Norfolk Calling

[chris-j]

Hi Guys

I’m not sure exactly where to post but as I am an old driver / newbie so this will be as good as anywhere else I guess.

I got my HGV 1 back in the Early 80’s and found myself working for an agency in Germany.
They sent me to a heavy haulage firm and I ended up being offered a full time job with them.
I drove all kinds of vehicles, mainly mobile cranes but I also got a fair bit of low loader work delivering all kinds of machinery all over Europe.
They were great days for me, sadly I was let go from there and ended up driving for a small owner operator taking tankers up to Sweden and back, and back and back, endlessly
Anyway after a few years of that I found myself in the USA and did some driving over there, mostly just general flatbed work and some Air-Ride trailer work. Very long distances and horrible roads but it was fun.
Anyway I am back in the UK with a current C&E licence (always kept current) but nothing else.Do I need any other cards ? Digital Tacho card I guess, but what about a Hazardous goods ticket ?, worth having ? CPC Periodic Training ?
I fancy chasing my youth and getting back behind the wheel again full time but boy have things changed.

My second question is what to aim at, I’m too old (57) to want to leap about loading and unloading or climbing up on top of a tanker to fill it (are they auto-fill these days). I have done some container work and that was pretty decent and I don’t mind being away from home, I speak German to a reasonable level. What does the panel think. ?

[dieseldave]

Chris-J:
Hi Guys

I’m not sure exactly where to post but as I am an old driver / newbie so this will be as good as anywhere else I guess.

Hi Chris,
Your post is just fine where it is.

Chris-J:
but what about a Hazardous goods ticket ?, worth having ? CPC Periodic Training ?

The dangerous goods course (ADR) can get you 7, 14, 21, or 28 DCPC hours, depending on whether the training school and their course is registered with JAUPT for DCPC.
The ADR card can be useful, because it allows you to carry regulated dangerous goods.

If you’re considering an ADR course, in your case I’d recommend the whole 5-day course including the optional tanker module, because you already have tanker experience. Once you have the ADR card, you can get cracking back on tankers straight away.

If you need me to point you in the direction of an ADR provider in your area, give us a clue as to your location and how far you’d be prepared to travel to a course, and I’ll post up some contact details of providers.

Chris-J:
… , I’m too old (57)

I’m that age too, and I’ll have you know that I’ve never been this old before.

[chris-j]

Thanks Dave

I’m in Norfolk kinda in the middle of the triangle of Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Norwich.
I don’t mind travelling but in the ideal world if I can get home after class it would save on hotel costs.
If I can’t then I can’t, not a massive deal I guess.

So the 5 day ADR should count towards the DCPC (assuming I pick the correct trainer).

My thought are that I stand more chance of getting hired if I have one rather than if I don’t so it’s probably worth it.

[dieseldave]

Chris-J:
Thanks Dave

I’m in Norfolk kinda in the middle of the triangle of Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Norwich.
I don’t mind travelling but in the ideal world if I can get home after class it would save on hotel costs.
If I can’t then I can’t, not a massive deal I guess.

Hi Chris,

There seems to be a few approved ADR providers in your area, so here’s a selection of the closest ones to you.
To save any nasty surprises, please ask questions about whether VAT, exam fees and DCPC are included (or not.)

These are in no particular order…

Ludgate Consultancy & Training Ltd
22 Friars Quay
Colegate
Norwich
NR3 1ES
Tel: 01603 612225
Email: bob@ludgate-consult.co.uk
Contact: Mr Robert Ludgate

Norfolk Training Services
Harford Centre
Hall Road
Norwich
NR4 6DG
Tel: 01603 259900
Email: jamesmason@norfolktrainingservices.co.uk
Contact: Mr James Mason
This one even has a price list here:
http://www.norfolktrainingservices.co.uk/Logistics-training/dangerousgoods.html
The way that NTS works the exam fees is that the exams cost £200 in marking fees, so the whole course can look quite expansive.
Other providers will charge only £120 for this, but please don’t think that this is a trick of any sort, because there are TWO perfectly legitimate options open to providers for how they wish to tackle the exams.

Goldstar Transport Ltd
A14 Logistics Centre
Elmswell Road
Woolpit
Bury St Edmunds
IP30 9RH
Tel: 01359 245375
Email: rob.summers@goldstartransport.co.uk
Mr Dennis [Rob] Summers

FreightTrain
Unit 1A Guardian Industrial Estate
NORWICH
NR5 8PF
Tel: 01603 692716
Email: paul.nicholls@freightforce.co.uk
Contact: Mr Paul Nicholls

Needham Logistics Training Ltd
Unit 5, Maitland Road
Lion Barn Industrial Estate
Needham Market
IP6 8NZ
Tel: 01449 722400
Email: roy@needlogisticstraining.co.uk
Contact: Mr Roy Baker

Chris-J:
So the 5 day ADR should count towards the DCPC (assuming I pick the correct trainer).

Yes mate, you can get up to 28hrs DCPC for the 5-day course, but I’d think you’d be more likely to get 21hrs because not all providers have registered their tanker module for DCPC.

Chris-J:
My thought are that I stand more chance of getting hired if I have one rather than if I don’t so it’s probably worth it.

Yes mate, an ADR card can give you a larger target area for interview requests and potentially open doors that would otherwise be closed.

[chris-j]

dieseldave:
The way that NTS works the exam fees is that the exams cost £200 in marking fees, so the whole course can look quite expansive.
Other providers will charge only £120 for this, but please don’t think that this is a trick of any sort, because there are TWO perfectly legitimate options open to providers for how they wish to tackle the exams.

