Talk to me about taking the Cat C1 test

[HorseMaid]

Has anyone done this? If so how easy was it to do? How is it different from a normal driving test?

I'm hoping to do it early this year and am just doing some research into where can teach me etc.

For reference I did my towing test about 4 years ago on a short day course and passed with zero faults, I'm quite happy reversing a trailer up a country lane and also happy driving a big van whenever we've hired one!

 

[milliepops]

I did the C instead of C1 but it's essentially similar - you will need a medical, apply for provisional, do your theory and then the C1 test.
Most places seem to do the C1 in a large van. That's partly why i did the C instead because i wanted to know i was totally confident in a big truck as that's what I'd be driving with the horses on.

I did mine with 1:1 lessons but some seem to share with one other learner. some places do a package for the medical, theory, training and test all rolled up. i organised my theory and got my own medical locally , shop around as some are cheaper than others.

 

[HorseMaid]

Thank you, how difficult did you find it to do the actual test? I'm aware of needing a medical etc which I'm also looking into, would just like to be prepared for what to expect during the actual test!

 

[Bobthecob15]

I did mine 20 years ago but it was very easy, I did a weeks intensive 1:1 course and passed first time (unlike my actual driving test!!) ? well worth the money of an intensive one in my view. I hate reversing a car but for some reason found lorries easier!

 

[milliepops]

i found it OK, i did the test in the same place as i had spent a few days training so knew most of the routes well (not my home area so i appreciated having been bored to tears driving around them!)

the reversing is a set manoeuvre that is about technique really so you can learn that easily (and reversing box shaped trucks is easy anyway).

it was mainly about awareness of other road users really, when you've been driving around in a car for years you do things without thinking but you have to really make sure the examiner sees you demonstratively using your mirrors etc rather than just moving your eyes not being too slow (i.e. you're driving a truck not a horsebox with previous cargo) and being safe. i was nervous but it passed by pretty quickly and i felt well prepared by my trainer.

 

[HorseMaid]

Thank you both ? very reassuring - I'm usually pretty relaxed but my nerves can get the better of me in unknown situations so I always try to find out as much information as I can before doing something!

 

[teapot]

Make sure you're aware of the changes to the Highway Code which come in fromm 29th Jan

 

[chocolategirl]

I did my C test, just don’t see the point of the C1 personally, but obviously it’s down to the individual. I was more worried about the theory as I’m not great with computers, however, I did revise thoroughly, and passed with flying colours! The practical, which I didn’t expect to have any problem with, was actually a tad trickier than I expected, considering I’d been driving a 7.5 tonne lorry for years on ‘granny rights’, I thought I’d breeze through. What I actually struggled with though was having an instructor there, it’s been years since I did my car driving test so I felt really intimidated, I did pass though with just a couple of minors, phew? this was 5 years ago last August and it cost me about 1800 for everything including the medical and a weeks training. Good luck with whichever one you decide ?

 

[View]

Your trainer will prepare you well for the test - they don’t like fails.

And I wouldn’t bother with a C1 - just go for the C.

As Milliepops says, it is about showing the examiner that you are aware of other road users and that you are aware that they are likely to do daft things, and that you make good progress.

The test reverse is easy in a lorry - much easier than reversing a car with or without a trailer.

Good luck!

 

[ROG]

The newbies forum on the trucknetuk site will help you A LOT for your first LGV training and test
There is EVERYTHING you need to know there

There is also a moderator on there called ROG !!!!

 

[Ceifer]

If you go for Cat C and you have a manual car license do the training and test in an auto lorry. Makes life much easier. Especially if (like me) you get nervous doing the test. Just one less thing to worry about and you can drive a manual lorry if you pass in an auto.

I unfortunately didn’t know you could do this and called a training school and got talked into doing it with them. Ended up in an ancient lorry with a knock over gear box that I really struggled with and kept jumping back into neutral. After a week I felt nowhere near ready to do the test. Especially as the area of the country I was in was really busy and the test routes were tough.

Spoke with a friend who told me to do it in an auto. Went to another school with an auto box and a slightly quieter area.
Passed first time. But I of course had to pay for two sets of training.

I did try and complain to the owner of the first school about the lorry as even the instructor said the gear box wasn’t great but got told that the lorry ‘realistic’ of what’s out there.

Since passing I’ve driven numerous horse boxes and never come across one with a gearbox that bad.

 

[milliepops]

oh god yeah. auto lorry really easy to drive.

