These days it is all to easy to underestimate the amount of training and hard work that goes into becoming a truck driver. It may sound simple 'to just get a licence and off you go', but it takes time, dedication and money. This feature sets out to take apart every aspect of obtaining your C+E licence (Class 1 for the old school among you) starting from even getting your car licence. One of the things mentioned was time, which in most cases also relates directly to money. While looking at most
of the costs laid out in this investigation please keep at the back of your mind the amount time you may have to take off work and potentially lose money - unless of course you have paid holiday left which you are willing to sacrifice. Obviously not knowing readers' individual salaries, this is one cost we cannot factor into the equation.
To get to the C+E licence stage a person must have a car licence and a class C rigid licence. Only then can training begin on the C+E. To obtain a car licence you will have to pay £45 for a provisional licence, complete a theory test and then pass a practical driving test. This investigation will assume that the majority of LGV trainees will already have a car licence - and considering there is such a difference in skill level when first attempting to drive the costs will vary much more drastically.
So you have a car licence and are at least 21 years old (young driver schemes not taken into account) and want to start off on the path to
becoming a truck driver. You must first of all add the provisional entitlement to your licence. The D2 application form can be obtained from all post offices or ordered from the DVLA. This should also come with a D4 medical form, which has to sent along with it. Don't make the mistake of assuming you're healthy and that this applies only to the elderly - everyone must complete one. Medicals can be done by your local GP and cost around £49 (price quoted from www.driversmedicals.com). It must be noted that after the age of 45 everyone must undergo a medical until the age of 65, thereafter it must be done every year.
Sending off for your provisional entitlement is free as you already have a car driving licence. The form can seem a little confusing due to the many different provisional categories that can be ticked. If you are aiming for a class C+E licence make sure you tick C and not C1 or C1+E, as these are not the correct ones. There is no box for a C+E provisional entitlement as this comes through automatically when you have passed your class C test. Once the provisional licence has arrived it's time to book the theory test which consists of 60 questions and a hazard perception test. For an LGV this test costs £32 and lasts for a total of two years. It does not have to be taken twice if you take the class C and C+E test within these two years. It is well worth investing a few quid in a revision booklet for the theory test or a practice CD for the computer - some of these will include practice hazard perception tests, which are not necessarily difficult but often confusing.
With provisional licence and a theory test pass certificate in hand it is now time to start what everyone actually wants to do - drive. First of all you have to choose a driving school. When doing so look carefully at who offers what for the price they charge - some may seem a lot cheaper though may not include some aspects. We surfed the web and picked three examples at random and the prices do not seem to differ an awful lot. One thing that all three schools have in common is that the test fee is not included in the price. Test fees for both class C and C+E licences are £89 during weekdays and £107 for evenings and weekends.
As mentioned above it is very important to check the details of the courses - some might be with two learners in the cab at the same time, others may have older vehicles, etc. With some rounded calculations it seems that obtaining your class C+E licence will not be any cheaper than £2,000 from start to finish. This is also working under the assumption that both tests are passed first time round. A couple of re-tests and just two days extra training will add approximately £600.
One scenario might be that someone passes their class C licence first time round but only passes their C+E licence the second time round. The total cost could amount to around £2,300. According to a recent IDS/RHA survey the average pay for a class C+E licence holder is £478 per week. Without any other expenses such as rent, food, etc, this would take around five weeks to pay off. While in the long run this will not matter that much, it should still be taken into account. This figure does not take bonuses and overtime into account.
One option which many will pursue is to join a large reputable haulier and seek to get training through them. You might progress from van driver to rigid driver onto artic driver. This would of course be the most cost effective way of doing your licence. For those looking into the future - when the driver CPC comes in in 2009 every driver will have to undergo 35hrs extra training every five years. The Freight Transport Association estimates the training costs at around £36 per hour.
Reed Business Information Limited.©2008
