Does anyone know if you can shunt artics around a company yard if you don't have a hgv license.?

Question

Does anyone know if you can shunt artics around a company yard if you don't have a hgv license.?

Answer 1

no, you wont need hgv licence provided you are deemed as competent by an assessor and you have permission, unless the public have access or right of way, in which case you will need one.

Answer 2

yes on private property

Answer 3

George d has it dead right! I retired from HGV driving a few years ago,just never renewed my licence but still shunt our own artics round in our own yard(just to keep my hand in really)I`m still on the insurance.It`s a smallish yard and space is always tight,if you can reverse trailers in our yard you can reverse anything anywhere!Befor I took my HGV test I was driving an Atkinson Borderer with a Gardener 180 engine around a haulage yard shunting trailers,no such thing as power steering or syncro-mesh gear box.That was incredibly good practise,believe me! Not bad really for a 5`5",blonde bimbo.

Get all the practise you can,good luck.

Answer 4

I wish other posters took the time to read the questions properly before trying to answer. I would originally have said no to your question on a number of points, the main one being Insurance, but after thinking about it, it is a good idea.   If you hold a "Full UK Driving Licence", and are being trained up "In - house"- with a laid down training program to eventually take your Class 1 ( C+E) licence, most firms will be covered. This is a fantastic training for driving artics, as the hardest bit is getting the reversing & maneuvring correct, and where better than in the confines of a transport yard, where any number of drivers can give you a load of stick if you get it wrong - and they will  lol !! - we all had to learn, the same as you. Good luck, and if you eventually go on to pass your C+E, the world is your " Lobster " as Del-Boy Trotter says.

Answer 5

Yes,   just stay off the public roads.    The owner/manager of the property will need to give permission.

Many drivers gain experience on private property before getting out onto public roads.   A great idea and way to become familiar with the equipment beforehand.

Answer 6

My guess is that as it's private land, if your company are happy for you to drive on their property you aren't breaking any laws. The only problem is that almost certainly you would not be insured, therefore if you damage the vehicle, or anything on the property, or injure somebody, the insurers would not pay up.

Answer 7

yes you can you will need a car licence though.

hope you can reverse good luck

Answer 8

On private land, with the owner's permission, it is possible to do most things.

However, there are legal obstacles.

Because empoyers have a duty to protect their workforce under the "health & safety provisions," the company insurance could be invalidated if there is an accident, and technically, to allow anyone to drive a round who is not properly qualified, is to commit an offence.

There's a further problem, in that any accident which is not covered by insurance, can make the person responsible for the accident liable, even on private land.

So it's not really a matter of driving-law, so much as it is a question of company law and health & safety law, which is why even fork-lift drivers need to pass an exam to prove their competence.

Of course, if people are warned to stay out of the way, and that an unqualified driver is moving a large vehicle, then that could change the situation if they do not heed the warning and end up getting squashed.

I once watched a twelve year old boy park a trailer in a haulier's yard using a big Volvo Unit, and he did it very well.

We all stayed well out of harm's way!

It's just a common-sense thing really, and like all rules, it's nice to know that you can safely get away with breaking them from time to time.

Answer 9

Just dont get on the public road and you will be fine.

Answer 10

On private land it's not a problem - providing the owner of the land does not object.

Answer 11

funny enough that is what i do for a living, dunno if you've heard of leggetts transport in suffolk? and yeah i had to do an in house shunters course and i now drive it every day and i have no hgv so there is ya answer from someone who does it

Answer 12

As it's private land it's legal. However you need the owner's (land and vehicle) permission and he won't give this unless he is sure you are competent in case there is an accident. The easiest way he can be confident is if you show him your HGV licence. If he gets this wrong he is liable as employer if there is an accident

Answer 13

as all answers,you can as it is on private land,i used to do it

Answer 14

with your employers permission yes

it's private property