HGV Driver CPC training

christopherroper

hi i have recentley been made unemployed and have had an offer of work through family connections on working as a hgv/lgv driver delivering milk :-)
ok i may come across as a bit dumb on this topic as sifting through websites has made me even more confused!!

ok i passed my test after the cut of date to drive 7.5 tonners

so what licences do i need to aquire to get the skill to drive the milk tankers plz.

do i by law have to drive a certain class of vehicle for any period of time before i can drive milk tankers?

and i also have seen something about a cpc of adr so will i need those also

your help would be most helpful

chris

Notmyrealname

You need to apply for a Category C provisional licence. You will need to take a medical which your GP will charge you for - prices vary by GP. Once you've got your provisional you'll need to take a theory test and then the driving test. You will then need to take a Driver CPC before you can be employed in any lorry driving job. If the tankers are artics, you'll need to apply for Cat C+E provisional and also take a Category C+E test as well but you cannot take C+E until you've taken Cat C first.

You don't need ADR to drive milk tankers and there is no law that says you need to drive a certain period of time before you can drivethem but having done milk tankers myself they are a very unique beast due to the tanks having no baffles in them so I don't think it'd be a good first job. Any training for milk tankers will be done by the employer.

Its quite a cushy number on milk tankers other than lugging around the hoses at the odd delivery point. Lots of waiting around for the tanker to be filled, to discharge it and to clean it.

dickydonkin

Notmyrealname wrote: »

The CPC is far far more than you covered in your driving and theory test. You didn't do EU drivers hours, how to do a full check, how to use chains, ratchet straps to secure a load, how to load a vehicle etc in the theory and test.

You HAVE NO CHOICE but to do it if you want to be employed as a lorry driver as you cannot be employed as a lorry driver until you've got it.

Looking around prices vary but seem to be around a few hundred quid.

Another money making con for training schools.

For over 25 years I did roping & sheeting, chained and strapped loads on a trailer, I am now a Health & Safety Advisor - so if I decided to go back to driving (extremely unlikely) I would have someone telling me how to do these and other tasks that come as second nature.

I learned these skills many moons ago from my colleagues - and that never did me any harm.

Grandmother and sucking eggs comes to mind!

Notmyrealname

dickydonkin wrote: »

Another money making con for training schools.

For over 25 years I did roping & sheeting, chained and strapped loads on a trailer, I am now a Health & Safety Advisor - so if I decided to go back to driving (extremely unlikely) I would have someone telling me how to do these and other tasks that come as second nature.

I learned these skills many moons ago from my colleagues - and that never did me any harm.

Grandmother and sucking eggs comes to mind!

For people like you and me, yes. However go onto Trucknet forums and look at the questions even experienced drivers are asking about basic things such as drivers hours and you realise something needed to be done when you have drivers who've been driving decades who think they can do five 15hr spreadovers just because they take 11hrs off between each.

It is definitely A GOOD THING for newly qualified drivers - a quick 35hrs to teach them the basics of tacho regs, using ratchets, chains, H&S, basics of loading a vehicle etc before they're let loose on the world. Once upon a time many drivers were originally drivers mates so learned how to do the basics that way but that hasn't been the case for a long time. I don't know when you were last in the job but IME for most of the last decade drivers simply haven't had the time to show others how to do the job. Looking at what is involved it takes the same amount of time as it took me to get taught the same in the Army who have always done a similar thing with all their HGV drivers.

Arg

Or if you were cynical, another hoop to jump through and fees to pay.

Notmyrealname

Arg wrote: »

Or if you were cynical, another hoop to jump through and fees to pay.

Any cynicism is instantly wiped out when you sit in a RDC waiting room and listen to the rubbish being spouted by experienced drivers.

dickydonkin

Notmyrealname wrote: »

For people like you and me, yes. However go onto Trucknet forums and look at the questions even experienced drivers are asking about basic things such as drivers hours and you realise something needed to be done when you have drivers who've been driving decades who think they can do five 15hr spreadovers just because they take 11hrs off between each.

