Training Company or Instructor

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

I have worked for many Lgv training companies over the years.

I get asked by people who want to learn to drive a truck what company should i go to.

My answer is always it’s not about the company it is about the Instructor.

I would recomend an instructor who works for a company but also state that if you book with a company make sure you get a THAT instructor.

Many training companies are NOT to hot on there sales and booking and office staff but have great instructors.

So if you want to book a course it is more about the Instructor you get rather than the company.

2

There have been many posts that agree with your post above.
The biggest complaints have been about the way that some companies conduct their business and do not make it crystal clear that they are agencies who do not have vehicles or their own instructors and some that put unclear clauses into their contracts such as having to pass the National (not driver) CPC to gain a free whatever :exclamation:

3

Qualitas seems to ring a bell on that one.

The 3 day and test company. I know how they work and their small print is really small.

If you can read this you have good eye sight .

Qualitas have some shall i say quality selling points but read the small print.

If you would like to ask any question or know the bad side about qualitas ask the question i tell no lies.

If you can read the small print you should have no problem with an eyesight test :smiley:

4

If you would like to ask any question or know the bad side about qualitas ask the question i tell no lies.

OK. I’ll ask… :smiley:

What are your personal experience and personal views on Qualitas as a company. :question: :question:
What are your personal views on the instructors they use :question: :question:

5

ROG:

If you would like to ask any question or know the bad side about qualitas ask the question i tell no lies.

OK. I’ll ask… :smiley:

What are your personal experience and personal views on Qualitas as a company. :question: :question:
What are your personal views on the instructors they use :question: :question:

Qualitas as a company They mainly sell 3 day course’s and test which as any instructor will tell you is not enough. As a company they are in my opinion Bottom of the pile.

However this does not mean that the learners will all fail ,as a quality Instructor can get good results BUT only by bieng very intensive to ensure the learner takes all the info and training onboard quickly as most only have 3 day’s training

Also it helps that they use dinky toy’s the 12 ton truck Minimum length which goes around cornes so easy.

This does not help the learner at all when passing and going onto a full length rigid truck.

Then they advertsise an Artic course but they do not use Artics they put a dinky trailer behind the rigid. ( The easy route to a C+E pass)

Once gain this does not give them any experiance at actually driving an artic.

The second part is their Instructors

I know of 4 Instructors that work for or have worked for Qualitas as stated in an earlier post I would not recomend any company but would recomend an Instructor.

My experiance has taught me that Assessments are the best way forward.

But

Most C class learners should be able to pass within a 5 day course.

C+E Learners should pass if they book a 5 day course as long as they have some basic ability of reversing an Artic. If they have never reversed an Artic Before they should be on A 7 Day Artic Course.

To finnish of my post i think that the only way any one should be allowed to take a C+E test in a draw bar. Is with a restriction that they have further training on an articulated vehicle for a further 3 days before bieng allowed to drive an Artic.

Any company you are going book with read the small print first.

Only pay a deposit and pay the rest on the day you start the course.

Ask how long you day will be and how many hours driving you get per day.

In my humble opinion never go to a company and have 1 to 1 training as you really do need to be able to watch the other guy / gal and learn by their mistakes aswell as you’r own.

If anyone has any questions feel free to contact me ask me any question i tell no lies.

6

Did you copy and paste my comments from other posts that I have written in :exclamation: :wink: :wink: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
You have 26 years in this game and I have, in total. less than 2, yet. we both seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet on the above issues :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

7

ROG:
Did you copy and paste my comments from other posts that I have written in :exclamation: :wink: :wink: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
You have 26 years in this game and I have, in total. less than 2, yet. we both seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet on the above issues :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

No i do not copy other posts these are my views.

I take nothing for granted with any learner.

ROG who did you work for and are you currently teaching Lgv Drivers Now. ?

I have a few stories about a few Companies even one company that an Instructor can been seen asleep whilst teaching !!!

8

My answer is always it’s not about the company it is about the Instructor.

I do agree with this. The quality of the instruction and the dedication of the instructor is paramount in good training and the trainee should have faith in the instructor that is teaching them.

