ADR or HIAB or what? [NEWBIE]

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
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JS8576:
Thanks dieseldave. In you cylinder picture would that be tanks or packages? Bit confused over how they identify some items. If it was a piece of machinery which is mildly radioactive. It’s not a tank, or a tanker, or a package :exclamation:

Hi JS8576,

Anything that’s radioactive is Class 7, but let’s not go there because Class 7 is very specialised and probably best left out of this discussion.

JS8576:
Also wondered if you can give a clear explanation on lorry mounted cranes.

Sorry, 'fraid not… because I’ve never even used a HIAB, nor do I even have the qualification for it.

JS8576:
Not sure if you are dieseldave because you know all about ADR and HIAB not your area.

Yes, ADR is my ‘thing’ so I can give you as much help as you need with it. :smiley:

To answer your question about gas cylinders… they count as packages, just like drums, boxes, crates, jerricans, sacks/bags or IBCs.

If you’re considering an ADR course, I’d recommend that you take the Core, Packages and Classes 2,3,4,5,6,8 &9 course because that would give you a general qualification for carrying most chemicals in all types of packages.
The tanker part can be added later if you wish, or you could choose to do the whole lot in one go.
My advice is that you leave out the tanker part for now because it will save you money.

Also left out is UN Class 1 (explosives) and UN Class 7 (radioactives.) cos they’re both quite expensive and there’s really not that much call for them TBH.

22

skypilot:
ADR Class 1 is useless unless in the Military or working for a quarry!

Hi skypilot,

Never a truer word written, but only last week I ran an ADR explosives course for people from a pyrotechnics company who carry some extremely serious fireworks. :open_mouth:

They genuinely need the qualification for the amounts and types of the stuff they carry!

I learned something on that course too… I hadn’t realised the size or frequency of the pyrotechnics ‘game,’ cos it’s not just for November 5th any more.

23

I’ve just received the reminder from the last ADR provider informing me my renewal is due next March year, and they’ve quoted me £440 for the refresher course.
As I haven’t really used it since I got it I’ve a dilemma as to whether it worth spending the cash to renew

24

peirre:
I’ve just received the reminder from the last ADR provider informing me my renewal is due next March year, and they’ve quoted me £440 for the refresher course.
As I haven’t really used it since I got it I’ve a dilemma as to whether it worth spending the cash to renew

Hi peirre,

My advice in your case is that you consider doing your renewal on an initial course (perfectly allowable and within the rules,) because you’d get the benefit of the renewal in terms of the unexpired part of your present ADR licence would still be added to your new entitlement, plus you can get 21/28hrs DCPC for no extra effort and all at the same time.

A purely refresher ADR course comes at you twice as quickly, gets fewer DCPC hours and has a higher exam fail rate.

If you’re wanting to renew your ADR entitlement, then IMHO it’s a no-brainer. :smiley:

However, the flip-side is that although you’d save a few bob for sure, you’d have to tolerate a whole 35hrs of DCPC. :open_mouth:

25

it sounds like you will fit in great as a driver, you haven’t got a licence yet but have ruled 80% of the work out :smiley:

you wont get on at BOC as a new driver (in the midlands in any case) maybe they are different around the country, hiab will be mainly builders merchants and some of the local doris types will mean you wont last very long doing that.

moffett maybe as others have said might be a better option.

euro might be better as that can be days on your own then a few hours when tipping loading.

26

It sounds like you will fit in great as a driver, you haven’t got a licence yet but have ruled 80% of the work out

I am a picky git :smiley:

My problem is i need to enjoy the job and find it satisfying in order to avoid the risk of just losing interest.

I can take it or leave it to be honest but i feel i at least want to get it [Cat C]

I think i’m drawn to the more specialised areas because i think maybe i would get more enjoyment out of those than doing typical haulage deliveries. That’s why the ADR Radioactives would be the most appealing, followed by fuel tanker, then HIAB. I don’t think there is anything else that really appeals to me. First one like you say virtually no work so probably waste of time and money. The second one puts me off because i would imagine there are plenty of very experienced drivers out there who would jump at this sort of work so my chances would be few and far between to get a foot in the door. That leaves HIAB which i have to say the more i think of it the more i like the look of it.

I did think you were called dieseldave for the obvious reason. I just saw SITE ADMIN and jumped to conclusion that you knew everything. :smiley: Has always confused me with the mention of packages as i was taking it literally thinking they really were packages and that cylinders were tanks.

Anyway thanks for advice. Learning more on this site than the various books/legislation i’ve come across.

27

dieseldave:
Hi peirre,

My advice in your case is that you consider doing your renewal on an initial course (perfectly allowable and within the rules,) because you’d get the benefit of the renewal in terms of the unexpired part of your present ADR licence would still be added to your new entitlement, plus you can get 21/28hrs DCPC for no extra effort and all at the same time.

A purely refresher ADR course comes at you twice as quickly, gets fewer DCPC hours and has a higher exam fail rate.

