C licence

pablo128

I'm looking at getting a C licence. From what I can make out it covers you for any size of rigid. There's also a C1 licence, which covers you to drive a rigid of less than 7500kg MAM.

Am I missing something here? Why would you bother getting a C1 when you could just get a C and that would do for any rigid?

CJhaughey

pablo128 wrote: »

I'm looking at getting a C licence. From what I can make out it covers you for any size of rigid. There's also a C1 licence, which covers you to drive a rigid of less than 7500kg MAM.

Am I missing something here? Why would you bother getting a C1 when you could just get a C and that would do for any rigid?

C1 is aimed at camper drivers in Europe.
Here its not that useful.

Silvera

C1 would also cover ambulance and other emergency service vehicle drivers (e.g. civil defence vehicles).

There are also the costs involved to consider, C1 lessons would probably work out somewhat cheaper than C lessons. Having said that there arent many schools who have C1-type vehicles available for lessons. One place that does is 'Advance Drive' in Galway city (I took the attached pics during a visit in Dec '16). Some drivers may also be in the position to use a company (C1) vehicles for lessons and test, so reducing their costs and making C1 more realistic than opting for the C route.

I took C lessons (in 2003) and CE (in 2014)..I had considered doing C1 or BE prior to this. It cost me a lot more, but I'm glad I went with C and CE in the end.

Silvera

...truck-plus-trailer I took my CE lessons and test in (based in Roscommon but also cover Athlone - where I took my lessons / test) -

neris

How did you find the drawbar on reversing and turning?

Silvera

Reversing took a bit of getting used to - however even during the test it doesnt have to be perfect in order to pass. My instructor (nice guy) told me that many truck drivers never master the art of reversing wagon-and-drags perfectly.

Turning wasnt a problem for me at all. I found that I could 'get my head around' a drawbar set-up much better than when I took a few lessons in an artic set-up. I imagined it as a big 'jeep-plus-trailer' set-up!

neris

Silvera wrote: »

Reversing took a bit of getting used to - however even during the test it doesnt have to be perfect in order to pass. My instructor (nice guy) told me that many truck drivers never master the art of reversing wagon-and-drags perfectly.

Think many never get their heads around reversing an article either.

donkey balls

Drove a truck and drag with drop box bodies while doing agency work handy enough to drive but lining up the trailer to connect the boxes was a pain in the hole, Especially in the lashing rain plus the amount of grease with the box bodies the hardest one to reverse is a A frame trailer:eek: the artics are handy once you have some experience.

Silvera

^^ sounds like fun alright!

The trailer I used for my C+E lessons and test was a drawbar trailer (I can imagine how tricky it would be trying reversing an A-frame trailer!).

neris

Did you practice reversing with the driving school on a closed off training ground area or public road? Place I've used for D, C & CE use industrial estates and it's a pain in the backside and added pressure when there's traffic especially with the artic.

Silvera

We used an industrial estate in Athlne, albeit a relatively quiet estate. Having said that, there is a housing estate on the same road so cars coming-and-going added to the 'challenge' of reversing.

On the day of the test it was raining heavily when I was reversing, meaning the mirrors were covered in droplets of water - which didnt help!

DonkeyDick1992

sorry for digging up an old post.

currently doing my theory test for the truck and buses, just wondering what steps are after doing the theory test?

and is C covered with C1 or is it a different test

Thanks

neris

C lets you drive any rigid over 7.5 tons. C1 is only really for a large van.

Theory test

apply for provisonal (get all doctors certs and paperwork in order)

go get lessons

do test & cpc

boardsuser1

DonkeyDick1992 wrote: »

sorry for digging up an old post.

currently doing my theory test for the truck and buses, just wondering what steps are after doing the theory test?

and is C covered with C1 or is it a different test

Thanks

My advice, and i'm sure Neris and Silvera would agree with me, go straight for a C licence an you get the C1 with it, otherwise it you go C1 you don't get C.

In rigid truck you'll be using a splitter box, as is the gears will either be 4 over 4 (4/4) or 3 over 3 (3/3).

Did you do the cpc theory tests Donkey?

The multiple choice and case studies?

Medical for the learner permit?

Have you sat the theory test or are you studying for it?

You'll need a public services card for the theory test.

DonkeyDick1992

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

My advice, and i'm sure Neris and Silvera would agree with me, go straight for a C licence an you get the C1 with it, otherwise it you go C1 you don't get C.

In rigid truck you'll be using a splitter box, as is the gears will either be 4 over 4 (4/4) or 3 over 3 (3/3).

Did you do the cpc theory tests Donkey?

The multiple choice and case studies?

Medical for the learner permit?

Have you sat the theory test or are you studying for it?

You'll need a public services card for the theory test.

Thanks Cork Truck Driver, I am still studying at the min. I didnt want to book it until i know the way to go after the theory, (CPC & Test)

I am just doing the multi choice q&As at the min I went into the case study but its only a senario that i read i dont know if im meant to answer qs on it or what!

I will go for the C licence so seen as I get both makes more sence.

thanks

DonkeyDick1992

neris wrote: »

C lets you drive any rigid over 7.5 tons. C1 is only really for a large van.

Theory test

apply for provisonal (get all doctors certs and paperwork in order)

go get lessons

do test & cpc

Thanks Neris, I will apply for the C as I will get the C1 with it as Cork Truck Driver has said,

Thanks for yur help

neris

Get the C there’s no point in a C1 if your planning on driving as a career and the C gives you the option to go for the artic after you pass the test. Go for D if your doing the bus aswell not D1.

DonkeyDick1992

neris wrote: »

Get the C there’s no point in a C1 if your planning on driving as a career and the C gives you the option to go for the artic after you pass the test. Go for D if your doing the bus aswell not D1.

Thanks Neris, Just wondering now the C will cover a small recovery truck up to 7500kg, (Iveco type)

Just looking into options to try get a better job at the minute and I have an iveco recovery brought for my own light work so if i got the C it would cover an artic and my recovery..

neris

No c won’t cover artic but it will get you your artic learner permit

donkey balls

C1 = 3500kgs to 7500kgs
C = 32000kgs
EC1 =
EC = 46000kgs depending on tractor unit and trailer used.
You be more employable as an attic driver than a rigid one, Companies are crying out for drivers just like airlines are for pilots.
Reason been both professions since the crash have been treated like crap myself included, But there are hardly any new drivers coming through and a lot of experienced lads have retired or moved on to a different industry.
I'm still involved but not as a driver and I still get phone calls asking me to work for certain companies.
Transport is 24/7/365 hardly any 9 to 5 jobs in the industry,Also choose your employer carefully.