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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2014 19:59:42 GMT
Has anyone got any recent experience of London driving schools for getting a PCV license? Looking for a place that has good feedback - the smaller schools may not have the glitzy websites etc of some of the big boys but offer decent and good value instruction all the same?
Location not a problem providing school is accessible by public transport, tube/bus/BR
Thanks for any help!
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Post by greeny253 on Apr 9, 2014 20:37:02 GMT
There was a member on here that went through Wallace at Park Royal . I'm sure they'll be along shortly to let us know what they were like! I've just been through my LGV C/C+E with the guys at Scania (link in my signature!) in Purfleet. Not accessible by bus by any means BUT all their training is 1:1 (including the PCV instruction) rather than the 2:1 (1:1 = one student to one instructor; 2:1 is two students to one instructor) method that is favoured by some. Notably, the PCV training here is in a manual coach. The instructors here and friendly and patient. If you hold a manual B (car) licence then you will receive a manual bus licence even if you take the test in an automatic vehicle (effective 10/04/14 - check with the school). That said, if you're given the option to take the training and test in a manual bus then do it - at least then you'll know how they behave and you'll have an idea of approaches at roundabouts and importantly the differences in the torque available between a small car engine and a large commercial vehicle engine. Whichever option you choose bear in mind that you will need initial CPC in order to work which is made up of 5 modules: 1a) The theory test 1b) The hazard perception test 2) CPC case studies test - this is done at the same centre as 1a/b. Whether you do all 3 on the same day or not is up to you - I didn't for my LGV! 3) The practical driving test 4) Practical non driving test. You will return to the test centre in the vehicle you did your test in most likely. Once you have done all of these you will receive a blue driver qualification card in the post. This is then maintained by doing 35 hours of periodic training over the next 5 years. Most bus companies will send you on one course a year over 5 years. You need this card to work and VOSA WILL check that drivers are carrying it - it has been a requirement for PCV drivers to carry their DQC at all times since September last year. Any more questions, ask away
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Post by snoggle on Apr 10, 2014 12:23:28 GMT
I had no idea it was quite so involved or tied up in red tape such as ongoing perioic training and carrying blue cards. Still I can't drive a car so I'm not going to be driving a bus anytime soon (even though I've driven a VR, Leyland National and moved a MCW Metroliner in a garage and driven a diesel train, tube train, T&W Metro train and Oslo tram).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2014 19:41:03 GMT
Thanks Greeny - interesting about the auto bus test now covering manual as well and the scania place looks decent. I've found these couple on-line - anyone got any experience? www.christopherspcvlgvtraining.co.uk/page/aboutuswww.jsmdt.com/contact-usWas speaking a London general driver who trained privately the other day when they were on break and she want through "wallace" and wasn't that impressed.
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Post by greeny253 on Apr 11, 2014 19:48:32 GMT
Thanks Greeny - interesting about the auto bus test now covering manual as well and the scania place looks decent. I've found these couple on-line - anyone got any experience? www.christopherspcvlgvtraining.co.uk/page/aboutuswww.jsmdt.com/contact-usWas speaking a London general driver who trained privately the other day when they were on break and she want through "wallace" and wasn't that impressed. Yes the changes were implemented this week. If you have manual car licence you will receieve a manual bus licence whether you take a manual test or not. I haven't had a proper look at those websites - I merely looked quickly to make sure they aren't brokers - but I would suggest that you pay them (and any other schools you find along the way!) a visit and see if they'll give you an assessment drive. That is by far and away the best way to choose your training provider as you'll get to meet their instructors and see their facilities.
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Post by londonbusboy on Apr 11, 2014 23:40:45 GMT
Be careful on the cpc case studies test what i found when i was doing it is that another answer could relate to the question and that you have to think of yourself in that situation and what relates the best
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Post by 6HP502C on Apr 12, 2014 0:53:33 GMT
Don't bother with Wallace. I got my PCV with them and got ripped off big time. There are plenty of small schools, perhaps not so great with their advertising, that will train you on a manual vehicle for £900 - £1000. Wallace drag it out, try to convince you that they won't take you unless you sign up to their recommended minimum hours and charged an extortionate £55 an hour when I did my training in 2011. Plus, they charged £165 for an initial "assessment drive." I will stress that other driving schools will give an assessment drive in a bus free of charge. The instructor was always late, including on my test day and I missed my test slot as a result. In the end, from start to finish, obtaining the auto licence cost almost £2000. That could have been reduced substantially (at least £600) by choosing a different school. I went to Dr Sindher's PCV School to get the CPC. He was very good, personal service and taught me what I needed to know in the space of one hour, before we went to the test centre. I got 95%. It cost £190 but I was in a real hurry to get it done. Wallace charged £154 at the time I think, but they do all this unnecessary classroom based nonsense which takes too much time, plus they had waiting lists.
