I was wondering what does the customer really want…".
Would you the customer want to train and take your LGV test in a modern state of the art truck with all modern technology and pay top dollar or would you rather train and take your test in a truck that has no frills but is of the required standard and in good working order to gain your licence and pay a low price.
It would be interesting to here your views.
Paul 
elmet training:
I was wondering what does the customer really want…".Would you the customer want to train and take your LGV test in a modern state of the art truck with all modern technology and pay top dollar or would you rather train and take your test in a truck that has no frills but is of the required standard and in good working order to gain your licence and pay a low price.
It would be interesting to here your views.
Paul
That’s a hard one because it’s would be good to now about all the modern technology but on the other hand it would cost more and you may be able to learn about them some were else it depends on the price different
It’s probably down to a persons budget rather than what people want.
Why do some people buy their food at M&S and others buy theirs at LIDL?
Or use a new truck and pay a sensible price. Offering a full service of medicals, theory training, theory test booking is good. Including driver cpc in the price is attractive cos folks know what they’re spending with no hidden extras.
This is the path I deliberately took in 2005 with the first new one and the fact we’ve had 7 new trucks since then demonstrates that this is a good model.
Pete 
I payed £895 and passed in this. Not sure how this compares to any others as it’s the only truck I’ve ever drove. It was miles bigger than all the other company’s cat c trucks which is the main reason I went with them.
If the trainees aim is to get their licence think no one cares what he’ll be trained on.
Peter Smythe:
Or use a new truck and pay a sensible price. Offering a full service of medicals, theory training, theory test booking is good. Including driver cpc in the price is attractive cos folks know what they’re spending with no hidden extras.This is the path I deliberately took in 2005 with the first new one and the fact we’ve had 7 new trucks since then demonstrates that this is a good model.
Pete
You haven’t really answered the question Pete, your reply is merely for your own gain.
Paul
Im about to do my class 1, It will be in a old Leyland Daf 85. The main things that mattered to me were Price and Reputation I personally wouldn’t pay more to drive something with all the bells and whistles as simply wouldn’t need them. Im sure some would like it to say they have, but a basic truck with a decent instructor would be much more benficial.
It is a long time ago but when I did my class one all those years ago I went for cheap and cheerful. It was a Bedford TK with a 24’ single axle trailer. I did two sessions with this bloke and paid what I could afford at the time. I quickly found out that the bloke was a charlatan. I didn’t learn any more than I had picked up working during school holidays in a transport yard. He even told me that most drivers need 9 days training before he would consider a test.
The following week I took three days off work and went to the RTITB in Hull, they let me play about in a new Mercedes Benz with a 40’ trailer and put me in for my test on the third day.
If the bloke had been OK the TK would have been OK, but the Fred in a Shed approach wasn’t for me.
Peter Smythe wrote:Or use a new truck and pay a sensible price. Offering a full service of medicals, theory training, theory test booking is good. Including driver cpc in the price is attractive cos folks know what they’re spending with no hidden extras.
This is the path I deliberately took in 2005 with the first new one and the fact we’ve had 7 new trucks since then demonstrates that this is a good model.
Pete
You haven’t really answered the question Pete, your reply is merely for your own gain.
Paul
No so Paul. I describe my training ethos as this has been developed over many years in the business. If I thought folks wanted to learn in an old truck, I could run them. But I’ve proved that, for many, this isn’t the case. And that was one of the points I attempted to make. I also consider that straightforward pricing that includes the whole process is welcome.
It would be a lot easier and cheaper for me to run trucks costing £5k than trucks costing in excess of £50k. So my money is where my mouth is.
This isn’t intended as a pop at any good trainer running older vehicles. It’s just what I have discovered many people want and expect.
The discussion has been done previously and there will always be those wanting the cheapest possible and there will be those wanting a new vehicle. Each to their own. And this is why we (trainers) all earn a living. It’s called “choice”.
Pete
It took me a good few months of research and travelling around for me to decide on the route I am taking.
Number 1 for me is reputation I don’t have spare money lying around but a good reputation is more important than cost within reason.
A clear cost structure is also important I don’t want to ring round trainers for prices when I can look online and see it clearly laid out in a way I can understand.
Personally the vehicle I use to train in isn’t a major issue, if I was stuck between 2 trainers with the same cost/reputation etc then it may come down to vehicles but I know the vehicle I train in will/should be maintained highly.
Just my opinions 
Peter Smythe:
Peter Smythe wrote:Or use a new truck and pay a sensible price. Offering a full service of medicals, theory training, theory test booking is good. Including driver cpc in the price is attractive cos folks know what they’re spending with no hidden extras.
