One of my instructors was at a test-centre the other day, whilst one of his trainees was out having the test. He got chatting to a gentleman, who he assumed was a senior examiner or similar. It turned out he was a candidate waiting to take his test.
He was 82 years old!
(Also I was in the yard and one of our company drivers pulled in. My instructor said, “that’s old John, he is 72…”)
Can anyone beat this?
I can’t beat it, but passed my class 1 just after my 56th birthday.
82 years old and wanting to drive a truck as a newbie. I’d guess maybe for a motorhome rather than for work.
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simcor:
82 years old and wanting to drive a truck as a newbie. I’d guess maybe for a motorhome rather than for work.
Possibly! Or a huge caravan or horsebox? I was not there but the bloke who told me that the older gent was Australian, and it was for work-reasons…
trevorking1964:
I can’t beat it, but passed my class 1 just after my 56th birthday.
Just pipped you, I was 57 and 3 months when I passed my class 1 
I’m pleased I did it, but I wish I’d done it about 10 years earlier.
Zac_A:
trevorking1964:
I can’t beat it, but passed my class 1 just after my 56th birthday.Just pipped you, I was 57 and 3 months when I passed my class 1
I’m pleased I did it, but I wish I’d done it about 10 years earlier.
I have just turned 61, my Cat C test is on Wednesday.
wakou:
simcor:
82 years old and wanting to drive a truck as a newbie. I’d guess maybe for a motorhome rather than for work.Possibly! Or a huge caravan or horsebox? I was not there but the bloke who told me that the older gent was Australian, and it was for work-reasons…
Not knocking him but I’ll be damned if I’m still driving a truck at 82 if I can help it. If I even make that far that is [emoji23]
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The oldest candidate I can recall was a gent of 74. His son had moved away to purchase a coach business. But then the candidate’s wife died so he was totally on his own. He did his PSV with me and moved to Norfolk to join his son in the business. That was many years ago and I would doubt if he’s still alive. But a proper nice gent.
At the other end of the scale, when the minimum age was 21 and we were in the original days of going straight to artic, I taught a young man prior to his 21st birthday on an airfield. Then, on his birthday, we started bright and early on the road. Took his test in the afternoon and flew through the test. He has been a truck operator for around 30 years now.
Personally, I passed PSV at 18 and qualified to instruct at 19. HGV passed at 21 and qualified to instruct 6 weeks later. I’m not suggesting that’s the best way. But it’s stood me in good stead.
And yes, I was instructing HGV with zero experience. But I made up for it in the following years. And 50 years later, I still love it!!
Pete S 