Driver shortage makes LGV test a route to cash
Driver shortage makes LGV test a route to cash
Fancy supplementing out of
season work with a spell
behind the wheel of a goods
vehicle? Youll need to get
an LGV licence first.
Geoff Ashcroft begins a
two-part Transport Special
by looking at whats involved
SINCE the Driving Standards Agency driver training programmes in 1997 for the Large Goods Vehicle licence (LGV) formerly known as HGV, the transport industry has suffered through a shortage of goods vehicle drivers.
For farm machinery operators however, the addition of an LGV licence to their portfolio could lead to useful supplementary income over quiet winter months, when men and machines traditionally lay idle.
"There is no doubt that goods vehicle driver training has slowed up in recent years because of the added complexities of achieving full licence status," says Rob Middleton of Rollright School of Transport, Enstone, Oxon.
"It means there is now a shortage of LGV drivers and there are plenty of opportunities for those with a goods vehicle licence to easily recoup their investment for driver training."
Rollright School of Transport, a family run business involving Robs parents and his brother Richard, has specialised in professional driver training over the past 35 years. Courses now extend to training for passenger carrying vehicles (buses, coaches and minibuses), use of Hiab-type lorry loader cranes, lift trucks, competence testing on plant and machinery, motorcycle training and the transportation of hazardous and dangerous substances.
Transport management courses also on offer include CPC (certificate of professional competence) and tachograph law, the latter, surprisingly, is not part of the LGV licence.
"We also assess drivers towing trailers with 4x4s. New drivers passing their car tests after Jan 1997 are now limited to towing a trailer with a maximum weight of 750kg," he warns.
Getting the essential C+E entitlement (truck plus trailer) is not a cheap affair, nor a five-minute process. It requires a provisional goods vehicle licence, passing of a theory test, then driver training and a test on a rigid chassis truck (category C). If you wish to drive the largest juggernauts with drawbar or semi-trailers (C+E entitlement), you will need to undergo further training and an additional test. "Before we can assess a candidate for driver training, they must acquire an LGV provisional licence," he says. "Getting the provisional LGV entitlement for a rigid or category C vehicle requires a medical and means lightening the wallet by £27.50 for the provisional licence fee."
With a provisional licence in hand, it is time to undergo an assessment on a rigid chassis truck. Many driving schools offer a free assessment, which takes about an hour, but check when booking.
"The assessment simply gives us an idea of how people handle large vehicles, and from there, we can establish the length of driver training course required to bring candidates up to LGV driving test standard for rigids," says Mr Middleton.
"Typically, costs range from £400-£800 and most candidates take four days to train, with the category C test taking place on the fifth day," he says.
Once the decision has been made to apply for the driver training course and practical truck driving test, candidates must pass an official theory test and hold the theory test pass certificate. Taking this test costs £15.50.
"We can give guidance and lead people to the correct centre for the multiple choice theory test," says Mr Middleton. "A score of 30 out of 35 will result in a pass. Then on receipt of a pass certificate, we can start training."
A phone call to your local driver training centre should yield an information pack containing the necessary application forms to get you on your way to a driver assessment.
Assuming that all goes well and the category C test is passed, DVLA will then endorse your licence with a provisional entitlement to drive category C+E vehicles, or trucks with drawbar or semi-trailers.
"You have to pass the rigid test to earn provisional entitlement to drive an artic or rigid truck with a drawbar trailer," he says. "We can convert rigid drivers into artic drivers in about three days, but we would need to carry out an assessment using an artic."
According to Mr Middleton, it is best from a financial perspective to return for a C+E assessment as soon as possible while previous driver training is fresh in the mind. "The test is the same for both categories, it is just the vehicle that is different in size and behaviour."
Rollright chooses to train its candidates with up-to-date trucks and full-length outfits, opting for modern Mercedes rigid and artic tractor units and 13.6m long tri-axle trailers. *
Despite the cost of a full LGV licence, Rollrights Rob Middleton says a shortage of drivers means licence holders could soon recoup their training fees.
Training in action – Rollrights modern truck fleet puts drivers through their paces using the largest lorries available.