Q I read recently in CM of a training scheme available
Page 51
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
through the Department of Employment for unemployed people to be trained for HGV Class I licence. Could you give me details of this scheme?
I have a full Irish driving licence (classes A, B, C, D) and a first-class reference from my previous employer. I believed that as I had held a licence for about 20 years and had references of my experience of Class I vehicles during the period February 1969 to February 1970, I would not have any difficulty getting the necessary licence in this country. However, this is not so, although a British licence holder would not have any difficulty in Ireland. Therefore I am unable to find employment in the North West because I cannot find an employer who is willing to give me the opportunity to take the test on one of his vehicles.
AAs we understand the position, free driving training for unemployed people is available only in areas where there currently is shortage of drivers. There would be no point in increasing the number of drivers
where there is no recruitment problem.
Training is provided by the Road Transport Industry Training Board in approved cases, and we would suggest you write to the Driving Training Manager, RTITB, Peter St, Manchester, to inquire if in his area any free training is being provided.
Another possibility is that one of the training groups of hauliers in the North West would sponsor you for an hgv test. You can get the addresses of the training groups from the RTITB at Manchester.