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CPC is just a tax on people trying to earn their living
Page 19
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ABOUT FOUR years ago, I resigned from my job to work for myself. I was getting along quite nicely when someone suggested I do my HGV licence.
Sounded like a good idea, so off I went. Had my medical, all OK. Had a half-day driving assessment. Three days of training, then Cat C test on day four. Passed. Waited a few months and went for my C+E. Again, three days of training, and my test on day four. Passed.
Then things got silly.
I started thinking about getting my own trucks. Next thing to rear its ugly head was the Driver CPC.
If that was coming in, 1 decided I might as well do the full thing, so went for my national, which I passed, like my driving tests.
Just for the record. I have now also taken and passed the International CPC, ADR and four categories of livestock. The total cost of this, which I have paid for out of my earnings, has been in the region of i.'4,500, which, if you consider the fact that I am self employed and, therefore, not earning while training is probably double that figure.
I am now feeling very fed-up and cheated because I still find that I have got to take a Driver CPC.
This general frustration is increased by the knowledge that if I had a PCV licence as well as an HGV one, I could do my Driver CPC training on either, and it would cover both. How on earth can training for a \ coach cover things such as temp control on a fridge box or loading/ weight distribution on a truck? This whole thing is little more than a tax on people who just want to get on and work to try to earn a living.
Anyway, just so everyone can have a chuckle,Ihave,probably foolishly, spent more cash, got my 0-licence and bought a truck, just as fuel goes off the price scale!
The lorry is great, but the digitach is a nightmare. I thought that if things were to be changed they were to be for the better. I'm blowed if I can see any benefit from a digitach — and I had to pay out even more money for the downloading equipment!
I like being my own boss and! enjoy the driving, but all the obstacles being put in the way make me wonder if it really is all worth it.
But. I have a solution. Cut my losses, sell the truck and go and do something 'unproductive', like become a tester, trainer or an examiner. That way I can earn more money in less time and become someone else's overhead.
Vernon Hitt
Transport manager, driver, clerk (and all the other things associated with running a truck)