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GIVE US A CHANCE • Once again one of Commercial
Page 86
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Motor's pet subjects is brought to the forefront of transport matters. In the issue of 15-21 March, the editorial and lead story was on the subject of provisional HGV class 1 drivers being taught and tested on laden vehicles.
There can be no doubt in the mind of anybody, including myself, who has taken and passed the class 1 HGV test, that the vehicle being used is an unladen one, and anyone lucky enough to get a driving job later must be prepared to drive the laden vehicle accordingly, which could be a 17-tonne rigid or 38-tonne artic. I trust that people understand that although the provisional driver is taught on an unladen vehicle, a certain amount of skill is required to pass the test and
thus satisfy the Department of Transport HGV examiners. I think you would agree with this point and would like to see it reflected in any future articles on the subject.
After passing the Class I test, most transport companies are opposed to employing newly-qualified drivers, due to lack of experience etc, this is very understandable, but driving is like anything else, it's all about learning and gaining knowledge, and even experienced people can learn something new. After passing a test on a laden vehicle, for example, the better qualified driver would then need to know how to drive the latest MercedesBenz with EPs or the Seddon Atkinson with a Twin Splitter after learning on a vehicle with a six-speed box.
So come on you transport companies, take on some of us Class 1 drivers with limited experience, put us through a driver apprenticeship, we have the Class I, show us how to use it, teach us to load a vehicle, teach us to rope and sheet, teach us to become an asset to your company. Some of us want to learn, so give us a chance.
S Mooney,
Pendlebuiy, Manchester.