What licence categories do you have? I was thinking of adding some more to my licence

Commotion Ocean

I already have the usual B and W.

Just for the craic. I can't decide whether to do C (Rigid or Artic), D (Bus) or A (for all the motorbikes, I'm over 24).

I was also considering doing BE to get just the trailer license.

If I did C license in the artic, would that permit me to get BE, seeing as I'll be towing a several tonne truck, I should be able to tow a tiny horsebox.

What categories would you recommend adding or doing?

pa990

dfeo wrote: »

I already have the usual B and W.

Just for the craic. I can't decide whether to do C (Rigid or Artic), D (Bus) or A (for all the motorbikes, I'm over 24).

I was also considering doing BE to get just the trailer license.

If I did C license in the artic, would that permit me to get BE, seeing as I'll be towing a several tonne truck, I should be able to tow a tiny horsebox.

What categories would you recommend adding or doing?

Do C, then D, then CE.

If you do that, you will automatically get DE and BE having passed CE.


Make sense ?

CiniO

C category wouldn't give you entitlement of BE category.

However CE would.

If you had D, and got CE, it would also give you DE category.

Commotion Ocean

pa990 wrote: »

Do C, then D, then CE.

If you do that, you will automatically get DE and BE having passed CE.


Make sense ?

Airport School Of Motoring say that they have a test pass guarantee. That seems too good to be true though.

I mean, does that mean after 10 lessons or does that mean "guaranteed test pass after we think you're ready", which could be 50 lessons.

CiniO

I have B, C and D.

And I'm thinking of doing CE to get BE and DE, even though I might never need CE.

However it's not going quick, as I applied for driving permit in CE over 2 years ago, and it already expired, before I even had a chance to use it.

Commotion Ocean

CiniO wrote: »

I have B, C and D.

And I'm thinking of doing CE to get BE and DE, even though I might never need CE.

However it's not going quick, as I applied for driving permit in CE over 2 years ago, and it already expired, before I even had a chance to use it.

Do you drive for a living, Cinio? Or did you just get the categories for the sake of it?

Del2005

dfeo wrote: »

I already have the usual B and W.

Just for the craic. I can't decide whether to do C (Rigid or Artic), D (Bus) or A (for all the motorbikes, I'm over 24).

I was also considering doing BE to get just the trailer license.

If I did C license in the artic, would that permit me to get BE, seeing as I'll be towing a several tonne truck, I should be able to tow a tiny horsebox.

What categories would you recommend adding or doing?

I've the licence fully filled in. I was working shifts so did C, then CE, then D and A, was waiting till I turned 25 on the old system.


Just to be aware that if you get D or C added to your licence you have to renew every 5 years instead of 10 and you need a medical at every renewal.

CiniO

dfeo wrote: »

Do you drive for a living, Cinio? Or did you just get the categories for the sake of it?

Around 8 years back, I got an job offer for bus driver, so that's why I got my D licence.
Worked for couple years as bus driver full time, and then another few years part time.
Currently not driving for living, but might do in the future.
I did my C licence pretty much just for the sake of it couple years ago, as I never worked on trucks, and I probably never will.

pudzey101

Full B (9years) --- insurance want over a grand for a diesel mondeo

First A Permit ( unrestricted motorbike) ---- insurance under 500 on a 600cc Kawasaki ninja


Country doesnt make sense

job seeker

pudzey101 wrote: »

Full B (9years) --- insurance want over a grand for a diesel mondeo

First A Permit ( unrestricted motorbike) ---- insurance under 500 on a 600cc Kawasaki ninja


Country doesnt make sense

Well, that does make sense to me.. In a car you can carry 5 passengers who are at risk. Motorbike you can only carry 1. So less risk there. Also, if you crash into another car it will cause more damage to the occupants, if you crash into a car with a motor bike, there would be less risk to the occupants of the car..

On topic
I only have the car and tractor license, wanted to get a motorbike at 17/18 but the parents black mailed me and they said I'd be thrown out of the house.. Boo urns..

Commotion Ocean

Would insurance companies load you if you have extra categories on your license even if you don't use them or seek insurance for them?

You'd never know, insurance companies probably started in Nazi Germany and currently run by North Korean mafia the way that they operate and arbitrarily charge for ridiculous things.

boardsuser1

I've got:

B; Car
C; Rigid
D; Coaches
BE; Car and Trailer
CE; Artic
DE; Bus and trailer
W; Work vehicles

All I am missing is the motorbike licence.

I do drive for a living.

Rave.ef

Iv got.

C. E+c. E+b. I drive part time for a living.

You'll have to do C first then e+c

frozenfrozen

I've only got A2, B, and W

when I was doing the motorbike lessons there was a guy there just doing the motorbike license so he could have all of the categories.

I will eventually get BE and will be automagically upgraded to the motorbike A in 2 years

FR85

OP, don't forget that once you get all the boxes ticked on your license you then have to do your CPC's and get a digi-card.

You need to see if it's worth it.

Vic_08

FR85 wrote: »

OP, don't forget that once you get all the boxes ticked on your license you then have to do your CPC's and get a digi-card.

You need to see if it's worth it.

No he doesn't, If he just wants the categories on his licence there is no need to get either CPC or Tacho Card.

As in earlier post, the only disadvantage is a shorter licence period and requirement for medical cert on renewal.

FR85

Vic_08 wrote: »

No he doesn't, If he just wants the categories on his licence there is no need to get either CPC or Tacho Card.

As in earlier post, the only disadvantage is a shorter licence period and requirement for medical cert on renewal.

