This argument is shows there is a place for the driver cpc to teach new drivers the basics on tachos load security etc and a refresher for us already driving as things change and the industry on the whole just expects the driver to know.
Fileep:
Does anyone else think that this could be a result of H&S bullpoo, with fathers not being able to take their kids who in turn would have gone on to be drivers with so much knowledge handed down? I think people seem to be getting in the job for the wrong reason, I recall a post from a couple of weeks ago with someone moaning about doing 13 hours ffs. Just my opinion.
To a degree, yes.
I started out as apprentice fitter, did a lot of 2nd manning with long, wide and heavy loads, steersman for trailers, shunting in the yards, loading steel and machines (crawler crane bodies and dumpers), roping and sheeting, tipping and reloading pallets in the yard. Jeez, I was loading 70’ beams in Lackenby on my own at 18, while the driver jumped in another unit to go down the bookies! 
Taught me more than any driving instructor ever has.
kr79:
This argument is shows there is a place for the driver cpc to teach new drivers the basics on tachos load security etc and a refresher for us already driving as things change and the industry on the whole just expects the driver to know.
My point exactly. I learnt all that in the real world long before I’d done my tests.
These days it seems you do a course, pass the test and off you go, expected to know it all.
With the responsibility an HGV driver has, I believe quite firmly that gaining a goods licence should involve an apprenticeship of sorts. You can’t learn how to chain machines onto a low loader or paper reels into a taut in a classroom. You need to be shown by experienced hands.
Well, when I did my first class1 job back in about 1798 !, i pulled under a trailer and didnt know the winding handles had 2 gears and it was clicked in, in slow gear, anyone want to guess how long it took me to wind those fg legs up, I darent ask anyone, obviously
learn as you go. I have no idea now how I learnt the drivers hours, but I was a walking encycopedia on the subject by the time I finished.
JLS Driver SOS:
Well, when I did my first class1 job back in about 1798 !, i pulled under a trailer and didnt know the winding handles had 2 gears and it was clicked in, in slow gear, anyone want to guess how long it took me to wind those fg legs up, I darent ask anyone, obviously
Till about 18:01 at a guess
kr79:
This argument is shows there is a place for the driver cpc to teach new drivers the basics on tachos load security etc and a refresher for us already driving as things change and the industry on the whole just expects the driver to know.
I don’t want to derail this thread to DCPC but, as an example, supermarket trolleying has been drive trailer off bay at RDC and put on bay at store for some drivers about 25 years. In that period they would have to do 25 training sessions on what? As the job just hasn’t changed. They can do random lorry related stuff, which seems to be what some are doing, but why confuse people who are doing their job already with training that’s irrelevant to it and training their employer already has a serious obligation to provide.
All the sorts of training people are talking about above is, in a lot of cases, exactly the sort of training all employers are supposed to provide to any employees regardless whether they’re HGV licence holders or not.
I don’t mind offering advice to any drivers on things like what defects I would or wouldn’t drive with, how to use a certain type of tail-lift, coupling etc.
But I do know where the OP is coming from, to some degree, because I must admit I didn’t really have a lot of patience with those on the recent bridge height phobia thread.
SlimeyPhil thinks he’s the greatest driver ever to grace the earth & actually believes he is perfect & knows everything. I think not!! 
H.G.V is not classed as a professional so maybe this professional drivers forum shouldn’t exist either.
Have you ever thought that some people may ask simple questions on the professional forum because they expect a professional & sensible answer & other new drivers on the new & wannabe forum may not know the answer. Think about it brainbox 
tyler4164:
SlimeyPhil thinks he’s the greatest driver ever to grace the earth & actually believes he is perfect & knows everything. I think not!!H.G.V is not classed as a professional so maybe this professional drivers forum shouldn’t exist either.
Have you ever thought that some people may ask simple questions on the professional forum because they expect a professional & sensible answer & other new drivers on the new & wannabe forum may not know the answer. Think about it brainbox
Thats not always true though Tyler. Phil often takes the ■■■■ out of himself and uses a wicked sense of humour to get his points across.
Brit Pete, Simon, Dave, and even Rog worked bloody hard on the drivers info point at the opening page. Neil Hobbs when he was a regular contributor has answered every single question about drivers hours. I am not sure of his complete reason for leaving but I think some of the repetitive questions were getting to him.
I doubt there is any transport question that has an answer, has not been asked on these forums at least twice.
Questions like how many hours can I drive before stopping are simply taking the ■■■■.
Wheel Nut:
Thats not always true though Tyler. Phil often takes the ■■■■ out of himself and uses a wicked sense of humour to get his points across.
I’d agree with that, on first impressions Phil comes across as a troll, a wind-up merchant, a bit of a gonk. But study his posts closely and it becomes clear he’s a well educated chap he does actually know what he’s talking about. On the most part.
Wheel Nut:
tyler4164:
SlimeyPhil thinks he’s the greatest driver ever to grace the earth & actually believes he is perfect & knows everything. I think not!!H.G.V is not classed as a professional so maybe this professional drivers forum shouldn’t exist either.