It is definitely A GOOD THING for newly qualified drivers - a quick 35hrs to teach them the basics of tacho regs, using ratchets, chains, H&S, basics of loading a vehicle etc before they're let loose on the world. Once upon a time many drivers were originally drivers mates so learned how to do the basics that way but that hasn't been the case for a long time. I don't know when you were last in the job but IME for most of the last decade drivers simply haven't had the time to show others how to do the job. Looking at what is involved it takes the same amount of time as it took me to get taught the same in the Army who have always done a similar thing with all their HGV drivers.

All are fair and correct comments and my how the job has changed since I first started driving. I was very fortunate insomuch I started driving 3 tonners at 17 - this was great experience and stood me in good stead when I did my class 1 at 21.

Although I still retain my license, it must be 10 years since I drove a truck (other than the occasional shunt) although I am not involved in logistics in any shape or form now.

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Any cynicism is instantly wiped out when you sit in a RDC waiting room and listen to the rubbish being spouted by experienced drivers.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:I can concur with that as well - but what is worse (as I'm sure you have experienced it) is when you are out having a drink on a night out with other drivers and you are trying to 'wind down' and then the 'diesel' starts to flow!

That was usually my cue for an early night!

patman99

CPC is not just for HGV drivers. It is required for any profession in which driving is the main job. Even volunteers driving mini-buses need it.

The one question nobody will be able to answer is "how many drivers will simply do what it takes to pass the CPC, then go back to doing things the way they have always done them".
As they say, you only need to remember enough to pass the exam.Once you have the paperwork, you can forget all you have learned.

saintjammyswine

Regarding money making by training centres, the amount JAUPT charge to accredit the courses, there is very little profit in providing stand alone CPC courses, thats why many are providing the likes of First Aid & Health & Safety rather than industry specific tacho & hours, sheeting etc.

CPC is for, and I quote from the JAUPT info I was sent;

"New drivers who acquire a PCV vocational entitlement (D1, D1+E, D, D+E licence) after the 10th September 2008 and/or an LGV vocational entitlement (C1, C1+E,C or C+E licence) after the 10th September 2009 will have to obtain the Initial Qualification in addition to their licence to drive professionally.


New drivers who undertake a National Vocational Training programme are still able to obtain a vocational licence but can defer the Initial Qualification by up to a maximum of one year whilst, still being able to drive professionally. An example of a National Vocational Training programme would be an Apprenticeship in Driving Goods Vehicles. Drivers intending to use this concession will have to register with the Driving Standards Agency.

Existing drivers who held a vocational licence prior to the 10th September 2008 (PCV) or the 10th September 2009 (LGV) are exempt from the Initial Qualification. This is known as "acquired rights".

All professional drivers (new and existing drivers) must complete a total of 35 hours Periodic Training every 5 years following their "acquired rights" or Initial Qualification to keep their Driver CPC valid. Existing drivers must complete their Periodic Training by September 2013 (PCV) and September 2014 (LGV).

Exemptions

There are a number of Driver CPC exemptions associated with the Directive. These are listed below:

• Vehicles with a maximum speed not exceeding 45 Kph
• Vehicles used by or under control of the armed forces, civil defence the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order
• Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or of new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service
• Vehicles used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions
• Vehicles used in the course of driving lessons for any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or Driver CPC
• Vehicles used for non-commercial carriage of passenger or goods – for personal use
• Vehicles used for carrying material or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, providing that driving the vehicle is not the drivers’ principle activity

Ultimately, it is up to the driver and their employer to decide if they are covered by these exemptions, and if necessary, justify it to the competent authority. Therefore the JAUPT would strongly advise that if a driver believes they are exempt from the Driver CPC that they should seek independent legal advice."

Hope this make is clearer!

Notmyrealname

Thanyou for that very comprehensive coverage of who does and doesn't need one.