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Post by greeny253 on Apr 12, 2014 19:53:33 GMT
Don't bother with Wallace. I got my PCV with them and got ripped off big time. There are plenty of small schools, perhaps not so great with their advertising, that will train you on a manual vehicle for £900 - £1000. Wallace drag it out, try to convince you that they won't take you unless you sign up to their recommended minimum hours and charged an extortionate £55 an hour when I did my training in 2011. Plus, they charged £165 for an initial "assessment drive." I will stress that other driving schools will give an assessment drive in a bus free of charge. The instructor was always late, including on my test day and I missed my test slot as a result. In the end, from start to finish, obtaining the auto licence cost almost £2000. That could have been reduced substantially (at least £600) by choosing a different school. I went to Dr Sindher's PCV School to get the CPC. He was very good, personal service and taught me what I needed to know in the space of one hour, before we went to the test centre. I got 95%. It cost £190 but I was in a real hurry to get it done. Wallace charged £154 at the time I think, but they do all this unnecessary classroom based nonsense which takes too much time, plus they had waiting lists. I thought it might of been you! Glad I didn't choose them for my HGV!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2014 20:18:07 GMT
Don't bother with Wallace. I got my PCV with them and got ripped off big time. There are plenty of small schools, perhaps not so great with their advertising, that will train you on a manual vehicle for £900 - £1000. Wallace drag it out, try to convince you that they won't take you unless you sign up to their recommended minimum hours and charged an extortionate £55 an hour when I did my training in 2011. Plus, they charged £165 for an initial "assessment drive." I will stress that other driving schools will give an assessment drive in a bus free of charge. The instructor was always late, including on my test day and I missed my test slot as a result. In the end, from start to finish, obtaining the auto licence cost almost £2000. That could have been reduced substantially (at least £600) by choosing a different school. I went to Dr Sindher's PCV School to get the CPC. He was very good, personal service and taught me what I needed to know in the space of one hour, before we went to the test centre. I got 95%. It cost £190 but I was in a real hurry to get it done. Wallace charged £154 at the time I think, but they do all this unnecessary classroom based nonsense which takes too much time, plus they had waiting lists. If you don't mind me asking how old was you when your PCV training?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 19:12:47 GMT
I've just been through my LGV I've been pondering for a while about doing LGV just to add a feather to my bow - would I be right in thinking that if I get the driver CPC with that it'd also cover my PCV licence too?
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Post by greeny253 on Apr 18, 2014 20:29:34 GMT
I've just been through my LGV I've been pondering for a while about doing LGV just to add a feather to my bow - would I be right in thinking that if I get the driver CPC with that it'd also cover my PCV licence too? Short answer is I'm not sure. As far as I understand it, if you have grandfather rights and do periodic training (35 hours over 5 years) then it counts towards both. So if you held C and D licences most CPC courses would qualify the hours for both. I'm not sure, however, how it would work with initial CPC. I didn't have my LGV licence when I got my bus CPC and my CPC card reflected this. I had to do initial LGV CPC to add it to my card. I would suggest phoning a local training company and see what they say. Are you a PCV licence holder and do you drive commercially already? If you do and you passed your car test pre-97 then I think your DQC will already have both CE (artic/class1) and DE (bus and trailer) on it. The initial CPC is a drawn out process consisting of 5 modules: 1a) Theory Test 1b) Hazard Perception Test 2) CPC case studies test 3) Practical driving test 4) Practical non driving test
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Post by 6HP502C on Apr 19, 2014 11:53:28 GMT
Don't bother with Wallace. I got my PCV with them and got ripped off big time. There are plenty of small schools, perhaps not so great with their advertising, that will train you on a manual vehicle for £900 - £1000. Wallace drag it out, try to convince you that they won't take you unless you sign up to their recommended minimum hours and charged an extortionate £55 an hour when I did my training in 2011. Plus, they charged £165 for an initial "assessment drive." I will stress that other driving schools will give an assessment drive in a bus free of charge. The instructor was always late, including on my test day and I missed my test slot as a result. In the end, from start to finish, obtaining the auto licence cost almost £2000. That could have been reduced substantially (at least £600) by choosing a different school. I went to Dr Sindher's PCV School to get the CPC. He was very good, personal service and taught me what I needed to know in the space of one hour, before we went to the test centre. I got 95%. It cost £190 but I was in a real hurry to get it done. Wallace charged £154 at the time I think, but they do all this unnecessary classroom based nonsense which takes too much time, plus they had waiting lists. If you don't mind me asking how old was you when your PCV training? I did it when I was 20. Had a job not long after, recall driving the 3 through Trafalgar Square as I officially turned 21.
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