Driving licence changes?

[colnerov]

It seems the Government are considering changing driving licence categories to allow cat B to drive 7.5T trucks to relieve the shortage of HGV drivers. No mention of DCPC and Tachograph reg changes. I can't help thinking they are coming at this from the wrong direction, in that it's the poor reputation of the industry that's one of the problems, which I'm not sure they can do much about.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consu...es-for-changes-to-the-driver-licensing-regime

Colin

 

[HydrocarbonPrimate]

I don't see a problem with it, I'd be annoyed if I had booked / paid for any kind of training after the news of driver shortages only for gov to let everyone drive 7.5t.

 

[pressbrake1]

The way some people struggle with vans I hate to say it but I believe loosing grandfather rights on 7.5t was a good thing.

 

[James1979]

The way some people struggle with vans I hate to say it but I believe loosing grandfather rights on 7.5t was a good thing.

Yup. I was one of them, just. Had to do it all from scratch but when you see some people fail to manoeuvre a small ish transit about or a micro trailer behind the car it does make you glad in a way.

I wonder how many accidents with wobble boxes and over 3.5t campers are with pre 97 licences.

Down side is it’ll increase the value of 3.5-7.5t stuff. Hopefully it’ll lead to less weigh offences also

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Mine went missing when I swapped jersey licence to UK. I did actually take the test

 

[pressbrake1]

One incident sticks in my mind

I sold a workbench on a landrover forum. The owner hired a transit Luton to collect it.
He couldn’t reverse it around the corner to the entrance to my workshop, he said it was too tight so I reversed it round.
This alley was where I kept my eight legger wrecker

I suppose what can you expect from a landrover nerd who thinks a 110 is a big rig

 

[8ob]

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

 

[James1979]

I skim read it, but one good thing is being able to drive PCV for maintenance after having had HGV for 2 years.

I think it used to be like that? Cranes were something odd as well?

It would be damn handy from a workshop point of view.

 

[Ruffian]

I missed out on the 7.5tonne licence due to being too young.

But was in the body shop driving the lorries around and into the spray bays etc at 17/18 on private ground.

It's true some people cant drive for toffee but others who can/want too should have a similar training assessment rather than tests.

As see training on some stuff only being trained to pass a test.

One memory always comes into my head. Was driving a 16seater transit minibus as a shuttle for a mates wedding down farm and Country lanes. Met another guest on the Lane coming the other way in a fiesta.
They had to reverse circa 50meters. In half that distance was in the hedge twice! Just made me chuckle so I reversed a loaded minibus around 400meters back to let them through as was going to be the easier/faster option.

 

[Wildefalcon]

This is great news for me. Hope it comes to pass. Does that mean they'll grant the new category without a test, or is it assumed?

 

[gaz1]

One incident sticks in my mind

I sold a workbench on a landrover forum. The owner hired a transit Luton to collect it.
He couldn’t reverse it around the corner to the entrance to my workshop, he said it was too tight so I reversed it round.
This alley was where I kept my eight legger wrecker

I suppose what can you expect from a landrover nerd who thinks a 110 is a big rig

ive seen that way too often with the small vans and also the big 7.5s as well as class 2s some of them cant drive

i even had it in scotland from a younger driver class 2

ive told a few of them let me in the cab and i will show you how its done some of them have done so others havent and ive gotten the vehicle where it should be without even a scratch

those that dont get told how to swing there wagons to get them where they are needed so they can swing into where they need to be.

only did that once as they always sent the same delivery driver back again

always did get the comment didnt think you could do that

 

[mike os]

If you can’t reverse it you can’t drive it …

I’m not sure this is an improvement

 

[Woody.v8]

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I don’t see an issue, it’s not like every Tom dick and Harry will suddenly buy a daf 45 and start smashing things to pieces. I can drive a STGO 2 artic if it’s pre 60 on my car licence yet there’s not many bothering!

 

[tigdlo]

It wouldn't be too much of a step up for drivers of the biggest 3500kg vans/lutons, which I would assume operators would be looking at those types of drivers to employ. I do wonder who that will leave to drive the 3500kg vans, that may end up being the problem, if there is a shortage of drivers it's because people don't want drive.

 

[colnerov]

Hi, That's what I mean about the poor reputation and conditions within the industry has. It's not just about attracting them into the industry it's about retention of new and existing drivers.

Colin

 

[premmington]

Hi, That's what I mean about the poor reputation and conditions within the industry has. It's not just about attracting them into the industry it's about retention of new and existing drivers.

Colin

+1 for the above!

 

[pressbrake1]

It wouldn't be too much of a step up for drivers of the biggest 3500kg vans/lutons, which I would assume operators would be looking at those types of drivers to employ. I do wonder who that will leave to drive the 3500kg vans, that may end up being the problem, if there is a shortage of drivers it's because people don't want drive.

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

 

[pressbrake1]

ive seen that way too often with the small vans and also the big 7.5s as well as class 2s some of them cant drive

i even had it in scotland from a younger driver class 2

ive told a few of them let me in the cab and i will show you how its done some of them have done so others havent and ive gotten the vehicle where it should be without even a scratch

those that dont get told how to swing there wagons to get them where they are needed so they can swing into where they need to be.

only did that once as they always sent the same delivery driver back again

always did get the comment didnt think you could do that

Your grammar and diction makes my posts seem readable, very impressive

 

[Agrismith]

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

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.