I just wish that they had brought this in when I was 18 as I wouldnt have worked for Amtrak sorting parcels in the warehouse and City Link doing the same (Amtrak was part time whilst at college which I was made to go to and City Link I ended up full time as I got kicked out of college 
), then working for White & Co on removals and then Pickfords, then First Great Western on the railway, then platform staff for South West Trains being promoted to station announcer before being sacked (good going managing to be sacked as an announcer ), nearly making it to guard, then I went to Stagecoach as a bus driver after working p/t in an off licence and as a drivers mate (where I actually got offered a job by a boss of 1 firm in a Berlingo van 
) in between SWT and Stagecoach
Not bad for a period of 9 years is it 
this time next year it wont be 18 yo lads meeting up in car parks with there cars doing handbrake turns and dougnuts/tyre burnouts and checking how loud each others new sub woofer is they’ll all be pulling up in there supermarket tractor units etc etc instead 
Cruise Control:
this time next year it wont be 18 yo lads meeting up in car parks with there cars doing handbrake turns and dougnuts/tyre burnouts and checking how loud each others new sub woofer is they’ll all be pulling up in there supermarket tractor units etc etc instead
I gave one of our 7.5t drivers a run for his money on Saturday - he said lets see what your made of - at a set of lights 
Weeeeell lets put it this way, I beat him
Cruise Control:
this time next year it wont be 18 yo lads meeting up in car parks with there cars doing handbrake turns and dougnuts/tyre burnouts and checking how loud each others new sub woofer is they’ll all be pulling up in there supermarket tractor units etc etc instead
it’ll be who has the baddest exhaust stacks 
Personally I like the 21 year old limit, the Major thing about driving any vehicle is that you can quickly get used to its size and handling, what you cant get without experience is road sense .
Many of us will have seen a situation and by experience have known well before it developes into something potentially dangerous that it was on the cards, this only comes by spending many hours out on the road.
18 year olds havent spent enough time learning their limits (something we all did) or experiencing different situations. Driving a 44 tonne truck isnt difficult, assessing situations and reacting appropriatly only comes with a few years driving experience.
I would much prefer anyone driving a vehicle that can cause a huge amount of damage to have a few years experience on the road. at 18 i dont believe they will have that.
I can see where ure coming from about getting out of a car and straight into a lorry. But i have always wanted to do it and gonna fight till i can do it
Rikki-UK:
I would much prefer anyone driving a vehicle that can cause a huge amount of damage to have a few years experience on the road. at 18 i dont believe they will have that.
On a personal note, and I have an agenda for saying this, it would be a good idea for those without many years of road driving experience to perhaps prove their observation and planning by taking something like an advanced driver course and test in their car before going for such an upgrade.
Ash16:
I can see where ure coming from about getting out of a car and straight into a lorry. But i have always wanted to do it and gonna fight till i can do it
Ash
I do admire your enthusiasm.
But there should be a defined learning curve car>van> large van> 7.5 tonne> 18 tonne> Artic/wag and drag> specialist
this not only gives a chance to experience in stages, but also allows the young driver to gain experience in a manner that doesnt put him or the public at risk.
It works as a benefit to all including the driver.
Driving a truck well is not about your ability to control the vehicle, we could probably train monkeys to drive them 
its about understanding what other people are doing on the road, and knowing how to react when THEY get it wrong.
It is that small point that differentiates a steering wheel attendant from a driver and that only comes with experience…
Rikki-UK:
Personally I like the 21 year old limit, the Major thing about driving any vehicle is that you can quickly get used to its size and handling, what you cant get without experience is road sense .Many of us will have seen a situation and by experience have known well before it developes into something potentially dangerous that it was on the cards, this only comes by spending many hours out on the road.
18 year olds havent spent enough time learning their limits (something we all did) or experiencing different situations. Driving a 44 tonne truck isnt difficult, assessing situations and reacting appropriatly only comes with a few years driving experience.
I would much prefer anyone driving a vehicle that can cause a huge amount of damage to have a few years experience on the road. at 18 i dont believe they will have that.
somebody who agrees with me on this.just you wait till the first 18 year old has an accident and maims or kills somebody…you will never hear the end of it from the press abouthgv drivers blah blah. just think of it this way, a car driver could pass his test and within a month of passing his car test could have passed his class 1…if thats not scary i dont know what is.
gogzy:
Rikki-UK:
Personally I like the 21 year old limit, the Major thing about driving any vehicle is that you can quickly get used to its size and handling, what you cant get without experience is road sense .Many of us will have seen a situation and by experience have known well before it developes into something potentially dangerous that it was on the cards, this only comes by spending many hours out on the road.
