Trade Plater question

[manalishi]

Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering.... if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i'm wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn't i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

[simcor]

Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering.... if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i'm wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn't i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

I believe it would be exempt from CPC. But some companies may insist on having the qualification possibly. Currently it is one day a year and doesn't cost that much, so really isn't much to be worried about if it is required. Other than the fact we know it doesn't add that much, unless the course and info is actually useful.

As a C licence holder he would also be able to deliver units solo as the unit comes under the same classification a C, the +E part just allows you to drive with a trailer. This came about when the categories were changed to C and C+E.

People will often say you can't drive a solo unit as you couldn't before the classification change. But you absolutely can. The first time I ever took a unit on the road was before I passed my C+E as a rigid driver taking it to another depot. There is no way a company that big would allow someone to drive a vehicle they were not licenced for.

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[simcor]

Although a quick Google suggests if they are new unregistered vehicles they are exempt from CPC but if registered and used then they are not exempt from CPC. Hire and reward is the important bit. If you were delivering new vehicles to and from body builders then they absolutely are not for hire and reward. However if your dropping and collecting vehicles to a company to use for hire and reward then I'd guess they are not exempt from CPC as they will be used for hire and reward.

So it needs an answer from someone in the know as to the exact requirements.

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[simcor]

Exemptions from needing Driver CPC

You do not need Driver CPC if you’re using the vehicle for:

non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods

carrying material or equipment you use for your job, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly work

driving for someone you work for, or your own agriculture, horticulture, forestry, farming or fisheries business, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly work

driving within 62 miles (100 kilometres) of your base - but the vehicle cannot be carrying passengers or goods, and driving a lorry, bus or coach cannot be your main job

driving to or from pre-booked appointments at official vehicle testing centres

driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC

maintaining public order - and the vehicle is being used or controlled by a local authority

rescue missions or in states of emergency

You also do not need Driver CPC if the vehicle is:

is being road tested for repair, maintenance or technical development purposes

either new or rebuilt and has not yet been taxed

being used or controlled by the armed forces, police, fire and rescue service, emergency ambulance service, prison service or people running a prison or young offender institution

limited to a top speed of 28mph



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[simcor]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driver-cpc- ... r-main-job

That gives examples of what is and isn't exempt from CPC.

A new built lorry in customer colours and taxed requires CPC in one example.

So it seems to tie up with what I said earlier, a new unregistered untaxed truck no CPC, used vehicles that have been or are taxed then yes CPC is likely required.

The other argument is whether driving is your main job, I'd argue as a trade plate driver, driving is your main job so then it falls into CPC Territory.

Clear as mud I know.

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[manalishi]

Thanks gentlemen.Clear as mud as said but i'm veering to the notion that it's not a requirement for plating tasks.Time will reveal all i guess.?

[yourhavingalarf]

Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering.... if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i'm wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn't i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

I only did it...

With cars about 5 years ago for about a year.

With BCA you're issued with a company credit to organise your own travel. You're expected to find the most cost effective solution to get around and a great deal of my day was spent catching and waiting for trains. If you're at a large hub like Long Bennington or Corby, you should be able to blag a ride with another trade plater. I found with Google, you could easily plan your day with buses and trains. You're told not to bum rides on roundabouts.

I liked the job but, the pointy shoes team on the end of the phone were just the worst. Lots of rumours flying around about disgruntled drivers physically assaulting them on occasions.

[paul_c2]

Yes, you'll need CPC. In theory some vehicles might be CPC exempt but only a small percentage of those you would drive, so you'd need it to be done for the others (and no company would take you on without it, you'd be too restricted)

[Bigtruck3]

I would think the cpc is linked to the drivers licence rather than the vehicle, I think you can't get one without the other
Could be wrong

[manalishi]

Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering.... if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i'm wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn't i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

I only did it...

With cars about 5 years ago for about a year.

With BCA you're issued with a company credit to organise your own travel. You're expected to find the most cost effective solution to get around and a great deal of my day was spent catching and waiting for trains. If you're at a large hub like Long Bennington or Corby, you should be able to blag a ride with another trade plater. I found with Google, you could easily plan your day with buses and trains. You're told not to bum rides on roundabouts.

I liked the job but, the pointy shoes team on the end of the phone were just the worst. Lots of rumours flying around about disgruntled drivers physically assaulting them on occasions.

I can believe it re- pointies? It's a good stop-gap type of job on the cars i recall but most of this work became more of a seniors driving club to boost the pension pot and out from under the wifes feet thus no longer a viable income stream but the old days were immensely enjoyable with adventures galore,especially the hitching.(wish i'd kept a diary?) Slept in dustcarts,buses and even a kiddies pub 'beanstalk' installation during the great 'Storm-michael fish'... sheltering from the gales dropping trees and trucks hither and yon.Halcyon days.

