Greetings folks.
A bit of history before my question if you would be kind enough to persevere.
I started out on the buses in 1986, class three then class 1 (crash box) a few weeks later as they realised they need more class 1 drivers.
Very soon after I passed my class 3 hgv still only 21 years old in the TA’ did ten years as a port operator (docker) , but I went with the buses carreer wise as it was steady work and good money.
Anyway roll on to 2003 I had a bad accident and it knocked my driving confidence, I battled for 6 months driving but I felt too wound up. I was offered (more than once) a managers psv Cpc but declined as my head was not in the right place, I was however on a lot of work related committees, hence the Cpc offer. I ended up in customer services in a good office based role due to my experience and knowledge of the legislation in the industry.
In 2010 I was made redundant or offered relocation to Luton, I took the handsome amount of money and walked.
Soon enough I was on class 2 (granddad rights) delivering forklift trucks, then on my 50th birthday I was asked to take class 1, I did and passed… Yer I thought my bad habits would shine through
Now unexpectedly there is a whisper we need a Cpc holder (unconfirmed) and I’ve had a wink my name was mentioned but I am extremely apprehensive due to having a mild form of Dyscalculia (basically dyslexia for numbers).
I get by with most basic maths but remembering numbers is very very difficult.
My point is would this be a great hindrance to me in this exam?
Also I am playing with doing the exam myself if the company do not want me to do it, I tend to throw myself into any job or challenge head first and crave learning about the task to be confident in myself to carry out the task or job.
I apologise for the long novel, but I am sure those with experience will give me some helpful guiding advice.
Cheers chaps and chappeses
Do you have a specialist’s diagnosis of dyscalculia? Are you number blind visually or both visually and aurally? Virtually all Disability rights and discrimination law is now part of the 2010 Equality Act. Examination Boards do have to make special arrangements and compensations for students under this legislation.
There are elements of the exam which include numerical multiple choice answers. The case study also presents a table of operating costs etc from which you have to glean the information to answer the question. The website below is just one link to past exam papers.
Given a specialist’s letter of recommendation and your own assesment of what might help you to sit the exam, you should be able to approach the exam board.
Sorry I should have added that I sympathise, because I struggle with numbers too, but it is the calculations and the relationships in a string of numbers which I find diffficult - it takes me ten times as long compared to most people - although strangely I do actually like practical number problems if I can see the relevance.
Hi cav, my diagnosis was by a military doctor after issues with map reading ironically.
I do not have any paper references to the diagnosis.
I will check your link out first thing in the morning on the pc.
Thanks.
Passing could be tricky. The case study exam has 60 points and you need approx 30 to pass. There is always a question on drivers hours and a question on costings, these can be up to 24 points combined. On both questions you stop scoring points after you get one part of the calculation wrong. That said both questions only need fairly basic maths.
As a strategy I normally recommend people start with the exam question they can answer the best and make sure they get all the points they can before trying the other questions. Time is your biggest enemy on the case study, your goal should be to try and get 40ish points not complete the paper, take your time with the questions that can be answered from the books you take with you, and only attempt the other questions in your remaining time maybe just grabbing a few points from them.
Go for it, lots of people need a couple of attempts.
If you struggle to read and understand numbers you will certainly struggle to get a pass.
While basic maths, you need to be able to calculate strings of numbers, for your cost calculations and your drivers hours calculation.
These questions are not multiple choice, but open questions where you need to show your calculation, the final figure is not the most important, but how did you get there.
But the main question you should ask yourself: would you want to put your neck on the line? Would you want to take responsibility for somebody else’s errors.
With the new laws your responsibility is much bigger than many people realise.
Would you want to that for a salary of something between 42 and 70k (depending on size of company)
I stepped out the game for 40% of my previous salary for health reasons, and the risk of being locked up for cooperated manslaughter.
It’s not worth the dosh, no point being the most wealthiest man in the graveyard.
Good luck if you want to do it, but think about it first, you be 24 /7 on call, if trucks move you are in charge.
And while there maybe a good team at this moment, you don’t have control of thing your drivers do or don’t do, but it is still your responsibility.
You even need to know on a regular base if the company has money to maintain the fleet (very difficult with shell companies)
As it is your responsibility to inform the TC if this isn’t the case.
And don’t forget, people who are now your best mates, are not so matey when you are a TM, TM’s are Billy no Mates.
Your boss don’t like you, but you are a necessary evil that cost money.
The planning don’t like you because you are an annoyance.
Drivers don’t like you for any reason.
Customers don’t like you, because you have to be a pain in the backside, when you sort risk assessments for your drivers, to cover your arse.
Good Luck!
