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albion1971:
Hello CD I had the same idea as yourself 35 years ago. I wanted to teach people to drive and looked into BSM which I was very tempted with.
However one day I noticed an advert in the local paper for an LGV Instructor which also said training will be given if necessary.
This prospect suited me even better than cars so I went for interviews and tests and got the job. They trained me for about 18 months then put me through my RTITB LGV course which was hard but satisfying. I thouroughly enjoyed the learning process and found great satisfaction getting people through their tests. They also put me through my PCV so I went on to doing that as well.The job was great but the wages were no better than what I had been earning on the road so to cut a long story short I applied for a job as an instructor with the MOD.
Having passed a full day of tests and interviews I got offered a position and never looked back. This job was far more involved and included many types of training including cars. I must admit I enjoyed the commercial training far better.The problem nowadays is the training has changed from teaching someone to drive to basically getting them through a test.
Not a step in the right direction from what I have seen and not so rewarding for the instructor I feel.Anyway I still know a few people doing car training and they all make a very good living for a lot less hours than you would on the road for the same money. Only downside is most of the work is evenings and weekends. If that suits you I would go for it.
It’s all about getting a good reputation and the only way to do that is by hard work and doing the job properly.
It is not as easy as some think to be a good instructor and like anything else you will improve with experience. If you are not a patient person forget it although saying that I learned to be more patient as I went along.Personally if I were you I would be contacting any local LGV schools to see if there was any chance of a way in.
Hope this helps in some way.All the best.
Brings back memories of my instructor training with the RTITB. The worst module was the theory but having to give a lecture to about thirty disinterested youths about the perils of junctions in city centres (with the examiner amongst them in the back row) was pretty grim also.
We did a driving assessment also which was an hour and a half with a Volvo unit and a flat doing everything from town centres to single track country lanes and I only got three minors - don’t think I’d manage that again!
Our trainer was great and he taught us how to tell your pupils what you wanted them to do - he would drive and we would play the part of the instructor. We were coming up to a roundabout and he said what do you want me to do and I said carry straight on …and he did just that, right through the middle of it. Well, that was a lesson learnt
Due to circumstance beyond my control I didn’t teach for long but I got a reasonable pass rate and met some great guys. but the emphasis was always on passing the test - I always felt it should be more than that.
Ha yes know exactly what you mean. I actually failed the theory first time round but passed second time after a bit more studying.If I remember it was the…Methods of Instruction…that got me!
The lecture was quite nerve racking at the time as well because at the time I had not done any classroom work but I thoroughly enjoyed the driving and instructing parts.
My trainer was a Brummie and he was brilliant at his job.
I have since done many other courses but none of them come close to what I learned on the RTITB course.
Still drive trucks and coaches on occasion as I am almost fully retired but I do miss training. Met some great people along the way and it taught me an awful lot, not just about driving but about people in general and how everyone perceives things differently. Happy days.