Lorries (FAO R420/LA123456?)

Jez

Jez

Jez

Caporegime
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
33,073
Example of the sort of lorry i mean, rigid with a roller rear door and a tail lift:
http://trucks.autotrader.co.uk/cate...b91b2afafb49012b006875e16af4/featured-listing

I need to be educated about the basics of lorries.

1) Although it is easy to see legally what i need online, practically what is involved with passing a test to be legal to drive one of these? Is this something you would expect a normal car driver to pick up easily and without too much faff?

2) They are easy to buy, obviously. But what other legalities are there to be aware of? Do these need to be registered with special authorities? What hidden costs are there with a truck? Insuring is obviously just a case of phoning a broker, but it would be good to get an idea of the basics of keeping a truck on the road. As i'd imagine there is more to it than simple insure/tax/mot?

3) What makes/models are considered good in terms of trucks like this, that one is a "Man". What is considered the ford transit of lorries like this? Ie, reliable and the default option to have?

Basically, i know nothing, and i know we have truckers here who can probably answer all of this with a quick 5 minute post.

Educate me :)
 
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Jez said:
Example of the sort of lorry i mean, rigid with a roller rear door and a tail lift:
http://trucks.autotrader.co.uk/cate...b91b2afafb49012b006875e16af4/featured-listing

I need to be educated about the basics of lorries.

1) Although it is easy to see legally what i need online, practically what is involved with passing a test to be legal to drive one of these? Is this something you would expect a normal car driver to pick up easily and without too much faff?

2) They are easy to buy, obviously. But what other legalities are there to be aware of? Do these need to be registered with special authorities? What hidden costs are there with a truck? Insuring is obviously just a case of phoning a broker, but it would be good to get an idea of the basics of keeping a truck on the road. As i'd imagine there is more to it than simple insure/tax/mot?

3) What makes/models are considered good in terms of trucks like this, that one is a "Man". What is considered the ford transit of lorries like this? Ie, reliable and the default option to have?

Basically, i know nothing, and i know we have truckers here who can probably answer all of this with a quick 5 minute post.

Educate me :)
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Have you got a cunning business plan ?
 
When my dad did his test he was on a weeks intensive course to get his 7.5 tonne license. If i remeber right they started off on an airfield first too to get used to the controls and size of the vehicle then after a few days went on the roads. After that he had his test on the last day.
 
DiamondMark said:
Have you got a cunning business plan ?
Click to expand...

With the pop, relocation services for tenants and general haulage of things between properties. We could save a lot of money assuming the legalities of a truck do not cost an absolute fortune. Renting vans/removal firms all the time costs...a lot, as i am sure you can relate to! Have you ever run a commercial? :)

Vigoro said:
When my dad did his test he was on a weeks intensive course to get his 7.5 tonne license. If i remeber right they started off on an airfield first too to get used to the controls and size of the vehicle then after a few days went on the roads. After that he had his test on the last day.
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Thats the kind of thing i will do, i need to know about the legalities of running the actual truck though, what it needs to stay legal.

Lopéz said:
If it's of any interest to you Jez, the majority of our 7.5 fleet are MAN.
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Hard to know if that was purchase incentives or genuine reliability really, they probably replace them fairly often keeping them inside warranty perhaps? Ive no idea!
 
You will require CPC training and possibly a digital tacho card, not sure on the latter though. Gaining a ADR certificate is also handy.
 
I got a cousin that does all mine, i have trouble driving a car let alone a lorry :)
 
I don't know the proper details of it so I won't pass it off as gospel, but the HGV we have at work has some sort of test/check over every 6 weeks.

I am unsure if this is just on larger vehicles and the costs involved but im sure google may help!

Edit:Its also a MAN of some description too!
 
Lorrys cost lots...:)

I can't give you an exact running costs now but I'll have a proper chat with Dad for you but I'll give you a cost of parts and bear in mind he does all the work on them himself, they aren't cheap :)

Will also ask about recommendations as far as brands go but I can tell you now AVOID Renault, the one Dad has only has to be unlocked to gain another electrical fault!

I know the 2 Merc's he has hardly break down, got a few Scanias to, will post a better post later in the week :)
 
Phate is probably in a better position to talk about the costs than I.

Thankfully, the cost is not my concern.
 
Phate said:
I can't give you an exact running costs now but I'll have a proper chat with Dad for you but I'll give you a cost of parts and bear in mind he does all the work on them himself, they aren't cheap :)
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I would be very interested :)
 
As said in a previous post you will need a CPC, and then an O-license (all explained in CPC course)
The company I work for paid for my CPC (Thankfully) The way I did it was a weeks intensive course + 1 day case stufy workshop followed by a day of exams.

There is a MASSIVE amount of legislation surrounding the running and operating of a truck, not something I would ever contemplate doing.

Course cost about £2500 FYI.
 
Cool cheers dude, it would be good to get a real world account straight up about what i need to do. I cant make head nor tail of the vosa docs as there are so many different sections.

I'm away this weekend, but i'll have to phone them next week i guess and get them to explain it to me like a retard. Must be enough of them wanting to run trucks :p
 
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