HGV licence back

[Linzi]

Hi I am due to go up to court for drink driving charge next month, I totally expect to have to do a medical at the end of the ban. I can’t see anything about the process of how you get your HGV added back on your licence. My charge was for driving my car but my profession is HGV driver. Can anyone share their knowledge or experience do you have to sit your HGV licence again if you pass the DVLA medical or it is it approved in the same way as a car licence if you pass the medical?
Linzi

 

[neebob200]

Hi Linzi ,hope your well and hope you court date goes ok.i was convicted in March 2019for drug driving dg10.am not a hgv driver.and my hgv provisional had expired before my conviction.however I received a letter of the traffic commissioner saying they were giving me an extra 6 weeks ban on top of my dvla ban before I could apply for my hgv provisional licence again.am guessing you will be stripped of your hgv licence or dragged in front of at some point.

 

[Linzi]

Hi Linzi ,hope your well and hope you court date goes ok.i was convicted in March 2019for drug driving dg10.am not a hgv driver.and my hgv provisional had expired before my conviction.however I received a letter of the traffic commissioner saying they were giving me an extra 6 weeks ban on top of my dvla ban before I could apply for my hgv provisional licence again.am guessing you will be stripped of your hgv licence or dragged in front of at some point.

Hi neebob200

thanks for your reply, when you say stripped do you mean it will be withdrawn permanently and I maybe asked to re-sit the test again to get my hgv licence back? Thanks for the info about the traffic commissioner i didn’t know about that.

 

[neebob200]

Hi neebob200

thanks for your reply, when you say stripped do you mean it will be withdrawn permanently and I maybe asked to re-sit the test again to get my hgv licence back? Thanks for the info about the traffic commissioner i didn’t know about that.

Hi Linz there is hgv guild lines set out by the traffic commissioner.you will find them online all about convictions etc.am looking to become a hgv driver but don't want to waste 3 or4 thousands pound if I Carnot get a job with my dg10 I was convicted In March 2019 stay on my licence for 4 years stays on my driving record for 11 years any information or help you can give me.

 

[C J 1980]

Linzi

My impression is that it is very hard to secure employment in the HGV industry with a DR10 on your licence.

My brother has a Class 1 licence and works for a large transport company. They are screaming out for new drivers because of the ongoing issues across the country. Unfortunately, he said they will not touch anyone with a barge pole who has a DR10 or an 'unspent' drink driving conviction.

In the UK, convicted drink drivers don't have to resit their test, unless it has been specified by the Magistrate or Judge. This is usually when there are massive aggravating factors. DD's in Ireland do have to resit their test after their ban. I honestly don't know about HGV driving - whether you are stripped of this and have to resit the 'Class 1/2/3' again. I have never held a 'class' licence.

If you are planning on funding yourself through the Class 1/2/3 after the ban (if you lose your HGV entitlement), I would strongly advise you against this. You could fork out a few thousand pounds to get through the assessment, but then find you cannot use it because no haulage firm will employ you!!!!

Alot of companies are funding non HGV drivers to do their Class 1/2/3, but as I say I very much doubt they will take someone off the street with a DR10 on their licence.

I'm sorry to be do blunt - there may be potential employers out there willing to take on professional drivers with a DUI, but from the feelers I have heard, it is very difficult to secure HGV work while the conviction is unspent.

You might be in with a chance once the conviction is 'spent' (which is after five years), but don't forget the DR10 stays on your licence for 11 years.

CJ

 

[RSC]

Hi CJ 1980

Would you clarify - spent after five years? Yes for insurance and declaration reasons but for a professional driving job? Read Waitrose about to offer their drivers 60K. PS Not applying, rather have too much time to read the news.

 

[C J 1980]

Hi CJ 1980

Would you clarify - spent after five years? Yes for insurance and declaration reasons but for a professional driving job? Read Waitrose about to offer their drivers 60K. PS Not applying, rather have too much time to read the news.

RSC

The drink driving conviction is classed as 'spent' after the fifth anniversary of the conviction - therefore it isn't disclosable for a lot of prospective employment.

Going back to the driving roles - yes the conviction is still 'spent' after five years, but you will still have the DR10 on the licence for a further six years (11 in total) and your licence will need disclosing to the prospective employer.

I suppose each employer is different with regard to the DR10. My brother has worked as professional driver all of his working life and he has stated some transport companies will not employ drivers with a DR10. My brother used to work for Stagecoach as a bus driver and he said they will only recruit drivers with a clean licence. I believe part of the problem is business insurance cover and corporate liability for the company.

He did mention there is a similar policy in place with his present employer who are a haulage company specialising in conveying fresh produce to a chain of supermarkets. I would think at the end of the day, it all falls down to the discretion of the company transport manager or director whether they employ a new driver with a DR10 (but their conviction is spent!).

I am not trying to start an argument here - I'm just highlighting some information I have been told about seeking employment as a driver with a DR10.

