A little info please, my mate who has class1 licence, which he done in the army, he has no experience driving commercially as such,got 2 years exp on class 2,he asked me about refresher course for class 1,I have heard of it,told him to ring a training centre or such like, so for my first post on here I thought I would ask your goodselves . Any info or replies appreciated,thanks
ring a training centre
Refresher wont help you with any commercial experience, Agency work?
Went 4 year without driving an artic, just got right back in the saddle, it never leaves you.
If you do want a refresher got to be a training school really, £40/£50 an hour?.. Dunno
Depends on where he is
Sorry crystal ball broke 
Or there is a lot of help & advice here
Apologies in advance if this post reads as condescending, arsey or upsetting in anyway, im playin devils advocate a bit.
OMFG was your mate a chef, the army teaches us to adapt and wing it a bit. 2 years class 2 should be enough to get to grips with an artic, just tell him to steer in the opposite direction when reversing.
I dont believe your mate was in the army at all, no soldier whos life was in my hands and mine in theirs would be this much of a ■■■■■.
Tell him to grow a pair and crack on.
tommie1shunt:
Went 4 year without driving an artic, just got right back in the saddle, it never leaves you.
If you do want a refresher got to be a training school really, £40/£50 an hour?.. Dunno
Army drivers are usually ■■■■ poor when they leave the forces because many have a HGV license but have barely used it, many of those who have used it have never reversed without someone telling them which way to turn the steering wheel, many are given a free HGV license as part of a resettlement package.
Recently discharged squaddies who’ve just started truck driving are quite easy to spot. I got my class 2 in the army but was lucky and had a mate who owned a wagon so he taught me a lot when I left the army so I didn’t look like a ■■■ when I got my first job.
I agree with you Conor to a point but in this case with 2 years experience class 2 an artic would not be a big leap.
Not all army drivers are ■■■■ poor either.
I’ve been out for ten years, so booked a refresher just before Christmas with local trainer. £55 plus vat per hour. I did 3hrs. Yes it was like I’d never been away, but common sense says it was worth it. Now I’m starting again in a week! And a bit more confidante. No matter what you do in life, as long as it’s correct you should never turn down a bit of training every now and then, as believe it or not! We don’t all know it all!!!
Not all army drivers are ■■■■ poor either.
A very true comment. Just like civilians some good some bad. When you think about it army drivers do get experience with loads etc after passing their test so in actual fact they have a little more than a civilan after passing a test.
They also seem to have a better attitude ( well some of them )
And I am not ex army by the way.
Why pay for a course, better to enrol with an agency, wing it, and refresh and learn himself while being paid 
He has a basic knowledge, and even if he balls up at some point, so what ? it’s an agency so who gives a ■■■■ anyway. 
I done something similar after coming off left hookers, used the agency as a means to an end to refresh myself on right hand drives and got paid while doing it 
Managed to stop hitting the kerbs 
within 2 hours 
4 hours with a training school with artic will sort it
Gunz:
I’ve been out for ten years, so booked a refresher just before Christmas with local trainer. £55 plus vat per hour. I did 3hrs. Yes it was like I’d never been away, but common sense says it was worth it. Now I’m starting again in a week! And a bit more confidante. No matter what you do in life, as long as it’s correct you should never turn down a bit of training every now and then, as believe it or not! We don’t all know it all!!!
Thanks gunz, very helpful advice, will pass onto my pal,cheers
Wise words from the Roy of Rob. Let’s have a think.
1 day at an agency being paid to drive. £90 in the pocket.
1 day at a training gaff. £90 out of pocket.
Difference of £180 finest English pounds.
Thankyou please.
Dipper_Dave:
Apologies in advance if this post reads as condescending, arsey or upsetting in anyway, im playin devils advocate a bit.OMFG was your mate a chef, the army teaches us to adapt and wing it a bit. 2 years class 2 should be enough to get to grips with an artic, just tell him to steer in the opposite direction when reversing.
I dont believe your mate was in the army at all, no soldier whos life was in my hands and mine in theirs would be this much of a ■■■■■.
Tell him to grow a pair and crack on.
Dipper Dave,just to put you straight ,my mate who is an ex marine, and has done quite a few tour’s of duty,in northern Ireland at the height of the trouble’s, no offense ment to you or anybody else .
Non taken, but surely he can wing it or just contact a local driving school or bluff it with an agency for a shift.
Dipper_Dave:
Non taken, but surely he can wing it or just contact a local driving school or bluff it with an agency for a shift.
He is going to do the training school thing,its just he asked me about refresher courses, and I hadn’t a baldy idea, heard of them just,thought I would ask on here,mebbe somebody on here would have done a refresher at some stage,or knew more about it
i done my class 1 and 2 tests in the Army round the airfield in 2009.
Was in a one those wee daft wagon and drag.
Got tested by MT SGT, gen it was a proper test lmao.
Never touched a truck till 2014 till I got out.
Jumped in Scania R480 wagon and drag on heavy haul on first day.
That was a emotional few months of work but got there in the end.
I wouldn’t do those refresher crap.
Just get the keys jump in and go.
You be fine mate take your time.
albion1971:
Not all army drivers are ■■■■ poor either.A very true comment. Just like civilians some good some bad. When you think about it army drivers do get experience with loads etc after passing their test so in actual fact they have a little more than a civilan after passing a test.
They also seem to have a better attitude ( well some of them )
Probably because you don’t get far in the Army by winging it and hoping you get away with it. Plus they tend to have a bit more experience in driving off smooth tarmac than the average civvy. Furthermore it’s drilled into every soldier that he looks after his kit or else; you don’t find many minging cabs where the regular driver’s recently ex-forces.
Sidevalve:
albion1971:
Not all army drivers are ■■■■ poor either.A very true comment. Just like civilians some good some bad. When you think about it army drivers do get experience with loads etc after passing their test so in actual fact they have a little more than a civilan after passing a test.
They also seem to have a better attitude ( well some of them )Probably because you don’t get far in the Army by winging it and hoping you get away with it. Plus they tend to have a bit more experience in driving off smooth tarmac than the average civvy. Furthermore it’s drilled into every soldier that he looks after his kit or else; you don’t find many minging cabs where the regular driver’s recently ex-forces.
That’s all the Army is mate. A game of see who is the best at winging it.
The best at it gets promoted.
The problem with the forces drivers is unless your job is a driver you won’t ever touch any Hgv and if you do it’s only going be a wee rigid SV or 4 tonner.
Even if your job is a Driver you don’t drive everyday for 9hours like a civy.
You only ever drive on exercise a few times a year.
" drive every day for 9 hours like a civy "
More like " drive every day for 12 hours like a skivvy " mate.