Scrapping the lorry test?

[Patterdale]

I keep hearing rumours about the 7.5t test being scrapped - does anyone know anything about this? I’m about to send off for my provisional prior to doing the test so I’d quite like to find out as much as I can before forking out loads of money!

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/c1-license-consultation-please-sign.822372/

There's a post with a link to the online consultation. (Not sure if that link worked)

 

[Patterdale]

Just seen it thank you!

 

[Melody Grey]

I keep hearing rumours about the 7.5t test being scrapped - does anyone know anything about this? I’m about to send off for my provisional prior to doing the test so I’d quite like to find out as much as I can before forking out loads of money!

yes- me too! I posted the consultation linked above. I figured I’ll probably have some tuition and book the test and see how we go in terms of the law changing. Lucky though in having a qualified HGV driver to supervise me and me having some past 7.5t driving experience.

 

[dorsetladette]

I'm part way through getting mine. Medical done, provisional received, theory passed. I have to say I won't be driving on the roads without some training. My OH has sat with me a couple of times in our lorry, but I really struggle with judging the width. I think this will come with more time behind the wheel, but it's a little scary currently.

 

[Widgeon]

I spent about £500 on training and test a couple of years ago, when I bought the trailer....then literally months later they scrapped the whole thing. So if a year down the line anyone is bitterly regretting forking out for a 7.5 licence I can offer tea (only cheap tea - I spent five hundred quid on the trailer test) and commiserations!

I am a little bit concerned about scrapping the 7.5 licence - 7.5 ton is big, the idea that anyone can just hop in and drive one horrifies me.

 

[Mynstrel]

I spent about £500 on training and test a couple of years ago, when I bought the trailer....then literally months later they scrapped the whole thing. So if a year down the line anyone is bitterly regretting forking out for a 7.5 licence I can offer tea (only cheap tea - I spent five hundred quid on the trailer test) and commiserations!

I am a little bit concerned about scrapping the 7.5 licence - 7.5 ton is big, the idea that anyone can just hop in and drive one horrifies me.

I get what you're saying but it's only going back to the way it used to be - as an old fart I've just looked at my licence and I currently have the entitlement, think it's if you passed pre 199-something that you got it, same with a trailer.

 

[dorsetladette]

I spent about £500 on training and test a couple of years ago, when I bought the trailer....then literally months later they scrapped the whole thing. So if a year down the line anyone is bitterly regretting forking out for a 7.5 licence I can offer tea (only cheap tea - I spent five hundred quid on the trailer test) and commiserations!

I am a little bit concerned about scrapping the 7.5 licence - 7.5 ton is big, the idea that anyone can just hop in and drive one horrifies me.

It is big! ours is only a medium wheelbase, but the width is 9ft 9in with the rubber/springy tail lights. It is quite scary going along the road when another vehicle comes the other way!

I tell you what though! Its the easiest thing in the world to reverse - I can pretty much put it anywhere backwards. And that's without the camera's!

 

[Pippity]

I could maybe get behind downgrading the test to something like the CBT for motorbikes - instructor assessment, rather than a full-on test. I'm not in favour of completely scrapping the test though. Roads are so much busier than they used to be that there isn't as much leeway for errors, and a 7.5t can be extremely big.

 

[Melody Grey]

I get what you're saying but it's only going back to the way it used to be - as an old fart I've just looked at my licence and I currently have the entitlement, think it's if you passed pre 199-something that you got it, same with a trailer.

Post 1997 licenses don’t have the entitlement. Pre 1997 licenses do.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

My licence is pre 1997. I found driving a lorry easier than a truck and trailer. I'm very much a just get on and do it sort of person so I think that helps!

 

[maya2008]

I would be MUCH better at driving (and especially at reversing) a 7.5T than a trailer. I drove our old 5.5T off-road years ago and it was extremely easy to handle. I could never get any good at reversing a trailer…

 

[Bobthecob15]

I did my C1 test 20 odd years ago but then had a long horse break and have recently started driving a 6.5T lorry again. I'm so glad I did my test, I'm much more confident driving it than I was towing a trailer without any form of test or licence...

I also found the theory test really useful because you learn stuff you just wouldn't know if you never did one...so I think ots definitely worth it.

 

[Abi90]

I spent about £500 on training and test a couple of years ago, when I bought the trailer....then literally months later they scrapped the whole thing. So if a year down the line anyone is bitterly regretting forking out for a 7.5 licence I can offer tea (only cheap tea - I spent five hundred quid on the trailer test) and commiserations!

I am a little bit concerned about scrapping the 7.5 licence - 7.5 ton is big, the idea that anyone can just hop in and drive one horrifies me.

I did the same with the trailer test.

I think, anecdotally, that trailers are harder technically than lorries because of the pivot point. Also a truck and trailer can be nearly as long as a HGV!

I said on the other thread that instructor based assessment rather than a test is probably the way to go.
I’d quite like a 5 ton lorry

 

[Abacus]

Even though I was lucky enough to have a pre-97 licence, the thought that a just-passed-test 17 year old could drive 7.5 tonnes (without additional instruction) is terrifying. I remember buying my first 7.5t lorry and the sleepless night I had before picking it up and driving something that big for the first time. That was when I was about 28 and I had more than 10 years driving experience. I learned with support from others and a lot of carefulness but don’t think it’s ideal.

 

[Gingerwitch]

It is big! ours is only a medium wheelbase, but the width is 9ft 9in with the rubber/springy tail lights. It is quite scary going along the road when another vehicle comes the other way!

I tell you what though! Its the easiest thing in the world to reverse - I can pretty much put it anywhere backwards. And that's without the

If the width is 9 foot 9 it's an abnormal load movement everytime you use it ?

 

[sunnyone]

It's the width that gets me. I hate driving a wide vehicle, where as a car and trailer, no bother!
I have a pre-1997 license.
My intro to trailing was to start from layby opposite house, drive to nearest roundabout and return. Next day was off to Portsmouth and then Spain with packages in an Ifor. No probs, thanks to good rear view mirrors.
Whereas an HGV is just horrible, too close to hedges for my liking on one side and other lorries' mirrors on the other!