CJ

 

[FS106]

I've stated this previous there are firms that will employ you I know a hand full of drivers that have the DR10 and are driving for a living, yes its two/three times harder to get a job but it's most certainly not impossible.

You won't need to resit the test the additional 6/8 weeks additional ban length from the TC is there form of punishment for a first time offence. It will also sit with them for any other form of HGV offence as an aggravating factor, drivers hours/overloading it's all explained in the letter you get from the TC near the end of the ban I've got it on my desk somewhere.

 

[RSC]

RSC

The drink driving conviction is classed as 'spent' after the fifth anniversary of the conviction - therefore it isn't disclosable for a lot of prospective employment.

Going back to the driving roles - yes the conviction is still 'spent' after five years, but you will still have the DR10 on the licence for a further six years (11 in total) and your licence will need disclosing to the prospective employer.

I suppose each employer is different with regard to the DR10. My brother has worked as professional driver all of his working life and he has stated some transport companies will not employ drivers with a DR10. My brother used to work for Stagecoach as a bus driver and he said they will only recruit drivers with a clean licence. I believe part of the problem is business insurance cover and corporate liability for the company.

He did mention there is a similar policy in place with his present employer who are a haulage company specialising in conveying fresh produce to a chain of supermarkets. I would think at the end of the day, it all falls down to the discretion of the company transport manager or director whether they employ a new driver with a DR10 (but their conviction is spent!).

I am not trying to start an argument here - I'm just highlighting some information I have been told about seeking employment as a driver with a DR10.

CJ

Thanks. Was just wanting clarification.
(Ahem, I volunteer and have spent quite a few hours with somebody who is senior in logistics and cannot find drivers.)

 

[C J 1980]

Thanks. Was just wanting clarification.
(Ahem, I volunteer and have spent quite a few hours with somebody who is senior in logistics and cannot find drivers.)

RSC

I'd certainly ask your logistic friend about where you stand seeking employment as a driver. I don't pretend to be the fountain of all knowledge (because I'm not!!!!).

I found myself out of work after my own conviction and have done some digging around with jobs that might be problematic.

Professional driving isn't necessarily out the equation with a DR10 or unspent conviction, but it would be fair to say the odds are stacked a little more against us.

Who knows - given the National shortage of HGV drivers, some organisations might make allowances for recruiting drivers with a DR10.

CJ

 

[Linzi]

RSC

I'd certainly ask your logistic friend about where you stand seeking employment as a driver. I don't pretend to be the fountain of all knowledge (because I'm not!!!!).

I found myself out of work after my own conviction and have done some digging around with jobs that might be problematic.

Professional driving isn't necessarily out the equation with a DR10 or unspent conviction, but it would be fair to say the odds are stacked a little more against us.

Who knows - given the National shortage of HGV drivers, some organisations might make allowances for recruiting drivers with a DR10.

CJ

 

[Linzi]

Hi all

Thanks for the replies, I am definitely not optimistic about getting another HGV job even if there is a chance, I feel like I have more chance winning the lottery! or maybe not, probably less chance winning that.

I have now been to court my case had no additional mitigating factors I blew 87.5ug into the breathalyser.

I have been given a 20 month ban, reduced to 16 months because I pleaded guilty, also they were trying to delay my case until next year but I asked my solicitor to make a request to bring it forward, so for that reason too, the ban was reduced to 16 months. I have been offered the rehab driving course so it will come down to 12 months ban.

I was also given a £800 fine reduced to £600 for the same reasons as a above. so 16 months ban, £600 fine.

Got to be positive, this situation has motivated me to take a new career path, I have decided to retrain within H&S.

Linzi

 

[price1367]

You did not blow 87.5, because the breath test machine only shows whole numbers….
Was it 87 or 88? This is important because 87 is not a High Risk Offender, but 88 IS, and that means you need a medial before you get your licence back.

 

[Linzi]

Just writing what the solicitor said, he also confirmed that I was not classified as a HRO, must be a typo in his email.

I was definitely not a HRO. Must be 87. I’m in Scotland our legal driving levels are not the same as other parts of UK.

 

[price1367]

The HRO scheme is identical in Scotland, but the Sheriff is not bound by the same sentencing brackets that English magistrates are. In England you would have got a 17-22 month ban.

 

[C J 1980]

Linzi

If you are not a HRO you have had a very good result from court, all things considering!

Providing you do the drink driving course, you will only have to serve 12 months off the road.

Hopefully, by this time next year the DVLA situation should have improved and you should get your licence back quite swiftly.

The fact you don't have to do a DVLA medical will definately work in your favour for time scale, if there are still issues at Swansea HQ in a year's time.

As for HGV driving - just forget about that for now! If you have to serve a ban, then have a DR10 on your licence for another decade - HGV driving will have to be put on the back burner for a long time to come!

There may be opportunities in the future to return to some sort of driving role once you are back on the road, but in the meantime I would look at other career options where you don't need a licence.

Good luck.

CJ