Getting class C licence?
Discussion
100% not for a job before people mention cpc as I will be exempt from needing it so my understanding is I dont need to do it?
How hard is the actual test?
I have been driving 8 years, got my trailer licence at 19, been driving jcbs, dumper trucks, road rollers and excavators since 15 (countryside life!). Not too worried about the size as my Range Rover with the plant trailer is 10.6m long and about 2.1m wide which I take down single track lanes and through offroad woodland tracks, gov.uk say the truck only has to be 8m long and 2.4m wide.
If I was to do my theory first then find a company for a day + use of their truck for the test would this be madness?
Only want it incase I ever need to drive a truck for house move, picking up a new digger etc. So far mum and her boyfriend have been called on as they have grandfather 7.5 ton license, still had to pay people to bring in the larger things like the portacabin. If I was to go to the effort of getting the 7.5 ton test it seems madness to not just get the full blown C class licence.
How hard is the actual test?
I have been driving 8 years, got my trailer licence at 19, been driving jcbs, dumper trucks, road rollers and excavators since 15 (countryside life!). Not too worried about the size as my Range Rover with the plant trailer is 10.6m long and about 2.1m wide which I take down single track lanes and through offroad woodland tracks, gov.uk say the truck only has to be 8m long and 2.4m wide.
If I was to do my theory first then find a company for a day + use of their truck for the test would this be madness?
Only want it incase I ever need to drive a truck for house move, picking up a new digger etc. So far mum and her boyfriend have been called on as they have grandfather 7.5 ton license, still had to pay people to bring in the larger things like the portacabin. If I was to go to the effort of getting the 7.5 ton test it seems madness to not just get the full blown C class licence.
citizensm1th said:
moving house or lugging ponies around would be fine for no cpc ,collecting diggers or anything else that could be thought of as doing work for a company would i believe need a cpc
You need a DCPC is driving an HGV is your job. If you drive an HGV with plant on the back, and then operate the plant all day, and then drive it back home, you dont need a DCPC.GC8 said:
citizensm1th said:
moving house or lugging ponies around would be fine for no cpc ,collecting diggers or anything else that could be thought of as doing work for a company would i believe need a cpc
You need a DCPC is driving an HGV is your job. If you drive an HGV with plant on the back, and then operate the plant all day, and then drive it back home, you dont need a DCPC.I did a week intensive and passed my C class last week.
Driven for 21 years and have been driving vans for work for roughly the last 15.
The actual driving of the truck wasn't too bad. Getting used to being sat over the front wheels and having to get the front of the cab further forward than i was used to, to make sure the rear wheels cleared kerbs, took a bit of practice.
The hardest part, as agent006 said, is un learning all the bad habits. MSM every time, always checking mirror, mirror, blindspot before pulling away. Always engaging handbrake when stopped.
Then there is the test. You are out with the examiner for an hour. All it takes is to clip one kerb or pull out on 1 vehicle and it is test over. So as long as you air on the side of caution and don't rush you will be fine, it may gain you a few minors for not making progress, but takes 4 of the same before it counts as a fail.
There is an independent drive section where you will be told to follow signs for x and left to it for the next 10 minutes or so. Sounds easy, but if you don't know the area well it can be easy to miss a sign or weight restriction. If you do know the area, don't get into lanes too early, remember you need to drive as though you don't know where you are going and react to the signs, not your own knowledge.
I would recommend more than 1 lesson, the test comes in at about £300, which is a fair amount to spend if you aren't 100% ready. My course and test came in at £1035.
Driven for 21 years and have been driving vans for work for roughly the last 15.
The actual driving of the truck wasn't too bad. Getting used to being sat over the front wheels and having to get the front of the cab further forward than i was used to, to make sure the rear wheels cleared kerbs, took a bit of practice.
The hardest part, as agent006 said, is un learning all the bad habits. MSM every time, always checking mirror, mirror, blindspot before pulling away. Always engaging handbrake when stopped.
Then there is the test. You are out with the examiner for an hour. All it takes is to clip one kerb or pull out on 1 vehicle and it is test over. So as long as you air on the side of caution and don't rush you will be fine, it may gain you a few minors for not making progress, but takes 4 of the same before it counts as a fail.
There is an independent drive section where you will be told to follow signs for x and left to it for the next 10 minutes or so. Sounds easy, but if you don't know the area well it can be easy to miss a sign or weight restriction. If you do know the area, don't get into lanes too early, remember you need to drive as though you don't know where you are going and react to the signs, not your own knowledge.
I would recommend more than 1 lesson, the test comes in at about £300, which is a fair amount to spend if you aren't 100% ready. My course and test came in at £1035.
Edited by SouthHamsGaz on Monday 24th August 10:18
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