mydogbitjesus

Hey Truckers. I don't know too much about truck driving in europe, but seeing as my main profession (Architecture) has hit the skids right now I have the chance to look into a long time interest I have had for driving Juggernauts across Europe! (Until they start building houses and offices again). I got a heavy traffic license years ago but it isn't current any more, so i would have to train from scratch.
I'm living in Holland, but originally from NZ/UK, but would be getting a license in the Netherlands i guess, unless you can train in UK and then get work on the continent?
Would you think in the current economic climate that there would be work at the end of training?
Any recommendations of who to contact about it?
Anyone who thinks it's a ******* mad idea!
Cheers.
P.

mydogbitjesus

I'll get my coat...

ukkie

In the Netherlands you can go to the CWI (jobcentre) and they can tell you about employers who are willing to pay for your training and to give you a job. I know Heisterkamp transport and Ranstad transport did this until recently but i can´t say fore sure as i´m no longer living in Holland. To pay for a C+E license yourself would set you back about €7000,-. But i do know that if you are an architect why don´t you train to be a safety inspector (VCA veiligheidscontroleur) far less expensive training, better money and they are still short of inspectors.

Hope it is of some use.

alandoug

You can train in the UK. The licence is valid throughout Europe. I suggest you find a company willing to give you a job before laying out your cash. I think Dutch Transport has been hit as hard as anyone out there. You could try Nedexco at Rilland, or any of the produce carriers ?? Combilo at Waddinxveen, Post Kogeko at Maasland? Go in & ask.

WARNING: It reads better than it lives....

Ukkie's suggestion sounds a good one to me if there are vacancies.

coritani

With the drivers cpc coming in in September, the costs would most likely be astronomical....where as it would cost say £2000-£3000 before, I dread to think how much it would be now......but there you go, we must attract new recruits and make ourselves more professional on paper at all costs....even if it does put a stop to 95% of potential truck drivers doing it, because they can't blooming well afford it.

mydogbitjesus

Thanks for the comments guy's.
Much appreciated. Will check out a few local operators around here.
Regards,
P.

dinger24

The CPC that comes into effect in Sept will cost you a few quid
But thankfully most of us will have grandfather rights! but it seems that as a driver we need to renew it within five years by means of sitting a number of modules, again costing you or your employer more cash!
Just thinking of the drivers in Canada that come Sept you will need to sit this should you wish to return to the UK and drive again

wire

"Just thinking of the drivers in Canada that come Sept you will need to sit this should you wish to return to the UK and drive again"


Not bloody likely!!!!

coritani

Thats not what the dvla told me. They said once I get my British licence re-issued I'll be ok for the five years of grandfather rights as my tests were passed when they were passed, nothing to do with when the licence is sent back to you to start driving in the UK again. Anybody who passed their class 2 before September 2009 gets grandfather rights, wether they're here or happen to be in Canada at the time the new rules come in. The date you pass your test never changes and is what counts. I was told that my licence is not cancelled when the Canadians send it back to Swansea, its just put in file so I don't hold two licences concurrently and will simply be re-issued to me upon my return.

kb33

I'd rather stick needles in my eyes ...

Gremmie

Just thinking of the drivers in Canada that come Sept you will need to sit this should you wish to return to the UK and drive again


I'd rather stick needles in Kb33 eyes

coritani

You dont have to be physically present in the UK and driving a truck in September to gain grandfather rights. You need to have passed your class two test before September, which we all have, regardless of which country we are living and working in come September. Not that I want to drive a truck in the UK again, but until I have PR in Canada, you can't be certain what will happen.

dinger24

Actually you hand your UK license back when you are in Canada so you loose grandfather rights - anyone who has a driving license issued after sept 09 will require to sit the drivers CPC - you only have grandfather rights if you have a current valid C and C+E cat before Sept 09. If for example you have this cat now but have returned your UK licence back to DVLA I am afraid you will have lost your grandfather rights once you request a licensefrom DVLA.
So stick needles in your peepers or sit CPC on return to the UK

coritani

I went into my local DVLA office and rang Swansea and they empathetically told me that when the Canadians send my UK licence to them, its not cancelled its just kept on file and is still current and they will send it back upon application. All they will do is send a replacement of my original licence and as I or you passed your tests on whatever date we did, that means we have grandfather rights. Its not really any different to losing your licence and applying for a new one on September the 2nd...just because they issue a new licence, it doesn't mean that your class one and two dont count for grandfather rights. If you passed your test in 1980, 1990, 2000 or 2008 thats all that matters., so long as its before September this year.

Gremmie

So their