HGV Training in Dorset

COURSE IN Dorset

As the sun comes up on Dorset’s three main ports, a veritable fleet of articulated lorries begins lining up just behind growing stacks of shipping containers. Some will be picking up containers for delivery all across the UK; others will be dropping off goods to be shipped overseas. Such is the daily hustle and bustle of the port environment. Meanwhile, we spend our time preparing new drivers to join the ranks of those already on the road through our HGV driving test training in Dorset.

It is no secret that Dorset relies heavily on shipping, tourism, and the military to sustain the local economies of its towns and villages. If it were not for haulage and transport companies and their presence in the area, the economy would suffer. We all owe a lot to the hard work and dedication of lorry and bus drivers who keep things moving in all sorts of weather and under a variety of conditions.

Are you thinking about a career as a lorry or bus driver? If so, you have come to the right place. Our HGV training in Dorset is among the best in the business. We have what it takes to provide you with world-class training that will enable you to get your commercial driving licence and begin your career as a professional. Other companies do what we do, but no one does it as well as the HGV Training Centre.

There are four tests that new drivers must pass in order to obtain the Category C or Category D licence. We will cover each test below along with addressing how we prepare students to take it.

HGV Theory Test

The very first test is the HGV theory test. This is a two-part test that can be taken in a single session or multiple sessions. You must pass both parts to undergo the practical skills training you need to get your licence. Furthermore, both sections of the test must be passed within two years of one another to be valid.

The first part of the theory test involves 100 multiple-choice questions covering topics related to general driving knowledge. You must answer 85 correctly in order to pass. We prepare students for this test in two ways:

1. We teach the information they need to know to correctly answer questions; and
2. We teach test-taking skills so that they understand how to interpret questions and apply the knowledge they learned in the classroom.

The second part of the theory test is known as the hazard perception portion. Students are presented with 19 separate videos in which 20 developing hazards can be found. It is the responsibility of the student to recognise each of the hazards as quickly as possible. The test is graded according to how quickly and accurately the candidate performs.

We prepare our students for this test by teaching them what kinds of hazards to watch out for. We also teach them what does not constitute a developing hazard, as identifying one incorrectly has an adverse impact on grading. We encourage our students to take practice tests, so they are as comfortable as possible with the videos.

Case Studies Test

The case studies test is designed to test your familiarity with the driving career. The purpose of the test is to initially qualify you according to Driver CPC requirements. It takes about 75 minutes to complete, and you will be presented with seven case studies to work through using a computer. Each case study presents you with a scenario you are likely to encounter once you begin working.

Each scenario is accompanied by 6 to 8 multiple-choice questions that test how you would respond in such a situation. The best possible score is 50; you must score at least 40 to pass.

Driving Skills Test

The driving skills test is taken upon the completion of your practical skills training. It is taken during the same session as your practical demonstration test, which we will address later. As you might expect, the purpose of this test is to give you an opportunity to demonstrate you possess the necessary skills to drive a lorry safely.

As with the theory test, this test also has multiple parts. The first part involves a series of questions you will be asked regarding driver safety. The questions will pertain directly to the kind of vehicle you are driving, be it an articulated lorry, coach, tipper truck, etc.

The second part of the test involves practical road driving. You will be accompanied by an examiner who will test your ability to perform certain functions. He or she will also be looking at things such as using your mirrors, giving appropriate signals, selecting a safe place to stop, and effectively using vehicle controls.

The final part of the driving skills test involves off-road exercises. Here you will be driving solo as you demonstrate things like reversing manoeuvres and safely coupling and uncoupling a trailer.

The easiest way for us to prepare drivers for this three-part test is to put them in a late model vehicle and let them practice. Throughout every practice session, students are accompanied by an instructor who will give pointers and, when necessary, offer corrections.

Practical Demonstration Test

The CPC testing regimen is not complete until the candidate takes and passes the practical demonstration test. As previously stated, this test is usually taken at the same time as the driving skills test. It involves a series of ‘show me, tell me’ questions taken directly from the CPC syllabus. The test is designed to measure your ability to:

• properly load and secure a vehicle according to regulations
• prevent the trafficking of illegal immigrants in your vehicle
• properly assess emergency situations
• conduct a walkaround safety check prior to departure.

Our HGV training in Dorset prepares students for this test by making them intimately familiar with the Driver CPC syllabus. Our instructors may conduct mock tests if they believe such tests are necessary to prepare students for the real thing. Whether mock tests are performed or not, students always have the opportunity to ask their instructors for more help if they are struggling with the CPC syllabus.

Yes, We Teach to the Test

The HGV Training Centre is very purposeful in our method of training drivers to the tests they have to take. Why wouldn’t we? The four tests in the CPC regimen are the only tool the government examiners have to measure a candidate’s fitness to drive. If testing is the way they determine whether or not you should have a licence, you need to be prepared to perform well on those tests. Therefore, we teach to the tests.

The great thing about training with us is that if you apply yourself, the skills and information you pick up for the tests will also serve you throughout your entire career. Our HGV driving test training in Dorset is comprehensive and thorough while our concentrated training approach encourages long-term retention and recall. Years down the road you will still remember the principles you learned during your training.

Yes, We Train Quickly

You may have seen elsewhere on this website that we offer fast-paced, intensive, crash courses. We use the term ‘crash courses’ figuratively as a way to help readers understand that we do not waste time in our training programmes. We intend to have our students through training and licencing as quickly as we can without compromising the quality of their training. We do so using a fast-paced approach that presents information in short, concentrated bursts.

If you are ready to get started on a training programme that will open doors to a long and rewarding career, all you need to do is contact the HGV Training Centre. Our HGV training in Dorset has plenty of room for new students like you. Even if you don’t live in Dorset, that’s not a problem. We operate more than four dozen facilities located in and around every major metropolitan area in the UK. There is likely a training facility very near where you already lived or work.