Need some advice I am looking strongly into this career always really fancied it to be honest but I just don’t know were to start I will be 25 in 2 weeks and want to get training booked up asap but I don’t know whether to go for class 1 or 2? I was told if I went for a class 1 and got it I would struggle to get work because I’ve not had any experience driving a class 2 vehicle.
Any advice would be really appreciated my questions are prob very stupid ones but I’ve been looking on the internet for days and getting nowhere
are you aware you have to pass your class 2 befor you even train for class 1 ? alot of people i spoke too say once you have your class 2 licents. find work using the class 2 then once you have a year or 2 years expirants then go for class 1, anuff money saved to take it of couse. you may even get lucky and end up working for a firm that likes you and is happy to pay for your class 1. i heard royal mail used to pay for there employees to pass class 1 as long as thay stayed with royal mail for a number of years after that. don’t know if thats right just something i heard. i still dont know alot about the best ways of going about things but this is all just what most people in the know have told me. its pritty much my plan at the moment.
You have to do class 2 (Cat C) and then class 1 (Cat C+E), you cant jump straight to artics. You don’t have to spend a year doing class 2 work, there are companies out there that take on new drivers regardless of which class it is, it’s finding them. It tends to be the trend where you build up experience and work your way through the classes but there’s no written rule to say you have to do that.
You never know you may get lucky and start driving artics straight away.
One thing I would say though is to do your research into training companies and work availability in your area (or within a set distance your’re willing to travel). Oh and as you would be a new driver you would also need a new qualification called DCPC (Driver Certificate of Proffesional Competence), this is around £250 but may be included in the training package. Worth considering when you research training companies as some only offer the practical training.
Hope this helps.
I was the same I had no idea where to start but just sat at the computer and went to work on Google lol. Don’t be afraid to ask questions on here, MOST people can be very helpful. Oh and make use of the advanced search function at the top of the page, that can answer a lot of questions.
Oh and don’t expect a company to pay for your training, it’s practically unheard of unless your with a reputable company at the moment and have been for some time. Wouldn’t hurt to ask
Thanks for the help tarman I’m going to start looking at companies who can provide the training and hopefully get going, should I do my theory test before I do all of this?
But be away that there are not many jobs around atm so check before parting with any money you may also find it a prob as lack of experience as there are a lot of drivers out of work atm it is not impossible but can be done
geordie1234:
…but I don’t know whether to go for class 1 or 2?
If you’ve got the money, do your C+E (class one) as well. Even if you don’t intend to use it in the short term, it’ll start the clock ticking on your two years “experience” and make you more attractive to potential employers. Just doing your C (class two) is half arsed.
Also, no offence, but you seem a bit clueless. Do a bit of research before you spend any money.
geordie1234:
Sorry to be a pain but how to I apply for my provisional? can I get the forms from a post office just like I had to do with my normal licence?
animal:
A good read through all of this may help viewtopic.php?f=5&t=44667
That link has all the info you need - that whole thread has been compiled to assist newbies from start to finish
geordie1234:
…but I don’t know whether to go for class 1 or 2?
If you’ve got the money, do your C+E (class one) as well. Even if you don’t intend to use it in the short term, it’ll start the clock ticking on your two years “experience” and make you more attractive to potential employers. Just doing your C (class two) is half arsed.
Also, no offence, but you seem a bit clueless. Do a bit of research before you spend any money.
This is what I am doing at the moment research the very reason I’m on this forum
First step of all is to get a medical done. You will need to book this with your GP, or ring around a few places/check online as prices vary wildly from £30/40 to £100+. It’s not an in-depth medical, just a general health check questionnaire, quick eye test, urine (diabetes) test etc.
This is the form (D4) you need to download and take to the doctor
After you’ve had the medical, you need to send the D4 form off - along with your licence - to the DVLA to get the provisional entitlement added to your licence. To do that, you’ll need to order form D2 here:
While that’s all going on, you can start to revise for your multiple choice theory test and hazard perception tests. There are some decent online revision sites, and it’s worth buying/downloading the official DSA revision books to help. The theory and HP tests can be booked online here:
After passing those (and module 2 of the initial driver CPC course if required - depends when you passed your car test and what entitlements you have on your licence, known as ‘grandfather rights’) you can then think about booking your practical driver training (known as module 3) and after that (if required, as above) you’ll need to do module four of the initial driver CPC course before you can look for a job!
I think that covers all of the initial basics, but this thread has everything in much greater/better detail:
