Peter has tried the idea of having an artic ‘on standby’ for those wishing to have a run in an artic after passing their C+E test in a W&D. I can say this for a fact, because I saw it when I visited Peter’s premises.
I can also say that I saw that said artic carried a load of concrete ballast blocks for added realism.
Now in all fairness, who imagines that this could ever be an unlimited freebie??
…
Now that would’ve really interested me.
Me too. But as Pete himself has said previously, it was uneconomical to have an artic tractor unit sat in the corner waiting for the possibilities. He still has the trailer just nothing to pull it with.
I learn’t in an artic and first job was night trunking for Tuffnels with A frame wag n drag interesting to say the least, so artic did not prepare me for the real world
Let me throw this into the mix and see what comes out!!
It’s well known that we run W+D for CE @ a cost of £1200 fully inclusive. This is using Iveco trucks (very basic but they do the job superbly and the oldest is 4 years old, the youngest is 4 weeks old). I calculate that to operate a high quality unit and trailer - we’re talking nearly new Volvo, DAF, Scania - would come out around £1600. This is due to higher running costs coupled with longer training duration which would be required.
I wouldn’t pay that much, nothing personal Peter as you have the best set up I have seen anywhere, but the cheaper option of w+d is a winner for everyone
Noworries:
I wouldn’t pay that much, nothing personal Peter as you have the best set up I have seen anywhere, but the cheaper option of w+d is a winner for everyone
But would you pay Peter (knowing his quality of training) for 4 hours of cross training?
Peter Smythe:
Let me throw this into the mix and see what comes out!!
It’s well known that we run W+D for CE @ a cost of £1200 fully inclusive. This is using Iveco trucks (very basic but they do the job superbly and the oldest is 4 years old, the youngest is 4 weeks old). I calculate that to operate a high quality unit and trailer - we’re talking nearly new Volvo, DAF, Scania - would come out around £1600. This is due to higher running costs coupled with longer training duration which would be required.
Your thoughts?
Pete
In the current economic climate I really don’t believe that anyone looking to do c+e will happily pay alot more money to gain the same licence - bearing in mind that having c+e on your licence doesn’t tell anyone that you took your test/training in a W&D or an Artic . Let me put it this way, your training is very important but, you get the licence you want - and the vehicles you drive are good well maintained and the training is the highest standard, does Artic actually win over W&D.
As a point of note i have trained hundreds of drivers on both and know which is easier for getting a licence
Noworries:
I wouldn’t pay that much, nothing personal Peter as you have the best set up I have seen anywhere, but the cheaper option of w+d is a winner for everyone
But would you pay Peter (knowing his quality of training) for 4 hours of cross training?
I think there are trainers that specialise in training in W&D and do a great job of that training.
There are also trainers that specialise in training in an Artic setup and do a great job of that too.
There is also a number of trainers that will take your money to give you bad training no matter what vehicles they have.
Your decision should not only be based on the vehicles available… but I believe a bigger chunk of your decision should be based on the training standard.
dar1976:
I think there are trainers that specialise in training in W&D and do a great job of that training.
There are also trainers that specialise in training in an Artic setup and do a great job of that too.
There is also a number of trainers that will take your money to give you bad training no matter what vehicles they have.
Your decision should not only be based on the vehicles available… but I believe a bigger chunk of your decision should be based on the training standard.
dar1976:
I think there are trainers that specialise in training in W&D and do a great job of that training.
There are also trainers that specialise in training in an Artic setup and do a great job of that too.
There is also a number of trainers that will take your money to give you bad training no matter what vehicles they have.
Your decision should not only be based on the vehicles available… but I believe a bigger chunk of your decision should be based on the training standard.
Just my thoughts
Yep as I have found out as went to all the training companies in my area & have decided which 1 is getting my money for C+E ( all I have to do is save that up )
i have trained hundreds of drivers on both and know which is easier for getting a licence
Same here John. Just interested to see if people would put their money where some of their mouths are! Clearly, I’m not going to base any decision soley on the comments received here but the subject is under serious consideration.
i have trained hundreds of drivers on both and know which is easier for getting a licence
Same here John. Just interested to see if people would put their money where some of their mouths are! Clearly, I’m not going to base any decision soley on the comments received here but the subject is under serious consideration.
Thanks for the comments so far. Pete
I’ll be putting my money where my mouth is, just sorry I can’t afford (time and cash) to do w&d with Pete and do artic training afterwards . The B&B is very tempting though (no morning commute through west yorks). I have some ‘local’ schools under serious consideration, one is Tockwith, and the other is Atkins with Hargreaves coming up the rear, all do artic and differing variations on 1:1/2:1, price and actual hours behind the wheel.
I am taking my own advice, that’s part of the reason why Hargreaves who I did my C with are very last. Tockwith I know have a very good rep around yorkshire, the only problem is the distance from Huddersfield, and Atkins is very old school, but again have a good rep. Your not totally out of the equation though. As I said the stress free commute from B&B to training centre is VERY tempting. Still weighing up the pro’s & cons.
As I’ve said before I really need the artic, the company I can transfer to insist on it before they’d even consider me for training/induction. They use mainly DD’s so I can see where they’re coming from.
Maybe see you soon for an assessment then. Tockwith are a really good bet as well. You’ve already formed a view on Hargreaves and I don’t know Atkins so cant pass comment.
This thread has thrown up many interesting points. When it comes to taking the C+E training there seems to be several key factors that influence a candidates choice of trainer. It seems the main considerations are…in no particular order
W&D or Artic
Cost of training
Location of training
The assessment drive experience
Reputation of training provider either from personal experience or reputation
If I was to advise someone how to decide between trainers on a strictly unbiased basis I would recommend the following order from the options above:-
4 - 5 - 2 - 1 - 3
I can imagine not everyone would have the same priorities or perhaps there are other considerations not on this list.
When I done my tests I chose the school on two factors
1 it was one to one training
2 the trucks they used were like the ones I was likely to end up driving this was when you could do it with a flatbed and a pretty small truck.
Was talking to a bloke in my local who done his class 1 a few months back after having his class 2 for a few years and he chose the school as they used a daf xf with a full size trailer.
I suppose it’s safe to say that once again, as soon as the ■■■■ government interfered and stopped the direct to class 1 option, the job was screwed as up to that time everyone used an artic and the drivers came out with the top licence, went and did some rigid work and usually got the odd run as a emergency driver on the artics and filtered into a better job.
interesting to say the least, so artic did not prepare me for the real world 
. The B&B is very tempting though (no morning commute through west yorks). I have some ‘local’ schools under serious consideration, one is Tockwith, and the other is Atkins with Hargreaves coming up the rear, all do artic and differing variations on 1:1/2:1, price and actual hours behind the wheel.