And nothing has changed since 2009 in most cases, only been a big con in my eyes for even more cheap labour.
I could do with a female 18 year old drivers mate… to show her the ropes and give her some experience you know?
Deepinvet:
At 18 I went from nothing to HGV1 on 1 course, thank you your Majesty…(HM Forces)
Don’t fret about it just get in and drive…
Me too, and that was in 1974.
I am still doing the friggin job. Lol
THE VEHICLE CURER:
some of you will and are saying that this is just gona cause more problems then it will solve but in mine and the other 17-18-19-20 year olds on this forum is has opened up an all new career path earlier then we could have ever expected.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU PAL, ignore the JEALOUSY! 
THE VEHICLE CURER:
depablo:
THE VEHICLE CURER:
i was not having a go at you but at the one saying i am a druggy and calling me a runt.
That’s Phil pal, the site joker! you’ll get some experience of his wind ups! good luck to you, go for it! THE ONLY PERSON TO STOP YOU, IS YOU!
garnerlives:
I have one question regarding this, what were the factors behind making the decision of lowering the age to 18 and what did they hope they would achieve by lowering the age?I have my own views on the subject, but they have been listed previously ie no road experience being gained etc etc but as people have covered it won’t go into it.
Could anyone shed any light on my first points please■■?
Quite simple!
DRIVER C P C! Old ones hanging up keys, many won’t do it and Beverley bell is threatening hauliers and operators ( Yawn, they’re all quaking in their boots ) if you don’t do it, you cant drive for a living bullstein, if EVERY driver said NO, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! then we wouldn’t be in this position! Hence the DfT and lazy MPs under constant bullstein from MEPs lowering the age to eighteen!
The greedy insurance companies are the reason, so many young lad can not be a driver. They should be smashed!
garnerlives:
‘…[W]hat were the factors behind making the decision of lowering the age to 18 … Could anyone shed any light … please…’
ROG:
‘…This was a directive from the EU …’
garnerlives:
‘…I know who ROG, I asked why …’
This very reasonable - but seemingly unanswered question from a while ago perfectly illustrates that the EU is not accountable to us, the suckers that pay £53 million per day for it 
Heard on the news today that the age limit for lgv drivers is to be dropped to 18!!
Just want to know what you guys think of this move?
My opinion is: There might be a time when let’s say a person passes his/her test maybe a month after their 17th birthday then let’s say 2 months after their 18th birthday pass class 2, and a month later pass class 1, that means that a person could be driving a 40 footer after just 1 year and 1 months experience of the road.I take this to be a concern! I understand that they will have all the experience of training and obviously passed their test so therefore of a high standard but still could be classed as a novice.
I’m a qualified driving instructor and have seen some people pass their car test after turning 18 and there is no way I would let them near a truck until at least 1 years driving experience. (I want to add there’s nothing wrong with their car driving it’s just the spacial awareness i’m concerned with)
Please let me know your comments
Gidion
It’s 18 here too (as in the rest of Europe) and the motors are much bigger than UK. An 18 year old can drive a 60 tonne, 82 foot W&D or b-double combination.
I would be very interested to see what happens about insurance
How many jobs do you see must be over 25 for insurance purposes?
And of coarse the usual must have 2 years experiance etc
Theres enough good older drivers who cant get work stuck in the experiance trap without a host of 18 year olds rolling up for the same job?
As for the pay will we be on mcdonalds wages in a year or 2?
the big un:
I would be very interested to see what happens about insurance
How many jobs do you see must be over 25 for insurance purposes?
And of coarse the usual must have 2 years experiance etc
Theres enough good older drivers who cant get work stuck in the experiance trap without a host of 18 year olds rolling up for the same job?
As for the pay will we be on mcdonalds wages in a year or 2?
As you’ll see from another thread mcdonalds wages are here and have been for long enough!
Stand corrected on wages 
BIG thread - 4 pages of it - - ARTIC DRIVERS AGE 18
its all just a revenue thing like speed cameras,they put it under the “safety” umbrella.they realised that once you ve passed your hgv there wasn t any other way other than spee cameras to get money out of you,so they introduce this periodic training which will be paid mostly by the haulage companys.(as if they dont pay enough)they make the test so 18 yr olds are elidgable to pass but will not introduce any insentive for the insurance companys to insure them(but who really wants an 18 yr old behind the wheel anyway).what they should do is make car drivers do a cpc because half the plant pots on the road couldnt drive a greasy stick up a dogs arse!!!
I dont think 18 will give them enough driving experience to make the jump personally. I know i couldn’t have.
Theoretically, someone could pass their car test at 18, wait 2 weeks for licence too come back, have a medical, do the 2 theory tests, the week after pass class 2, wait 2 weeks for license to come back, then the week after pass class 1.
I think its great from my point of view as i can already drive/reverse a 26t lorry. 
(in the yard)
removalboy:
I think its great from my point of view as i can already drive/reverse a 26t lorry.
Having said that, i can see were it could go wrong. 
its not right it should stay at 21, i sorta agree with the training aspect but lowering the age is suicidal.
but i know somebody who had to have a new change of underwear at midnight because of the date (those who i txt earlier will get this LOL)
Easy on chaps i passed my class 1 at 19 and was driving fuel tankers on the road courtosey of the mod and yes some could not manage it but i soon learnt how to grow up!!! Were not talking about a load of 18yr olds driving supped up special lighted cabs racing round hams hall, that will never happen and to be honest it costs thousands to do it and many wont be able to afford it. And the fact that there will be no jobs waiting for them (insurance mainly been the factor which dumb ■■■ FTA and RHA who backed this move because their pen pushing useless %$%^$ who never see the bigger picture) unless they have connections will put allot off. So only the determined will go ahead i’m sure. I’m now 24 and i hang my keys up next year to train to be a mechanical engineer and i’m been paid for it to so lucky in one way. At least i dont have restricted hours (45 hours a week driving mainly), vosa, cpc rubbish, rdc’s to name a few the jobs getting screwed and if after 5 years on the road i’m comming off the other young guns won’t last long i’m sure. Correct me if i’m wrong but i bet i’m not far from the truth of driving.