[Socketset]

I thought recently about going back into it as said lots of variety etc.

One firm I approached wanted me to pay all travelling expenses between jobs, bus, train etc. out of my own pocket.

Pay was based on a percentage of the job invoice apparently but as they're rather unlikely to tell you what they are charging.....

Thanks but no thanks.

[yourhavingalarf]

I thought recently about going back into it as said lots of variety etc.

One firm I approached wanted me to pay all travelling expenses between jobs, bus, train etc. out of my own pocket.

Pay was based on a percentage of the job invoice apparently but as they're rather unlikely to tell you what they are charging.....

Thanks but no thanks.

How do these...

Firms get anyone to work for them at all?

That's almost every trick in the book to knob the driver.

[syramax]

Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering.... if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i'm wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn't i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

just out of interest , how do you get back to base if your not hitch hiking anymore ?

[Santa]

When I was a TM, we had a large fleet of cars as well as trucks. Some new cars came on trailers, but if it was delivered by a plater, I would always give them a lift to the bus or train station. Is this the norm still?

[manalishi]

Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering.... if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i'm wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn't i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

just out of interest , how do you get back to base if your not hitch hiking anymore ?

Not sure given the game has changed radically during my long abscence from it but i'm guessing train,coach is the way? Some platers are self-employed so it wouldn't be too big a hit if you're 'creative' about it? Lots of variables in play between firms but hitching was always the 'way of things',and for decades but no longer it seems?

[manalishi]

When I was a TM, we had a large fleet of cars as well as trucks. Some new cars came on trailers, but if it was delivered by a plater, I would always give them a lift to the bus or train station. Is this the norm still?

I worked for one firm who moved posher cars to motoring journalists for a while and we often dropped (not me personally) the odd sleek wheels at Jeremy Clarkson's gaff in the Cotswolds but as he was rarely home,his then spouse dropped the driver at the nearby rail station .I drove lots of Jags and frequent Porsches but it's amazing how the novelty soon wears off,knowing there's a long hitch at the end point.

Audi's up to Ayr-Scotch was always a bitter-sweet venture. My first ever hitch was in a hillman with a bloke going to Penrith for a budgie fanciers meeting,cages full of tweeting critters all the way from Preston .My final hitch was in a 6 convoy of volvo funeral cars..100 mph down to Liverpool from Forton.World within a world type of trade.

[alamcculloch]

Does Uniloads still exist? They give you an assessment, meaning you do a days work for them and you never hear from them again. Great business model.

[paul_c2]

Does Uniloads still exist? They give you an assessment, meaning you do a days work for them and you never hear from them again. Great business model.

Yes, but they rebranded as VMoves.

[Socketset]

Does Uniloads still exist? They give you an assessment, meaning you do a days work for them and you never hear from them again. Great business model.

Yes, but they rebranded as VMoves.

Well, that clears up something for me - VM were somebody else I responded to and it was away all week tramping about hoping that you had a unit at night for a bunk just like Uniload back in the day. I seem to remember them having a bloke on for them who carried a one man tent about with him - he just used to find a hedge and bivvy down for the night

Again thanks but no thanks.

And this just in.....no.

[Conor]

Thanks gentlemen.Clear as mud as said but i'm veering to the notion that it's not a requirement for plating tasks.Time will reveal all i guess.?

Just get it done then there's no worries. If they took their car driving test before 1997 then all they have to do is 35hrs periodic training which they can do online from the comfort of their own armchair for a couple of hundred quid.

Also don't bother wasting time and money getting Cat C, you can now once again go straight to Class 1 / C+E.

[paul_c2]

Does Uniloads still exist? They give you an assessment, meaning you do a days work for them and you never hear from them again. Great business model.

Yes, but they rebranded as VMoves.

Well, that clears up something for me - VM were somebody else I responded to and it was away all week tramping about hoping that you had a unit at night for a bunk just like Uniload back in the day. I seem to remember them having a bloke on for them who carried a one man tent about with him - he just used to find a hedge and bivvy down for the night

Again thanks but no thanks.

And this just in.....no.

Different trade plate companies have slightly different ways of working. I can speak mainly for the cars (since I'd talk to a bunch of drivers of different companies) and VMoves heavies (the lights would occasionally work with them too). VMoves was "away all week, get nightout £50-60 out of which came your accommodation and any parking". BCA would try to get the driver home, this sometimes meant an early start to do a 9am delivery eg 250 miles away. You'd get home, but you'd be up early and put in "inefficient" hours. Some companies had a higher rate but didn't price in the travel between drives, some companies had a way of pricing this in, and some fully refunded you it. One man tent sounds too much like "economy drive", there's plenty of Airbnb, cheap Travelodge, etc so you never need to do that. And of course you could try to get home on a nightout job if you wanted to (the job only paid the direct mileage though, not the via home amount).

