HGV medical

Author
Discussion

the-norseman

Original Poster:

13,406 posts

178 months

Tuesday 31st January 2023
quotequote all
Quick question!

A few years ago my ex bought me a driving experience with Scania UK which involved going out on the roads of MK for about 90 minutes in a rigid, as part of this I had to get my provisional licence and do a medical, which I did.

I'm 34 now, I have since then done no HGV training at all but am wondering about doing my licence, will my medical still be valid? it says online that it stays valid till your 45, but I'm sure I read somewhere that is only true if you pass your test? if you don't its only valid for so long?

Most of the training centres offer courses that include getting provisional, medical etc but I don't want to pay for that if I don't need to.

Can you also go from car to CE now? I saw they were on about introducing it.

nordboy

1,939 posts

57 months

Wednesday 1st February 2023
quotequote all
the-norseman said:
Quick question!

A few years ago my ex bought me a driving experience with Scania UK which involved going out on the roads of MK for about 90 minutes in a rigid, as part of this I had to get my provisional licence and do a medical, which I did.

I'm 34 now, I have since then done no HGV training at all but am wondering about doing my licence, will my medical still be valid? it says online that it stays valid till your 45, but I'm sure I read somewhere that is only true if you pass your test? if you don't its only valid for so long?

Most of the training centres offer courses that include getting provisional, medical etc but I don't want to pay for that if I don't need to.

Can you also go from car to CE now? I saw they were on about introducing it.
My understanding is, and i'm really no massive expert, is that the medical is every 5 yrs.

You should still have the provisional entitlement on your licence.

Yes, you can now go straight to C+E from a car.

the-norseman

Original Poster:

13,406 posts

178 months

Wednesday 1st February 2023
quotequote all
Seems to be every 5 years of your over 45 and every year over 65 according to DVLA website but can't find out if mine is still valid.

R0G

4,998 posts

162 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
quotequote all
I SERIOUSLY SUGGEST LOOKING AT THE TRUCKNETUK SITE

the-norseman

Original Poster:

13,406 posts

178 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
quotequote all
I asked the local training centre for some advise their reply was "check your licence to see if the provisionals are still valid" , That doesn't really answer question about medical.

R0G

4,998 posts

162 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
quotequote all
the-norseman said:
I asked the local training centre for some advise their reply was "check your licence to see if the provisionals are still valid" , That doesn't really answer question about medical.
Medical is valid for 6 months in which time it must be used to get a PROVISIONAL LGV

Check driving licence online and click provisional - it should be there

the-norseman

Original Poster:

13,406 posts

178 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
quotequote all
So according to that now I have the provision its "valid"

Yeh I've got provisional for C1, C , D1, D on the online check but then on my actual license I have C1, C, D1, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E and DE

R0G

4,998 posts

162 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
quotequote all
the-norseman said:
So according to that now I have the provision its "valid"

Yeh I've got provisional for C1, C , D1, D on the online check but then on my actual license I have C1, C, D1, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E and DE
If you passed car test before 1997 then you got those for free but many have restriction codes
As a pre 1997 C1 holder you do not have to do module 2 + 4 tests but do 35 hours periodic instead which can be done online now
You can also get your digicard now

Much more info can be obtained on the trucknetuk site in the newbies forum

the-norseman

Original Poster:

13,406 posts

178 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
quotequote all
Unfortunately I was about 7 in 1997 , passed car test in 2006

AMC243

105 posts

43 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
quotequote all
Once the enhanced medical check is completed it must be used to obtain a provisional within 4 months, which you've already done. The provisional entitlement is valid until you reach 45 and then you'll have to do another medical if you want to retain it. If you want to be able to drive for a living, then you need to do the full suite of initial CPC, which is:

Module 1: Theory and hazard perception
Module 2: Case studies
Module 3: Practical driving (off and on road)
Module 4: Practical safety demonstration

Completion of modules 1 and 3 will grant the letter on your licence, modules 2 and 4 give you the blue Driver Qualification Card to allow you to drive professionally - the tachograph card is a separate entity and not conditional on obtaining either the relevant licence or CPC card. The modules may be done in any order, as long as module 1 is done before 3, and 2 before 4 (I did 1-2-4-3 with my employer). CPC is valid for 5 years, during which you must do 35 hours of periodic training in order to renew it - the courses are usually 7 hours long, the idea is that you do one each year but you don't have to do it that way. The licence itself will be valid for 5 years and DVLA will send you a form to fill out before it expires so that you can renew it.

As for your other question, yes, you can go from car to CE now, but if what the truckers on this forum say is anything to go by, it's quite a leap. I'm by no means an experienced driver, but it took about 40 hours of training for me to be able to sling a bus around well enough to pass my test.