Have you ever thought that some people may ask simple questions on the professional forum because they expect a professional & sensible answer & other new drivers on the new & wannabe forum may not know the answer. Think about it brainbox
Thats not always true though Tyler. Phil often takes the ■■■■ out of himself and uses a wicked sense of humour to get his points across.
Brit Pete, Simon, Dave, and even Rog worked bloody hard on the drivers info point at the opening page. Neil Hobbs when he was a regular contributor has answered every single question about drivers hours. I am not sure of his complete reason for leaving but I think some of the repetitive questions were getting to him.
I doubt there is any transport question that has an answer, has not been asked on these forums at least twice.
Questions like how many hours can I drive before stopping are simply taking the ■■■■.
Questions are only easy if you know the answer, why do so many people find it so difficult to believe that there are some people who just might not know answers to questions that most of us think are easy.
As for questions etc being mentioned more then once…It’s a forum. Everything that’s ever been mentioned on this forum has probably come up more then once. There would be nothing to write if nothing was ever repeated & there for no forum
kr79:
This argument is shows there is a place for the driver cpc to teach new drivers the basics on tachos load security etc and a refresher for us already driving as things change and the industry on the whole just expects the driver to know.
I’m not so sure !!! If the concensous think every driver should know the basics then there maybe a case to test them frequently to make sure they do? Plumbers (Gas Safe) and electricians already undergo this, the DCPC is just ‘training’ with no need to pass anything so i don;t think the DCPC could be argued to provide this missing info when its possible to obtain a DCPC without touching a drivers hours course.
Load security issues have changed, maybe not in themselves but how they are being policed/checked has changed.Again, its possible to do a DCPC without touching upon load security. Its also possible to have been doing it wrongly for years and years.
I suppose we’re all only human and you do look at some ‘basic’ questions and think…“Christ, doesn’t he know that?” But we only know what we know and you’ve no idea why someone doesn’t know something. I’ll never forget showing a bloke in his sixties how to open and close a curtainsider in Sainsburys, he’d just finished on tankers after being with the same company for about 30 years!!! I just answer it if i know it, and even if i don’t !!!
You’ll often find all the real clever dicks who know it all are the last to offer advice. Go check the newbies or the law forum and you see its full of the experts giving advice and helping out. Ok, you won’t really, you’ll find its the same helpful fellas giving advice who don’t complain about it
I totally agree the cpc in its current format is a joke. But there is a need for some kind of refresher training look at the conflicting advice given on here by experinced and new drivers multiply that by every cafe and waiting room in the uk and there’s lots of conflicting info there.
It’s ok if you work for one of the big boys with in house training but if you are agency or work for smaller firms it isn’t always there.
i may be wrong, but when someone takes their car test nowadays, arn’t they asked some basic questions?
i’m not sure to what extent they go, but i’m sure it’ll be a bit more in depth than when i did mine.
i was asked to read a reg plate, answer a few highway code questions, and then get in the car and drive.
maybe a 20 question multiple choice test before starting your practical test would be an idea?
are the very basic questions being asked by non drivers?
if so, then could they just say “i’ve just looked at the idea of becoming a lorry driver”, before they post?
this way we’d understand why they are asking such basic questions, and we wouldn’t come across as old has beens, stuck in the dark ages. the response that they get would be very informative.
limeyphil:
i may be wrong, but when someone takes their car test nowadays, arn’t they asked some basic questions?
i’m not sure to what extent they go, but i’m sure it’ll be a bit more in depth than when i did mine.
i was asked to read a reg plate, answer a few highway code questions, and then get in the car and drive.
maybe a 20 question multiple choice test before starting your practical test would be an idea?are the very basic questions being asked by non drivers?
if so, then could they just say “i’ve just looked at the idea of becoming a lorry driver”, before they post?
this way we’d understand why they are asking such basic questions, and we wouldn’t come across as old has beens, stuck in the dark ages. the response that they get would be very informative.
I failed my C a coupe of times and finally passed the other week, questions asked were
Show me how you would check your screen wash level and where you would fill it up.
Show me how you would check the coolant level and where you would fill it up.
Tell me how you would check your tyers are legal.
Show me how you would check your cargo doors are secure on this vehicle.
Show me how you would check for air leaks.
Explain the controls and warning lights inside the cab with the engine off and on
Show me how you would insert a Tachograph
limeyphil:
i may be wrong, but when someone takes their car test nowadays, arn’t they asked some basic questions?
i’m not sure to what extent they go, but i’m sure it’ll be a bit more in depth than when i did mine.
i was asked to read a reg plate, answer a few highway code questions, and then get in the car and drive.
maybe a 20 question multiple choice test before starting your practical test would be an idea?are the very basic questions being asked by non drivers?
if so, then could they just say “i’ve just looked at the idea of becoming a lorry driver”, before they post?
this way we’d understand why they are asking such basic questions, and we wouldn’t come across as old has beens, stuck in the dark ages. the response that they get would be very informative.
Maybe this is why they have the theory test 100 questions all relevant to the job but unfortunately people do forget a lot of this
I agree in principal with the cpc but defo not in its’s current format there should be a re think of this then maybe we as drivers would accept it more