Hello there.
A young lad who has just purchased the corner shop on my street has ambitious plans of getting a 7.5 toner for trips too and from the cash & carry. He asked me before if he would need his CPC and O license if its just too be used for this one reason. As I wasn’t sure I thought you boys could answer this for me. Thanks in advance
Scotty boy
Must be one hell of a corner shop if he needs his own 7.5 ton motor, and yes he would need both. Why not get a big transit, do two trips and save all the hassle, and he could park it just where he fancied ie anywhere.
Cheers ray. I did tell him too get a massive Mercedes sprinter or vw crafter but he thinks he would end up over weight with crates of beer and stuff. I’ve said he’s too ambitious but I will have too tell him too just get a bigger van. Thanks for the reply mate
Cheers
Scotty boy
Why would he need a cpc? A restricted O licence is all he appears to need.
Christ how big’s his shop?!
My father in law used to run a B&B in Backpool, he had a Transit connect which would more than enough take all the weight of beer bottles, tins of food etc etc.
If its literally a corner shop then a large estate car would suffice. If the shop was empty to start with then I’m sure a 7.5 ton would be great for the ‘initial shop’, but for weekly trips a large estate/small van would be more than enough in my opinion.
If the shop was much larger, say the size of a local Coop for example then maybe yes, get a 7.5 ton, but surely running costs would put a large dent in any profits?
He could get a iveco long wheel base van with up rated rear axle a lot cheaper
Angus25:
He could get a iveco long wheel base van with up rated rear axle a lot cheaper
Sounds like a good choice, for a corner shop runnaround it’d be ideal, & more economical to run than a 7.5t 
He is far too ambitious it’s only a small shop. Thanks for the advice guys and gal I really appreciate it 
Cheers
Scotty boy
He’s now saying he wants a 6 ton van or something I don’t totally understand what he means. But he basically wants a massive twin wheel van. But he said they come with tacho and he’s unsure whether or not he will need O license and CPC. I’m not right into the regs. I just go too work chuck my card in and do what I’m asked too do. Please can someone let me know what he needs too do sick of ball ache lol
Cheers
Scotty boy
Scottyboy87:
But he said they come with tacho and he’s unsure whether or not he will need O license and CPC.
It will be subject to the same rules as a 7.5t as anything over 3.5t is.
If he runs a vehicle commercially over 3.5ton he will have a tacho depending on age of said vehicle but for o licence I think it comes in for 7.5 ton and would only need to be restricted as its for his own use
If he’s spending that amount of money to fill a 7.5 ton then the cash and carry would deliver if and most would do it for free.
If he get the 7.5 or 6 t he wont need a tach as he is not running it for hire & reward it is more for personal use
animal:
If he get the 7.5 or 6 t he wont need a tach as he is not running it for hire & reward it is more for personal use
Well he is in a way as he’s going to sell the stuff! I think that would only count if you were moving house/taking a day trip to the beach etc etc.
animal:
If he get the 7.5 or 6 t he wont need a tach as he is not running it for hire & reward it is more for personal use
I despair somtimes…
animal:
If he get the 7.5 or 6 t he wont need a tach as he is not running it for hire & reward it is more for personal use
It’s not going to be for private use as it will be a part of his business, therefore he would need to use a tachograph and comply with the tachograph regulations 
Unless the nearest wholesaler is several hundred miles away the young bloke would have to have a hell of a corner shop to justify the expense of running anything like a 7½ tonne vehicle every day.
He could just offer Stobarts a long term contract delivering his loads for him , im sure they could jiggle Tesco’s about to fit him in . They’ll understand … 
Scottyboy87:
Hello there.A young lad who has just purchased the corner shop on my street has ambitious plans of getting a 7.5 toner for trips too and from the cash & carry. He asked me before if he would need his CPC and O license if its just too be used for this one reason. As I wasn’t sure I thought you boys could answer this for me. Thanks in advance
Scotty boy
Hi Scotty boy87,
The parts of your quote that I’ve made red are the key to the answer to your question.
The vehicle is of more than 3.5t authorised GVW, so an ‘O’ licence is required, since the vehicle will be used in connection with a trade or business.
If he sticks to the “for this one reason,” he will be carrying his own goods that he bought from the cash-and-carry, which means that the type of ‘O’ licence required is called ‘Own Account.’
[AKA 'Restricted ‘O’ licence.]
People often confuse ‘own account’ and ‘private’ use, but they are completely different concepts.
The holder of an own account ‘O’ licence must comply with all applicable rules on ‘O’ licensing in just the same way as the holder of a ‘Hire and Reward’ ‘O’ licence, but he won’t need as much in terms of financial standing.
He also won’t need to have an operator CPC qualification.
The key to this part is that he owns the goods being carried.
( = The goods do not belong to somebody else.)
If he later decides to carry other goods for other people, then all of the ‘O’ licence rules will apply in full including the need of the full amount financial standing and a CPC qualified Transport Manager.
Financial standing requirements as at 01/01/2012:
Restricted ‘O’ licence [ = Own Account]
One Authorised Vehicle - £3,100
Each Additional Authorised Vehicle - £1,700
Standard National ‘O’ licence [ = Hire and Reward]
One Authorised Vehicle - £7,700
Each Additional Authorised Vehicle - £4,200
More info is available here:
GV74 VOSA Goods Vehicle Operator Licencing Guide
I honestly can’t thank you guys enough for the help. Cheers everyone for speedy replies
Cheers
Scotty boy
Going by what DieselDave said, the difference in funds for a restricted O’ explains why many 7.5t trucks operated by building contractors are battered wrecks. 