Its rough, some drivers made it work, mainly by driving 12-14 hours and doing any job that came their way so eventually they got onto the "favoured" list (there is definitely a list). But then, if the work is quiet or not in that area, being on the list didn't really help anyway. I got the impression there would be a run of a few good weeks followed by weeks/months of sparse work. Net pay (ie hourly rate) is terrible compared to a normal full time driving job though.

[manalishi]

Thanks gentlemen.Clear as mud as said but i'm veering to the notion that it's not a requirement for plating tasks.Time will reveal all i guess.?

Just get it done then there's no worries. If they took their car driving test before 1997 then all they have to do is 35hrs periodic training which they can do online from the comfort of their own armchair for a couple of hundred quid.

Also don't bother wasting time and money getting Cat C, you can now once again go straight to Class 1 / C+E.

Thanks Conor.Just had confirmation that cpc not required by the firm i'm trying.Mate wouldn't really take to towing a trailer i suspect unless he planned it as a career which he doesn't.Rigid licence make's more sense for moving units and chassis.

[Socketset]

When I approached VM there was no mention of night out money.....at £240 pw.

The bloke with his tent was in the early 2000's, no Airbnb and in those days highly unlikely to have got NOM.

Plating is OK if you don't have to have a certain amount of coin every week. As said it's a lottery on the earnings front so not for everyone.

[Juddian]

I did it for a few months waiting for a transporter to come available on my first transporter gig.

TBF i earned pretty well but travelling ex's were only paid in extreme circs with hitching the standard method of getting about which sometimes meant long walks...try and find a bus going to Bruntingthorpe or any of the many out of the way places large compounds are sited.
Luckily who i worked for had the contract to repaint BT vans and trucks in the new at the time livery, so many weeks were spent taking a freshly painted one to a depot and returning with one needing paint.

Those older drivers should remember picking up the many platers who worked out of Ford's long gone van factory at Langley, they made good money on their ex's (no receipts reqd), some of them would offer you a drink for a decent length ride, which i never accepted.

Ended up with 4 platers in my Sed Ack circa 1980 early one morning, batting up the A1 at a steady er 60-ish with them all chopsing when a pheasant decided to commit suicide against the front panel, only i saw it coming, for the platers it was a brown trouser moment

[Tommy Trade Plates]

I've just come into the plate game myself, and I'm with VMoves. I'm doing alright for cash so far, some lads really put the graft in and walk away with handsome amounts. 3rd week and I've only had one night in a sleeper, and that was a Space Cab with all the bells and whistles. Main body of work at the moment is for Enterprise, so there's a good variety of vehicles to move around.

[manalishi]

I did it for a few months waiting for a transporter to come available on my first transporter gig.

TBF i earned pretty well but travelling ex's were only paid in extreme circs with hitching the standard method of getting about which sometimes meant long walks...try and find a bus going to Bruntingthorpe or any of the many out of the way places large compounds are sited.
Luckily who i worked for had the contract to repaint BT vans and trucks in the new at the time livery, so many weeks were spent taking a freshly painted one to a depot and returning with one needing paint.

Those older drivers should remember picking up the many platers who worked out of Ford's long gone van factory at Langley, they made good money on their ex's (no receipts reqd), some of them would offer you a drink for a decent length ride, which i never accepted.

Ended up with 4 platers in my Sed Ack circa 1980 early one morning, batting up the A1 at a steady er 60-ish with them all chopsing when a pheasant decided to commit suicide against the front panel, only i saw it coming, for the platers it was a brown trouser moment

Nice parable there juddian.Was considering a reprise of my cheeky hitch in a Sierra Cosworth parked on a transporter but i'll decline the indulgence. I do remember as a nipper witnessing some chaps delivering bus chassis up to Leyland.No cabs afixed, and dressed like gunners from Lancaster bombers,complete with aviation goggles.Quite a visual at the time and only discontinued circa late 70's i believe, before cabs were mandated.

Intrepid band of brothers and no mistake ? I was a regular at Brunters and other airfields.Got a roasting for jumping into the Jaguar gate-guard once for a good old mooch around. Distance lends enchantment to the view but i relish the memories of a challenging but rewarding 7 years of plating.I'd recommend it to anyone for a foundational in matters roadcraft. Met some great folks with the hitching so it's kind of chastening it's been erased and tended to be a skill of itself.

[manalishi]

I've just come into the plate game myself, and I'm with VMoves. I'm doing alright for cash so far, some lads really put the graft in and walk away with handsome amounts. 3rd week and I've only had one night in a sleeper, and that was a Space Cab with all the bells and whistles. Main body of work at the moment is for Enterprise, so there's a good variety of vehicles to move around.