18 year olds havent spent enough time learning their limits (something we all did) or experiencing different situations. Driving a 44 tonne truck isnt difficult, assessing situations and reacting appropriatly only comes with a few years driving experience.
I would much prefer anyone driving a vehicle that can cause a huge amount of damage to have a few years experience on the road. at 18 i dont believe they will have that.
somebody who agrees with me on this.just you wait till the first 18 year old has an accident and maims or kills somebody…you will never hear the end of it from the press abouthgv drivers blah blah. just think of it this way, a car driver could pass his test and within a month of passing his car test could have passed his class 1…if thats not scary i dont know what is.
They’d have a field day 
,
18 year old 44ton juggernaut driver causes tragedy 1 month after passing car test.
you have to learn to walk (drive a car) (and be confident at it) before you can learn to run (drive a truck)
Not saying that every 18 year old young driver would be incompetent at driving a truck but it would make sense surely to say they must have held a car licence for 1 year before they move onto a truck 
Cruise Control:
held a car licence for 1 year before they move onto a truck
Held it or driven plenty of miles in different situations - how would anyone know which unless a driving assessment of their abilities was done
ROG:
Cruise Control:
held a car licence for 1 year before they move onto a truckHeld it or driven plenty of miles in different situations - how would anyone know which unless a driving assessment of their abilities was done
yes i forgott to add that , 1 year driving experience but as you said no way or proving it, just MPO though, its a good idea in theory at least
same suppose as a the 21 years and held licence for 2 etc for learner driver supervison, the supervisor may not of even drove a car at all in 2years just got a licence but can still supervise
over 21 and 3 years but what’s a year between friends
I personally can’t wait for this, it’s a great opportunity.
But i know, you all know who’s going to employ a 18 year old as a truck driver?
When there is all these experienced drivers out there. Plus insurance will be hell so it’s going to be 20+ be for any major company even takes a look at them.
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■■?
Rikki-UK:
Ash16:
I can see where ure coming from about getting out of a car and straight into a lorry. But i have always wanted to do it and gonna fight till i can do itAsh
I do admire your enthusiasm.
But there should be a defined learning curve car>van> large van> 7.5 tonne> 18 tonne> Artic/wag and drag> specialistthis not only gives a chance to experience in stages, but also allows the young driver to gain experience in a manner that doesnt put him or the public at risk.
It works as a benefit to all including the driver.
Driving a truck well is not about your ability to control the vehicle, we could probably train monkeys to drive them
It is that small point that differentiates a steering wheel attendant from a driver and that only comes with experience…
I no its not the same but i been in a lorry all my life and have always wanted to spend my life in a lorry. But i would love to drive an artic but it not gonna happen for a little while so i wana start off driving a 8wheeler i.e tipper trucks. Then move onto my dream of driving europe. 
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?
garnerlives:
Could anyone shed any light on my first points please■■?
This was a directive from the EU - you know, those people in suits who know it all
nothing more to be said really…
from what i have heard they wanted to lower it cause by the time someone is 21 most of them will already be in a career but by lowering it to 18 it opened up a new career path.
ROG:
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?garnerlives:
Could anyone shed any light on my first points please■■?This was a directive from the EU - you know, those people in suits who know it all
nothing more to be said really…
I know who ROG, I asked why 
Ash16:
Rikki-UK:
Ash16:
I can see where ure coming from about getting out of a car and straight into a lorry. But i have always wanted to do it and gonna fight till i can do itAsh
I do admire your enthusiasm.
But there should be a defined learning curve car>van> large van> 7.5 tonne> 18 tonne> Artic/wag and drag> specialistthis not only gives a chance to experience in stages, but also allows the young driver to gain experience in a manner that doesnt put him or the public at risk.
It works as a benefit to all including the driver.
Driving a truck well is not about your ability to control the vehicle, we could probably train monkeys to drive them
It is that small point that differentiates a steering wheel attendant from a driver and that only comes with experience…
I no its not the same but i been in a lorry all my life and have always wanted to spend my life in a lorry. But i would love to drive an artic but it not gonna happen for a little while so i wana start off driving a 8wheeler i.e tipper trucks. Then move onto my dream of driving europe.
bulk tippers and the like are easy to drive mate, they all have auto boxes with 3 gears only.
fast
faster
reverse
coat hat TAXI