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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Things to Know Before Embarking on Driving Instructor Career

Posted on October 26th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor.

We posted earlier about what it takes to become a driving instructor. If you are considering this career you surely have heard how adverts are touting the perspective of being a driving instructor. Be your own boss! Choose your working hours! Enjoy lots of cash in your pocket! Some adverts go as far as naming a driving instructor profession as recession proof…

Many of advantages to being a driving instructor are not necessarily just a sales pitch, but if you have made up your mind to take the plunge, make sure you do so with your eyes open. This post is a must read for those who are serious about embarking on driving instructor career. So here are four things you have to know about your future business.

1. Watch Your Expenses

Throughout your training process you will have to pay for a lot of things. First, you will need to buy all your training materials for theory test. The costs greatly vary depending on what you choose. Then, there is a £90 fee for the Part 1 test. Be aware, if you fail, this fee will be payable again to allow you a second attempt. As you move on to your driving training, your expenses surge with most trainers charging from £25 to £40 per hour. A total will depend on how much training you need. Here comes your Part 2 test and before taking it you will part company with £110 in a fee, payable again if you screw up your first attempt. Your expenses, however, don’t stop when you pass the Part 2. Now you can apply for your PDI licence, costing you about £140. To be fully trained for the Part 3 instructional test, you will have to find a reputable ADI trainer who may charge over £30 per hour. This is the hardest part of the whole training process and you will need a minimum of 60 hours. And again you will be charged a £110 fee for each attempt at Part 3 test. Fresh off your successful ADI exams, you will have to apply to join the register as an ADI and obtain your ADI licence. This will add another £300 on your expenses list.

2. Rigors of Being Self-employed

Be your own boss! Sounds great, doesn’t it? Well, if you can do without your job security and steady income, it does. Compared to employees, the self-employed have no guarantees whatsoever whether they can make money on their own. Your income will entirely depend on how many pupils you can steal from your competitors. Don’t forget being self-employed means dealing with your tax and insurance issues yourself.

3. Throat-cutting competition

Running your own business has never been easy. And with credit crunch gripping the economy, competition has turned into the battle of life. If somebody on the telly tells you there is a shortage of driving instructors and swelling crowd of learners, don’t jump at it. Here is more news for you. According to official statistics, as of 2 September this year, there are 45,371 approved driving instructors and 6,910 trainee licence holders. Some adverts say: “A million of people learn to drive every year”. And now let’s do a simple math. If there are 52,281 ADIs on the market, it makes roughly 19 pupils per each every year.

4. Passing Test Is Not Easy

And now comes the big news. Official data says less than 10 percent of those embarking on ADI training process actually become driving instructors. 50 percent of those quit within the first 18 months. Check below pass rates for ADI qualifying exams in 2006/2007:

The Part 1 Test: 49%

The Part 2 Test: 45%

Test of instructional ability (Part 3): 28%

We didn’t mean to scary you away, but a person who is considering a driving instructor career must know about the realities of his business before taking the plunge. There are no easy ways to earn money these days and being a driving instructor is not an exception.

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