Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently asked questions regarding learning to drive a Large Vehicle

Driver Training Frequently Asked Questions

 

Learning to drive a truck is a serious business with several steps involved in becoming a really professional driver, so where do you start?

 

1. Can I drive a truck with my car driving licence?

 

1A. You would need to check your licence, if you passed your test before 1^st January 1997 you can drive a goods vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes. If you passed after this date the biggest thing you can drive is up to 3.5 tonnes something like a Transit van.

 

2. What categories of licence are there for trucks?

 

2A. There are 3 categories of goods vehicle; the legal definitions are fairly complicated but basically they are:

 

Category C1 – This is a goods vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes. Often called a 7.5 tonner.

 

Category C – Any goods vehicle without a trailer. Often called a Rigid.

 

Category C+E – Any goods vehicle with a trailer. Either Artic or Drawbar

 

3. Lots of job adverts ask for Class 1, 2 or 3; what are these?

 

3A. The Class 1, 2 and 3 licence definitions where legally changed in 1991 but many people in the industry still use these terms and will probably use them forever!

To convert them to the Categories shown on driving licences these days see below:

4. Can I learn to drive a truck using my car driving licence?

 

4A. No, you must apply for provisional entitlement for goods vehicles to be added to your licence.

 

5. How do I get a Provisional Licence for Goods Vehicles?

 

Purchase a J Coates starter pack and let us do the work for you or:

 

5A. There are 3 stages:

 

You will need an application pack, these are available from Post Offices, make sure you ask for a Vocational Licence Pack.

 

The pack contains a Medical Form. Your doctor will complete this after a Medical Examination. The most painful bit is paying the Doctor!

 

Also in the pack are application forms for the licence, you must complete these, and along with your medical form and your existing licence, send them to DVLA Swansea.

 

6. How long will a Provisional Licence take to come through?

 

6A. Providing you have sent all the correct forms, that your medical was OK, and that your licence is fairly clean it usually takes DVLA about 10 days to process a licence.

 

7. I have got lots of endorsements on my Car Driving Licence, or I have a Medical Condition, can I still learn to drive a truck?

 

7A. Sometimes Provisional entitlement is refused if a driver has a poor driving record or certain medical conditions – contact DVLA for further advice.

 

8. How long will my Provisional Licence last?

 

8A. Provisional entitlement is generally valid up to a driver’s 45^th birthday or for 5 years – whichever is longer.

 

9. How old do I have to be to learn to drive a truck?

 

9A. For Category C1 the minimum age is 18.

      For Category C or C+E the minimum age is 21.      

There are some exceptions to these age limits if you are a member of the Armed Forces.

10. Have I got to take a Theory Test for a truck?

 

10A. Yes, all Goods Vehicle drivers must produce a Theory Test Pass Certificate when they go to take the Driving Test.

 

The theory test is carried out all over the country; the test itself is carried out on a Touch Screen Computer. The questions are multiple-choice and a driver must get at least 30 correct out of 35. In addition to the Theory test there is also a Hazard Perception test recently introduced.

 

The questions cover many areas relating to driving a goods vehicle including things like, drivers hours, maximum weights and lengths, special road signs, driving in bad weather etc.

 

There are several publications available from J. Coates (HGV Services) Ltd and most book shops to help a driver gain the required knowledge for the theory test, they include:

 

The Highway Code.

The Goods Vehicle Driving Manual.

The Theory Test for Drivers of Large Vehicles.

Hazard perception CD Rom

 

We also offer short training courses for the theory test.

 

11. I want to drive an artic, can I learn in a Category C+E without first doing Category C?

 

11A. No, if you want to drive an artic you will have to pass a test in a Category C vehicle first.

 

12. How long will it take for me to get to test standard in a truck?

 

12A. The length of training will vary from person to person, and also the type of truck they learn in.

 

A good training organisation should offer you an assessment service, following an       assessment an instructor will advise the most appropriate length of training.

 

Course duration for Category C is usually between 5 – 10 Days and a further 5 – 10 Days for Category C+E.

 

Training for Category C1 is also likely to take between 5-10 Days.

 

13. How much is it going to cost me?

 

13A. Prices will vary; expect to spend around £1000 for Category C and a further £600 - £800 for C+E.

 

14. Costs vary between training companies, how do I know if I am getting a good deal?

 

14A. With most things in life you get what you pay for!

 

Even with a “cheap” course you are going to invest a lot of money learning to drive a truck, as with any purchase you should check out your supplier.

Look at their training vehicles; are they the type of vehicles you expect to drive for a job? Are they clean and well maintained?

Some training companies will train you in a “Minimum Test Vehicle” which will be much smaller than is used by an employer and may not prepare you for driving after the test.

How experienced are their instructors? How well trained are they? Are they on or working towards the DSA Register of Instructors?

Ask other drivers where they did their training, a good training company will have satisfied customers.

Go and talk to the training company and make sure they are the sort of people you want to deal with.

 

 

0800 279 7944

enquiries@jcoates.co.uk