Hey
Does anyone know how much PCV Licence costs and if you would have to repeat the CPC or does the one for HGV count. And is there anything else you would need to drive a bus/coach for a living? (Just exploring my options)
Thanks
Gareth
The cost is virtually the same as LGV
If not got any PCV already then the initial dcpc for PCV needs passing
the modules are -
1a theory
1b HPT
2 dcpc theory
3 practical road drive etc
4 dcpc practical
All periodic dcpc whether done already or after getting PCV counts for BOTH
If you have aquired/grandfather rights for dcpc LGV and pass PCV in say august 2104 then the DQC expiry dates get interesting because you end up getting almost 5 years of free periodic dcpc 
If you can get in with a local bus company they will train you and you only have a small amount to pay back a week for a couple of years.
The other alternative is to find a private driving school that has a coach to train in. Usually around the same price as a rigid course.
The DCPC is different for PCV category so needs to be done separately.
The PCV category has 4 modules the same format as LGV.
1 Multiple Choice Theory Test. 1 Driving Test. 1 Hazard Perception Test. 1 CPC Case Studies Theory Test. 1 Practical Demonstration Test.
dar1976:
If you can get in with a local bus company they will train you and you only have a small amount to pay back a week for a couple of years.The other alternative is to find a private driving school that has a coach to train in. Usually around the same price as a rigid course.
The DCPC is different for PCV category so needs to be done separately.
The PCV category has 4 modules the same format as LGV.
1 Multiple Choice Theory Test. 1 Driving Test. 1 Hazard Perception Test. 1 CPC Case Studies Theory Test. 1 Practical Demonstration Test.
Thanks mate.
Do same rules apply with having grandfather rights or do you have to sit DCPC tests?
The D1 ‘not for hire and reward’ entitlement included with a pre-1997 car test does not give grandfather rights for PCV DCPC as the restriction precludes vocational PCV driving. Pre-1997 car tests gives grandfather rights for LGV DCPC as the C1 entitlement is valid for vocational driving.
Only holders of unrestricted D or D1 entitlement at the PCV DCPC implementation date gained grandfather rights.
Gazza7682:
dar1976:
If you can get in with a local bus company they will train you and you only have a small amount to pay back a week for a couple of years.The other alternative is to find a private driving school that has a coach to train in. Usually around the same price as a rigid course.
The DCPC is different for PCV category so needs to be done separately.
The PCV category has 4 modules the same format as LGV.
1 Multiple Choice Theory Test. 1 Driving Test. 1 Hazard Perception Test. 1 CPC Case Studies Theory Test. 1 Practical Demonstration Test.
Thanks mate.
Do same rules apply with having grandfather rights or do you have to sit DCPC tests?
Not 100% sure to be honest mate. I’m only a youngster 
you could have my P.S.V if it were possible , i hav’nt used it for years and have no intention of doing so 
badly behaved cattle springs to mind and it gives me the shivers … 
Thanks guys was all great info.
Will try and see if the local bus company will put me through my training
@bowser, wanting to expand on driving opportunities, and wanting to move to North wales I know there are quite a few coach bus companies, thinking of speaking to arriva for the training as I remember seeing something but not sure if they are still offering 
Gareth
Gazza7682:
Thanks guys was all great info.Will try and see if the local bus company will put me through my training
@bowser, wanting to expand on driving opportunities, and wanting to move to North wales I know there are quite a few coach bus companies, thinking of speaking to arriva for the training as I remember seeing something but not sure if they are still offering
Gareth
going to a bus company is a good way of doing it and usually pretty quick , i dont know how it works now but when i took mine i was tested by a company employee and it was’nt even at a test centre … good luck in your quest 
That would be cool. As I would be a lot more relaxed
bowser:
Gazza7682:
Thanks guys was all great info.Will try and see if the local bus company will put me through my training
@bowser, wanting to expand on driving opportunities, and wanting to move to North wales I know there are quite a few coach bus companies, thinking of speaking to arriva for the training as I remember seeing something but not sure if they are still offering
Gareth
going to a bus company is a good way of doing it and usually pretty quick , i dont know how it works now but when i took mine i was tested by a company employee and it was’nt even at a test centre … good luck in your quest
Just finished my training with First in Bristol. They conduct the tests from Hengrove Depot as it has the reversing area marked up.
They have in house trainers and examiners as well as follow up training and shadowing. The total cost of training and uniform is 1040 which you pay back at a tenner a week and get back after the 2 years. So really it’s just a savings scheme.
Don’t know how the training bond works with other companies but would think it works on a similar basis.
I am also working through the evidence for an NVQ as part of my training and on going employment.
dar1976:
bowser:
Gazza7682:
Thanks guys was all great info.Will try and see if the local bus company will put me through my training
@bowser, wanting to expand on driving opportunities, and wanting to move to North wales I know there are quite a few coach bus companies, thinking of speaking to arriva for the training as I remember seeing something but not sure if they are still offering
Gareth
going to a bus company is a good way of doing it and usually pretty quick , i dont know how it works now but when i took mine i was tested by a company employee and it was’nt even at a test centre … good luck in your quest
Just finished my training with First in Bristol. They conduct the tests from Hengrove Depot as it has the reversing area marked up.
