It does seem that some rules have no logic. Here are just a few that could be changed or removed to make life easier for everyone.
Why have all the different boxes to tick on question 1 of form D2 ? Why do the DVLA not just put every entitlement on your licence anyway ? Remove question 1 from the D2
Why can’t a person take the theory test while waiting for the provisional to come back ? If the licence doesn’t get granted then the person has wasted the test fee but it would speed the overall process up from car to LGV
Why have a clear 3 days minimum wait between tests if you fail ? What is the waiting period there for ?
Why was the rule introduced that you have to pass Cat C before taking CE ? It clearly is not to make people gain experience on smaller trucks first. Remove that restriction to get people working as drivers faster.
Why do car driving instructors have to be approved and regularly tested by the DSA for vehicles up to 3.5t but not for vehicles larger than that ? Make LGV instructor testing compulsory.
Can either the insurance industry or the employment industry explain concisely what the fairly standard 2 years experience before getting work is actually all about. It takes a properly trained and competent person to pass the required tests as set down by the Govt so why is that not enough for the industry ?
What is the purpose of the Initial CPC ? Would it not actually be better for new starters to attend the 35 hours like everyone else. Are they saying a person brand new to the road transport industry will learn more sitting a 50 question multiple choice test and a 15 minute vehicle walkround with 5 questions than they would by receiving 35 hours professional training from instructors that are obliged to be approved and meet strict conditions on both industry knowledge and instructional ability.
As part of the entry to the test centre, they ask for your licence.
So the computers can be updated to show the failure.
I have no concise answer, but for me personally I would have been overwhelmed going from a car to an artic as I had no Cat C1 or BE on my licence.
Agreed. There should be a compulsory DSA register for LGV / PCV Trainers.
It’s a shame there are no insurance underwriters that are members on here to give a concise answer.
The 35 hours are a waste with a lot of (though not all) sub standard training. The Mod2 seems pointless also. At least with the initial CPC there is a set structure to the practical demonstration Mod4.
I passed my test before the new rules came in,so don’t know what it’s like now.
When I did it,it was just a case of back it in the box,emergency stop,up and down the gears and on the road for 45 minutes…it was no preparation for the working world.
What if the training was taken back to how it was for the old lads,they had a fortnights training and the test took half a day if I remember rightly.What I’m getting at I suppose is that if the new entrants had to pass a test like the old boys then would there still be this 2 year rule.
Just another thought…ever thought of training pupils with a load?
With regards and good intentions.
Bri
Edited to say that it seems to go off topic somewhat but I was replying to point 6…honestly I was.
I can answer definitivley the insurance myth as far as my firm is concerned (mostly cat c), there is no requirement for 2 years experience, however the excess gets a little err excessive for driver of less than 2 years experience in the relevant category. Company policy does now loosely follow this by stating that new drivers (from agency) are to be avoided whenever possible. We all know in reality you could easily get a bad tempered knuckle dragger (and we’ve had a few) that have been driving years who knows how to spin a job out, just as easily you could get a new driver that actually understands vehicle & load sympathy, he actually does his walkround, he knows how to deal with customers and sales/office staff and puts in a fair shift. I know which my gaffer prefers & takes on despite company policy.
LGVTrainer:
4. Why was the rule introduced that you have to pass Cat C before taking CE ? It clearly is not to make people gain experience on smaller trucks first. Remove that restriction to get people working as drivers faster.
Why do car driving instructors have to be approved and regularly tested by the DSA for vehicles up to 3.5t but not for vehicles larger than that ? Make LGV instructor testing compulsory.
What is the purpose of the Initial CPC ? Would it not actually be better for new starters to attend the 35 hours like everyone else. Are they saying a person brand new to the road transport industry will learn more sitting a 50 question multiple choice test and a 15 minute vehicle walkround with 5 questions than they would by receiving 35 hours professional training from instructors that are obliged to be approved and meet strict conditions on both industry knowledge and instructional ability.
5 - good idea if done the same way - by using a real trainee - that means 3 seats !
7 - The initial could be good - mod 4 is but mod 2 needs to be changed to a test on driver regs
Why have all the different boxes to tick on question 1 of form D2 ? Why do the DVLA not just put every entitlement on your licence anyway ? Remove question 1 from the D2
Why can’t a person take the theory test while waiting for the provisional to come back ? If the licence doesn’t get granted then the person has wasted the test fee but it would speed the overall process up from car to LGV
Why have a clear 3 days minimum wait between tests if you fail ? What is the waiting period there for ?
Why was the rule introduced that you have to pass Cat C before taking CE ? It clearly is not to make people gain experience on smaller trucks first. Remove that restriction to get people working as drivers faster.
Why do car driving instructors have to be approved and regularly tested by the DSA for vehicles up to 3.5t but not for vehicles larger than that ? Make LGV instructor testing compulsory.
Can either the insurance industry or the employment industry explain concisely what the fairly standard 2 years experience before getting work is actually all about. It takes a properly trained and competent person to pass the required tests as set down by the Govt so why is that not enough for the industry ?
What is the purpose of the Initial CPC ? Would it not actually be better for new starters to attend the 35 hours like everyone else. Are they saying a person brand new to the road transport industry will learn more sitting a 50 question multiple choice test and a 15 minute vehicle walkround with 5 questions than they would by receiving 35 hours professional training from instructors that are obliged to be approved and meet strict conditions on both industry knowledge and instructional ability.
1 + 2 completely agree
3. The 3 days should be scrubbed. The theory is that more training takes place between tests.
4. IMO it’s a half-baked idea and another lost opportunity. Either scrub it and go back to “direct entry” to CE or introduce a stipulation of, say, 100 hours certified CAT C driving before being allowed near a CE. I prefer that it was scrubbed as most drivers go straight through to CE making it a fruitless exercise.
5. Absolutely. Years overdue. The voluntary register has been with us for 12 years and it is high time it was made compulsory. I know of 2 “instructors” in Nottingham that have failed various attempts at getting qualified but are still taking money from people for inadequate training. But that, apparently, is legal. Nonsense.
6. Agree that this is wrong. I believe there should be some form of regulated induction by the employer or an appointed trainer. This could easily be more satisfactory than holding a licence for 2 years.
7. Not quite sure about this one. I can see the point. Maybe compulsory training/testing on driver’s hours/tachos would be a good plan. I don’t see the point of Mod 2 but Mod 4 has it’s uses.
But the discussion is, as I’m sure John knows, hyperthethetical. For as long as legislators have no will to regulate the industry, I see no hope. It simply relies on the better trainers to offer a top service and leave the others to their own devices.
The licencing laws wont change unless there is a will to change throughout EU. So don’t hold your breath.
for training