Hey guys,
After about 3-4 years of thinking about doing my HGV I’ve finally decided its pretty much going to be the only thing im good at! haha
Ive been involved in motorsport since a young age on the spanners, ive gone from Formula Ford to F1. Trouble was I peaked to early in life being only 24 now.
After that I did peice work as a welder, didnt like and now ive just done a year of selling cars…haha and after a year of being here, I still don’t like it, meeting and chasing targets etc one month you can earn 800-1000 the next you could earn 3k, and I dont like the uncertainty of not knowing what your going to earn.
I’ve not got any rose tinted glasses on and im somewhat aware of how the industry is at the moment, I will be coming into the industry with intentions of keeping the standards of work to the highest possible standard, which is what I’ve always been used to, if a jobs worth doing its worth doing it properly.
Couple of question I need to ask you guys,
- I’ve done my medical over a year ago, will it still be valid now?
- Im under the impression I have to book theory hazard perception, multiple choice and mod 4 cpc (is that right?) all individually?
- I’ve prepared for my theory test, will this be enough to cover mod 4 as well?
- What other things do I have to do with regards to CPC? and how do I go about them
As regards with the process of getting my licence I am totally incompetent so please do bare with me if some of the questions seem some what…dumb?
Cheers
D
Hi
Your medical from a year ago is out of date now unless you sent it in at the time to get your provisional. Assuming you didn’t, this is what you need to do:
Medical
Apply for CAT C provisional
Suggest online theory training
Once you have your provisional licence book:
Multiple choice
Hazard perception
Mod 2 case studies (driver cpc)
You also need to choose your trainer. Either book assessments to see how you feel or book on rock solid recommendation. Steer clear of the brokers.
Personally, I think it’s best to link up with a trainer sooner rather than later as they will normally see to all the theory side for you. It’s scary when someone wanders in off the street waving their nice new theory certs and expecting to start driving next week! Much better to know who is in the system.
Just re-read the OP. Having prepared for the theory already you should be able to have a good crack at the Mod 2. You can also save the cost of online training.
You can do nothing else at the moment towards your driver cpc. But once you have your licence and have passed Mod 2 you can do your Mod 4 before you start your driving course if that suits.
Hope this helps. Any questions, fire away. All the best, Pete 
Peter Smythe:
Steer clear of the brokers.
Can I just re-iterate this for the OP, with just a little more emphasis?
STEER CLEAR OF THE BROKERS.
Do not go through adverts in the national tabloid newspapers. You will be lied to and ripped off. Tell us what part of the country you live in and we will make impartial suggestions about driving schools based on members’ experiences of them.
DrewHughes:
As regards with the process of getting my licence I am totally incompetent so please do bare with me if some of the questions seem some what…dumb?
One quote you will read on here time and time again is this. “There’s no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid answer”.
So ask away.
Thanks for the replies, I should of stated that I’ve got my provisional. Well that’s what it says on my counterpart at least anyway, I had actually forgotten until I had it until you’ve jogged my memory! Hahaha doh
So I assume my provisional is valid for so long
I’ve already got a trainer in mind, which is you peter although JCoates are on my door step a quick trip up to jct 28 isnt the end of the world for me
I have prepared for the theory by reading the highway code and mock theory tests, but can’t help but think that I am somewhat under prepared as well at the same time…lol
Hi
Your provisional will run until you’re 45 (expiry date at the side of the category).
If you dont feel prepared for your theory, I recommend a quick call to our office to set up theory training online. At the same time the theory tests can be arranged.
I suggest you book an assessment at Coates and with ourselves. You will then have a comparison not just on price, but everything else.
Hope this helps, Pete
DrewHughes:
but can’t help but think that I am somewhat under prepared as well at the same time…lol
I doubt that anyone has ever felt any differently when starting out. I didn’t have a clue.
Talk to a couple of trainers, the driving course is fairly intense so you have to be sure you can get on with the bloke who you will be sharing a confined space with for a week or two of your life.
Peter Smythe seems ok, I’ve never met him but there are many members here who have passed their tests with him and I’ve never seen anyone- anyone at all- say that they wouldn’t recommend him.
Arrange to go along for a chat and a drive with two or three schools and see which one suits you best.
as Harry says you gotta be able to get on with the trainer so go and have a chat with both , i can most definatly recommend Peter Smythe he will do his best to prepare you for your test as I have trained with him myself and all his trainers are the same all happy in the job and want you to be succesfull and will be patient and you will have an enjoyable experience learning to drive a hgv veh !!!
all the best whatever you decide to do
jen x
Yep, me too - I can recommend Peter Smythe - only DSA approved trainers and the tests are conducted from his own premises. Modern vehicles (all under 3 yrs old, I think) and a very friendly professional bunch. They got me through both my C and my CE recently.
Alan
i cant comment on peters training yet as i have not quite got that far but i will say i have met him and he is a very friendly and approachable bloke, the only reason i haven`t got that far is timing, wife has to go into hospital and needs rest for 3 weeks so i have to look after my son and also school transport cant be arranged for him untill sept so will hopefully be completing training through summer holidays , at least got provisional and got theory booked for 11th may so i feel like i am getting somewhere slowly but surely … anyway good luck… 
karl
Another recomondation for Peter Smythe Transport training from me. I passed C+E with Peter Smythe just before Easter.
To me it was a big advantage that training takes in the same location as the test centre. as the training centre is also a private test centre.
I booked based on reconondations on this forum. training diaries, and Peters honest genuine helpfull advice.
Mike
Although I have not met Peter in person I have asked for his advice regularly. I have no doubt that there are other good trainers but Pete is in a tiny band of great trainers.
Good advice to have a few trial drives but remember they are mostly selling exercises not training exercises
Good luck and trust your instincts not the salesmans promises.