 

[HorseMaid]

That's a great tip about an auto lorry! I do have a manual license but did all my towing with a big automatic rexton, it made life so much easier.

And thanks ROG I'll have a look at that forum

 

[milliepops]

Ive only driven manuals since but because each gearbox in horse boxes seems to be so random and weird it hasn't exactly mattered you have to learn each one anyway. My new one (currently on the drive waiting for the container to be swapped over) is closer in age to the one i did my test in and has some similar controls to the truck i did my test in, whoo hooo at last I will get to use them

 

[chocolategirl]

If you go for Cat C and you have a manual car license do the training and test in an auto lorry. Makes life much easier. Especially if (like me) you get nervous doing the test. Just one less thing to worry about and you can drive a manual lorry if you pass in an auto.

I unfortunately didn’t know you could do this and called a training school and got talked into doing it with them. Ended up in an ancient lorry with a knock over gear box that I really struggled with and kept jumping back into neutral. After a week I felt nowhere near ready to do the test. Especially as the area of the country I was in was really busy and the test routes were tough.

Spoke with a friend who told me to do it in an auto. Went to another school with an auto box and a slightly quieter area.
Passed first time. But I of course had to pay for two sets of training.

I did try and complain to the owner of the first school about the lorry as even the instructor said the gear box wasn’t great but got told that the lorry ‘realistic’ of what’s out there.

Since passing I’ve driven numerous horse boxes and never come across one with a gearbox that bad.

I did mine in a split gearbox and I HATED it! Took me 3 whole days to get to grips with the dang thing?

 

[spotty_pony]

Following this as I have done my medical and currently learning my theory!

 

[Ceifer]

I did mine in a split gearbox and I HATED it! Took me 3 whole days to get to grips with the dang thing?

I’ve driven split gearboxes since and got over the trauma of the one I trained in. But I’d never buy a lorry with one

 

[Antw23uk]

I am thinking about doing mine this year, i missed out on grandfather rights by a year (pure laziness as a teenager!) but the thought of doing a theory test makes me so angry! I drive a car and have done for many years, why the heck should have to take the theory test!!!!!

Good luck OP. I hope we both pass. I am still deciding on a 3.5t or a 7.5t! You seem to get a better 7.5t for budget compared to a 3.5t and as my budget isnt great i think its looking likely the investment into my C licence will pay off in the long run even though a nice 3.5t would suit me so much better.

 

[milliepops]

Its different content to the car theory test tho. I actually found the hazard perception harder, not to spot the hazards but there's a knack to timing it in order to get them to register in the test.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Ended up in an ancient lorry with a knock over gear box that I really struggled with

What's a "knock over gear box"?

 

[View]

What's a "knock over gear box"?

I suspect it’s what I know as a range charge.

Imagine a 4 speed manual, go through 1 to 4 as normal, now press a button on the lever and what was 1 has now become 5 etc.

 

[ROG]

Range change is a switch to change reanges
Knock over is also known as a slap over where the gearstick it literally slapped hard to the right/left to change ranges
There is a massive thread with pics on all these in the newbies forum of trucknetuk in the LGV TRAINING TIPS thread

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Sorry for bringing an old thread back but I wondered if anyone could recommend somewhere in Cheshire to do the C1 (or C - I don't understand the difference between them) training.

I know the govt are considering removing the need for an additional test but that feels like a risky change, and even if that was allowed, I'd like lessons anyway.

 

[RachelFerd]

Sorry for bringing an old thread back but I wondered if anyone could recommend somewhere in Cheshire to do the C1 (or C - I don't understand the difference between them) training.

I know the govt are considering removing the need for an additional test but that feels like a risky change, and even if that was allowed, I'd like lessons anyway.

I did mine with https://www.stockporthgv.co.uk/

 

[View]

Sorry for bringing an old thread back but I wondered if anyone could recommend somewhere in Cheshire to do the C1 (or C - I don't understand the difference between them) training.

I know the govt are considering removing the need for an additional test but that feels like a risky change, and even if that was allowed, I'd like lessons anyway.

Just go straight for the C test (C1 restricts you to 7.5 tons). Same training, same test, just a slightly larger vehicle. Please emphasise when you book training that you do not need a Driver CPC.

 

[HorseMaid]

Original poster here - I haven't done my test yet (life has got in the way), am praying they do away with it. I'm happy driving the biggest of 3.5t trucks and the lorry we've bought isn't very much bigger.