Thanks again Dave

What do the two methods mean to me I wonder, other than -£80

I shall give them all a call in the morning

[dieseldave]

Chris-J:
What do the two methods mean to me I wonder, other than -£80

Hi Chris,

The end result is that there’s no difference in the qualification, regardless of the ‘route’ to the exams.

Not all providers express their prices in the same way, but here are a few tips:

Ask about VAT. (VAT is payable on course tuition fees, but there is NO VAT on SQA exam fees.)
Ask about arrangements for breaks/lunch.
Ask about DCPC and how many DCPC hours are available for your course and the cost.
Ask whether they run single class exams, or common characteristics, because the difference in marking fees can be significant:

Each exam paper now costs £20 to mark, so a lot of providers are saving money for the candidates by choosing the “common characteristics” route.

There are two ‘routes’ to taking ADR exams
The one-exam-per-class route still exists, but it’s become comparatively expensive now.

Here’s the SQA marking fee comparison for Core, Packs and seven UN Classes:
Separate Classes route:
Core, Packs, then Classes 2,3,4,5,6,8&9 all as separate exams = £20 X 9 = £180.

Common Characteristics route:
Core, Packs, Common Characteristics, Paper “A” & Paper “B” = £20 X 5 = £100.
Assuming first time passes on all papers, a candidate would get exactly the same ADR licence from both routes, but one exam route costs YOU £80 less in marking fees.

Marks needed for a pass on separate Classes route:
Core = 18/25
Packs = 11/15
Classes 2 & 3 = 11/15 each
Classes 4,5,6,8&9 = 7/10 each
Total exam papers = 9

Marks needed for a pass on Common Characteristics route:
Core = 18/25
Packs = 11/15
Common Characteristics = 14/20
Paper “A” = 26/36 (Classes 2,3,6 &8 on one paper)
Paper “B” = 17/24 (Classes 4,5 &9 one one paper)
Total exam papers = 5

If you choose to take the tanker module, it is ‘free standing’ and not combined with the above routes, but please be aware that not all providers have registered their tanker module for DCPC.
Tanker exam marking fee = £20 (No VAT)
Pass mark = 14/20

As you can see, there is an element of ‘rolling the dice’ with the Common Characteristics route, but you get to save £80.
It’s the old saying that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

[chris-j]

Clearly the Common Characteristic route is cheaper, assuming I pass first time.
What about re-testing how does that work, what I mean is if I fail one module can I then just re-take that single one or do I then have to do the whole CC group again ?

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions.

[dieseldave]

Chris-J:
Clearly the Common Characteristic route is cheaper, assuming I pass first time.
What about re-testing how does that work, what I mean is if I fail one module can I then just re-take that single one or do I then have to do the whole CC group again ?

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions.

Hi Chris,

Assuming a candidate fails an exam paper, the rules are as follows…

All the passes are kept safe on the SQA system, just like they’re in the bank.
A candidate can do a re-sit just by turning up at any provider on their exam day, but the candidate must book in advance so that the provider can allocate a desk without breaching the SQA rules on the permitted number of candidates in the exam room. (A training/exam room has a people limit based on the square area of the room and the headcount.)

If the re-sit date is more than 16 weeks from the date of the exam fail, then a candidate must attend the relevant lessons again.
This rule doesn’t apply if the re-sit takes place within 16 weeks.

Given that the exams are done immediately at the end of a course and a candidate fails, then I’d give them much less than a 50/50 chance of passing a re-sit after the passage of some time from the end of the course.

Most of the ADR providers that I work for will allow a candidate to sit in on the lesson(s) that go with the exam that they failed for free, but this isn’t automatic at all providers. Those that do allow this will just charge you the £20 (per paper) SQA exam marking fee.

Depending on which paper(s) a candidate fails, they may or may not get an ADR card valid for the modules they passed.

The very minimum requirement for the issue of an ADR card by the traditional exam route is:

Core

• Either Packages OR Tanker
• At least one UN Class

The very minimum requirement for the issue of an ADR card by the Common Characteristics exam route is:

Core

• Either Packages OR Tanker
• Common Characteristics
• Either paper “A” OR paper “B” in my post above.

[chris-j]

Thanks Dave

The replies are coming in thick and fast from the emails I sent out this morning.
Thanks for your help, it’s nice to ask all the right questions from the get-go.

[lja]

Hi Chris!

Welcome onto the forum, and all the best with the job chasing. I have my ADR but as of yet not had any real chance to make use of it. If anyone knows of any potential employers out there, I’m all ears!

LJ

[chris-j]

LJA:
Hi Chris!

Welcome onto the forum, and all the best with the job chasing. I have my ADR but as of yet not had any real chance to make use of it. If anyone knows of any potential employers out there, I’m all ears!

LJ

I’d happily let you know if anything comes up although the chances of getting offered something in Cornwall are limited here in East Anglia.

[lja]

Chris-J:
I’d happily let you know if anything comes up although the chances of getting offered something in Cornwall are limited here in East Anglia.

Oh, if the right money was offered I’d move anywhere mate…even Norfolk!! [Joking btw ]

[chris-j]

LJA:

Chris-J:
I’d happily let you know if anything comes up although the chances of getting offered something in Cornwall are limited here in East Anglia.

Oh, if the right money was offered I’d move anywhere mate…even Norfolk!! [Joking btw ]

Blimey, you guys must be suffering down there

[lja]

Chris-J:
Blimey, you guys must be suffering down there

Well, the guys who are on salary ain’t bothered of course, but me being on this hourly rate ‘zero hour’ contract thing is the one who is suffering. I have seriously started to look around for other work now that I haven’t been offered any at CBT for over 2 weeks now!