sorry for late reply, just got back to sheffield.
i should have mentioned the full story, i please accept my apologies.
i am not looking for a permanent job in buses, and also if you do go with bus companies they put restrictions etc on you until you pay back the training fee and work for them for a set number of years. i dont want them to ‘control’ my future. and also i have learnt from other situations that its not worth the hassle, its better for you to pay for it and move on rather than being obligated to them.
in my opinion there no point of going for a auto bus when you can get manual coach, it just leaves your options open, less restrictive; unless i do the auto then when i do the class 1 hgv, then it gets automatically upgraded.
the thing is that im in uni, hence the south yorkshire location. but i dont like the working environment, nad the course and i knew that i dont want to be an engineer before i even started but as i did the btec diploma i am restricted to it. but there nothing better to do, so i sticking to it. upon the realisation of the current position, i need to get other skills in case of hard times, so i got something to fall back on, and also i like driving especially in summer evenings. i enjoy it more than uni. im probably not your average student persona type, i grew up fast and matured more than the average 18 year old,so i re-investing some of my loan/grant money in other useful places and skills. so thats a little bit of my background.
specifically to macplaxton, in my car test the first time the only fault was with the rear view mirror, otherwise i would had passed, on the second attempt was in a different location, near brent cross, with the different interchanges, apparently i made someone change lane, when i was indicating to switch lanes and waiting for the other to pass before moving out, and i managed to pass on the third attempt in the same location (greenford, london)where i did my first test. and this was within 6months of me turning 17. basically a year ago from now. after that i went with my father around london with me driving (sprinter MWB) almost everyday in summer for long period of time. its nothing compared to what all you are driving, but you got to start from the bottom and work your way upwards, and also for anyone to have confidence and trust in you to drive a vehical of that size,at that age, after a newly passed driver is non-existent. but it give me confidence and alot of experience.
and for tis-hame, im not use to the shear size of these vehicals, the air brakes and the gearbox arrangement, but when you get use to these then its no problem.
and for kickstart, theres no question whys theres a shortage in london, maybe you should talk to ken, no one would want to work in those appalling conditions and receive abuse. my main goal is to get the hgv licence, but in the process the PCV wouldnt hurt, and also of the age issue, i am valid for PCV but not HGV, so i got to wait 18months until the rules change, and enable me to be eligible the the HGV licence.
if i do work on PCV, it’ll be on coaches or with private bus companies, or if i have to in public transport it’ll would have to be here in sheffield, as no would want to work in the conditions mentioned in london. it it would be part-time/temp workin on either evenings or weekends. and thats the same for the HGV, depending on my situation these will change.
to mothertrucker, i will shop around both around london and south yorkshire, and take couple more assessments to get a comparison, and could you recommend me more training places, as i dont know who the cowboys and professionals are. and when i contact ACE LGV should i ask to speak to john king, and when you say to mention your name, would he recognise mothertrucker or should i give your actual name.
thanks for the advice, sorry about the long reply, and will keep you posted
thanks
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