Hi,I’m looking into getting my hgv licence can anyone recommend a good training center in Essex around billericay. I know of crowlands in Romford, has anyone experience of this company.
Also once I have passed my rigid test I may have access to a artic, could I drive this with L plates on a motorway or when loaded when with a full lincence holder. Thanks
Welcome cliffy858
GENERAL DRIVING TIPS BEFORE STARTING LGV C TRAINING (Link)
If you click the link in my signature or these truck pics
it will lead you to an index where you can access a lot more info which may be of use to you
cliffy858:
Hi,I’m looking into getting my hgv licence can anyone recommend a good training center in Essex around billericay. I know of crowlands in Romford, has anyone experience of this company.
BEFORE you book your training, READ THIS… - I suggest the trainee-to-be visits the training school, meets the head person(s) and has a quick look at the truck BEFORE parting with any money.
Using the site Search facility and putting the words TRAINING AND WHERE you wish to train may turn up some recommendations. 
- but at the moment it is not working very well 
THE DRIVER SHORTAGE IS AN ADVERTISING MYTH - Generally more drivers than jobs in the UK
Newbies - Jobs, Agencies & EXPERIENCE & Is this country short of drivers ?
FAQ forum for info on Posting Pics, Driver CPC, Getting 1st LGV Licence and much more…
cliffy858:
Also once I have passed my rigid test I may have access to a artic, could I drive this with L plates on a motorway or when loaded when with a full lincence holder. Thanks
YES - but make sure that it has L plates front & rear, the insurance covers it for learners and that you have the permission of the vehicle owner - OH, and you are a lucky [ZB] (we use that instead of swearing) to have such an opportunity 
ADD - the supervising driver must have held the licence for that class of vehicle for at least 3 years.
Thanks, judging by your reply and what I’ve read on here it seems hard to gain experience once passed, so I think I better take the opportunity to gain my license before the old man retires and parks his lorry up.
I have been reading about cpc and it has put me off a little,
-will I have to pay hundreds of pounds each year in training to keep my licence,
-will I lose my categories if I don’t use them.
thanks.
A read of THIS (Link) should help you understand better - if still got questions after reading it then feel free to ask
cliffy858:
Also once I have passed my rigid test I may have access to a artic, could I drive this with L plates on a motorway or when loaded when with a full lincence holder. Thanks
Remember if you’re carrying a load then you won’t have the tacho exemption that learners normally have
mrpj:
cliffy858:
Also once I have passed my rigid test I may have access to a artic, could I drive this with L plates on a motorway or when loaded when with a full lincence holder. ThanksRemember if you’re carrying a load then you won’t have the tacho exemption that learners normally have
I could be wrong but I thought that exemption only applied to PRIVATELY taxed vehicles so being loaded or empty in his dads truck would make no difference 
I think we’re talking about different exemptions. AIUI if you’re carrying a commercial load then you need a tacho regardless of the fact that the truck is also being used for training, which of course would normally be exempt.
i thought you couldn’t haul a load on L plates?!
Cynic-al:
i thought you couldn’t haul a load on L plates?!
Not true - you can - with the usual rules & regs of carriage obeyed of course
mrpj:
I think we’re talking about different exemptions. AIUI if you’re carrying a commercial load then you need a tacho regardless of the fact that the truck is also being used for training, which of course would normally be exempt.
Reg EC No. 561/2006 Article 13 (g) - you are correct - me having numpty moment 
Hi Cliffy,
There’s also Roadtrain at West Thurrock, which I don’t think is too far away from you:
01708 890 953
I trained with the guys at their other site in South Mimms for my C+E, but came over to West Thurrock on a couple of days, as they have their own DSA approved reversing area
(although I had more fun - and success! - whizzing round a coned-off area in the artic in a supermarket car park in Enfield! )
Although I didn’t train with the Thurrock crew, their instructors all seemed OK. They offer a free trial drive, so you can get a feel for the vehicles and whether or not you’re going to get on with the instructor, which is always helpful.
I really enjoyed my training with the South Mimms chaps and passed first time. Hope this helps.
ROG:
mrpj:
I think we’re talking about different exemptions. AIUI if you’re carrying a commercial load then you need a tacho regardless of the fact that the truck is also being used for training, which of course would normally be exempt.Reg EC No. 561/2006 Article 13 (g) - you are correct
Hey, you’re confusing me now!
I thought that if a vehicle was ONLY used for training, and thus O-licence exempt, no tacho was required - but if it is operating under an O-licence, then laden or not, training or otherwise, it has to be driven on a tacho. Where am I wrong?
Thanks,
Alex
alexc:
[I thought that if a vehicle was ONLY used for training, and thus O-licence exempt, no tacho was required - but if it is operating under an O-licence, then laden or not, training or otherwise, it has to be driven on a tacho. Where am I wrong?Thanks,
Alex
Reg EC No. 561/2006 Article 13 (g)
vehicles used for driving instruction and examination with a view to obtaining a driving licence or a certificate of professional competence, provided that they are not being used for the commercial carriage of goods or passengers.
alexc:
[
but if it is operating under an O-licence, then laden or not, training or otherwise, it has to be driven on a tacho. Where am I wrong?
I can see the logic but there’s no actual rule that states that a tacho must be used simply because the vehicle has an O licence, a truck used unladen for training will still be exempt although as it would normally be used for carrying goods it would IMO be a good idea to use the tacho anyway.
Clear now, thanks.
Thanks for your help, so as long as I put a tacho in I should be ok
Thanks loadsofhorses I’ll look at there site and give them a ring, I have just been to crowlands in Romford and they quoted £980 for five days 1 to 1 for 4 hours a day including test, does this sound about right.
Thanks
cliffy858:
Thanks for your help, so as long as I put a tacho in I should be okThanks loadsofhorses I’ll look at there site and give them a ring, I have just been to crowlands in Romford and they quoted £980 for five days 1 to 1 for 4 hours a day including test, does this sound about right.
Thanks
Sounds about right for your neck of the woods - generally, the more north you go in the UK, the cheaper the courses tend to be.
I think that Crowlands are quite reputable. A little further afield is DTT Essex in Colchester, I did my Class 1 with them and found them to be excellent.
I’m not sure where the figures are or if they are still available but there used to be a list of pass rate percentages for LGV tests, it’s worth noting that Purfleet had a low pass rate, Chelmsford a bit higher and Ipswich noticably higher. I did my Class 2 in Chelmsford and Class 1 in Ipswich, and Ipswich is much nicer for test and training wider roads and less traffic etc. As for Purfleet it’s much busier and a much worse place to drive around. Whilst all test centres are supposed to be equal some seem to be more equal than others and could save you a lot of £ on a retest.
DTT as a company folded some time ago but some of their franchises are still going and may be under a different name…
ROG:
DTT as a company folded some time ago but some of their franchises are still going and may be under a different name…
When did DTT go under ROG??
They are still active on the net as a main company