Western Greyhound, a bus company providing service in Plymouth, and Cornwall and Devon in general, has been put up for sale. The financially troubled company has undergone a number of setbacks this year despite having provided years of reliable service to local residents. Among those problems is an ongoing shortage of qualified PCV drivers. Unfortunately, the bus driver shortage is persistent all across the UK. If you have been thinking of a earning a bus driving licence, we urge you not to let PCV training costs deter you from your career.
In order to drive a bus professionally, one must possess a valid PCV licence. In order to get that licence, an individual must pass a health exam, pass a 100-question theory test, and take and pass practical skills training and testing. As daunting as it may sound, it is actually easier and less time-consuming than you might think. It is also very affordable when compared to going to university and earning a degree.
Training classes vary depending on what you are trying to accomplish, so the only way to know for sure how much getting your licence would cost is to contact a training company such as the HGV Training Centre. Having said that, there are a number of different ways to pay for training:
- Savings – You may have already set aside some money in savings in anticipation of your eventual retirement. Why not use that money to cover the costs of PCV training so that you can begin earning good wages as a professional driver? You can always replace the money later.
- Loans – There are all sorts of loans you could use to pay for your training, including personal and secured loans. Moreover, with interest rates as low as they are, borrowing money is very cost effective these days.
- Train Now, Pay Later – We are proud to say that the HGV Training Centre is the only training company offering the Train Now, Pay Later financing service. Taking advantage of this scheme allows you to begin your training right away while paying in monthly instalments. You can get an answer in just 5 minutes when you apply through us.
- Company Financing – Although the exception to the rule, there are some bus companies willing to hire and train drivers themselves. They are willing to invest that money because they need drivers so desperately. The only downside is that you are locked into working for that company if you accept their training.
You might also be able to ask relatives to contribute to a fund that would pay for training. That fund may be structured as a gift or as a group loan that you will pay back over time. It never hurts to ask.
Again, do not let PCV training costs deter you from pursuing your new career as a professional bus driver. If you want to work, a way can be found to pay for it. Let us see if we can help.