This is the path I deliberately took in 2005 with the first new one and the fact we’ve had 7 new trucks since then demonstrates that this is a good model.
Pete
You haven’t really answered the question Pete, your reply is merely for your own gain.
Paul
No so Paul. I describe my training ethos as this has been developed over many years in the business. If I thought folks wanted to learn in an old truck, I could run them. But I’ve proved that, for many, this isn’t the case. And that was one of the points I attempted to make. I also consider that straightforward pricing that includes the whole process is welcome.
It would be a lot easier and cheaper for me to run trucks costing £5k than trucks costing in excess of £50k. So my money is where my mouth is.
This isn’t intended as a pop at any good trainer running older vehicles. It’s just what I have discovered many people want and expect.
The discussion has been done previously and there will always be those wanting the cheapest possible and there will be those wanting a new vehicle. Each to their own. And this is why we (trainers) all earn a living. It’s called “choice”.
Pete
I’m actually thinking of how take my business forward so I felt asking this post on this forum would be the ideal place.
As it happens their have been some interesting replays.
Perhaps on certain topics common sense should prevail and trainers should abstain from replying and leave it to the members it’s directed at.
End of the day I suppose everyone is entitled to an opinion and say.
Paul
Now lets play nice !!!
My first post as a wannabe trucker…
I’m due to start training at the end of the month. I chose the training based on location, availability, reputation and recommendation, not price or vehicle.
I would pay more for a company with a high reputation than an unknown with a new truck. As long as the training vehicle is roadworthy and driveable then quality doesn’t really matter. As a rookie learner driver everything will be “new”.
To be honest, I’m probably going to be worrying more about how to change gear, road positioning, hazards, speed, junctions etc than whether the truck is new and full of technology. Indeed, maybe less is better - just a basic truck to learn in, then the bells and whistles can come later.
Hi Paul
I work for Peter, but prior to working for him I had worked at a well known company in my area.
From my side of things which is better the vehicle braking down on a lesson, or one that does the job and is not over the top.
Would you go out and buy a Scania V8 topline just because it looks good for the pupil to train in.
This still probably doesn’t answer your question, do you have doubts about your own vehicle whether you should replace it or carry on as normal.
I’m sure that your currant vehicle is much better than when you worked for a employer.
David
Yes I am a trainer but I am also a customer when it comes to lots of other services.
VALUE FOR MONEY is probably something that we all look for. We all have reasons we choose a particular product over another one, and to be honest we don’t run new trucks but what we do is provide a service, that I honestly believe, is better than anyone else in the area. The age of vehicle you learn to drive in is important but not as important as it’s mechanical condition - a very well maintained 8 year old vehicle can be as good as if not better than a 2 year old truck that has been used and abused.
To be honest Paul I don’t feel the age of truck should determine price - the service provided will determine what can and should be charged.
John
A seat that moved forward to reach the pedals easy for us not so tall people out there
A decent reliable road worthy vehicle location & price would also play a part but I would want the whole cost no hidden extras
When I done my Cat C my provider done everything from medical to lending me the disc for the theory & HPT to test & VAT no CPC back then I would want to know if it was 1-1 or 2-1 training if I was getting the same trainer the whole time or was it going to be a different 1 each day
Iam not interested in fancy lorries as long as it is comfortable easy to drive clean
I’m actually thinking of how take my business forward
Happy to help.
Pete
I don’t dispute for one moment that some trainers run older trucks that are very well maintained and cared for.
But there are some trucks out there that have already had their “first life” on haulage and are then bought cheaply to end their life wearing L plates. Anyone unlucky enough to end up with one of these has made their own life difficult.
We’re not the cheapest. As a result we certainly don’t get all the work in our area - and wouldn’t expect to. And quite often we end up doing remedial training for folks who have not had a good time on test. An early comment is always that our trucks drive so much better than their previous trainer and that they wish they had come to us to start with.
On this thread, three trainers have participated. Paul started it - and he is a very good trainer. John, from Chevron, has joined in - also a very good trainer with a larger school. And me. We are all good at our job. We all do it a little differently to each other. We all survive by providing top quality service to our candidates. We are all seriously interested in the outcome. We all offer assessment drives on request. This is one way the candidate can decide if they’re happy with their choice of trainer. If the truck drives like a scrapper, I would suggest trying somewhere else. I am, though, absolutely certain that none of the trainers contributing on here have trucks in that category.
Running new trucks is a business model choice. There’s nothing more scientific to it than that.
Pete
Peter Smythe:
I’m actually thinking of how take my business forward
Happy to help.
Pete
Gonna PM you Pete
Paul
