Trade Plater question

[manalishi]

Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering… if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i’m wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn’t i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

[simcor]

manalishi:
Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering… if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i’m wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn’t i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

I believe it would be exempt from CPC. But some companies may insist on having the qualification possibly. Currently it is one day a year and doesn’t cost that much, so really isn’t much to be worried about if it is required. Other than the fact we know it doesn’t add that much, unless the course and info is actually useful.

As a C licence holder he would also be able to deliver units solo as the unit comes under the same classification a C, the +E part just allows you to drive with a trailer. This came about when the categories were changed to C and C+E.

People will often say you can’t drive a solo unit as you couldn’t before the classification change. But you absolutely can. The first time I ever took a unit on the road was before I passed my C+E as a rigid driver taking it to another depot. There is no way a company that big would allow someone to drive a vehicle they were not licenced for.

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[simcor]

Although a quick Google suggests if they are new unregistered vehicles they are exempt from CPC but if registered and used then they are not exempt from CPC. Hire and reward is the important bit. If you were delivering new vehicles to and from body builders then they absolutely are not for hire and reward. However if your dropping and collecting vehicles to a company to use for hire and reward then I’d guess they are not exempt from CPC as they will be used for hire and reward.

So it needs an answer from someone in the know as to the exact requirements.

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[simcor]

Exemptions from needing Driver CPC

You do not need Driver CPC if you’re using the vehicle for:

non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods

carrying material or equipment you use for your job, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly work

driving for someone you work for, or your own agriculture, horticulture, forestry, farming or fisheries business, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly work

driving within 62 miles (100 kilometres) of your base - but the vehicle cannot be carrying passengers or goods, and driving a lorry, bus or coach cannot be your main job

driving to or from pre-booked appointments at official vehicle testing centres

driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC

maintaining public order - and the vehicle is being used or controlled by a local authority

rescue missions or in states of emergency

You also do not need Driver CPC if the vehicle is:

is being road tested for repair, maintenance or technical development purposes

either new or rebuilt and has not yet been taxed

being used or controlled by the armed forces, police, fire and rescue service, emergency ambulance service, prison service or people running a prison or young offender institution

limited to a top speed of 28mph

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[simcor]

gov.uk/guidance/driver-cpc- … r-main-job

That gives examples of what is and isn’t exempt from CPC.

A new built lorry in customer colours and taxed requires CPC in one example.

So it seems to tie up with what I said earlier, a new unregistered untaxed truck no CPC, used vehicles that have been or are taxed then yes CPC is likely required.

The other argument is whether driving is your main job, I’d argue as a trade plate driver, driving is your main job so then it falls into CPC Territory.

Clear as mud I know.

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[manalishi]

Thanks gentlemen.Clear as mud as said but i’m veering to the notion that it’s not a requirement for plating tasks.Time will reveal all i guess.?

[yourhavingalarf]

manalishi:
Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering… if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i’m wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn’t i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

I only did it…

With cars about 5 years ago for about a year.

With BCA you’re issued with a company credit to organise your own travel. You’re expected to find the most cost effective solution to get around and a great deal of my day was spent catching and waiting for trains. If you’re at a large hub like Long Bennington or Corby, you should be able to blag a ride with another trade plater. I found with Google, you could easily plan your day with buses and trains. You’re told not to bum rides on roundabouts.

I liked the job but, the pointy shoes team on the end of the phone were just the worst. Lots of rumours flying around about disgruntled drivers physically assaulting them on occasions.

[paul_c2]

Yes, you’ll need CPC. In theory some vehicles might be CPC exempt but only a small percentage of those you would drive, so you’d need it to be done for the others (and no company would take you on without it, you’d be too restricted)

[bigtruck3]

I would think the cpc is linked to the drivers licence rather than the vehicle, I think you can’t get one without the other
Could be wrong

[manalishi]

yourhavingalarf:

manalishi:
Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering… if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i’m wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn’t i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

I only did it…

With cars about 5 years ago for about a year.

With BCA you’re issued with a company credit to organise your own travel. You’re expected to find the most cost effective solution to get around and a great deal of my day was spent catching and waiting for trains. If you’re at a large hub like Long Bennington or Corby, you should be able to blag a ride with another trade plater. I found with Google, you could easily plan your day with buses and trains. You’re told not to bum rides on roundabouts.

I liked the job but, the pointy shoes team on the end of the phone were just the worst. Lots of rumours flying around about disgruntled drivers physically assaulting them on occasions.

