Fastest way to get Artic Licence

Theimprover

I only have a B license so what's my best options to get my Artic (E+C), as far as I am aware I have to get my C license first, there seems to be a 7-12 week waiting list for this not too mention an 8 week waiting time for my provisional once I pass my theory.
Is there any course I can do where I could get it all done together?

Davy

In short no.

You can apply for a cancellation so may get it sooner than waiting list.

Faith+1

Davy wrote: »

In short no.

You can apply for a cancellation so may get it sooner than waiting list.

Not to mention you factor in Theory tests, Medicals, Licence fees, lessons, cost of tests. It'll be expensive OP!

Theimprover

Faith+1 wrote: »

Not to mention you factor in Theory tests, Medicals, Licence fees, lessons, cost of tests. It'll be expensive OP!

I am on unemployment benefit atm so they will cover most of it for me, I can get 8 lessons plus the use of the truck for my rigid test for 580, I'll get that done first and take it from there, thanks for the replies

copperhead

your going to have to do 3 medicals for the artic licence,
the route i went is
theory test
medical
apply for learner permit (with the ndls expect to wait 6 weeks or so )
cpc tests
rigid lessons
rigid test + cpc practical on same day
medical for adding c licence to existing licence
apply for full c licence ( with the ndls expect to wait 6 weeks or so )
wait for licence to come back the apply for
learner permit for artic ( with the ndls expect to wait 6 weeks or so )
apply for digital tacograph card ( drivers card )
lessons in artic
apply for cpc card
artic test
medical to add c+e to licence
apply for full c+e licence ( with the ndls expect to wait 6 weeks or so )
and your good to rock and roll:D

Davy

copperhead wrote: »

your going to have to do 3 medicals for the artic licence,
the route i went is
theory test
medical
apply for learner permit (with the ndls expect to wait 6 weeks or so )
cpc tests
rigid lessons
rigid test + cpc practical on same day
medical for adding c licence to existing licence
apply for full c licence ( with the ndls expect to wait 6 weeks or so )
wait for licence to come back the apply for
learner permit for artic ( with the ndls expect to wait 6 weeks or so )
apply for digital tacograph card ( drivers card )
lessons in artic
apply for cpc card
artic test
medical to add c+e to licence
apply for full c+e licence ( with the ndls expect to wait 6 weeks or so )
and your good to rock and roll:D

One medical should cover the lot, a medical stands for 5 years once on the account if I not mistaken

copperhead

you would think so davy but the rsa in there infinite wisdom dosnt :mad:
from the time you get your medical for learner permit
to passing the c test could be 2, 3, or 4 months
whitch leaves 4yrs and 8 months remaining on your 5 yr medical
and they will only issue a new licence with a full 5 yr medical:(

Davy

copperhead wrote: »

you would think so davy but the rsa in there infinite wisdom dosnt :mad:
from the time you get your medical for learner permit
to passing the c test could be 2, 3, or 4 months
whitch leaves 4yrs and 8 months remaining on your 5 yr medical
and they will only issue a new licence with a full 5 yr medical:(

Thats news to me, I had my EC before the new cards so never had the issue.

donkey balls

Got this off the NDLS website regarding medicals.

All holders of full driving licences for categories C1 (large van/small truck), C (rigid truck), D1 (minibus), D (bus), C1E (large van/small truck with trailer), CE (articulated truck), D1E (minibus with trailer) or DE (bus with trailer) must produce a medical report (completed by a doctor) to add any of these categories to their licence.

If you have previously submitted a medical report for one of these categories and wish to add another category, the report may still be valid. Contact the NDLS to check.

copperhead

well im just telling you my experience with rsa and ndls
and i talked to a few people in the rsa and they said i had option but to do the medical for new licence ?

Theimprover

Lads is it worth my while getting all this done. Is the pay any good in driving rigid or artic? I am looking at a career change and I have a few contacts in the haulage industry but I don't want to be asking them about the pay rates just yet and these contacts are through other friends anyway.

Faith+1

Theimprover wrote: »

Lads is it worth my while getting all this done. Is the pay any good in driving rigid or artic? I am looking at a career change and I have a few contacts in the haulage industry but I don't want to be asking them about the pay rates just yet and these contacts are through other friends anyway.

9€ an hour! Personally you would do the job because of the interest not the money on offer.

Theimprover

Faith+1 wrote: »

9€ an hour! Personally you would do the job because of the interest not the money on offer.

Wow, that's fair bad, surely if you get work over and back to Europe it would be a lot more? Would that be the standard rate doing runs up and down the country?

timogen

If your only talking about getting a rigid licence now it will be a few years before you see the continent in an artic.
Also check to make sure the government will pay, I was driving a rigid for 8 years and when i was laid-off from work i went to fas about getting my c+e licence to help my chances of gaining employment it worked, but had to jump throught hops and would only fork out 500euros towards lessons and tests once i had a date for my test booked.
Pay really depends on your experience and what you are willing to work for.
There are companies that will pay a good rate but you have others that will try pay min wage.

donkey balls

Depending on the company you manage to work for pay can be anything less than the min wage up to €25 an hour+ OT shift etc,The later of those jobs have mostly disappeared as for doing the continent companies sometimes pay you by the trip/daily rate.
Which means your rate of just say €80/100 a day could be for 15 hours work that day hence less than the min wage,To be honest most lads driving want to get out of the industry as the responsibility of a 100k tractor unit plus the trailer & contents + training yearly CPC/ADR dealing with the Gardai HSA/RSA/VOSA etc.
Is not worth the hassle for the wage earned by all means go for it if that is what you want to do,But you will find it hard to get a job driving even the lowest of the low agencies look for a min 1/2 years experience.