Tockwith Training keeps farmers on and off road

Before learning to walk, run or swim many children born on farms have been behind the wheel of a tractor or Land Rover, admittedly with dad holding on but in some cases, and defying the health and safety times we live in today, there are those who can testify to '˜driving' a little earlier than most.
Laurie Moore, a director at Tockwith Training in front of one of the company's vehicles near Hessay.Laurie Moore, a director at Tockwith Training in front of one of the company's vehicles near Hessay.
Laurie Moore, a director at Tockwith Training in front of one of the company's vehicles near Hessay.

It’s a fair bet that by the time a farming son or daughter is around 12 years old, and I’m being over generous here for obvious reasons seeing as the world seems to have embraced such a politically correct stance for all things, he or she will have driven a tractor or Land Rover on the farm and almost certainly a quad bike.

They will certainly have had more off road experience than most of their age at their disposal.

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Farming people still need to pass driving tests though and at this year’s YAMS (Yorkshire Agricultural Machinery Show) one of the county’s leading HGV training experts will be on hand to offer their advice, expertise and fill in the gaps of which some farmers may be either unaware or unsure.

Driving instructor Ian Shaw assisting a driver reversing with a trailer.Driving instructor Ian Shaw assisting a driver reversing with a trailer.
Driving instructor Ian Shaw assisting a driver reversing with a trailer.

If you’re anywhere in the York/Harrogate/Leeds area you will have seen the yellow liveried trucks, buses and trailers of Tockwith Training run by father and son team Michael and Laurie Moore at Hessay.

“Our main business sector is HGV training,” says Laurie. “Bus driving training is our second largest area but car and trailer training is a growing part of the business and that’s our primary reason for attending YAMS.

“Farmers also have trucks for transporting livestock and grain, so that’s another reason but what many will be asking at the show is whether they need a licence for what they are carrying in a trailer behind a car.

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“If you passed your car driving test before 1997 there is no issue.

Driving instructor Ian Shaw assisting a driver reversing with a trailer.Driving instructor Ian Shaw assisting a driver reversing with a trailer.
Driving instructor Ian Shaw assisting a driver reversing with a trailer.

“You can tow any trailer, but if you passed after that year, which means everyone under the age of 37 and anyone over that age who passed from then on can only legally tow a small trailer or caravan of a combined mass of 750 kgs behind the towing vehicle and the combined towing vehicle and trailer weight cannot exceed 3.5 tonnes.

“This means you can probably but not wholly definitely, dependent on the type of vehicle and trailer, tow a single axle caravan or single axle trailer with what might be best described as a normal saloon car.

“Larger 4x4s will pretty much immediately take you over and livestock trailers will almost always take you over although one small sheep inside may be a possibility.

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“Agricultural colleges and those selling livestock trailers know the rules and in our experience so do those who come to us asking the questions. They just want clarification.”

Once the primary questions have been answered Laurie and his team can set about making sure all farmers receive the best training appropriate to their experience.

“We immediately calculate the gross weights of trailer and car to show what is required.

“We then give an idea of what the cost of training will be and this varies according to the driver’s existing ability.

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“We only know what the true cost will be after the prospective customer has come along to our one -hour invitation driving lesson.

“During the hour one of our training team will take them out on public roads with one of our trailers, either a Graham Edwards, Ifor Williams or Richardson and see how they interact with traffic before bringing them back here where we have our own facilities to see them undertake disciplines such as parking and reversing.

“We are also a driving test centre so the benefit is that you can have all your training here, often quite intensive training so that it is handled quickly, and then complete your examination without going anywhere else.”

Laurie and his team are fully aware that time is precious but they are also extremely conscious of delivering success in what can often be a time when nerves play their part.

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“The driving test for car and trailer is based on the HGV test and that means standards are set high.

“At the end of the day you are in many cases doubling your presence on the road and by hauling another item whether caravan or trailer often with livestock inside you are increasing your liability on the road.

“That’s why you can’t go around a few traffic cones and get a pass. You have to drive at a professional, competent level for an hour and a half with a government driving examiner and we all know things are not always easy when you are being watched.

“Our pass rates are high because we know how much it means and our trainers are highly experienced.”

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There may be one or two farmers who are still driving trucks without ever having passed an HGV test. They’ll be around 67-68 years old and over and they won’t be driving illegally as Laurie points out.

“Up until 1969 you could drive HGVs on a normal car driving licence and that means that if you’re one of those you were given what is known as grandfather’s rights to carry on driving.

“HGV training coming in at that time was how our business grew. It was started by my grandfather Reginald at Marston Moor airfield in 1971. He’d been involved in police driver training.

“We moved here to modern facilities in 2001.

“All HGV drivers have to attend a medical and a 35-hour training session held over five days every five years.

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“This gives their CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence). There is no pass or fail.

“It means 600,000 drivers have to complete it and the next deadline by which all must have done so is 2019. We anticipate a spike in numbers coming to us this year as a result and this may well be another of the questions at YAMS.”

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