However a lot of companies do try to switch instructors to suit themselves and it is up to the trainee - who is, after all paying out his/her hard earned cash - to insist on the instructor they want to be taught by if that has been agreed upon booking.
I have had a couple of incidents where a company that I worked for told prospective trainees that they would be taught by me only to have them come in on start day and be handed over to another intructor. More than once the guys have stood their ground and demanded the instructor of their choice.
I used to tell them to get it in writing if they wanted me to do their training when I did their assesment drive to make sure they got what or rather who - they wanted.
I have always believed that if you pay for a service then you are entitled to be happy with what you are paying out for.

9

26 years an Lgv Trainer:

ROG:
Did you copy and paste my comments from other posts that I have written in :exclamation: :wink: :wink: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
You have 26 years in this game and I have, in total. less than 2, yet. we both seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet on the above issues :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

No i do not copy other posts these are my views.
I know that - was just kidding :smiley:
I take nothing for granted with any learner.
Never do - too risky :exclamation:
ROG who did you work for and are you currently teaching Lgv Drivers Now. ?
In 2005 I was with ATT Hinckley and tested out of Weedon and yes, I am working now as LGV instructor, although it is about 13 to 16 days a month.
I have a few stories about a few Companies even one company that an Instructor can been seen asleep whilst teaching !!!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ - EH :exclamation: :exclamation: :wink:

My views on the DSA register ( You do not want to go there )

Go on - right HERE

10

Hi 26 years an Lgv Trainer I think you avatar pic might be a tad too big mate…:grimacing:
I see you’ve spotted it.:grimacing:
If you re-size your pic to “avatar” size, it should display OK for you… :wink:

As an ex-LGV instructor, I’d agree with your comments.
TBF though, I’ve never worked for a training company that took anybody from the “booking agancy” type companies.

I’m still in touch with them all now, and have even expanded the numbers slightly by teaching ADR, but I’d still say I don’t know of any who deal with “agency” type bookings.

Does anybody have any idea how many training firms take this kind of work??
IMHO, it’s just a bit dodgy, and I’ve heard of decent training firms being taken down when the “middlemen” don’t pay, for whatever reason. :frowning:

11

Does anybody have any idea how many training firms take this kind of work??

Hard to say how many exactly but there must be quiet a few.
I worked for one in London that got the bulk of their work from Clearstone (Whoops sorry to use bad language on the forun - many apologies for using the ‘C’ word!) :laughing:
But when Clearstone went into receivership they left this company thousands in debt so maybe a lot will think twice about using the likes of agencies again.
When we first opened up for business i received a call from Clearstone wanting to send us drivers but when they said they paid six weeks in arrears I decided to give it a miss. It sounds pretty good on the surface with guaranteed work all year round but I explained I was not interested in guaranteed work I was only interested in guaranteed money up front so thats the last I heard.
I would much rather advertise our own prices and let people decide if they want to pay that price or not.
Agencies charge far too much and take too much commission. Its not a good way of working although it will always happen because not every new driver knows how to go about getting started and will go for the ‘easy package’ deal.
Lucky for us.

12

Mothertrucker:

Does anybody have any idea how many training firms take this kind of work??

Hard to say how many exactly but there must be quiet a few.
I worked for one in London that got the bulk of their work from Clearstone (Whoops sorry to use bad language on the forun - many apologies for using the ‘C’ word!) :laughing:
But when Clearstone went into receivership they left this company thousands in debt so maybe a lot will think twice about using the likes of agencies again.
When we first opened up for business i received a call from Clearstone wanting to send us drivers but when they said they paid six weeks in arrears I decided to give it a miss. It sounds pretty good on the surface with guaranteed work all year round but I explained I was not interested in guaranteed work I was only interested in guaranteed money up front so thats the last I heard.
I would much rather advertise our own prices and let people decide if they want to pay that price or not.
Agencies charge far too much and take too much commission. Its not a good way of working although it will always happen because not every new driver knows how to go about getting started and will go for the ‘easy package’ deal.
Lucky for us.

I may be wrong but the grapevine is saying that clearstone have errrrrrr shall i say they are about to rise from the ashes ?

**Beware the pheonix** :arrow_right: :arrow_right: :arrow_right: **URGENT READ** :imp: :smiling_imp: :imp: **Beware the rise from the ashes** :open_mouth: :unamused: :confused: :bulb: :exclamation: :question: :wink: :wink: :wink:
13

26 years an Lgv Trainer:

ROG:
Did you copy and paste my comments from other posts that I have written in :exclamation: :wink: :wink: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
You have 26 years in this game and I have, in total. less than 2, yet. we both seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet on the above issues :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

No i do not copy other posts these are my views.

