it going to cost?

License well after 1997. The insurance isn't an issue it's just the rest of it. It's all confusing online just need to know if I'm going to be able to afford it before I even start.

It's not cheap and the Traffic Commissioner/DVSA can be a fking horror to deal with even when you're squeaky clean, so be prepared for that!

[anonymous-user]

citizensm1th said:

You might want to take a look at this before you even start

http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/sims/manuf/3...

There is a very high risk of serious injury to people at work providing roadside assistance from other road users. For example, three out of every five serious motorway accidents involve a broken down vehicle on the hard shoulder, and in 1996, 13 of the 165 motorway fatalities happened on the hard shoulder. One of the trade associations estimates that there are approx. 6-8 fatalities every year amongst the 5000 or so RRR technicians. However, as many of these Road Traffic Incidents (RTIs) are not reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), the exact numbers of workers killed or injured is not known.

It is also not quite as simple as building your own wrecker any more either


It is not a job i would like to do.

Completely agree.

If you were doing HGV recovery then the risks are somewhat reduced as HGV recovery will probably have either a lane or full closure in place due to the size of the task or the severity of the accident if one has happened.
Other recovery is just dicing with death in my opinion. I try to always move lanes if I see a recovery vehicle, even on an empty motorway. Just the wash from my air alone can knock someone off balance and maybe into the live carriageway.
You can get all the cards and qualifications in the world but you’re still relying on your own common sense and the hope that some HGV drivers are not drifting to sleep or watching laptops or indeed that the motorists are paying attention and not “scrolling” or “updating” as they usually are when I find them in lane 1 slowly losing speed..........

[GC8]

Fun Bus said:

For the O-licence you'l also need a named Transport Manager with a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). For the driver(s) they'll need driver CPCs.

It used to be the case that for O-licence applications you needed to show you had the financial backup to ensure maintenance.

It is called financial good standing. You will need to establish this when you apply. It will cost a good deal more for a blue disc than for an orange one.

[GC8]

C1 and C1+E are Micky Mouse. Of no real use but they will cost as much as a proper rigid HGV entitlement. The same applies to the +E (although the cost may be a little more, but the benefit makes it worthwhile).

Always take your C entitlement test over a C1.

[iguana]

Costs pretty easy to work out, o licence stuff all on the web

Application £257
Licence £4O1 & again in 5 yrs.

Transport manager cpc £8OO-12OO ish

Driver cpc, a few options of doing it, allow £5OO ish is what I think I paid, can be less ESP doing module 2& 4 route if you can.

Class 1 approx £3k
Or c1+e about half that

Then tacho calibration 2yr 5 yr £6O to £1OO


Forgot to add- newspaper O licence notice, very variable, £12O-8OO area

Edited by iguana on Tuesday 26th December 09:38

[Super Slo Mo]

Don’t forget though you have to be able to prove your financial standing. You need to have X thousand quid in liquid funds available (per vehicle). I forget the exact amount though, but as has been said above, a restricted licence has lower funding requirements than a national.

[Fun Bus]

A standard O-licence is £7,850 for the first vehicle then £4,350 for each additional. Restricted is £3,100 then £1,700 for each additional.

[GC8]

Approximately £8,000 for the first vehicle and they look harder now, so it being there for a day or two wont cut it. Also, don't dismiss CPC as a £1,200 course: most people fail the international rules part and the rest is easy.

A responsible person can be hired-in, but theyre going to look a lot harder at you if you do this.

[Cheapstraitsix]

Recovery vehicles fall under the o licence exemption according to the .gov site.

[iguana]

Cheapstraitsix said:

Recovery vehicles fall under the o licence exemption according to the .gov site.

Yes I've got one on the fleet, but it's use is restrictive & no good if as the op said you are doing this

Josho said:

Mainly for moving vehicles about so it will be hire and reward not just recovery.

Plus only trailer you can have is one that the recovered vehicle was towing.

Vosa pretty strict on it if they stop you.

Edited by iguana on Friday 5th January 12:56