Would you say there’s a difference in driving, with someone who passed with you, and someone who passed with another outfit who didn’t have all these things you have?
No. But the person who has trained with us has been through a tried, tested and approved system in a company operated by me - and I am extremely passionate about what we do and how we do it. Our candidates have everything stacked in their favour. This goes from fully qualified and registered instructors to new trucks, own reversing area, own test centre etc etc etc etc. I could have had many more foreign holidays if I wasn’t so bothered!!
As for the candidate who has been elsewhere, it’s a lottery. Just read some of the threads on here to hear the horror stories. NONE of them have our name attached to them.
Would you say there’s a difference in driving, with someone who passed with you, and someone who passed with another outfit who didn’t have all these things you have?
No. But the person who has trained with us has been through a tried, tested and approved system in a company operated by me - and I am extremely passionate about what we do and how we do it. Our candidates have everything stacked in their favour. This goes from fully qualified and registered instructors to new trucks, own reversing area, own test centre etc etc etc etc. I could have had many more foreign holidays if I wasn’t so bothered!!
As for the candidate who has been elsewhere, it’s a lottery. Just read some of the threads on here to hear the horror stories. NONE of them have our name attached to them.
Pete
its obvious your passionate about what you do and how you do it, no question about it! and im sure there is some cowboys out there operating. so if your business is fully regulated and up to the high standerd it is, then how are these others able to get away with it?
if people are being trained up in scrap vehicles, with instructors falling asleep, surley something has to be done?
its obvious your passionate about what you do and how you do it, no question about it! and im sure there is some cowboys out there operating. so if your business is fully regulated and up to the high standerd it is, then how are these others able to get away with it?
if people are being trained up in scrap vehicles, with instructors falling asleep, surley something has to be done?
You dont have to be a detective to discover my passion for this job! The “others” get away with it because candidates have remarkably low expectations. I go ballistic if there’s the most minor fault on any of our vehicles (which, of course there is from time to time). The “others” dont seem to give a monkeys and candidates don’t expect any more. Which is a shame.
On another thread currently running, a guy has had an assessment at a very reputable school but has chosen to go elsewhere - partly on price. And straight away, he’s picked up that there’s a lot of travel on the gear change. OMG, surely the alarm bells should be ringing! One well fluffed gear change that has a knock on effect on a test and it’s game over. Make no mistake.
But I maintain the vehicles 100% and run them no more than 4 years from new. And this has a cost. Which is why we’re not cheap. But IMO the standards are well worth paying for rather than paying less and hoping it all works to plan. So what is actually “cheap”?
It’s high time this industry was correctly regulated to make sure that all customers get a fair deal and a consistently high standard of training using good equipment and proper facilities.
It still amazes me how many trainers keep very quiet about the driver cpc. THis makes the price look very competitive. Then sting for another £300 approx when they finally get around to it. In the meantime, the poor guy has passed his test and cant drive commercially. (Unless he has grandfather rights).
One day, heaven only knows when, all this will be put right and all candidates will get a fair crack of the whip. In the meantime, buyer beware.
The 3 providers in my area 1 of them has an older vehicle but well maintained ( anything goes wrong it is straight off the road & put right ) 2nd have fairly new units agin well maintained 3rd buy new runs them for 3-4 years
All have good reputations & have said it before they all use the same test station but it is only those 3 that use it
1 of them has an older vehicle but well maintained ( anything goes wrong it is straight off the road & put right )
… and what happens to the training whilst the vehicle is off the road?
Of course it happens to us as well. But at least we have enough vehicles exactly the same to be able to cover any emergency events. But if you’re on the last day of training and the vehicle plays up, what happens? Test the next day after all.