I worded it wrong, no he doesn't need to but he can't use his new license with out them unless he'll be driving an old truck carrying his own things or a very big camper... .

neris

You only need tacho and cpc if driving professionally for a living.

boardsuser1

neris wrote: »

You only need tacho and cpc if driving professionally for a living.

The up keep of the Licence, CPC's, Digi card etc make one question is it even worth it anymore. I was offered an artic job just before coming online for 9.25 an hour.

If the OP wants to get the licence just for the sake of having it then fair enough, but to drive for a living on that money it ain't worth the hassle, too much responsibility and working for peanuts but I ain't no monkey.

I should clarify that I got my (Artic) licence through a FAS course. didn't actually pay for it. I do like the transport sector but with an expanding young family I can't be out working 25 hours a day 8 days a week. A career change is definitely on the cards in the comng years but the odd bit of casual transport work wouldn't be a bad thing either.

I have tried to get into Bus Eireann but for some unknown reason I appear to have a better chance of winning the lotto 2 draws on the bounce.

Can anyone give any advice on getting the full A licence? Have an expired provisional which can be renewed until next year before I have to re-do the theory test. haven't done any IBT (Modules1,3,5 in my case) debating either a bandit 600 or 1200.

Rave.ef

Drivers are in short supply and besides myself I only know one other lad under 30 wit a full artic licence. So who ever is offering 9.25 an hour is chancing there arm. I know at the moment the wage still isn't great but most hauliers are offering more than that. Pulse the tax free subsidy some give per shift. In a few more years it will be a very good job again.

Mycroft H

C/C1 and a B.

I use the C1 for driving/working on an ambulance (exempt from CPC/Tacho thankfully). I've no use for the C, waste really. I'm thinking of getting an unrestricted A permit at some point. Or a BE perhaps.

boardsuser1

Rave.ef wrote: »

Drivers are in short supply and besides myself I only know one other lad under 30 wit a full artic licence. So who ever is offering 9.25 an hour is chancing there arm. I know at the moment the wage still isn't great but most hauliers are offering more than that. Pulse the tax free subsidy some give per shift. In a few more years it will be a very good job again.

They are an east Cork based company. Admittedly they do pay €33.61 in subsistence per shift but €9.25 to drive an Artic is poor. Needless to say they regularly post on adverts.ie for drivers.

galwaytt

KC161 wrote: »

They are an east Cork based company. Admittedly they do pay €33.61 in subsistence per shift but €9.25 to drive an Artic is poor. Needless to say they regularly post on adverts.ie for drivers.

Jeebus that is piss poor. Driving €200k of truck + trailer + goods for less than working in Aldi or Lidl.

Is it any wonder they can't get good or keep staff ?

boardsuser1

galwaytt wrote: »

Jeebus that is piss poor. Driving €200k of truck + trailer + goods for less than working in Aldi or Lidl.

Is it any wonder they can't get good or keep staff ?

The work is delivering their goods :pac:

Also the driver must load/unload the truck at the depot. when I went for the interview I didn't see any loading bays for trucks, just forklifts.

It's all about the race to the bottom.

So to keep on topic, anyone reading this think twice about spending big for an artic licence.

neris

im up in an industrial estate near dublin airport most weekends for an hour or 2. theres usually 3 or more black trucks belonging to a well known kilkenny haulier parked up there for the weekend with their east european drivers "enjoying" their weekend off. trucks are registered in both ireland and poland. 9.25 per hour might be a feasible wage in poland but over here it aint especially when you consider what your in charge of and the amount of training you need to do and keep doing on an annual basis

CiniO

neris wrote: »

im up in an industrial estate near dublin airport most weekends for an hour or 2. theres usually 3 or more black trucks belonging to a well known kilkenny haulier parked up there for the weekend with their east european drivers "enjoying" their weekend off. trucks are registered in both ireland and poland. 9.25 per hour might be a feasible wage in poland but over here it aint especially when you consider what your in charge of and the amount of training you need to do and keep doing on an annual basis

You're saying that Kilkenny based haulier is using Polish registered trucks?

neris

CiniO wrote: »

You're saying that Kilkenny based haulier is using Polish registered trucks?

Yep and they wouldn't be the only ones running trucks on East European reg plates

TrailerBob

CiniO wrote: »

You're saying that Kilkenny based haulier is using Polish registered trucks?

I can confirm this, as they pass through Tullow daily on their way to and from Kerry foods in Shillelagh... both Irish and Polish reg... at high speed I might add...

Anyway back on topic..

I have B, BE, D, M and W...

Have D for a bus we have in work and it's very handy... also CPC exempt,

Also use the W regularly for tractor work

boardsuser1

CiniO wrote: »

You're saying that Kilkenny based haulier is using Polish registered trucks?

I can also confirm that this is true. I have a photo of it on my Flickr page.

parishsavings

Interesting thread.

I have B, W, M, C, C1.

I am going for the CE next which should also give me C1E and BE.

I think by going this route you get an unrestricted BE licence.
If you just go for the BE test you are restricted to 3500kg towing weight.

When I applied for my provisional CE (learner permit) they also stamped the various 'A' categories but I wouldn't be too interested in pursuing a bike licence.

NiallBoo

FR85 wrote: »

I worded it wrong, no he doesn't need to but he can't use his new license with out them unless he'll be driving an old truck carrying his own things or a very big camper... .

A common use would be schools/sports clubs/etc. where they'll have a min-bus and the driver will be a volunteer, or a course/activity/whatever where transport isn't the primary activity.

That way the driver only needs to have a D(1)/D1Ewithout the bells and whistles.