I take nothing for granted with any learner.

ROG who did you work for and are you currently teaching Lgv Drivers Now. ?

I have a few stories about a few Companies even one company that an Instructor can been seen asleep whilst teaching !!!

Sleeping whilst teaching ive heard that one!!!
If its the same one he used to use the unit on night work trunk run then teach during day!

14

Sleeping whilst teaching ive heard that one!!!
If its the same one he used to use the unit on night work trunk run then teach during day!

Wonder if we are talking about the same person! :laughing: But I reckon i know who you mean.

15

Mothertrucker:

Sleeping whilst teaching ive heard that one!!!
If its the same one he used to use the unit on night work trunk run then teach during day!

Wonder if we are talking about the same person! :laughing: But I reckon i know who you mean.

No this guy just teaches but can be often seen head slumped against the side window mouth wide open.

Probably even dribbling. :exclamation:

Speaking of Sleeping how about an examiner conducting a test and falling asleep !!! The learner thought the examiner had croaked it so he braked harshly to stop to check, The examiner then woke up and said what have you stopped for get going…

The learner failed for harsh braking !!! ( True Story ) I will not name the examiner but leicester was the test centre…

16

Speaking of Sleeping how about an examiner conducting a test and falling asleep !!! The learner thought the examiner had croaked it so he braked harshly to stop to check, The examiner then woke up and said what have you stopped for get going…

The learner failed for harsh braking !!! ( True Story ) I will not name the examiner but leicester was the test centre…

Then there was the examiner who fell asleep going along the A10 in Edmonton and the candidate just kept following the road ahead, as instructed, untill he got to Ware and the examiner woke up!
Needless to say they had to rush back to test centre and the trainee passed.
Apparantly this examiner had a steel plate in his head (this is not a lie guys!! ) that caused him to nod off on occasion.

17

hey i just want to say my instructor was from scania a guy call shaun millington hes fantastic they use a scania 94d for the ridged and a 124l for artic thats in worksop by the way if u want there number pm me they are abit more than alot of places but its worth it :smiley:

18

They mainly sell 3 day course’s and test which as any instructor will tell you is not enough.

Just a small observation here:-

It depends on what the definition of a ‘DAY’ is once again. Two drivers sharing a truck over three days usually amounts to around three hours driving per day and I agree that nine hours behind the wheel does not prepare anyone properly for a test.

Having said that, three days training on solo sholud amount to 15 hours behind the wheel training which is perfectly all right and we have had a very good success rate with trainees on 15 hour courses. As long as the training hours are spread so they dont get tired three days can often be enough on a rigid.

19

Speaking of Sleeping how about an examiner conducting a test and falling asleep !!! The learner thought the examiner had croaked it so he braked harshly to stop to check, The examiner then woke up and said what have you stopped for get going…

The learner failed for harsh braking !!! ( True Story ) I will not name the examiner but leicester was the test centre…

Interesting :slight_smile: :slight_smile: …
Leicester again… Examiner got trainee onto A46 towards M1 south and dozed off - trainee did not look at examiner - too nervous - ON & ON & ON - got to J17 M1 and woke up… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
A frantic phone call was made from Watord gap services :exclamation: :exclamation:
The test and the following one was cancelled.

Same examiner - me thinks so :slight_smile:

20

ROG:

Speaking of Sleeping how about an examiner conducting a test and falling asleep !!! The learner thought the examiner had croaked it so he braked harshly to stop to check, The examiner then woke up and said what have you stopped for get going…

The learner failed for harsh braking !!! ( True Story ) I will not name the examiner but leicester was the test centre…

Interesting :slight_smile: :slight_smile: …
Leicester again… Examiner got trainee onto A46 towards M1 south and dozed off - trainee did not look at examiner - too nervous - ON & ON & ON - got to J17 M1 and woke up… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
A frantic phone call was made from Watord gap services :exclamation: :exclamation:
The test and the following one was cancelled.

Same examiner - me thinks so :slight_smile:

did he pass :smiley: