Hi, does anyone know if the driving age for C+E in Europe is the same as the UK as the car license differs slightly and I’m only 18, thanks.
I think they have always been able to drive trucks at a younger age
No problem driving an artic around Europe at 18 lad as long as you have a full driving licence you can drive to your hearts content
There are 18 year olds driving for the Hungarion firm Wabers and let lose all over Europe and Scandinavia with non of this two year experience bull manure for newbies in the Uk.Go to Waberers get the truck keys see you in six months or longer.
You’re right there Toby, probably take the law 6 months to catch the theivin little scrote 
but look Toby … 
In Ireland 18 for a class 1 and with the right person you’ll get a job
Think its 18 in Holland some certainly look it
Ireland has been 18 for a good while now.
I remember meeting an Irish lad in customs at Gibraltar sweating on wether he would be home for his 20th birthday. That was back in 1998.
Cheers
Neilf
nedbro:
Think its 18 in Holland some certainly look it
Yes my dutch friend & he passed his class one when he was 18 years old then straight away got a job and driving to France & Benelux work
Upson1994:
Hi, does anyone know if the driving age for C+E in Europe is the same as the UK as the car license differs slightly and I’m only 18, thanks.
Yes,it is 18,but it don’t mean it’s right!I certainly don’t feel right about 18 year olds driving artics anywhere at that age,without getting some experience first.
Got mine when I was 19 through the Young Drivers Scheme in 1981. Ok, it was only a class 3 but I was off driving rigids around Europe on my own and was also sent out as second driver on an 18 metre A-Frame draw bar, again around Europe. The only reason that I was the second man was because the law wouldn’t let me out alone but I was more than capable and certainly didn’t need a minder!!! Sure, I used to get some strange looks when abroad, particularly from the plod or customs but that was part of the fun. I learned a lot just from queuing on the stairs in Dover and listening to the older chaps talk.
An 18 / 19 year old driving an artic or draw bar combo should be fine. There are plenty of 20+ / 30+ / 40+ / 50+ year olds with licences,who I wouldn’t trust to steer a lawn mower!! Any young person who has either managed to get the funding for or indeed funded the test themselves wants to be taken seriously. Chances are they wont be some fly by night boy / girl racer!!
If the truth be known, there are probably quite a few companies that would give young drivers a start but it is the insurance they would have to pay that makes it a bad idea!!
Maybe some of the major players (Stobart etc) should follow the lead of some of the formula one teams and have a young driver programme where potential young drivers can be trained and educated at a steady and safe pace with a job at the end and therefore be able to get some experience behind them!
zeppy:
…Yes,it is 18,but it don’t mean it’s right!I certainly don’t feel right about 18 year olds driving artics anywhere at that age,without getting some experience first.
If you don’t feel right about them driving artics “anywhere” the how would they get the experience that you would be happy with first?? 
You would be happy for them to get the experience but just don’t get it by driving “anywhere”
I found it a little strange that 18 year old Irish lads could drive from Ireland to the UK even though the legal age in the UK was 21.
I have a friend who is 20 and is doing Spain he has had no problems now on the other hand I know one of our subbies had a !8 year old driving with his dad in spain and then did a trip on sickness cover now he was stopped by the Guarda Civil Traffico near Tudela and fine 4601Euro. I am not to sure what exactly he was fined for but i know some or maybe all was, there was no transcan on the fridge but he stayed in Tudela for a few days before catching a lift with his dad back to the uk. Since then ive heard stories that he was too young abd hours offences thats why he got a such a big fine but one day the truth might come out.
zeppy:
Upson1994:
Hi, does anyone know if the driving age for C+E in Europe is the same as the UK as the car license differs slightly and I’m only 18, thanks.Yes,it is 18,but it don’t mean it’s right!I certainly don’t feel right about 18 year olds driving artics anywhere at that age,without getting some experience first.
It is OK to let them vote, and shoot at them though
Depends. If you have British license and work for British company, then as long as you are legal to drive in UK, they have to respect it.
But if you want to drive in the country where the age is for example 21 (as it was in Poland in my time, I am not sure if that’s still the case), then you won’t be able to get a job until you’ll be 21, as to be employed there you have to be legal to drive in their country.
zeppy:
Upson1994:
Hi, does anyone know if the driving age for C+E in Europe is the same as the UK as the car license differs slightly and I’m only 18, thanks.Yes,it is 18,but it don’t mean it’s right!I certainly don’t feel right about 18 year olds driving artics anywhere at that age,without getting some experience first.
With the standard of truck driving I see on our roads every day I’d trust a keen and eager 18 year old over lots of these ‘experienced’ drivers.
switchlogic:
zeppy:
Upson1994:
Hi, does anyone know if the driving age for C+E in Europe is the same as the UK as the car license differs slightly and I’m only 18, thanks.Yes,it is 18,but it don’t mean it’s right!I certainly don’t feel right about 18 year olds driving artics anywhere at that age,without getting some experience first.
With the standard of truck driving I see on our roads every day I’d trust a keen and eager 18 year old over lots of these ‘experienced’ drivers.
When i first heard about them reducing the age from 21 to 18, I thought it was a ridiculous idea.
But i’m now inclined to agree with you Luke.
May be, not having the driving experience is not the problem, but telling the TM to ■■■■ off when he starts pushing, which was the problem last month when a 20 year old totaled a 40 tonner at our place last month