Hello all. Hope someone can help. I passed my class 1 licence 20 years ago and since then have only been driving 18 tonne rigid units. The company I work for has just changed hands and i have heard through gossip that i May be asked to drive artic units again. My question is that after 20 years not driving a C+E unit i would have thought the entitlement would have lapsed? I would prefer to stay driving my 18 tonne rigid and if push came to shove I would look for another job. Any information and advice would be appreciated.
Many Thanks, Neil
neilmsd1965:
Hello all. Hope someone can help. I passed my class 1 licence 20 years ago and since then have only been driving 18 tonne rigid units. The company I work for has just changed hands and i have heard through gossip that i May be asked to drive artic units again. My question is that after 20 years not driving a C+E unit i would have thought the entitlement would have lapsed? I would prefer to stay driving my 18 tonne rigid and if push came to shove I would look for another job. Any information and advice would be appreciated.
Many Thanks, Neil
Your entitlement for C and CE backed by medicals should be ongoing.
neilmsd1965:
Hello all. Hope someone can help. I passed my class 1 licence 20 years ago and since then have only been driving 18 tonne rigid units. The company I work for has just changed hands and i have heard through gossip that i May be asked to drive artic units again. My question is that after 20 years not driving a C+E unit i would have thought the entitlement would have lapsed? I would prefer to stay driving my 18 tonne rigid and if push came to shove I would look for another job. Any information and advice would be appreciated.
Many Thanks, Neil
You should still have C+E on your license as the entitlement never lapses so you can still legally drive class 1.
Whether you stay or leave the company is something only you can decide.
Many thanks for the replies. Will have a long think about what to do next. may see if thet can put me on some sort of refresher course?
neilmsd1965:
Many thanks for the replies. Will have a long think about what to do next. may see if thet can put me on some sort of refresher course?
It’ll be like riding a bike believe me I know.
Except it looks like he only passed the test 20 years ago and then never actually drove class 1. Chances are he passed on the smallest wagon and drag type outfit going and has never driven a full size artic, especially to todays sizes and weights.
Personally I find driving artics easier than rigids once you get the hang of reversing. Maybe just practice for a few hours shunting in your yard and around a local industrial estate to get the feel for it. If you’re already driving an 18 ton rigid you already know how to drive a large vehicle so its not like you’re starting from scratch, you’d soon take to it.
no you cant claim redundancy cos you cant drive it
hth
robinhood_1984:
Except it looks like he only passed the test 20 years ago and then never actually drove class 1. Chances are he passed on the smallest wagon and drag type outfit going and has never driven a full size artic, especially to todays sizes and weights.
Personally I find driving artics easier than rigids once you get the hang of reversing. Maybe just practice for a few hours shunting in your yard and around a local industrial estate to get the feel for it. If you’re already driving an 18 ton rigid you already know how to drive a large vehicle so its not like you’re starting from scratch, you’d soon take to it.
Was it really 20 years ago, when you were allowed to take a test on an 8t rigid with a caravan chassis hung behind it 
I still think in;
Class 1 - Articulated
Class 2 - Multiwheeler
Class 3 - 2 axle Rigid