Driving licence changes?

[mr haynes]

The good ol windscreen faceplant for the first time 7.5 driver used to be an attraction.
No one told them airbrakes were so different.
The extra mirrors did make them easier to drive than a van, but only for those that used them.....

 

[8ob]

The 7.5 ton licence would benefit the transiteers but only if the Olicense requirements were relaxed for this class of truck, Without this I can foresee an influx of these trucks being used illegally.

Bob

 

[Tinbasherdan]

The 7.5 ton licence would benefit the transiteers but only if the Olicense requirements were relaxed for this class of truck, Without this I can foresee an influx of these trucks being used illegally.

Bob

Means I can get a t244 with a comms box on the back tho

 

[pressbrake1]

They may be heavier but actually a 7.5t is far easier to drive than a transit. The majority of them are barely any bigger than a transit
Far more manouverable and far better brakes. I really can't see the problem with the change in licenses tbh. Our testing and training in this country is pretty appauling.

Not ease of driving actual physics of it
Your quote proves my point that you think driving 7500kg is just the same, bit like the numbskulls who go past at 80 with a trailer
The 3.5 t thing isn’t just a number pulled from thin air
My 5.5 Iveco van has to driven with much more caution when the weight is up

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Assuming common sensible but a 7500 is a different thing as regards handling and brakes and most van drivers aren’t exactly sensible

Dunno about the UK but my c1 test was taken in an ldv convoy.
I'd take the time to educate myself on the above if needed but it was never a requirement on my test.

 

[James1979]

Dunno about the UK but my c1 test was taken in an ldv convoy.
I'd take the time to educate myself on the above if needed but it was never a requirement on my test.

Some of the C+E trainers are using 8t merc and a 5t trailer! They’re trying to close that loophole. Which I actually agree with.

They’re the same mob that have clothes pegs on the mudflaps and all that carry on

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Some of the C+E trainers are using 8t merc and a 5t trailer! They’re trying to close that loophole. Which I actually agree with.

They’re the same mob that have clothes pegs on the mudflaps and all that carry on

Only did my c1 as the convoy I bought was an ex minibus at 3.85t
Booked a test. Took another theory and took the test with no lessons. Easy pass.

Soon as I got back to the UK and a lot of hassle vosa eventually told me to make a new weight plate and get it mot before changing it to a UK reg. What a palavaer. Rare situation where I fell through the cracks.

Didn't want to be messing around with an mgv. Too much hassle for no real benifits to me

 

[pressbrake1]

Some of the C+E trainers are using 8t merc and a 5t trailer! They’re trying to close that loophole. Which I actually agree with.

They’re the same mob that have clothes pegs on the mudflaps and all that carry on

I thought that was closed years ago

 

[KimB]

Some of the C+E trainers are using 8t merc and a 5t trailer! They’re trying to close that loophole. Which I actually agree with.

They’re the same mob that have clothes pegs on the mudflaps and all that carry on

They had that on all the trucks where I did my tests

 

[pressbrake1]

Dunno about the UK but my c1 test was taken in an ldv convoy.
I'd take the time to educate myself on the above if needed but it was never a requirement on my test.

I did my hgv test back in the last century as even then I knew I’d messed up getting involved with metal and machinery. Back then driving was even worse so never bothered but it came in useful running my own heavy vehicles

 

[cheb]

Some of the C+E trainers are using 8t merc and a 5t trailer! They’re trying to close that loophole. Which I actually agree with.

They’re the same mob that have clothes pegs on the mudflaps and all that carry on

Could you explain that one to me please.

 

[Justme]

Its predominantly a fast track proposal to get some more 7.5 ton drivers on the road, I would imagine 99% of these new drivers will be driving on a big outfits Olicense so it will be in their interest to provide driver training if they want to keep it.

Bob

Most C1 use is for smaller O licence exempt companies, horse boxes, campers & ambulances.

 

[Agrismith]

Not ease of driving actual physics of it
Your quote proves my point that you think driving 7500kg is just the same, bit like the numbskulls who go past at 80 with a trailer
The 3.5 t thing isn’t just a number pulled from thin air
My 5.5 Iveco van has to driven with much more caution when the weight is up

You can use physics if you like but I have plenty of experience driving 7.5t lorry's almost always towing a digger.
A safe lf45 running at full weight will stop in a shorter distance handle better and drive better than a transit running full weight. Yes they may be heavier but they have substantially bigger breaks and tyres than a transit. They also don't have the power to be thrown around like you can with a transit. Noone I know will take the transits out the yard in preference to the lorries.
What's more a 7.5t tipper towing a plant trailer has less rear overhang is shorter and has a tighter turning circle than a twin cab or long wheel base transit. They have better visibility looking forwards. The square boxyness of them makes judging road position far easier. And the mirrors being larger and higher up give a superior rear and side view.
A 7.5t lorry is in every way easier to drive than a transit.

 

[Justme]

Some of the C+E trainers are using 8t merc and a 5t trailer!

Sorry but thats bull ****.

