Theory test ( C category trucks)

pudzey101

Have my test booked , just wondering if/when i do pass what sort of lisence/permit would be issued ? would it be put onto my current driving lisence or would i need a whole new one ?

and lastly is there a certain amount of lessons you need to do before going for the FULL test C lisence ?

johnpd82

hi. you will be issued with a new learner permit for the c category. so you will have two licences. as regards lessons it all depends on how good you are at driving the truck. I done 5 two hour lessons for my test and failed in finglas 8 weeks ago on very minor faults. I'm doing it in raheny this Monday again so fingers crossed again. best of luck

pudzey101

johnpd82 wrote: »

hi. you will be issued with a new learner permit for the c category. so you will have two licences. as regards lessons it all depends on how good you are at driving the truck. I done 5 two hour lessons for my test and failed in finglas 8 weeks ago on very minor faults. I'm doing it in raheny this Monday again so fingers crossed again. best of luck

Best of luck john hope u fly through it !! Are lessons not mandatory like the new b lisence for new deivers ? Like they have to complete 12 lessons and wait 6 months I think before they sit there full test ?

Just asking because I need the lisence for March

jimgoose

pudzey101 wrote: »

Best of luck john hope u fly through it !! Are lessons not mandatory like the new b lisence for new deivers ? Like they have to complete 12 lessons and wait 6 months I think before they sit there full test ?

Just asking because I need the lisence for March

No, there's no equivalent of EDT for HGVs. In reality though you haven't a snowball's of passing the C test without a good few hours training with someone who knows what they're at, especially if you've never driven a truck before.

I failed it last year after about six hours training, but in fairness that was down to one stupid mistake - born of impatience - on my part. Best of luck.

pudzey101

I have been driving small skip trucks and light recycling bin lorries for over a year on the b lisence ( they where just about the 3.5tonne mark empty)
But yeah there's a very good instructed in our town I'm sure 1 lesson with him will tell how many proper lessons I need do u have to go back and do it all over again then for the C1 or is that included , and also CPC?

jimgoose

pudzey101 wrote: »

I have been driving small skip trucks and light recycling bin lorries for over a year on the b lisence ( they where just about the 3.5tonne mark empty)
But yeah there's a very good instructed in our town I'm sure 1 lesson with him will tell how many proper lessons I need do u have to go back and do it all over again then for the C1 or is that included , and also CPC?

Once you have C C1 is covered. I'm not personally doing CPC, but most HGV instructors will sort you out for that as well.

Silvera

pudzey101 wrote: »

I have been driving small skip trucks and light recycling bin lorries for over a year on the b lisence ( they where just about the 3.5tonne mark empty)

A 'B' licence wouldnt cover you to drive any vehicle with a gvw over 3.5 tonnes....therefore you would be also be uninsured.

I passed my C test in 2003 after 12 hours tuition (with only large van driving experience prior to that). I took my C+E test this year after 12 hours tuition (no truck driving experience since C test in 2003). When you complete C you also get C1. (When you complete C+E you also get C1+E and B+E - and in my case D1+E as I already had D1).

pudzey101

Silvera wrote: »

A 'B' licence wouldnt cover you to drive any vehicle with a gvw over 3.5 tonnes....therefore you would be also be uninsured.

I passed my C test in 2003 after 12 hours tuition (with only large van driving experience prior to that). I took my C+E test this year after 12 hours tuition (no truck driving experience since C test in 2003). When you complete C you also get C1. (When you complete C+E you also get C1+E and B+E - and in my case D1+E as I already had D1).

the vehicles i was driving weighted in at just 3.5 tonnes on a drawbridge ! , toyota dyna , jumbo transit and a DAF small waste truck .

Silvera

pudzey101 wrote: »

the vehicles i was driving weighted in at just 3.5 tonnes on a drawbridge ! , toyota dyna , jumbo transit and a DAF small waste truck .

You stated that the vehicles you drove were "just about the 3.5tonne mark empty". Therefore, their gvw would be over 3.5tonnes when loaded, so not covered by a 'B' licence.

currins_02

What the weigh on a "drawbridge" or any other type of bridge (weighbridge maybe?) is irrelavant in terms of licencing. It is based on the GVW of the vehicle which is found on the weight plate normally in the door frame. The smallest vehicle DAF make is 7,500kg GVW so it is safe to say you were unlicenced on that truck, hence uninsured and in serious do do if something goes/went wrong.

Is the vehicle fitted with a tacho? That is another measure as only vehicles above 3,500kg are normally fitted with that.

A reasonable question would be, what were you doing driving an empty truck (just under 3,500kg empty by your own admission) other than to have it loaded at some point?

If it is a twin wheel jumbo transit it is 4,300kg GVW and so requires C1 licence minium, single wheel jumbo is 3,500kg so ok on B. But I would be certain you are in no way licenced for the DAF.

For your information all vehicle classes work on Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) or now sometimes called Maximum Allowable Mass (MAM) and I am certain you will find that celarly stated either on your licence or on the explanatory notes which accompanied it (depending on whether you have a "card" licence or older pink one), The definition of GVW or MAM is "The total weight of the vehicle itself, any equipment carried, the driver, any passengers, all fluids full (fuel etc) and the maximum load it is designed to carry". It is not the weight of the vehicle at a point in time (such as when it's empty).

Del2005

pudzey101 wrote: »

the vehicles i was driving weighted in at just 3.5 tonnes on a drawbridge ! , toyota dyna , jumbo transit and a DAF small waste truck .

A C class vehicle is a completely different vehicle to these. That's the reason for the C1 licence, to allow for smaller more easily manoeuvred vehicles which can still take a decent load.

And as the others have said you'd better stop driving them on the current B licence , if they are plated >3.5t, as the RSA are really clamping down on licences and towing.