Help with HGV!

[escortmad79]

Are there any schemes where I can do my C & C1 for free or with anything similar to Government grants?

I know there is the Government young driver scheme for 18-21 year olds but I miss this by a good few years... I'm 29!

I am currently jobless & can't afford the stupid amount of money required to take it.

I have the chance of a job if I pass both my C & C1 driving low loaders but asking at the job centre about gaining my HGV I was told by one centre that there isn't a similar scheme as the Government young driver scheme for adults & the only way I could do it would be to get a career loan (Something I don't want as I don't want a mountain of debt!). Another jobcentre told me that there is no such Government scheme with any potential help being withdrawn 3 years ago (Around the time we started inviting a million & one Poles into our country!) & couldn't get any form of help until I was unemployed for a period of 18 MONTHS!! (Ain't this country wonderful!! )

Any help would be appreciated

[heebeegeetee]

escortmad79 said:

Are there any schemes where I can do my C & C1 for free or with anything similar to Government grants?

I know there is the Government young driver scheme for 18-21 year olds but I miss this by a good few years... I'm 29!

I am currently jobless & can't afford the stupid amount of money required to take it.

I have the chance of a job if I pass both my C & C1 driving low loaders but asking at the job centre about gaining my HGV I was told by one centre that there isn't a similar scheme as the Government young driver scheme for adults & the only way I could do it would be to get a career loan (Something I don't want as I don't want a mountain of debt!). Another jobcentre told me that there is no such Government scheme with any potential help being withdrawn 3 years ago (Around the time we started inviting a million & one Poles into our country!) & couldn't get any form of help until I was unemployed for a period of 18 MONTHS!! (Ain't this country wonderful!! )

Any help would be appreciated

Despite a huge shortage in numbers of HGV drivers, the government are far too busy lining their own pockets to help the likes of you. Its far easier for them to import hordes of non-english speaking Poles to do the job, at the same time as telling you you mustn't use a mobile phone whilst driving.

Or better still, they'll encourage more shagged out eastern europeans over in their lhd trucks, despite daily occurrences of side-swipe accidents.

Apparently Poland is short of 20,000 drivers itself. The next source of cheap drivers is China.

Can't offer you any advice at all, i'm afraid. The HGV test is getting ever harder, and its already very expensive.

[norasport]

If you have a specific company that would like to employ you then ask to sign up to a training contract with them whereby they will pay for the training, provided you agree to pay it back if you leave wihtin a set period.

Also go and talk to your local HGV training company, they will help you if they can.

Best of luck

[Stefluc]

You could always go into your nearest jobcentre and ask if they have any government backed training or retraining schemes.
There are also some driving agency's if you sign up tothem for 7.5t driving they will contract you to C+1 licence training and pay for it,all you have to do is stay with them for a certain number of years or pay the cost back if you leave. I am sure there must be something to offer out there for you somwhere,the alternative could be to go to Poland and see if they have a scheme to assist then come back here after you get it.
Stefluc

[heebeegeetee]

Stefluc said:

the alternative could be to go to Poland and see if they have a scheme to assist then come back here after you get it.
Stefluc

Yep, strangely other countries seem to have no difficulty in training their workforce. Their problem is that we then pinch them, leaving the other countries short of skilled staff.

Funny how we can import our workforce just as we like, isn't it, with no thought or consequence for the future. Sharia law, anyone?

Yet if us taxpayers want to import our booze or baccy from our european neighbours in the so called 'common market' then all hell can break loose, with us having vehicles confiscated etc.

[escortmad79]

Stefluc said:

You could always go into your nearest jobcentre and ask if they have any government backed training or retraining schemes.
There are also some driving agency's if you sign up tothem for 7.5t driving they will contract you to C+1 licence training and pay for it,all you have to do is stay with them for a certain number of years or pay the cost back if you leave. I am sure there must be something to offer out there for you somwhere,the alternative could be to go to Poland and see if they have a scheme to assist then come back here after you get it.
Stefluc

I've tried asking at 2 seperate jobcentres & they told me what I posted above.

Can't see any agencies around here doing that kind of thing, most of them if they don't find you work within a few months remove you from their books.

[escortmad79]

norasport said:

If you have a specific company that would like to employ you then ask to sign up to a training contract with them whereby they will pay for the training, provided you agree to pay it back if you leave wihtin a set period.

Also go and talk to your local HGV training company, they will help you if they can.

Best of luck

It's not a nationwide company, he has done it in the past but when he put the last one through a few years ago the Governemt paid for it. It would appear since doing this the Government has dropped this scheme in favour of giving any driving jobs going to the Polish immigrants invading our country as they don't have to fund training for them!

[FM]

`Clearstone` will finance it for you with a loan...around 15 quid a week...if you pass a credit check. Just be sure your promised employment is 100% as few companys will let a newly qualified driver behind the wheel of low loaders.

Edited by FM on Friday 8th February 19:00

[escortmad79]

Clear-stone have fallen by the way side, check their website:

http://www.clear-stone.co.uk/

[Holst]

Ive also bee thinking about getting my HGV licence, but ive not done any serious research.

How much am I looking at spending to get my LGV-C or LGV C+E ?

I am 26 so im old enough, but I only have car entitlement on my licence, so would I need to get my B+E licence before I start?

My girlfriend is living abroad and im looking for a flexible job where I can work for a few months then take a month off, but come back to the UK and get a job easily.

Thanks, and sorry for the thread hijack

[escortmad79]

Expensive:

Going by Steve Robertsons site (Based in Exeter)
http://www.lorrydrivertraining.co.uk/

Medical: £30-£90 (Average of £65)
1 day Theory test course: £95+VAT
5 day intensive course (Class C - 7.5 ton rigid) 7 hours a day: £725+VAT
Driving Test Fee: Weekday £89 Weekend £107
Theory & Hazard Perception Test: £32

Pass all that & then you can upgrade to artic
Another £725+VAT

[Holst]

escortmad79 said:

Expensive:

Going by Steve Robertsons site (Based in Exeter)
http://www.lorrydrivertraining.co.uk/

Medical: £30-£90 (Average of £65)
1 day Theory test course: £95+VAT
5 day intensive course (Class C - 7.5 ton rigid) 7 hours a day: £725+VAT
Driving Test Fee: Weekday £89 Weekend £107
Theory & Hazard Perception Test: £32

Pass all that & then you can upgrade to artic
Another £725+VAT

Thats pretty much as I expected.
Expensive but there seem to be plenty of jobs avalable where I live.

How many hours a day/week can you work (40 per week?)

Thanks for the help escortmad, I hope you can find a way to get some help with the training costs.

[vonhosen]

Holst said:

Ive also bee thinking about getting my HGV licence, but ive not done any serious research.

How much am I looking at spending to get my LGV-C or LGV C+E ?

I am 26 so im old enough, but I only have car entitlement on my licence, so would I need to get my B+E licence before I start?

My girlfriend is living abroad and im looking for a flexible job where I can work for a few months then take a month off, but come back to the UK and get a job easily.

Thanks, and sorry for the thread hijack

You don't have to do the B+E test at all.

[Pigeon]

escortmad79 said:

1 day Theory test course: £95+VAT

Are you obliged to do the course as well as take the test? Someone posted up the online version of the truck theory test on here a while back and I passed that despite never having gone near a truck - most of it was the same as the car test and the few lorry-specific questions could mostly be worked out by common sense. That would knock a ton off...