Driving a dumper truck
Author
Discussion

Brooky90

Original Poster:

145 posts

105 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
Hi all my friend who is a Labourer and does not have a driving license says he drives a dumper truck on site and says he has a ticket to drive one. Am I right in thinking you need a full driving licence to drive a dumper truck or can anyone obtain a ticket to use one whether they can drive or not. Also do dumper trucks have your standard gear stick and clutch pedal just like a car or are they different to drive? My friend says it's exactly the same as driving a car (I don't know how we would know either way seeing as he's never drove a car before)
Anyone who knows about this sort of thing could you provide some insight please. Thanks guys

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

200 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
Google still works.

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

193 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
Brooky90 said:
Am I right in thinking you need a full driving licence to drive a dumper truck
Nope.

Slow

6,973 posts

167 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
We have a small 3.5 ton dumper, it has 3 forward and 1 reverse gear, almost impossible to stall and the clutch feels like your leg is at the gym.

Gearstick is between your legs so takes a little getting used too, other than that they are really basic. Been driving it since 14, had friends drive it with the snow plow behind (caravan chassis with a homemade plow attached) and they have 0 issues.

Zarco

21,009 posts

239 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
All you need is CPCS or equivalent ticket to drive it on site.

Some sites you won't even need that! It's not a legal requirement, rather an industry standard as far as I'm aware.

Matt_E_Mulsion

1,746 posts

95 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
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You don't need a licence to drive anything whilst you are on private property as such. He's probably got a ticket to operate the machine on a site though.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

138 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
Why do you need to know?

bigmowley

2,663 posts

206 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
Big difference between a dumper and a car is that the dumper has a pivot in the middle of the chassis between the front and rear axles which are fixed. So it's quite a weird sensation driving one after driving a car, turns on a sixpence and all that.
Good visibility when your sat up there so easy to place once your used to it.
No license required on site, quick driving lesson and off you go.

Eddieslofart

1,328 posts

113 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
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PUWER

Reg 9.

raining_sulphur

391 posts

220 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
CPCS for site.
CPCS + car license + road legal dumper for the roads.

hutchst

3,727 posts

126 months

Sunday 17th March 2019
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It's a Health and Safety issue not Road Traffic rules.

Many (many many) years ago when I was a GF on sites I used to occasionally drive the dumpers on site. The ones that were articulated in the middle, with steering by means of 2 hydraulic rams, one on each side, took a bit of getting used to. The fork lifts were much more fun.

hunton69

674 posts

167 months

Sunday 17th March 2019
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My 6 ton terex has 4 gears and is hydrostatic so you select a gear then it acts like a auto. Flick a switch for forward or reverse. Very easy to drive

XCP

17,706 posts

258 months

Sunday 17th March 2019
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Saw a man everyone knew was disqualified driving a dumper on the road once. Got quite excited then realised it was not a 'motor vehicle'.

Zarco

21,009 posts

239 months

Sunday 17th March 2019
quotequote all
XCP said:
Saw a man everyone knew was disqualified driving a dumper on the road once. Got quite excited then realised it was not a 'motor vehicle'.
Pretty sure that is illegal laugh

XCP

17,706 posts

258 months

Sunday 17th March 2019
quotequote all
Zarco said:
XCP said:
Saw a man everyone knew was disqualified driving a dumper on the road once. Got quite excited then realised it was not a 'motor vehicle'.
Pretty sure that is illegal laugh
The considered opinion at the time was that it was not a motor vehicle.

Eddieslofart

1,328 posts

113 months

Sunday 17th March 2019
quotequote all
Zarco said:
XCP said:
Saw a man everyone knew was disqualified driving a dumper on the road once. Got quite excited then realised it was not a 'motor vehicle'.
Pretty sure that is illegal laugh
It is.