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HGV licences

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
AaronH83

AaronH83

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I rang DVLA today to see how they were getting on with my licence as I'm eager to get back to work. I lost my job back in April due to another condition and I've been hoping to get back to work. Besides my last job all I really know is trucking so I was happy when the lady on the phone told me that although my licence had been restricted to 3 years I could drive again.

Probably worth pointing out I was only diagnosed on August 22nd. She rang back about 10 minutes later and told me she had misinformed me. My car licence had been reissued for 3 years but my HGV has been suspended pending 3 months worth of glucose readings.

I know this is all old news to a lot of people here but I feel so down. The one way I knew I could earn money has been taken from me and I don't know how much longer I can survive on ESA. I have exhausted my savings. I'm sorry for ranting but I don't have anyone else to talk to.
 
You are allowed to rant ! Really good luck Aaron. My Gp is good with advice as are my specialists.
 
Thanks Hobie. I was in with my GP yesterday and she's impressed with how I'm got my sugars under control. I feel so helpless at the minute
 
I hate people being in charge of me & my life ! Prove them wrong Aaron !
 
Aaron, you will be able to provide 3 months worth of meter readings on November 22nd this year. That is only about 7 weeks away. I would add that if you have not already investigated the matter that you will require a medical questionnaire completing by your doctor. It is a very thorough form and takes some time to complete. The DVLA go over the form with a nit comb and if any aspect appears even slightly wooly they will return the form to you. Ensure that it is filled in fully. Take a photocopy to ensure you have a record of your answers for the next time the form needs completing. This makes the next form much easier to complete. My own GP charged me a couple of hundred quid by the time I had finished. I would add that mine was not a HGV request but a heavy van. In the end I just gave up. If you have difficulty providing 3 months worth of test results your meter will only provide results for the dates that you enter into it. If you tested 6 times today but changed the settings on your meter for each test then 6 tests today could in fact look like 6 days worth of testing. I hope that this makes sense to you. I cannot stress therefore the importance of having your meter time and date set correctly as to have it set incorrectly would give you 3 months worth of test results in about 2 days. This would be completely wrong and I would never contemplate doing it myself or suggesting that you do either.
 
@AaronH83 As Diabeticliberty says, it's not long until you can present 3 months of meter readings and submit to DVLA for consideration of reissuing your HGV driving licence.
However, you must have other skills, even if you haven't previously used them to earn a living.
When I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, my BSc Marine Biology became virtually useless; minibus driving and SCUBA diving for ecotourism, any hope of working in Antarctica, rejoining TA etc all became impossible. However, I have found many other jobs in the 20 years since then eg health researcher, expedition leader, country park ranger, orienteering instructor, Anglo Saxon re-enactment / teaching for school children etc. The only jobs I didn't enjoy were those that were neither interesting nor challenging eg a couple of months working in a travel agency, very soon after diagnosis. I still wish I could have worked as a marine biologist in Antarctica, but it's not been all bad.
So, please also consider other options - there are many.
 
Diabeticliberty said:
Aaron, you will be able to provide 3 months worth of meter readings on November 22nd this year. That is only about 7 weeks away. I would add that if you have not already investigated the matter that you will require a medical questionnaire completing by your doctor. It is a very thorough form and takes some time to complete. The DVLA go over the form with a nit comb and if any aspect appears even slightly wooly they will return the form to you. Ensure that it is filled in fully. Take a photocopy to ensure you have a record of your answers for the next time the form needs completing. This makes the next form much easier to complete. My own GP charged me a couple of hundred quid by the time I had finished. I would add that mine was not a HGV request but a heavy van. In the end I just gave up. If you have difficulty providing 3 months worth of test results your meter will only provide results for the dates that you enter into it. If you tested 6 times today but changed the settings on your meter for each test then 6 tests today could in fact look like 6 days worth of testing. I hope that this makes sense to you. I cannot stress therefore the importance of having your meter time and date set correctly as to have it set incorrectly would give you 3 months worth of test results in about 2 days. This would be completely wrong and I would never contemplate doing it myself or suggesting that you do either.
Click to expand...
Sneaky, but true
 
AaronH83 said:
I rang DVLA today to see how they were getting on with my licence as I'm eager to get back to work. I lost my job back in April due to another condition and I've been hoping to get back to work. Besides my last job all I really know is trucking so I was happy when the lady on the phone told me that although my licence had been restricted to 3 years I could drive again.

Probably worth pointing out I was only diagnosed on August 22nd. She rang back about 10 minutes later and told me she had misinformed me. My car licence had been reissued for 3 years but my HGV has been suspended pending 3 months worth of glucose readings.

I know this is all old news to a lot of people here but I feel so down. The one way I knew I could earn money has been taken from me and I don't know how much longer I can survive on ESA. I have exhausted my savings. I'm sorry for ranting but I don't have anyone else to talk to.
Click to expand...
With your vast knowledge of driving you could complete a short trainers qualification and track the CPC courses. Charities like Shaw Trust would fund this if DWP won't.
 
I'm in exactly same potion mate....just waiting for licence as I've sent 3 nth in to dvla soooo understand how you feel... here's to the new year and us both back on the road!
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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