Hi, I’ve been a commercial vehicle owner driver for 20 years, driving mostly vans and 7.5 tonners, doing mostly next day parcels and freight. I’ve recently passed my D4 medical and applied for my HGV provisional. Which route do you guys think is best, an apprenticeship with a big haulage firm, Knights of old for example, or go it alone, get my class 2 with a local independent instructor and find work that way? Cheers.
Go it alone, no doubt about it.
If you go through an apprenticeship scheme then you will be tied to the company that put you through the training until such a time as they deem the training costs to have been ‘paid off’, usually about 2 years. If you leave before this period has ended then you will be obligated to repay the training costs (this is a term they will put in any contract of employment). These training costs will include not only the cost of putting you through licence training and tests, but also any other training they have provided, so while a combined C and C+E course might cost you £2500 you could actually end up having to pay back as much as £4000.
Not only that, but in all liklihood you will also be on a lower rate of pay than drivers who have been brought in and already have their licence
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Have you checked out the link in my signature below 
Terry Cooksey:
Go it alone, no doubt about it.
If you go through an apprenticeship scheme then you will be tied to the company that put you through the training until such a time as they deem the training costs to have been ‘paid off’, usually about 2 years. If you leave before this period has ended then you will be obligated to repay the training costs (this is a term they will put in any contract of employment). These training costs will include not only the cost of putting you through licence training and tests, but also any other training they have provided, so while a combined C and C+E course might cost you £2500 you could actually end up having to pay back as much as £4000.
Not only that, but in all liklihood you will also be on a lower rate of pay than drivers who have been brought in and already have their licenceSent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
Cheers Terry. That’s what I thought, just wanted to ask you guys before I make a decision.
ROG:
Have you checked out the link in my signature below
Cheers Rog, will have a look through that this evening.
Go it alone defo, so long as you can afford it and all. As has been said you won’t he tied in to anywhere by doing it yourself and as an owner driver, I’m sure you’d be able to absorb the cost within your company and claim tax back or whatever.
toonsy:
Go it alone defo, so long as you can afford it and all. As has been said you won’t he tied in to anywhere by doing it yourself and as an owner driver, I’m sure you’d be able to absorb the cost within your company and claim tax back or whatever.
Everyone should be claiming the cost against their tax return.
stu675:
toonsy:
Go it alone defo, so long as you can afford it and all. As has been said you won’t he tied in to anywhere by doing it yourself and as an owner driver, I’m sure you’d be able to absorb the cost within your company and claim tax back or whatever.Everyone should be claiming the cost against their tax return.
Can this be done if working PAYE, and if so, how?
Goff118:
stu675:
toonsy:
Go it alone defo, so long as you can afford it and all. As has been said you won’t he tied in to anywhere by doing it yourself and as an owner driver, I’m sure you’d be able to absorb the cost within your company and claim tax back or whatever.Everyone should be claiming the cost against their tax return.
Can this be done if working PAYE, and if so, how?
I thought when I had looked at this it would only be valid for qualifications and training for your existing profession / trade not if you were adding another string to your bow, as such.
Could well be wrong.
njl:
Goff118:
stu675:
toonsy:
Go it alone defo, so long as you can afford it and all. As has been said you won’t he tied in to anywhere by doing it yourself and as an owner driver, I’m sure you’d be able to absorb the cost within your company and claim tax back or whatever.Everyone should be claiming the cost against their tax return.
Can this be done if working PAYE, and if so, how?
I thought when I had looked at this it would only be valid for qualifications and training for your existing profession / trade not if you were adding another string to your bow, as such.
Could well be wrong.
I’ve had a quick look this morning and can’t see that this is possible.
Goff118:
stu675:
toonsy:
Go it alone defo, so long as you can afford it and all. As has been said you won’t he tied in to anywhere by doing it yourself and as an owner driver, I’m sure you’d be able to absorb the cost within your company and claim tax back or whatever.Everyone should be claiming the cost against their tax return.
Can this be done if working PAYE, and if so, how?
Yes.
gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees
You might be able to claim tax relief if:
you use your own money for things that you must buy for your job
you only use these things for your work
The test is the expense must be “wholly, exclusively and necessarily for the purpose of your job”. library.croneri.co.uk/cch_uk/p11d/11-105
I would suggest that an HGV licence meets all 3 of these tests (so long as you don’t drive any trucks for pleasure).
In terms of how to claim it,
start with gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees and answer the questions.
If it’s £2,500 or less per year and it was after 5/4/2017 you either put it on your self assessment or get to this page.
tax.service.gov.uk/claim-ta … aim-online.
This will apply to your Theory, Hazard perception, DCPC, Practical training and test fees.
Thank you for this, but I’m not currently in HGV work, so don’t think that would float 
Goff118:
Thank you for this, but I’m not currently in HGV work, so don’t think that would float
You don’t need to be in Hgv work.
As long as you start paid employment in hgv within 4 financial years of paying for the training and licence costs you can claim it.
best to ask Everyones opinion,listen carefully and then go and do exact opposite!