Remember well your predecessors at Uni-Loads.An illustrious band of reprobates and i did a few months for a split-off company called A-Line but didn't gel too well with them.Uniloads had dreadful maroon uniforms i recall giving them a bin-men look i seem to remember.I couldn't be in that garb all week so never dropped them a call (bit of a beau brummel) ,plus they had unusual accommodation arrangements but thats probably changed with VM i suspect?
Firm i'm considering won't allow us to roost in cabs for some reason ? Travelodges only.

[Juddian]

Nice parable there juddian.Was considering a reprise of my cheeky hitch in a Sierra Cosworth parked on a transporter but i'll decline the indulgence. I do remember as a nipper witnessing some chaps delivering bus chassis up to Leyland.No cabs afixed, and dressed like gunners from Lancaster bombers,complete with aviation goggles.Quite a visual at the time and only discontinued circa late 70's i believe, before cabs were mandated.

Some other memories you've triggered Manalishi.

Had a few extra lads sat in the cars behind the cab, maybe we've met before?
Picked up some really unlikely platers, one young bloke maybe earning a few quid between Eton and Oxford, 3 piece pin striped suit and what looked like a Fox brolly, spoke better English than Her Maj the late Queen.

One day in the Sussex Downs on some B road or other came across a bunch of squaddies, the Rupert with them flagged me down and asked for a butchers at my map (remember maps ), we had a conflab and they were a few miles from where they thought they were, 'can you give us a lift?', 'sure thing mate', so with knackered squaddies hanging on the transporter deck gave 'em a few miles respite.
You'd get locked up now for some of the stunts we pulled.

Oh yes and you remember when artic transporters had a peak, which went wide of the cab on turns?, well we always fancied a run so a couple of us sat in the car driven onto the peak and we went for a jaunt...with a bloke we trusted driving the transporter i hasten to add going under a bridge with 3" to spare on the limiter is hairy i'll tell you

Almost everything about those days was better than the crap that is now.
The fair ladies were feminine both in behaviour and how they looked and most blokes hadn't disappeared up their own arses.

[manalishi]

Nice parable there juddian.Was considering a reprise of my cheeky hitch in a Sierra Cosworth parked on a transporter but i'll decline the indulgence. I do remember as a nipper witnessing some chaps delivering bus chassis up to Leyland.No cabs afixed, and dressed like gunners from Lancaster bombers,complete with aviation goggles.Quite a visual at the time and only discontinued circa late 70's i believe, before cabs were mandated.

Some other memories you've triggered Manalishi.

Had a few extra lads sat in the cars behind the cab, maybe we've met before?
Picked up some really unlikely platers, one young bloke maybe earning a few quid between Eton and Oxford, 3 piece pin striped suit and what looked like a Fox brolly, spoke better English than Her Maj the late Queen.



One day in the Sussex Downs on some B road or other came across a bunch of squaddies, the Rupert with them flagged me down and asked for a butchers at my map (remember maps ), we had a conflab and they were a few miles from where they thought they were, 'can you give us a lift?', 'sure thing mate', so with knackered squaddies hanging on the transporter deck gave 'em a few miles respite.
You'd get locked up now for some of the stunts we pulled.

Oh yes and you remember when artic transporters had a peak, which went wide of the cab on turns?, well we always fancied a run so a couple of us sat in the car driven onto the peak and we went for a jaunt...with a bloke we trusted driving the transporter i hasten to add going under a bridge with 3" to spare on the limiter is hairy i'll tell you

Almost everything about those days was better than the crap that is now.
The fair ladies were feminine both in behaviour and how they looked and most blokes hadn't disappeared up their own arses.

Accurate appraisal mon frere.More colourful times...,less monochrome and corporate.Brutal,in the nature of the trade by default,but more compensations and a sense of autonomy as part of the package .Excellent radio (Wogan,Kennedy,Bruce et al) and a more inventive and nourishing culture in general methinx.? but something was lurking in the woodpile of the zeitgeist,corealating roughly to the arrival of satan's attaché TB (can't even bring myself to drop it's name) paving the way for the new corporate/marxist technocratic epoch of the present time in all it's putrescence.

Every chance i got a lift with you at some point.? The trannies (grin) were regular sir Galahad's for us stranded hobos in the sticks especially Bruntingthorpe and other airfields.Not hitching feels wrong.i had some legendary conversations with fellow road-warriors for hours and learnt so much during my tender years and l often felt vaguely sad when exiting the cabs.Quite a skill keeping a driver awake with scintillating repartee when utterly knackered yourself. Glad to bring forth something from the memory bank old bean.Nice vignettes indeed.

[the maoster]

Juddian, as an ex squaddie I’ll say in all honesty that it’s pointless giving a Rupert a map. You may as well present him with a sheet of sandpaper and tell him it’s a map of Iraq