Why Join DSA’s Voluntary Register of Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) Driving Instructors?

Posted on September 24th, 2010 by admin, under Driving Instructor.

Holding a category C driving licence may be a good asset as it opens up plenty of job opportunities. If you feel for some reason that trucking is not good for you, or you lost your job due to the recession, or you retired, this post should be of interest to you. Why not look at the idea of starting a career of LGV driving instructor?

Why bother?

Driving training is a tricky business indeed. While driving instructors for category B licence face lengthy and costly qualification process, the category C (or C+E) licence is all LGV driving instructors need to teach others to drive. Rather odd, isn’t? LGV driver operates vehicles that weight up to 44,000 kgs. Talk about safety with anyone who simply holds a truck driving licence being able to teach others to drive these monster vehicles. Nevertheless the Department of Transport is quiet about making LGV driving instructor qualification compulsory. So why bother?

However, if you are set to start up a sustainable and rewarding business, you’ll be better off being on the DSA’s Voluntary Register of Large Goods Vehicle Driving Instructors. Firstly, many driving schools providing LGV driving courses have it as a requirement for their driving instructors. Secondly, your prospect learners can get suspicious over the lack of qualifications. And, thirdly, the Register gets you noticed among unqualified competitors. It is an investment that would pay back fortunes.

How to join the Register?

In order to apply for DSA qualification, you should hold the following category licences:

• C1 – medium-sized goods vehicles
• C1+E – medium-sized goods vehicle with trailer
• C – rigid large goods vehicles
• C+E – articulated LGVs or LGV/trailer combination

A candidate should not have been disqualified from driving within four years prior to application.

To initiate application process candidates should obtain a starter pack from DSA for £6.99. Starter pack includes application form, notes for guidance and theory test questions.

Large goods vehicle instructor qualifying process consists of a three-part examination: theory test, practical driving test and test of instructional ability. Candidates are expected to pass all three tests within one year with a maximum of three attempts at each qualifying test.

Theory test is made up of multiple choice questions and hazard perception element. The hazard perception test is carried out on computer and assesses candidates’ ability to react to developing road hazards. Part two of the examination will assess your driving ability. DSA examiner will ask you to perform several exercises at a test centre site. Your practical driving test will also include independent driving following directions from DSA examiner. The most important part of the entire examination process is part three, the test of instructional ability. Your examiner will assess how good you are at teaching pupils. During the test, the examiner will take on a role of a pupil and will evaluate how skilled you are at giving instructions, correcting driving errors and dealing with a learner’s nervousness.

Once you have passed your examinations and paid registration fee, your name will appear on the LGV Instructor Register. You will also receive a certificate of registration as a proof that you have qualified as LGV driving instructor.

Below are test fees charged by DSA:

Theory test – £64.63

Practical driving test – £139.83

Test of instructional ability – £139.83

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How to Obtain Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) Driving Licence in the UK?

Posted on September 15th, 2010 by admin, under Advice for Learner Drivers, Driving Test.

There is a certain type of men for whom trucking is a life’s calling. Others may look at it as a good money-making opportunity. According to the Road Haulage Association’s latest survey, an averaged pay for a class C+E licence holders stands at £478. However, whatever your personal reason for becoming LGV driver could be, you would need to obtain a LGV driving licence. This post here gives prospect LGV drivers a through account of every aspect of obtaining C+E category licence in the UK.

Understanding licence categories

Before you start looking for LGV driving courses, you have to understand the difference between licence categories. This will help you plan your career and costs. Category C licence holders are entitled to operate rigid vehicles only. With C+E licence in hand, you can drive both rigid and articulated vehicles. You must have it in the back of your mind that getting C+E licence would create more job opportunities while having more impact on your wallet.

Entitlement

From the 10th September, revised rules for LGV drivers have come into effect, changing entitlement and test requirement. In order to apply for a provisional licence, a candidate must be in possession of a car driving licence and be at least 21 years old. New laws demand candidates to have Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC), but if you don’t have one it will be part of your LGV theory and driving tests.

Applying for LGV Provisional Licence

You can’t start learning to drive LGV without obtaining provisional licence. In order to do so, you need to fetch a copy of D2 application form from any post-office or order it from the DVLA. Next, you should get your D4 medical form completed. It can be done through your local General Practitioner. GPs charge an average of £50 for D4, although fees may vary. Good news that applying for LGV provisional licence is currently free.

LGV Theory Test

Now that your LGV provisional licence has arrived you can book your theory test. With new rules in place, LGV theory test currently includes two Modules. Module 1 consists of multiple choice questions and hazard perception part. The multiple choice part contains 100 questions. Candidates would be expected to score at least 85 correct choices to pass. The hazard perception includes 19 clips of on-road episodes with developing hazards. Each clip features two scoreabe hazards, 5 scores for each hazard identified. A score of 67 out of 100 is required to pass the hazard perception part. Candidates will have 2 hours to complete multiple choice questions and 30 minutes for hazard perception.

