Apologies if this has been done before. Did a search but there’s a lot of mismatching threads in the results.
Right then, HELLO EVERYONE! - I called myself Boomerang Dave, because as you would expect in such a large forum… Dave was gone…
Boomerang because I’m giving serous thought to jumping back behind the wheel… for the third sequel of a driving career, which usually ends with me saying… I’ll never do that again as long as I live.
TECHNICAL STUFF
I’ve now reached that glorious age of 52 and allowed my Class 1 licence to expire some time ago… so it’s not even indicated on the licence.
I’ve booked a medical for Friday which I’m expecting will go without a hitch, but there’s some things I don’t know about that process…
E.g: Does the doctor give me the completed medical form for me to send off, or does he do that?
Sorry if that question sounds a bit bone, but I passed my test at 21, never had a drivers medical before.
And, I’ve never used a digi taco before - so that should be fun.
Feel free to provide your much appreciated advice and comments.
good luck dave,from what’s usually said the main thing people fail on is the eyesight test,if you’ve got good eyesight it’ll be reight.got my 1st medical next year.
It is form D4 and you get the doctor to sign it. After that YOU send it to DVLA within 4 months of the Dr signing it along with your application form and your expired licence.
If you Google INF4D that’s a DVLA Information leaflet that tells you it all.
If you google DIGI Tachograph Simulators there are loads of them on line so you can get your head around using them.
Hi Dave, I’m in a similar position of getting my trucking career back on the go (must be a Dave thing). I’m not to sure about the medical conditions but sure someone will help with that info.
I’ve been out the game for about 10 years having also passed my HGV at 21 (the good old days when you could just take your class 1 straight off).
Over the past few weeks I have spent quite a bit of time studying this forum and googling a lot and theres some great information to be found.
This isn’t an exhastive list but things to get back to grips with are:
Changes to drivers hours and the Working Time Directive
Drivers CPC you will need 35 hours training in various subjects before Septemeber 2014
Digi Tacho Cards, just got mine for £39. Theres some good threads on here explaing these new fangled contraptions on here
Have a look at the new wagons on offer and try and find some tips on new gearboxes (autos) and basic operation as this will save a bit of time looking like a numpty on your first day back
Also have a look at threads on RDC’s as it appears some of these places seem to have gone out their way to make drivers lifes a misery.
Sure theres load more but my next step is to find a local agency who will give me a go on the odd weekend and perhaps even a day out with another driver first just to get some of the green washed from behind my ears.
Thanks folks. Useful info… found a great tacho simulator… nice tip!
Dave, on the RDC issue… got me thinking a bit… did a bit of a search and found tonnes of stuff, if there’s anything specific you think is useful and not obvious - please linky…
Good to know I’m not the only one who can’t leave it (driving) alone!
On another note: Does anyone know what the score is with Union Membership these days? Back in the early days, (before I got a day work job), I did a fair bit of General Haulage work which often meant heading to various docks… depending on which dock you went to - you could find yourself blackballed if you didn’t have a T&G card.
Given that I’m thinking I’ll be looking at agency work… what’s the word on union membership, blackballing etc… does that still happen anywhere?
Good luck on your return to trucking.
You must be mad, stupid or both lol
Saying you never used a digital tacho gives a rough guide of how long you been out the game, alot has changed ie taking 3 15 min split break is a no no, now it’s 15 then 30 or your full 45 then and many pointless H&S regs blah blah but a good read round this forum and google should bring you upto speed.
If I remember the doctor will give you the completed medical form and you then send that of with other relevant documents ect
Regarding the water sample I got the missus to do mine as I couldn’t go
Came back my eyesight was great but found I was pregnant lol
Boomerang Dave:
Dave, on the RDC issue… got me thinking a bit… did a bit of a search and found tonnes of stuff, if there’s anything specific you think is useful and not obvious - please linky…
There’s so many i’ve read I can’t think of any that stick out sure some old hands on this forum have a good one for info, also check out the FAQ section as theres some usefull stuff in there viewforum.php?f=10
Dont worry about the Doc. taking the pi$$,because thats what wee do.Look on here for a cheap truckers medical as you dont need it to be with your own G.P. some of whom charge about £130.00.Check out the wages in your own local area as it might not be worth your bother going back on the road.
