I see from this weeks’ Commercial Motor (3.1.13) that the Driving Stadards Agency have agreed to allow trucks with auto trucks to qualify for a full, unrestricted licence. (Apparently they have to be fitted with a manual selector facility - like a paddle).
Bloody marvelous when I’ve got a brand new 8 speed being delivered first thing in the morning!!! Story of my life!
But the point of my post is this; the type of training vehicle that will be permitted for test is getting less and less representative of the real world. The rot started 15 years ago with allowing w=d to qualify for Class One or CE. They introduced the Minimum Test Vehicle allowing the use of remarkably small vehicles. Loads are about to be added - but they are insignificant - another lost opportunity. The Braking Exercise was removed from the test partly to allow the advent of loaded vehicles and also to open the doors for trainers to operate their own test centre with smaller sites.
Is this the point where we see a quantum change in training? Will it now become clear that all a trainer has done is to pass on enough information in a professional manner to help someone pass the test? Most importantly, will employers finally accept their responsibility to “bolt on” whatever training is required to get the new driver up to speed with the equipment with which he is about to become entrusted?
Or, as I suspect, will employers still expect the “finished product”?
Essex Driver Training who already have a semi auto and you get a full licence.
Perfectly possible but it must have a clutch - even if you dont need to use it. eg Opticruise. Under the new rules, you can use a 6 sp man, a semi auto or full auto 2 pedal.
Peter Smythe:
I see from this weeks’ Commercial Motor (3.1.13) that the Driving Stadards Agency have agreed to allow trucks with auto trucks to qualify for a full, unrestricted licence. (Apparently they have to be fitted with a manual selector facility - like a paddle).
Bloody marvelous when I’ve got a brand new 8 speed being delivered first thing in the morning!!! Story of my life!
But the point of my post is this; the type of training vehicle that will be permitted for test is getting less and less representative of the real world. The rot started 15 years ago with allowing w=d to qualify for Class One or CE. They introduced the Minimum Test Vehicle allowing the use of remarkably small vehicles. Loads are about to be added - but they are insignificant - another lost opportunity. The Braking Exercise was removed from the test partly to allow the advent of loaded vehicles and also to open the doors for trainers to operate their own test centre with smaller sites.
Is this the point where we see a quantum change in training? Will it now become clear that all a trainer has done is to pass on enough information in a professional manner to help someone pass the test? Most importantly, will employers finally accept their responsibility to “bolt on” whatever training is required to get the new driver up to speed with the equipment with which he is about to become entrusted?
Or, as I suspect, will employers still expect the “finished product”?
Happy New Year, Pete
I can see a couple of advantages here, there is a great opportunity to use the training vehicle as part of the DCPC course. Pupils must fill the IBC with a teaspoon within 7 hours
I also think there will be more use made of C+E vehicles rather than CE for training schools.
The HGV Industry has got it bloody easy, there are now 6 licence classes of two wheel machines which come in on the 19th January 2013 and to ride a “proper” motorcycle you now need to be aged 24 or above.
The HGV Industry has got it bloody easy, there are now 6 licence classes of two wheel machines which come in on the 19th January 2013 and to ride a “proper” motorcycle you now need to be aged 24 or above.
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Really so no direct access at 21 then as you could ride upto a 600 ok restricted to 33bhp then after 2 years a full licence to ride what you wanted no fun now
animal:
The HGV Industry has got it bloody easy, there are now 6 licence classes of two wheel machines which come in on the 19th January 2013 and to ride a “proper” motorcycle you now need to be aged 24 or above.
