whats involved in getting one?
i'm diabetic 
always wanted my lorry license, but that ain't gonna happen now...
i beleive i can still get a 7.5 ton license though. whats involved.
i'm wondering since, if you got a car license before 1997 or something, you automatically got a 7.5t entitlement on it. surely there's not
too much involved in getting one after that though?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/index.htm
I wouldn't recommend any driving enthusiast to become a commercial driver if they simply like driving. It was one of the main reasons I did three
years of driving city busses, going from a good paying office job to earning peanuts.
Working 40 hours a week behind the wheel put me right off driving so much so that none of my cars got a look at & and even now I can't face a
long journey, a 1000 miles in one day my Falcon or buggy for no reason at all use to be the norm. I spoke to other drivers who also felt the same.
So if you want to wreck you driving pleasure turn your hobby into your work.
^i just want the license. handy thing to have though. i know at some time in my life, i'm going to want to use something bigger than a 3.5 ton
van. eg, rather than arsing about with a trailer (which i currently don't think i can drive anyway) to move a car about, i could put it in a 7.5
ton lorry, as well as any other stuff that might need to be moved with it. you get the idea... maybe few times that would happen.
basically, i just want the license. I'd love an artic license, but thats never going to happen 7.5 will be the biggest i can get.
higgsti, thanks for the link. i can never understand any of it though. tried reading it loads of times
was going to reply that you can drive up to 7.5 tonne on a car licence, then read your post properly, and remembered i'm an old git
Al.
[Edited on 18/12/07 by Wadders]
Class C1 = MAM up to 7.5 ton
Class C = MAM of over 7.5 ton
If you havent got the entitlement now to drive Class C1, ie, licence obtained post 97 then you will have to do exactly the same test as i did last
week to get my LGV class C licence so you may as well do that if you are over 21. This does however require a medical form completed by a doctor
before you can get the provisional entitlement added.
Firstly you would need to obtain the relevant forms and have a doctor complete a medical for you. This is then sent off to the DVLA who will add the
provissional entitlement. Once you have your new licence you can do the Theory / hazard perception tests. I got the official DSA book which contains
every single question that can come up - around 1200 of them!! Its not particularly hard though to be honest - mulitple choice with 75 mins to score
51 or more of the 60 questions (i got 60/60 in 12 mins and out of them around 50 were so obvious i would say most on here would pass without
additional revision!!). Pass this and you get certified 
and can then take your test after going on a course.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022526
I'd suggest you have a search on Yell for a local "LGV driver training" company and speak to them about your diabetes as they should
have more info. This questionairre may help anyway.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/MedicalRulesForDrivers/DG_10012708
Gotta be honest though - it does sound like you may be stuck with 3.5 ton due to the medical requirements / cost. Bank on £1000 to get the
licence!!
[Edited on 18/12/07 by Paul TigerB6]
your right there, it ain't cheap 
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
your right there, it ain't cheap
anyone know how much to bank on passing the trailer test I need. I am also a little wet behind the ears and so can't use a trailer!!
anyone passed this test?
I did my 7.5 tonne a few years ago. Its a piece of wee if you can drive but its not cheap. The PO paid for mine. Think it was 1800 quid for a weeks
course with test at the end. I had flu when i did it and the instructor ended up with it. Passed with 1 minor.
[Edited on 18/12/07 by Danozeman]
christ! same test as a ridgid body lorry?! one disapointment after another for me...
quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
christ! same test as a ridgid body lorry?! one disapointment after another for me...
nah, biggest i've drive is a LWB hitop transit. like i say, would have been handy to have to move the truck around if i needed to take it anywhere, rather than arsing about with trailers and stuff. hire a 7.5 ton lorry from mitchells hire (as they have them near me) and job done. truck in the back along with anything else i need
quote:
biggest i've drive is a LWB hitop transit.
^hired ones though. the hire co would have checked i was ok (or is that 'should have checked'?)