Module 2 is what is actually new to LGV theory test. It consists of Driver CPC case studies. These case study questions use real life scenarios and test a candidate’s ability to put theoretical knowledge into practice. Each test will challenge candidates to do 7 case studies with 6 to 8 questions with a possible score of 50, of which pass score will be 38.

Multiple choice and hazard perception test fees are £35 and £15 accordingly. These fees are not refundable in case you’ve failed.

Training for LGV Driving Test

Once you have obtained your theory test pass certificate, it’s time to proceed into the most exciting part – driving! And this is exactly the point where you should be particularly careful about your decisions and spending. There are a lot of driving schools and independent driving instructors offering LGV driving lessons. Basically, candidates must avoid two equally disadvantageous options – overpriced solutions and underpriced deals. LGV driving training courses may greatly vary in what they can offer. However, candidates must be aware that a national average for LGV driving lesson is in a range of £30 to £35 per hour with a minimum of 20 hours of training. LGV driving test fee will add another £115 to your expense list.

LGV Driving Test

LGV driving test includes two Modules.  Module 1 combines on-road driving and carrying out maneuvers at your test centre. While doing on-road driving your examiner would expect you to demonstrate safe driving in varying traffic and road conditions. The set of exercises at the test center will include reversing into a restricted opening, braking and uncoupling and recoupling for those who upgrade to C+E category.

Module 2 is made up of Driver CPC tasks. During the test candidates will be asked to demonstrate their knowledge and practical skills in the following areas:

• loading the vehicle with regard to safety
• checking the vehicle safety
• preventing criminality and trafficking in illegal immigrants
• assessing emergencies
• preventing physical risk.

Each area is covered by one question where candidates should actually demonstrate their knowledge. Each correct answer scores 20%. Candidates must achieve 80% to pass the test.

Once you have qualified as a C category licence holder you can immediately proceed to C+E category training without the need to pass theory test again. However, you will have to look for C+E driving lessons and pass your driving test. Obviously, getting C+E category licence is more expensive, but this kind of licence opens up better career opportunities.

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Driving Instructor Training

Posted on September 2nd, 2010 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Research and Statistics.

Driving Instructor Training: What To Look Out For

One of biggest nation-wide instructor training provider, Red Driving School, went into administration. The number of complaints from disillusioned driving instructorsunder training is soaring. Driving instructor test failure rate is jaw-dropping. – It sounds like a daunting undertaking to get a decent driving instructor training these days. Here in this post we are going to talk about getting driving instructor training in the UK and…. getting it right.

Before you shell out your hard-earned money to any driving instructor training school, it’s important that you know the reality of the industry and are able to distinguish between providers. So have some patience and do lots of research before making your choice. Read on to know what to look out for.

Don’t Watch TV

We won’t go about the realities of driving instructor industry or dispelling all of those TV advert myths from instructor training companies here. Simply check our dedicated post before you proceed.

Read Between the Lines

Get it? When a driving instructor school promises a guaranteed placement, it doesn’t mean anything near job security, salaried employment or steady supply of work. What they really offer is to take out a franchise with them. Taking out the franchise means you will pay a fee on a monthly basis to a driving school in exchange for the right to use their name, company logo and often a vehicle. Franchise typically involves the responsibility of a franchisor to supply a franchisee with pupils, handle advertising and provide business-related services. The problem with franchise thing though is that you have to pay your franchise fee whether you earn it off your pupils under franchise deal or not. And fees can be high enough to leave you working just to cover the amount. So make sure you fully understand your franchise offer and it is economically viable.

ORDIT or Not?

Once you start looking for a driving instructor provider, you will surely come across the acronym ORDIT. It stands for The Official Register of Driving Instructor Training. The Register was set up by DSA to ensure standards of driving instructor training are met and maintained. It’s voluntary. However, one of the good things about DSA approved providers is that you can complain to DSA if there is a problem with your training. Typically DSA requires ORDIT registered driving schools to establish clear refund and complaint procedures.

Word of Mouth

There are a great many of organisations out there, small and giant, offering a driving instructor training. And it’s a minefield to walk on. The best way to get informed is to ask other approved driving instructors for advice or visit professional internet forums where people speak from their experiences. Below is a link to driving schools reviews:
http://www.drivertrainingtoday.co.uk/forum/index.php/board,296.0.html
You may also wish to consider what Surepass Driving School has to offer. If so, please, go to our previous post here.

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