C + E driving testicles.

[Petrol Head]

Thinking of my boat movements for the future I went along to take my C LGV test on Sat. I Passed (this time) but the license pretty useless as it stands. So I find out now.

The HGV tests as they were known have been rearranged. I thought that once I took the new C test I could drive a truck and pull a trailer with a greater overall gross train weight than I can on my car license.

This would cover my need to exceed the present 7.5 tonne, limit on my license:lol:

Well, I thought wrong.

As it stands when you take a test for a rigid lorry, the C test, the truck weight goes up sure, BUT, you can only tow a 750Kgs trailer behind the lorry :wellfunny . Thats one of those little camping trailers, can you imagine doing that??

Worse than with my car license.

But if you do the E test afterwards, you can drive anything including all artics.

OK, (reluctantly) so whats invovled in the E test ?

I suppose I now do itall again in an artic then?

NO, to get a license for an artic and all other trailer combinations, you just turn up in the little truck you took your C test in towing a dinky little trailer on the back and run through exactly the same test again plus demonstrating that you can decouple the trailer. :great:

IF you pass you can now drive any HGV combination.

Oh and hand over another wad to the driving school.

 

[Jon Fuller]

So you can (once you've taken this lille test) drive a class 1HGV, as we know it?

 

[Petrol Head]

Find MORE money .

MORE EBAY work

pass test

Then YES!

 

[Petrol Head]

To get his far has cost me about £1100.
But there might be a cheaper way.

Go halves with a mate on the truck you want and down plate it to 7.5 tonne(PLG tax) run around untill your done training.

Then replate the truck and use it to tow the boat.

 

[jw.]

....NO, to get a license for an artic and all other trailer combinations, you just turn up in the little truck you took your C test in towing a dinky little trailer on the back and run through exactly the same test again plus demonstrating that you can decouple the trailer. :great:

IF you pass you can now drive any HGV combination.

[/B]

PH, can you take this E test directly or do you need to do the C one first?

 

[Petrol Head]

Matt

Still doing air braked trailer. Using 101 as a 4*4 tractor for launch and recovery (Flat out, low-1st=7MPH) and going up the road for petrol. Law says I have to do under 40 as the trailer will be heavier than the car. Trailer has 5 ton hitch ring so for longer runs I plan to tow the same trailer behind an artic unit or swb lorry and get a crane in/out at the other end.

J.W.
I think I asked that question to my instructor before doing the course. I'll be talking with the new ones tomorow so I'll check again and let you know.

 

[Jono]

Is this weight restriction for trailer being towed down to the fact that you took your test after a certain date? I just checked my licence and my CE has no weight limit. Only restriction is it must be a draw bar trailer (not 5th wheel). My test was the old "class 2".
Cheers, Jono

 

[Louise]

Think you may have hit the nail on the head there, Jono. I just checked mine and I've got Code 107 for category C1+E (ie not more than 8250kg). No other restictions. This applies to drivers who gained their licences before 01/01/97.

More info here.

 

[Jono]

Yeah, thats for the C1 category, same as me, but it's the C category on mine that has no weight restriction for the trailer and I definitely took that test before '97.......

 

[Petrol Head]

From bad to worse, planned rule changes

J.W. Found out that Since 1997 you have to do stage testing.

C then the E... C any lorry, E any trailer (inc artic's).

Jono

A new car driver today can only tow 750 Kg's.
A new lorry driver today can only tow 750Kg's. Until he's done the E test.

Right now, using my car license; provided the Car/ Lorry is PLG I can drive a combination of car/lorry + trailer providing the Gross train weight is not more than 7.5 ton.

Over 7.5 ton lorry I can only tow 750Kg's behind it.

When I go back and drag around a drawbar trailer, I'll get the full monty license. (1 week = £800 quid plus test).

Planned Rule changes
All lorries will need to be a box lorry instead of flat bed.
Means you will have to keep an eye on the height and width at that height to see if you need to move to the middle of the road.

All lorries to be a minimum of 8M instead of 7 Metres.
They're harder to pull out on roundabouts, if others on your right have to stop on the roundabout whilst you get your lorry right on to the roundabout you fail. I passed in the shorter lorry.

All lorries to have split shift or range select and you will have to use it in the gear change excersise.

 

[jw.]

Good info. Ta.

 

[Taz]

Petrol Head right i had to do my rigid cost me £800 failed twice then i took my artic yet another £800 past first time! All that just to tow me mini diggers..

The only good thing is you can do your C+E straight after youve passed your rigid

 

[Taz]

Its amazing how many coppers dont know the rules. The times ive been pulled over with a trailer before i had a hgv etc, They never even asked or cared.

Well spose theres always a small chance your get one thats intreasted in the law rather then there stomach.

 

[Petrol Head]

My last boat over took me on the M27. On the inside as well!

Whilst it was being craned back on to the trailer, the oink mistook the axle loading weight as the maximum towable weight and failed to notice the brake linkage dangling disconnected under the draw bar.

What a nice kind man

or

complete plonker and waste of tax payers money .

Depends how you look at it.

 

[jw.]

I wouldn't be too cheeky about our chaps it blue on an open forum, if I were you.