If you’re wanting to renew your ADR entitlement, then IMHO it’s a no-brainer. :smiley:

However, the flip-side is that although you’d save a few bob for sure, you’d have to tolerate a whole 35hrs of DCPC. :open_mouth:

Cheers Dave, I was considering doing the initial course, as I’m currently on a sabbatical as a carer for a family member.
Like many others I originally did the ADR with the aim to also gain DCPC hours, but there’s not much call for ADR in my area.

28

JS8576:

It sounds like you will fit in great as a driver, you haven’t got a licence yet but have ruled 80% of the work out

I am a picky git :smiley:

My problem is i need to enjoy the job and find it satisfying in order to avoid the risk of just losing interest.

I can take it or leave it to be honest but i feel i at least want to get it [Cat C]

I think i’m drawn to the more specialised areas because i think maybe i would get more enjoyment out of those than doing typical haulage deliveries. That’s why the ADR Radioactives would be the most appealing, followed by fuel tanker, then HIAB. I don’t think there is anything else that really appeals to me. First one like you say virtually no work so probably waste of time and money. The second one puts me off because i would imagine there are plenty of very experienced drivers out there who would jump at this sort of work so my chances would be few and far between to get a foot in the door. That leaves HIAB which i have to say the more i think of it the more i like the look of it.

I did think you were called dieseldave for the obvious reason. I just saw SITE ADMIN and jumped to conclusion that you knew everything. :smiley: Has always confused me with the mention of packages as i was taking it literally thinking they really were packages and that cylinders were tanks.

Anyway thanks for advice. Learning more on this site than the various books/legislation i’ve come across.

best of luck but if your looking at hiab and don’t want builders merchants then I would maybe start looking locally and seeing what if anything is about.

29

I might be okay with builders merchants, probably have to get the experience doing this sort of work anyway. Just a bit confused that’s all not just about different categories of HIAB (I think C is the correct one + getting the right attachments + i assume remote control) but also about how you know if you can act as operator/supervisor/signaller or if a lift requires additional personnel to be involved due to the risks. I gather with a builders merchants all the lifts are considered basic and driver can do it all.

If you turned up at a school with kids around I understand it would now be intermediate or advanced and you could not do that on your own.

I know ALLMI best certification to go for.

30

JS8576:
Thanks Crane-Boy

When you say you got class 2 hiab do you mean you’ve got LGV C then hiab. I think the HIAB also comes in categories. From what i understand i would need a category C hiab which covers lifts upto 20tm (whatever that means, i assuming ton meters). There is a Cat D HIAB which lifts over 20tm but i believe that’s for things like lifting portacabins which probably a bit too involved and specialised for me and probably will require crane superviser, signaller, etc…

Although it does look like there are jobs doing Cat C lifting that are classed as more dangerous and therefore are more onerous when it comes to the number of people involved. So if you went to a domestic property and there were people working in the road nearby would that require you to have a crane superviser or signaller. Because i understand that the hiab operator cannot always take on the role of operator/superviser/signaller?

Sorry for late reply!!
Tbh I operate a crane using brick grabs, I’ve heard of needing another license for using a clamshell grab etc but I’ve always found plenty of work with the one I have.
I got my c1 then my class 2 and my hiab license.

It’s all dead easy work and I’d recommend it to anyone.
Maybe give a local lgv trainer a call and ask what licenses you’d be better of obtaining

31

Seems that ALLMI is the one to go for. I would probably do all to be honest cover myself just in case. Still don’t know much about distance whether upto 20tm or over 20tm. I’m even wondering if there would be little work and opportunities for training with the over 20tm. I also imagine this would be much more complex work and far harder to get.

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Fellow avoidant pd sufferer here. Did you see the job or training through? :smiley:

33

You will need some experience before you can consider getting into the sectors u mention, no firm that does radioactive stuff is giving that work to someone fresh of the street.

34

dieseldave:

skypilot:
ADR Class 1 is useless unless in the Military or working for a quarry!

Hi skypilot,

Never a truer word written, but only last week I ran an ADR explosives course for people from a pyrotechnics company who carry some extremely serious fireworks. :open_mouth:

They genuinely need the qualification for the amounts and types of the stuff they carry!

I learned something on that course too… I hadn’t realised the size or frequency of the pyrotechnics ‘game,’ cos it’s not just for November 5th any more.

Ahem :smiley: , I’ve put three through Class 1 explosive this year, two refresher and a new start. And in true willy-waving style, I’m sure my pyrotechnics are bigger than their pyrotechnics :laughing:

@andy12 - not necessarily, I’ve taken on new starts and put them straight through training.

Back to the OP, radioactives are not what we do, but most people would consider what we do as interesting, but the truth is, whilst it’s nicer than RDC type work, you still drive a long way, hand over some kit, get a signature and driver back. What you are carrying doesn’t make that much difference. I’d rather have a dull job shifting widgets with a decent boss, nice colleagues and delivery points, than radioactives with a miserable git for a gaffer and back stabbing co-workers.