Rules for large goods lorries: categories C and CE​

Category C vehicles are large goods lorries:

• with a MAM of at least 12 tonnes
• at least 8 metres long
• at least 2.4 metres wide

The vehicle must have a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab.
Category CE vehicles must be at least 2.4 metres wide. There are 2 types of C+E test vehicle:

• a drawbar combination of a category C vehicle and trailer with a MAM of at least 20 tonnes and a length of at least 7.5 metres from coupling eye to extreme rear and a combined length of at least 14 metres
• an articulated lorry with a MAM of at least 20 tonnes, a minimum length of 14 metres and maximum length of 16.5 metres

Minimum load requirement​

The table shows:

• which vehicles and trailers need to carry a minimum weight for the test
• what the minimum load requirements are

Vehicle category	Vehicle or trailer affected	Minimum real weight	Minimum load requirement
C	Vehicle	10,000 kg	5 x 1,000 litre IBCs
CE ‘drawbar’ vehicle	Towing lorry and trailer	10,000 kg for lorry and 5,000 kg for trailer	5 x 1,000 litre IBCs (lorry) and 3 x 1,000 litre IBCs (trailer)
CE articulated lorry	Semi-trailer	15,000 kg	8 x 1,000 litre IBCs

 

[KimB]

Could you explain that one to me please.

They use something on the mudflap that when lined up in the mirrors it helps you see where the stop line is when you back into the bay. It visually intersects from your view in the mirror to the peg then to the stop line if that makes sense.

 

[Agrismith]

Sorry but thats bull ****.

Rules for large goods lorries: categories C and CE​

Category C vehicles are large goods lorries:

• with a MAM of at least 12 tonnes
• at least 8 metres long
• at least 2.4 metres wide

The vehicle must have a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab.
Category CE vehicles must be at least 2.4 metres wide. There are 2 types of C+E test vehicle:

• a drawbar combination of a category C vehicle and trailer with a MAM of at least 20 tonnes and a length of at least 7.5 metres from coupling eye to extreme rear and a combined length of at least 14 metres
• an articulated lorry with a MAM of at least 20 tonnes, a minimum length of 14 metres and maximum length of 16.5 metres

Minimum load requirement​

The table shows:

• which vehicles and trailers need to carry a minimum weight for the test
• what the minimum load requirements are

Vehicle category	Vehicle or trailer affected	Minimum real weight	Minimum load requirement
C	Vehicle	10,000 kg	5 x 1,000 litre IBCs
CE ‘drawbar’ vehicle	Towing lorry and trailer	10,000 kg for lorry and 5,000 kg for trailer	5 x 1,000 litre IBCs (lorry) and 3 x 1,000 litre IBCs (trailer)
CE articulated lorry	Semi-trailer	15,000 kg	8 x 1,000 litre IBCs

Numbers are off but size is right. Most manufacturers use the same chassis from 7-15t MAN even use the same axles upto 12t
What I did my test in was physically no bigger than a 7.5t towing an ifor trailer. Just plated heavier.

 

[pressbrake1]

You can use physics if you like but I have plenty of experience driving 7.5t lorry's almost always towing a digger.
A safe lf45 running at full weight will stop in a shorter distance handle better and drive better than a transit running full weight. Yes they may be heavier but they have substantially bigger breaks and tyres than a transit. They also don't have the power to be thrown around like you can with a transit. Noone I know will take the transits out the yard in preference to the lorries.
What's more a 7.5t tipper towing a plant trailer has less rear overhang is shorter and has a tighter turning circle than a twin cab or long wheel base transit. They have better visibility looking forwards. The square boxyness of them makes judging road position far easier. And the mirrors being larger and higher up give a superior rear and side view.
A 7.5t lorry is in every way easier to drive than a transit.

You really don’t get what I’m saying
And make it a curtain side that can catch the wind, clip stuff when there’s a camber higher loads not a short little tipper
My experience is based on owning and running a wrecker and special types like Kim drives
Yes anyone sensible can drive one after ten minutes but sensible isn’t most people

 

[James1979]

Numbers are off but size is right. Most manufacturers use the same chassis from 7-15t MAN even use the same axles upto 12t
What I did my test in was physically no bigger than a 7.5t towing an ifor trailer. Just plated heavier.

The guy my pal did his with reckoned as long as it’s over 7.5 it doesn’t matter.

It wasn’t relevant to him as his was done in a Proper artic.

Merc make ‘vans’ for want of a better description over 8t. I can’t remember what the biggest is but it’s C definitely. The 8** are up there somewhere.

I’ve seen that outfit out training. Along with up plated this and down plated that. All for the pass rate.

Just because you’ve not seen it, doesn’t mean it’s ********, next time you’re at a text centre, open your eyes

 

[Agrismith]

You really don’t get what I’m saying
And make it a curtain side that can catch the wind, clip stuff when there’s a camber higher loads not a short little tipper
My experience is based on owning and running a wrecker and special types like Kim drives
Yes anyone sensible can drive one after ten minutes but sensible isn’t most people

So your saying you are basing your thoughts on much bigger lorries rather than what we are actually talking about??
A transit Luton will still be affected by adverse camber and high winds so where do you draw the line. In my experience the jump from 3.5t to 7.5t is nothing in comparison to the jump from 7.5t to 18t.
And its the same as with the trailer license changes. It's not like everyone in the uk is going to run out and jump in a lorry.
There are also plenty of people that pass there 7.5t license and can't drive them. So we are in a situation whereby the current testing isn't fit for purpose. So whats the point.

 

[pressbrake1]

So your saying you are basing your thoughts on much bigger lorries rather than what we are actually talking about??
A transit Luton will still be affected by adverse camber and high winds so where do you draw the line. In my experience the jump from 3.5t to 7.5t is nothing in comparison to the jump from 7.5t to 18t.
And its the same as with the trailer license changes. It's not like everyone in the uk is going to run out and jump in a lorry.
There are also plenty of people that pass there 7.5t license and can't drive them. So we are in a situation whereby the current testing isn't fit for purpose. So whats the point.

You’re far to clever for me so I bow out
I suggest petitioning dvsa as 7.5 are not a vehicle that needs respect. So no need for tacho or strict mot tests etc