I can believe it re- pointies? It’s a good stop-gap type of job on the cars i recall but most of this work became more of a seniors driving club to boost the pension pot and out from under the wifes feet thus no longer a viable income stream but the old days were immensely enjoyable with adventures galore,especially the hitching.(wish i’d kept a diary?) Slept in dustcarts,buses and even a kiddies pub ‘beanstalk’ installation during the great ‘Storm-michael fish’… sheltering from the gales dropping trees and trucks hither and yon.Halcyon days.

[socketset]

I thought recently about going back into it as said lots of variety etc.

One firm I approached wanted me to pay all travelling expenses between jobs, bus, train etc. out of my own pocket.

Pay was based on a percentage of the job invoice apparently but as they’re rather unlikely to tell you what they are charging…

Thanks but no thanks.

[yourhavingalarf]

Socketset:
I thought recently about going back into it as said lots of variety etc.

One firm I approached wanted me to pay all travelling expenses between jobs, bus, train etc. out of my own pocket.

Pay was based on a percentage of the job invoice apparently but as they’re rather unlikely to tell you what they are charging…

Thanks but no thanks.

How do these…

Firms get anyone to work for them at all?

That’s almost every trick in the book to knob the driver.

[syramax]

manalishi:
Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering… if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i’m wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn’t i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

just out of interest , how do you get back to base if your not hitch hiking anymore ?

[santa]

When I was a TM, we had a large fleet of cars as well as trucks. Some new cars came on trailers, but if it was delivered by a plater, I would always give them a lift to the bus or train station. Is this the norm still?

[manalishi]

syramax:

manalishi:
Going back for a trial punt at trade-plating imminently.Different kettle of fish these days with no hitchhiking involved as was once the norm.Half driving,half hiking was the order of the day a decade or so ago (too softened by years of box jockeying) so i figured l might give it a crack.I greatly enjoyed that world for 7 years or so,interesting vehicles,interesting places/adventures and zero-micromanaged/camera monitoring which has pushed me very much away from lorrying tbh but just wondering… if you were a rookie. with no hgv entitlement (mate interested in following me) would he still have to do the cursed CPC shinola, as well as shelling out north of a grand for the class-2 that allows for moving tractor units only i’m wondering.?

I think my pal would rise to the class-2 occasion, but possibly not too keen on shelling out for the CPC if required; which isn’t i understand a part of the trade plate game ?

just out of interest , how do you get back to base if your not hitch hiking anymore ?

Not sure given the game has changed radically during my long abscence from it but i’m guessing train,coach is the way? Some platers are self-employed so it wouldn’t be too big a hit if you’re ‘creative’ about it? Lots of variables in play between firms but hitching was always the ‘way of things’,and for decades but no longer it seems?

[manalishi]

Santa:
When I was a TM, we had a large fleet of cars as well as trucks. Some new cars came on trailers, but if it was delivered by a plater, I would always give them a lift to the bus or train station. Is this the norm still?

I worked for one firm who moved posher cars to motoring journalists for a while and we often dropped (not me personally) the odd sleek wheels at Jeremy Clarkson’s gaff in the Cotswolds but as he was rarely home,his then spouse dropped the driver at the nearby rail station .I drove lots of Jags and frequent Porsches but it’s amazing how the novelty soon wears off,knowing there’s a long hitch at the end point.

Audi’s up to Ayr-Scotch was always a bitter-sweet venture. My first ever hitch was in a hillman with a bloke going to Penrith for a budgie fanciers meeting,cages full of tweeting critters all the way from Preston .My final hitch was in a 6 convoy of volvo funeral cars…100 mph down to Liverpool from Forton.World within a world type of trade.

[alamcculloch]

Does Uniloads still exist? They give you an assessment, meaning you do a days work for them and you never hear from them again. Great business model.

[paul_c2]

alamcculloch:
Does Uniloads still exist? They give you an assessment, meaning you do a days work for them and you never hear from them again. Great business model.

Yes, but they rebranded as VMoves.

[socketset]

paul_c2:

alamcculloch:
Does Uniloads still exist? They give you an assessment, meaning you do a days work for them and you never hear from them again. Great business model.

Yes, but they rebranded as VMoves.

Well, that clears up something for me - VM were somebody else I responded to and it was away all week tramping about hoping that you had a unit at night for a bunk just like Uniload back in the day. I seem to remember them having a bloke on for them who carried a one man tent about with him - he just used to find a hedge and bivvy down for the night

Again thanks but no thanks.

And this just in…no.

[conor]

manalishi:
Thanks gentlemen.Clear as mud as said but i’m veering to the notion that it’s not a requirement for plating tasks.Time will reveal all i guess.?

Just get it done then there’s no worries. If they took their car driving test before 1997 then all they have to do is 35hrs periodic training which they can do online from the comfort of their own armchair for a couple of hundred quid.

Also don’t bother wasting time and money getting Cat C, you can now once again go straight to Class 1 / C+E.