Really so no direct access at 21 then as you could ride upto a 600 ok restricted to 33bhp then after 2 years a full licence to ride what you wanted no fun now
[/quote]
when i were a lad, you bombed around on a moped at 16 ,passed your test on a mates 250 at 17 then went out and bought the biggest (and oldest doggiiest cheapest) heap o crap you could afford. your dad then spent a small fortune and many hours sorting it out to try and keep you alive long enough for you to see sense
getting back to original post , dont think this is a good idea , even though learnt mine on manual many times over the years have come across another gearbox that is different to drive than the one I learnt in, and for the first few miles spent missing gears or getting to grips with how to go up and down gears , probably ■■■■■■■ every other driver off for the first few miles ,
just out of interest is this going to apply to other vehs as well or if you pass car test in auto only allowed to drive auto, as if not seems a daft idea as hgv much more dangerous than car ,
TBH I can’t see a problem with using auto boxes in LGV training. I know I’m right in saying that most big companies are using auto boxes now.
However I believe there should be a big responsibility on the employer regarding an induction course. This IMO should be made compulsory when recruiting new drivers. To be fair I know a lot of the big distribution companies where I am based in Sherburn in Elmet do this.
If you are starting a job employed by the company most do do an induction , but many newbies start the hgv driving career via agencies and whenever I go in as agency driver its mainly heres the keys and paperwork, theres your lorry drive, and thats it , if you are driving unsociable hours a lot of time only security guard to give you your keys so no one there to help you , this is where the problems are if you have never driven a manual gearbox , you can have many switches on gear shift if you have never driven with them how do u get the veh moving
Jennie:
If you are starting a job employed by the company most do do an induction , but many newbies start the hgv driving career via agencies and whenever I go in as agency driver its mainly heres the keys and paperwork, theres your lorry drive, and thats it , if you are driving unsociable hours a lot of time only security guard to give you your keys so no one there to help you , this is where the problems are if you have never driven a manual gearbox , you can have many switches on gear shift if you have never driven with them how do u get the veh moving
This is no different to the tests we took in the 70’s and 80’s. You passed a test with a 24’ single axle flat behind a 5 speed D Series or TK and given a 40’ trailer and if lucky a 16 speed Volvo with splitter and range change.
It is still down to the operator to teach the finer points of clutch control and how not to leave a pile of alloy castings on the road
animal:
The HGV Industry has got it bloody easy, there are now 6 licence classes of two wheel machines which come in on the 19th January 2013 and to ride a “proper” motorcycle you now need to be aged 24 or above.
Really so no direct access at 21 then as you could ride upto a 600 ok restricted to 33bhp then after 2 years a full licence to ride what you wanted no fun now
when i were a lad, you bombed around on a moped at 16 ,passed your test on a mates 250 at 17 then went out and bought the biggest (and oldest doggiiest cheapest) heap o crap you could afford. your dad then spent a small fortune and many hours sorting it out to try and keep you alive long enough for you to see sense
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Basically how I done mine
Peter Smythe:
Like I said in the OP, it’s going to be even more important for the employer to carry out proper inductions.
Pete
so what if (like a lot of folk on here) have payed for the tranning them selfs and start on agency, who would be responsible for the proper inductions the agency or company
smallsie:
so what if (like a lot of folk on here) have payed for the tranning them selfs and start on agency, who would be responsible for the proper inductions the agency or company
smallsie:
so what if (like a lot of folk on here) have payed for the tranning them selfs and start on agency, who would be responsible for the proper inductions the agency or company
Company as its their vehicle
maybe in an ideal world rog but not many companys are going to pay for a proper induction (as it was put) for one days work and then the company dosent see that driver ever again and wouldnt hold my breathe on agencys taking this up ither
smallsie:
so what if (like a lot of folk on here) have payed for the tranning them selfs and start on agency, who would be responsible for the proper inductions the agency or company
Company as its their vehicle
maybe in an ideal world rog but not many companys are going to pay for a proper induction (as it was put) for one days work and then the company dosent see that driver ever again and wouldnt hold my breathe on agencys taking this up ither
The responsibility rests with the company, if something goes awry then it falls on their head
Generally, companies do not want to pay for training as that is an expense for someone else to bear - they just want experienced drivers who can get on with the job straight away - especially where agency drivers are concerned
as you could ride upto a 600 ok restricted to 33bhp then after 2 years a full licence to ride what you wanted no fun now
