Just found this forum and it has proved very useful, I am thinking about doing my Class 2 in the very near future
as the rates for 7.5 ton haven’t moved since the last time I did this kind of work some 3 years ago and you didn’t need a CPC then.
I am in my late 40s and got my licence when they were giving them away in 1990, never really used it till a few years ago when I started working for an agency in Essex, did that for 6 months and moved on, recently I have joined another agency and I am currently doing 2/3 days a week around my regular non driving job.
I have now decided to try and pass my Class 2 and find a permanent job in that field, I have got my provisional sorted, just need to do the theory and I am ready.
How long on average does it take to get a theory test date?
Is it hard or is it a lot of common sense?
Do I have a good chance of passing it if I read the book a few times?
Should I do a 5 day course with test at the end of it? means taking a whole week off work
and laying out a grand. How fast can you get a retest if it goes wrong?
Should I do a 4 hour lesson a week spreading the cost over 5 weeks and use the time on the agency as practice?
Should I take the auto test to get thru it easier and worry about gears when I get a job?
Can you use lorries with reversing cameras on the test as I have seen driving schools advertising them?
I am in East London/Essex borders, can anyone recommend a good school/instructor?
Or give an honest opinion on the following companies weather its good or bad?
crowlands.co.uk/lgv_rigid.html
very near me but no prices on website.
1stopinstruction.com/east-lo … ourses.php
also near me £999 for 20 hours and test.
thelgvman.com/hgv_training.html
also not far, also £999, looks like a small operation so maybe a better service.
rsmdrivertraining.com/lgv-hg … ing-essex/
a bit further out but sounds good, no prices on site.
There seems to be several training schools at the same address in Wincanton’s Yard in Purfleet, can anybody shed any light on that?
Any help or sensible advice will be greatly appreciated…
Cheers.
Tony Res MEMBER Posts: 2Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2015 9:20 pm
Hi, and welcome to the forum. Pleased you’re finding it informative. I’ll give my answers as well:
Theory test dates vary geographically - but expect 3 - 4 weeks. Not rocket science and reading the book will often be enough and sometimes not.
Traditionally, LGV training takes place over a week with the test at the end. This is either 1:1 for half days or 2:1 for full days. Either way, the job gets done though we all have our preferences. (Mine is 1:1). We frequently complete the course over a weekend with test Monday morning. So our candidates arrive from all over the UK on Sat morning (Friday eve if a very long way), work all day Sat and Sun, pass their test on Monday am (last one was 1 minor mark this Monday). This works very well with anyone who can concentrate. But if this is an issue, maybe the career choice is flawed?
The auto vs manual discussion will continue to rattle on. The fact is that there isn’t an easy answer. It’s clearly easier to pass the test with auto. Many trucks in the “real” world are manual - but they are also straight 6 boxes unless you get involved in multi-axle. Yes, it’s possible to get a range change or a splitter on a 2 axle vehicle but it’s not common. Two other points: you learn, possibly, on an 8 speed switched range change. How does this equip you for, say, a splitter? Or a slapover? You will be familiar with the type you learnt on and that’s good. But not a lot of use for all the other types. The main point though, is that up till mid - nineties, folks learned on a straight 5 speed box as a rule. And no-one taught them how to use a range change, splitter, etc. Is the current crop of new drivers suddenly thick? I don’t think so!! So it’s not difficult to sort out. One way of dealing with it is to pass on auto then have an hour on manual, just for peace of mind, without the pressure of test. I, personally, have no axe to grind. Our CAT C fleet is divided 50/50 manual and auto.
Retests are always an issue. Good trainers will not hold a great number of tests back for this as they’re not needed. Consequently, it can cause a hiccup if there is a “bad run”. There again, this varies geographically and I would be very sceptical of any promise made by a trainer as to the wait for a retest until the actual time. Our promise is that you will get a test asap. Sometimes this can be a month or so. Other times it’s no more than a few days. Strangely, it’s sometimes the candidate who builds in delays because of their own lack of availability but generally folks are very keen to get back quickly and we always do our best. There is recent evidence of this in another thread.
Weekly lessons can work. The downside is that stuff does get forgotten between any 2 sessions. If they are daily, this is normally recovered very quickly but if it’s a week it can become noticeable.
Use of reversing cameras on test is permitted. Personally, I would be more interested in knowing whether the trainer has a properly marked practice area of the correct dimensions. Very few have.
Reference the trainers you mention, I don’t have any personal knowledge of any of them. None of them are accredited by DVSA as LGV Training Centres. The list is here: dft.gov.uk/fyn/lgv.php
Your nearest on the list is Roadtrain. They also own the test centre. There is also Flair at Chelmsford. Not on the list but has a good reputation and is committed to the results.
Residential may be an option. As a Trucknet user you would get CAT C, cpc (periodic or Mods 2 and 4) and free accommodation for the duration of the practical training for a total cost of £1215. That’s going to take some beating!
looks like a small operation so maybe a better service.
Sorry, don’t understand that reasoning. Will there be a spare truck? Will the trucks be purchased new for the job? Will they have full maintenance facilities onsite? Will they have a dedicated customer care team waiting to take your call with any queries? Will they have their own test centre? Have they got a spare trainer in case of sickness/emergency?
I challenge anyone to better our customer service. We spend a fortune on it as I believe it to be equal top priority with the quality of training.
Hope this helps, and good luck.
Pete 
Just assured I have a top quality school…
