I thought I would tell you about a Romanian I’m training who moved to this country last year.
He contacted me last week and explained he had a full CE Licence that he gained in his homeland but had never driven a truck over here so he wanted experience with a training school.
I was very sceptical about his ability so I decided to take him out in my 12t MAN which is dual controlled. Well he had absolutely no idea how to position the truck on the road and was constantly veering to the wrong side, roundabouts were another problem with no lane positional and lane discipline sense. Very dangerous.
I do however respect the lad because out of his own admission he knows he needs the training. I took him today for another few hours and has come on considerably with training but he does need a lot more training before he should be allowed out on his own.
The thought he could come to this country and get a driving job is vey scary with no experience.
He is booking more lessons with me but what about the others who come over and get a job straight away? And the government want safer roads!
What a coincidence, I assessed a young Romanian a few weeks ago with the same story, his initials wouldn’t be M C by any chance ?
I was a bit sceptical when I met him (he looked about 16 !) I gave him the benefit of doubt & walked him through the vehicle check (he hadn’t got a clue !).
After checking his licence & eye sight, I let him drive out of the yard where he drove at 15-20 mph up to the first roundabout, very hesitant & positioning was scary, we managed 4 roundabouts & got on to the A5d (Milton Keynes) where I told him to stop in a layby & ended the assessment, telling him that he needs proper training, no confidence whatsoever.
Daft thing is- the agency had sent him in with a view that he would be driving for us the next day.
Just goes to show how important it is to check out any new drivers & not just give any one the keys to a 44 ton killing machine.
Non UK but EU trained nurse must have X amount of training by UK NHS before being let loose on patients but a CE driver from elsewhere can just get into a 44 tonner with no compulsory training … makes you wonder …
This really is frightening, from what ive heard, in Romania its possible to bung an official some cash and hey presto you are now licensed to drive class 1, never having even sat in a lorry !!! European Onion !!
Glad this guy is doing the sensible thing in having more training.
My only other comment is that, before we start ripping foreign drivers to pieces, maybe we should look at the UK drivers’ performances in Europe. Scary is NOT the word!
Those with experience, of course, are absolutely fine.
My observation is that there must be many without that experience!
elmet training:
The thought he could come to this country and get a driving job is vey scary with no experience.
On a similar ish note my good Wife is a driving instructor and she had an African woman who came to live here who had an international licence which apparently was ok to use here for 12 months but this woman wanted a British license so went to the Wife for lessons, now her indoors said she didn’t have a clue about anything and how scary it could be that she legally could drive on our roads.
The woman gave up after a few months due to lack of funds.
Bandit12 calm down. Thats not true. If the learner has no idea about driving a lorry noone will give him a license unless he pays huge amount of money. Thats a casee of maybe one in 10000. The problem there are trainers. 90% of them have no clue about training other ppl and they dont care as long the money comes. It used to be like u say before year 2000. The stories that u see on tv or media is crap. Its only maybe 15% tops true. Ppl in general are influenced by media. You have to bear in mind that every green forest has its own dry bushes. And Peter that case can be from any left hand driving country. But i do support the idea that ANY driver coming from another country should go on assessment with dvla or dsa whatever that being like a practical test. Anyways im not saying tgis cause im romanian but i have learned not to judge a country or nation for an individual or two.
I have nothing but admiration for the lad I’m training. He’s honest about his ability and has the sense to pay for training that he certainly needs.
IMO at his current standard he wouldn’t pass a UK C driving test which he knows even though he has a full UK CE Licence.
Normally there is a fail safe system where drivers are tested by an examiner, on this occasion I am both trainer and examiner in a way, which he respects.
I’m now looking forward to training him next week.
On the other hand i’ve worked regularly previously with two Romanians, and i’d be happy to employ either, not only were they old school in their attitudes to work and driving competence, they were both among the most polite individuals its been my privelidge to meet.
I travelled as shotgun with the youngest of the two, Cornelius, on several ocassions, no qualms about being driven by him, which is more than i can say for some of the Brits i’ve encountered.
European Onion !! 