Good to hear. There was a time when you couldn’t ■■■■ near Tilbury without a union card.
usersteve:
Saying you never used a digital tacho gives a rough guide of how long you been out the game, alot has changed ie taking 3 15 min split break is a no no, now it’s 15 then 30 or your full 45 then and many pointless H&S regs blah blah…
Yeh, I’ve been reading the driving hours etc. Seems like they’ve taken something pretty straight forward and made it as complicated as possible. No doubt to keep the bureaucrats in a job for life.
And fully automatic trucks… no clutch… interesting.
Dipper_Dave:
check out the FAQ section…
Cheers Dave
alamcculloch:
Dont worry about the Doc. taking the p…
Yes, my own doctors wanted £144.00. Found one 20 miles away doing it for £70.
As for wages, which is why I’m doing it - I’m planning on a bit of agency work to get my hand back in… then off freelancing. I’ve done it before and it worked for me, no commitments either way and the money can be pretty good, just need to be willing to go at the drop of a hat. I’ve got another income - but like most self employed peeps… feeling the pinch.
I’m betting the medical takes about 15 mins, so that’s £576 per hour for my doc and £140 an hour for the bargain basement. They’re not on a bad screw for saying cough and ■■■■■ in that… are they?
On the new D4,(Medical test form),the front page is now for the eyesight test,and the standards have tightened up considerably.
The eyesight test can be done by a doctor or the optician,you are better going to an optician for your eyesight test as they can now sign that page,and if you need eyesight correction,you can get it done before they sign the form.
If the doc does your eyesight test and you don’t come up to standard,he can put you down as a fail,and you don’t want that.
Get the eyes done first,then go to the doc for the rest of the test and take a pi$$ sample with you.
When the D4 and the licence renewal form is completed,scan ALL your documents,then post the originals,BY RECORDED delivery back to Swansea.
I sent mine off 10 days ago and I await their return.
If you have not got a D4 yet,you can download one here:
Thanks guys, my optician has gone awol until the end of the month. Medical is booked for Friday so… in for a penny. I wear contacts and I’m pretty sure all is ok with them. I’m a bit long sighted… struggle with very small text so hopefully that will be ok.
Just hope the doctor I’ve booked is able to do the test… otherwise it’ll be off to the opticians for the rest of the medical.
What’s with the recorded delivery thing… is that compulsory or are DVLA gaining a reputation for losing people’s applications etc?
I have had no trouble with DVLA but some on here have their licence back and have lost their HGV entitlement.It is a massive organisation and some mistakes will be made,but if you are the poor dude then its a ball ache.
Ah well, there’s a tale there… and to some extent why I asked.
Some years ago I moved house, at the time I was also working in and out of Europe a lot. Needless to say, sending my licence to Swansea for an address change was delayed - considerably delayed… by a few years to be honest.
After I’d finished with my European travels, I was chatting to a mate, I mentioned that I really should get one of those new fangle photo licences. He gave me a word of warning saying… whatever you do, make sure you’ve got plenty of evidence of your categories - he’d heard stories of professional drivers applying for the then (new photo licence) getting them back with categories missing… when the drivers contacted Swansea, they basically said prove you have this or that cat, or move on…
No sooner had he told me of said incidents, I’m watching tv one night and there’s a tv prog all about it, coach drivers and truck drivers without licences. Some employed with the same company for many years… nightmare etc.
So, I somehow lost my licence and applied for the then new photo one and sure enough my licence arrived minus my class 1. So, I rummaged around and much to my surprise I miraculously found my old pink paper one with evidence of having a class 1 still intact. I got on the blower and prepared to give Swansea a bit of a roasting. A lad answered the phone… I explained missing cats, (long story short) he said… when you were 45… did you receive the medical form?.. instantly realising it was my fault for delaying the address change… errrrrm no I said… To which he politely responded with a “no problem”… we’ll send you one… go have a medical and return etc etc… the docs came and I never bothered… until now.
Apart from my pink paper version, I also have my original brown book version… which is actually in mint condition.
All that waffle divulged… I shall follow your good advice… photocopy and recorded delivery etc.