Can I transfer a CDL to the UK?

[kingsson]

Here's the deal. I may be moving to Britain in the next couple years. I have lived there before, so am familiar with driving on the "other" side of the road, shifting with my left hand, all that. What I need to know is if I will have to train all over again, or if my 7 year of experience in the USA counts for anything? I am sure the CDL does not just transfer like the regular license does, but does anyone know what I would have to do there to drive trucks (lorries)? Not really finding anything on the internet. __________________

[DieselDemon]

Hi KingsSon, this is the link you need.
[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

Good luck and regards, DD.

[kingsson]

Thanks, DD. Possibly moving to Ipswich area. The link tells me how to exchange my regular license, but I am trying to find out how to get the UK equivalent for LGV to drive trucks there. Will the CDL transfer directly like a regular operating license? What kind of training will I need there - except the obvious "everything's the other way round"? Any help I would greatly appreciate.

[DieselDemon]

Hi Kingsson, I think you can only drive on your car licence for one year and then you have to take a test. I will look for more info and post here shortly.

[DieselDemon]

Hi Kingsson, have a look at these.
[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

[kingsson]

Thanks again, DD. What is the life like there? Here I am away for weeks at a time (mostly at my own choosing). When I move there, it will be to marry the love of my life... taken us 40 years to get things timed right. Last thing I will want to do is be gone for days/weeks at a time! Also, the site says I have to drive a straight truck first. I wonder how much my US experience will help me there.

[DieselDemon]

Originally Posted by kingsson

Thanks again, DD. What is the life like there? Here I am away for weeks at a time (mostly at my own choosing). When I move there, it will be to marry the love of my life... taken us 40 years to get things timed right. Last thing I will want to do is be gone for days/weeks at a time! Also, the site says I have to drive a straight truck first. I wonder how much my US experience will help me there.

Hi Kingsson, the personal's Dave btw, life isn't too bad here, most American citizens love it over here and there are a lot of American Air force personell not too far from Ipswich.

As far as being away for weeks at a time, it won't happen unless you take up International work. I finished with European work 12 years ago when my wife got fed up with me being away 4 to 6 weeks at a stretch.

There is a lot of sea-container haulage companies in the Ipswich and Felixstowe areas. The average for those guys is 3 to 5 nights away per week.

You only have to pass the test in a straight or rigid truck and you can go straight on to artics or semis as you know them. There is no requirement to drive a straight truck for a set time before you can move up.

You could find a job similar to mine where you are home every day if it suits you better. I work for a division of WAL*Mart here in U.K.
I deliver chilled & frozen food to our chain of supermarkets known as ASDA. I work permanent night shift starting at 19.00 hours and average 9 to 12 hours per shift 5 nights per week. In fact Ipswich is one of the stores I deliver to. It's a lovely area of the country.

I hope this info has been some use to you, if you have any more questions just fire away and I will do my best to assist.

Regards and best wishes, DD.

[kingsson]

Thanks again, Dave. You can call me Jack. I actually have lived in England, a total of 7-1/2 years. First my Dad was stationed there in the early 70s (which is when I met my love... yeah, childhood sweethearts that never outgrew it...), then I was stationed there in the 80s. So of course at that time I did drive, four years, on your side of the road. Loved it, and my heart has always been there.
This is great info. I know about the container companies in Felixstowe. In fact, my love's ex drives for one, so I will have to be careful NOT to get on the same one! Your deal sounds great, and as we get closer (have some details to finish up on this side of the ocean first) maybe you and I will chat about how to get on with your company. Good to get to know you, and I am sure we will have more questions "As Time Goes By" (we feel sometimes we are part of that show!).

So you are married, and I see you are from Bedford. Also a pretty part of the country. In fact, in all my travels in the UK I have not seen a part of the COUNTRY (excluding cities) that is not beautiful. Have been all over, from York south, into Wales... but not Devon or Cornwall. This will be fixed when I come over there, as one of my prospective stepdaughters lives in Falmouth.
Enough rambling from me. Let's keep in touch. I will undoubtedly go through a period there getting my UK licence (learning to spell things English way), etc. that should be amusing! Then switch it all to an artic... and then, of course, I will see MORE of the UK. Never got up to Scotland, either... maybe someday.

[DieselDemon]

Hi Jack,
just a quickie as I am going to work soon, funny enough we've got twelve drivers starting with us over the next two weeks. Two of which were trained in house as we operate a scheme whereby warehouse colleagues with over six months service can apply for the "driving ambition" course. We have our own driving instructor and driving assessors. Needless to say demand for this is very high. When they pass the C+E they then go with a trained "buddy" driver such as myself for six weeks to help them along. We will certainly meet up when you get over here that'll be fun. Gotta go now, be in touch soon.

Regards, Dave.

P.S. I'll drop you a line on here in the morning when I get home.

[kingsson]

Dave
Well it's good to know there are companies like that there. I will need lots of buddy training, and that much nicer if we already are acquainted with someone. I have thought a lot about getting into and out of places there. I hope most of the deliveries are on industrial estates or not having at least to have to go into town centre. I can't imagine getting into and out of some of the towns there as narrow as the streets are! Even in the car some of them are fun! Backing will be completely, well... backwards! Blind side is the other side... etc. All the while shifting with the other hand. It will be like being a rookie all over again.
We have some time. I have to finish this lease on the truck I have now, and some other things to be free to marry the love of my life. THEN I have to get over there, get things sorted out that end, get legal to work there... etc. But my love wanted me to check things out, and I am glad I met you like this.
I assume that is your rig in the photo? I suppose most are cabovers given the space limitations there. How long are the trailers? The truck on my profile is not the one I drive now. I have pics of this one, but cannot seem to get one to fit into the space limitations on the site. I have never driven a cabover, so there will be a lot of new things!
Cheers.
Jack