CPC recommendations in the North East/Northumberland

[Cooper1999]

Afternoon All.
I'm thinking of getting back in to HGV driving (I passed my C+E last century when in the military) and am looking to undertake my CPC.
Google tells me there are a few places in the North East that facilitate this (Tyneside Training in Sunderland and ECO Drive in Gosforth being the top two from the search). Does anyone have any experience of these companies, or others in the area that could be recommended?
Tyneside Training do also offer 'refresher' training on the driving side which I'm keen to pursue - its 10 years or more since I drove HGV and I'm sure things has moved on in that time.
Any thoughts welcome. Cheers.

[GC8]

Take advantage of the pandemic and do it online for far less money.

[Dan-k]

https://agtraining-cpc.co.uk/course-dates?gclid=Cj...

I used this company for mine.

[AF1]

Chartwise on team valley are pretty good.

[HelterSkelter]

Pretty much all companies are doing it online at the minute so just take your pick and prepare to get comfy at home for 7 hours a day. I've had different person for each module and some are better than others at keeping it interesting.

This is the company I'm using...

https://www.enterprisetransporttraining.com/

[GC8]

It isnt interesting if youre sat there and they provide lunch: it never will be at home. Id buy on price alone and pay as little as possible (I saw £25 per 7hrs at one point), and expect it to be heavy going.

[Cooper1999]

Went with AG Training in the end - glad I did.
Interesting (it's quite a few years since I drove HGV, got the opportunity to ask plenty of questions), good value (online course) and made quite enjoyable by the guy who delivered the information (Cheers Kev!).
Just got to wait for my DQC and Digi card to come through now and start looking at what's available.
Cheers All.

[Cooper1999]

By way of a short update, I've just finished my first week of Agency driving. Only Cat C, but after nearly 20 years I couldn't have had a better (re)introduction - driving a bin wagon collecting recycling waste from shops and factories.
Automatic, with a camera mounted on the rear - like I say, couldn't have been a better week. Plenty of practise reversing (camera no use on dark mornings) I'll now be looking out for the next opportunity (hopefully to get reacquainted with C+E).
I think I'm going to enjoy this.
Happy New Year.

[lost in espace]

Thanks for your update, considering getting my licence. Appreciated.

[Cooper1999]

Final update in this thread now I've finished my first week back in an artic.

Once again I'm pleased to say things came back to me pretty quickly and the wagon being automatic makes things so much easier (one less thing to think about, but no opportunity to practise my double declutching!).

It was Agency work but I have to say, the (staff) guys I was working with couldn't have been nicer, answering my questions, giving me advise etc. I hope I repaid them by working safely and doing my best.

It was night work trunking down to Fradley Park - I've not done too much night working in the past but was getting used to it by the end of the week (and at least there was the advantage of the roads being a little quieter). And if you were one of the truckers who helped me out around Fradley, the Thank You.

So lost in espace, I'd say go for it. I thoroughly enjoyed last week and look forward to getting more work going forward. Can't see me going back to Management/Office work anytime soon.

[GC8]

Automatic Mercedes. *shudder*

[One Amp Andy]

GC8 said:

Automatic Mercedes. *shudder*

AND Fradley Park. The forkies there are hilarious to watch though, when sat in the cab getting tipped in the sheds. It's what I'd imagine the inside of an ants nest is like .

Anyway, good effort OP, glad to see you're doing ok.