BFG Driving Licence

I learnt to drive in a LWB Land Rover in 1978 at Sennelarger, I returned to the UK in 1979 and had to go to the Army School of Mechanical Transport at Leconsfield to gain my HGV III & II (Rigid) at the same time. I returned in 1982 for my HGV 1 (Artic) course but was cut short due to the Falklands War, but I managed to get a test before I was RTU'd and passed first time.

Being RAOC and not a Vehicle Specialist, I had no need for a group 'H' Track Licence, but managed to get group 'D' Motorcycle and Public Service Vehicle (PSV) as well as Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) to be employed as a Logistic/Transport Manager when I first left the Army.

Hmmm,,how long are these Army Quals valid for? Am I still entitled to drive a tracked vehicle I wonder.

Well I still have A, B, C+E, D+E, F, G & H so have lost nothing as they were all 'Pink Slipped' at the time! as I took all my tests while still in the army.

Currant Groups are:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022547

jim wrote:

Hmmm,,how long are these Army Quals valid for? Am I still entitled to drive a tracked vehicle I wonder.

Depends if it was just an AD Permit or whether you got issued the entitlement on a civvy licence (pink-slipped as Mike puts it).

The first driving test I ever took gained me an AD Permit to drive HGV3. This was re-issued to me when I was posted to Sharjah, but as the entitlement was never transferred to a civvy licence I am no longer qualified to drive HGV3 or whatever the modern equivalent is.

Mike

mjm34 wrote:

The first driving test I ever took gained me an AD Permit to drive HGV3. This was re-issued to me when I was posted to Sharjah, but as the entitlement was never transferred to a civvy licence I am no longer qualified to drive HGV3 or whatever the modern equivalent is.

Mike

It was around 1970ish that Heavy Goods Vehicle Classes were introduced in the UK, and a instruction was issued at the time saying that if you had a permit to drive a 3/4 Ton Truck (i.e. Bedford RL/MK) for a minimum of 6 months you could be issued with a UK entitlement certificate (Pink Slip) at HGV III, likewise Twin Axle Trucks (aka 10 Tonner) HGV II and Artics at HGV 1. From around the same time in BAOR that all Military Driving Tests entitled you to the equivalent UK qualification. I am not sure about other areas such as Shajah etc.

One example was I used to drive a Clark Ranger Cross Country Fork Truck on a Plant Permit without a full driving licence, and rules changed to say you had to have a valid Driving Licence Group B (Manual) as well as a MOD Permit to type. Yet you could still operate Industrial Tractors & Fork Lifts within a Depot on Permit only, which in many BAOR RAOC units was little more than a piece of paper, and not a Driving Permit as such.

I checked my license last night it's just a standard one, but on my old red book it shows the track licence. It obviously didn't get carried over when I got issued the horrible green paper one. Having said that, I wouldn't trust myself with a tracked vehicle now anyway

Mike_2817 wrote:

mjm34 wrote:

The first driving test I ever took gained me an AD Permit to drive HGV3. This was re-issued to me when I was posted to Sharjah, but as the entitlement was never transferred to a civvy licence I am no longer qualified to drive HGV3 or whatever the modern equivalent is.

Mike

It was around 1970ish that Heavy Goods Vehicle Classes were introduced in the UK, and a instruction was issued at the time saying that if you had a permit to drive a 3/4 Ton Truck (i.e. Bedford RL/MK) for a minimum of 6 months you could be issued with a UK entitlement certificate (Pink Slip) at HGV III, likewise Twin Axle Trucks (aka 10 Tonner) HGV II and Artics at HGV 1. From around the same time in BAOR that all Military Driving Tests entitled you to the equivalent UK qualification. I am not sure about other areas such as Shajah etc.

Back in Jan 71 passed HGV2 on a market day in Aldershot being on a RE Driver Spec (Crane) A2 course in the Royal Signals to qualify myself and another Electrician Driver for loading air portable containers on to RCT 10 tonners at 14 Sig Regt Worcester...prior to this had a normal driving licence passing my test in Junior Leaders in a Landrover Nov 66 had no 3/4 Tonner training in Verden just got the hang of it after hitting the garage doors and other 3/4 tonners a few times...never bothered renewing the HGV2 but it came in handy in the 1990s to get C1E added to my UK licence without taking a test just a medical the expired HGV2 gave me 'grandfather rights'