They have in house trainers and examiners as well as follow up training and shadowing. The total cost of training and uniform is 1040 which you pay back at a tenner a week and get back after the 2 years. So really it’s just a savings scheme.
Don’t know how the training bond works with other companies but would think it works on a similar basis.
I am also working through the evidence for an NVQ as part of my training and on going employment.
Sounds good, I think I will give arriva buses a call tomorrow to find out if they have anything going
Just another question, did you get paid for the training or was it unpaid?
Yes. I was paid from day 1. Just sat on my ■■■■ listening to health and safety lectures and videos.
dar1976:
Yes. I was paid from day 1. Just sat on my ■■■■ listening to health and safety lectures and videos.
Sounds awesome
Just out of curiosity how come you went for the D Licence after passing C+E? (might be same reason as me) 
Gazza7682:
dar1976:
Yes. I was paid from day 1. Just sat on my ■■■■ listening to health and safety lectures and videos.Sounds awesome
Just out of curiosity how come you went for the D Licence after passing C+E? (might be same reason as me)
Work dried up down here in sunny Somerset. Kids all settled in school so moving wasn’t an option.
Just gonna stick it out the 2 years and re-evaluate things then.
And of course it’s another string in my bow
i cant remember if we were paid whilst training or not but i do remember we had to repay £125 if we left
seemed a lot of money then 
Well I wouldn’t mind repaying if they put me through it and gave me a job for a minimum time period, sounds perfect to me 
Dar1976 I’m in the same boat, specially planning on moving to Wales, not much drivers needed there for HGV, but alot of coach companies, who I have also sent emails to see if they could offer me something similar to arriva (in your case First). Do that for what ever period of time and also look how it is then
It would be sensible to consider an assessment drive or two with private trainers. As a CE holder it shouldn’t take very long and, consequently, shouldn’t be too expensive.
All the info you’ve had is correct. The only thing I would add is in respect of the “in house” examiners. They are DSA trained and, supposedly, work to the same standard. If that were true life would be good. Now fast forward to the real world. If they’re short of drivers, anyone who can breath and ■■■■ will pass. If they’re ok for staff but could do with a very steady flow of drivers, suddenly the criteria reaches new heights. I know this for certain fact as I have had the delights of upgrading people from auto to manual and, frankly, some of them I wouldn’t trust with a skateboard. Whereas others have been put through mills that beggar belief.
So please, before everyone starts, read the two statements in balance before saying that I said all in house tested PCV drivers are rubbish. Some are rubbish, some are excellent. Depends which week they fell on.
And the fact that an instructor from a very large national bus company had 5 attempts at Cat C before he passed inspires confidence even less. But some people just can’t be told that blind spot checks are essential. So what’s he training others to do?? Heaven only knows - - but they pass tests apparently.
Frankly, the system of in-house testing stinks and should be stopped instantly.
So I would repeat that assessments with private trainers could save you a lot of hassle with being tied into a bus company - though being paid to train and having a job offer is clearly attractive.
Good luck with whatever you decide, Pete
Peter Smythe:
It would be sensible to consider an assessment drive or two with private trainers. As a CE holder it shouldn’t take very long and, consequently, shouldn’t be too expensive.All the info you’ve had is correct. The only thing I would add is in respect of the “in house” examiners. They are DSA trained and, supposedly, work to the same standard. If that were true life would be good. Now fast forward to the real world. If they’re short of drivers, anyone who can breath and ■■■■ will pass. If they’re ok for staff but could do with a very steady flow of drivers, suddenly the criteria reaches new heights. I know this for certain fact as I have had the delights of upgrading people from auto to manual and, frankly, some of them I wouldn’t trust with a skateboard. Whereas others have been put through mills that beggar belief.
So please, before everyone starts, read the two statements in balance before saying that I said all in house tested PCV drivers are rubbish. Some are rubbish, some are excellent. Depends which week they fell on.
And the fact that an instructor from a very large national bus company had 5 attempts at Cat C before he passed inspires confidence even less. But some people just can’t be told that blind spot checks are essential. So what’s he training others to do?? Heaven only knows - - but they pass tests apparently.
Frankly, the system of in-house testing stinks and should be stopped instantly.
So I would repeat that assessments with private trainers could save you a lot of hassle with being tied into a bus company - though being paid to train and having a job offer is clearly attractive.
Good luck with whatever you decide, Pete
i agree with you if im honest , i remember being told that the occasional one would fail but not to worry if i was one of them .
we went in three’s to take the tests around preston me and the second driver passed but the one who went last failed but retook the test straight away and we all returned with fresh new P.S.V’S … it was obvious what had happened
the funny thing was at that time you could’nt drive in service without your badge and loads of them went missing in the post , it took them 6 weeks to sort it so none of us could drive but they had to pay us . we all got route learned to death 
Thanks for the advise Pete, I will see about having an assessment, though I have emailed a coach company who also does PCV training, so I will see if they might train me and for me to pay for my own tests.