R0G

4,998 posts

162 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
quotequote all
AMC243 said:
Once the enhanced medical check is completed it must be used to obtain a provisional within 4 months, which you've already done. The provisional entitlement is valid until you reach 45 and then you'll have to do another medical if you want to retain it. If you want to be able to drive for a living, then you need to do the full suite of initial CPC, which is:

Module 1: Theory and hazard perception
Module 2: Case studies
Module 3: Practical driving (off and on road)
Module 4: Practical safety demonstration

Completion of modules 1 and 3 will grant the letter on your licence, modules 2 and 4 give you the blue Driver Qualification Card to allow you to drive professionally - the tachograph card is a separate entity and not conditional on obtaining either the relevant licence or CPC card. The modules may be done in any order, as long as module 1 is done before 3, and 2 before 4 (I did 1-2-4-3 with my employer). CPC is valid for 5 years, during which you must do 35 hours of periodic training in order to renew it - the courses are usually 7 hours long, the idea is that you do one each year but you don't have to do it that way. The licence itself will be valid for 5 years and DVLA will send you a form to fill out before it expires so that you can renew it.

As for your other question, yes, you can go from car to CE now, but if what the truckers on this forum say is anything to go by, it's quite a leap. I'm by no means an experienced driver, but it took about 40 hours of training for me to be able to sling a bus around well enough to pass my test.
Modules
1a LGV theory
1b HPT
2 CPC theory
3a practical off road test
3b practical on road test
4 CPC practical

Book 1a 1b + 2 on the same day at theory test centre - even if times are spread through the day they usually ask if you would like to do them back to back

3a is tested by an instructor - not your own

3b is tested by DVSA examiner

Cannot remember who now tests for 4

the-norseman

Original Poster:

13,406 posts

178 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
quotequote all
At the moment , I want to get my licence but I'm happy working for the railway so could I get the licence without the CPC? just to have the licence.

towser44

3,666 posts

122 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
quotequote all
R0G said:
AMC243 said:
Once the enhanced medical check is completed it must be used to obtain a provisional within 4 months, which you've already done. The provisional entitlement is valid until you reach 45 and then you'll have to do another medical if you want to retain it. If you want to be able to drive for a living, then you need to do the full suite of initial CPC, which is:

Module 1: Theory and hazard perception
Module 2: Case studies
Module 3: Practical driving (off and on road)
Module 4: Practical safety demonstration

Completion of modules 1 and 3 will grant the letter on your licence, modules 2 and 4 give you the blue Driver Qualification Card to allow you to drive professionally - the tachograph card is a separate entity and not conditional on obtaining either the relevant licence or CPC card. The modules may be done in any order, as long as module 1 is done before 3, and 2 before 4 (I did 1-2-4-3 with my employer). CPC is valid for 5 years, during which you must do 35 hours of periodic training in order to renew it - the courses are usually 7 hours long, the idea is that you do one each year but you don't have to do it that way. The licence itself will be valid for 5 years and DVLA will send you a form to fill out before it expires so that you can renew it.

As for your other question, yes, you can go from car to CE now, but if what the truckers on this forum say is anything to go by, it's quite a leap. I'm by no means an experienced driver, but it took about 40 hours of training for me to be able to sling a bus around well enough to pass my test.
Modules
1a LGV theory
1b HPT
2 CPC theory
3a practical off road test
3b practical on road test
4 CPC practical

Book 1a 1b + 2 on the same day at theory test centre - even if times are spread through the day they usually ask if you would like to do them back to back

3a is tested by an instructor - not your own

3b is tested by DVSA examiner

Cannot remember who now tests for 4
My driving instructor tested me for CPC Practical, but you have to be DVSA Approved

AMC243

105 posts

43 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
quotequote all
the-norseman said:
At the moment , I want to get my licence but I'm happy working for the railway so could I get the licence without the CPC? just to have the licence.
You could indeed, that would be modules 1 and 3 and you'd get the letters on your licence. Not sure what you'd do with it apart from maybe drive a big campervan but there's no requirement to do the full suite if you don't want to make a living out of it.

AMC243

105 posts

43 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
quotequote all
R0G said:
Modules
1a LGV theory
1b HPT
2 CPC theory
3a practical off road test
3b practical on road test
4 CPC practical

Book 1a 1b + 2 on the same day at theory test centre - even if times are spread through the day they usually ask if you would like to do them back to back

3a is tested by an instructor - not your own

3b is tested by DVSA examiner

Cannot remember who now tests for 4
Mine was all done through my employer, like most big bus companies we have delegated authority to do both theory and practical tests in-house - our examiner is a company employee but authorised and overseen by the DVSA to do the practicals.

the-norseman

Original Poster:

13,406 posts

178 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
quotequote all
AMC243 said:
You could indeed, that would be modules 1 and 3 and you'd get the letters on your licence. Not sure what you'd do with it apart from maybe drive a big campervan but there's no requirement to do the full suite if you don't want to make a living out of it.
At the moment I just want to do it, as its always something I've wanted to do, but at the moment I have no plans to "work" in the HGV sector.