Driving test needed a for a crawler?

[Doing it for the kids]

I think one is needed for a standard dual tracked tractor (rather than a quad track), what is required please and how easy is the test?

 

[Matt77]

I think you need to be 21 also.......can't think of the test category.....

 

[Stephen E]

Category H is what you need.
Basically the same as a tractor test.

 

[Mc115reed]

Only required if it uses the tracks to steer .. so like a cat challenger

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I think you need to be 21 also.......can't think of the test category.....

Sadly well past that!

Category H is what you need.
Basically the same as a tractor test.

Did my tractor at 16, sounds like it’s same again then!

Only required if it uses the tracks to steer .. so like a cat challenger

Yeah thought so, a quad track is ok then?

 

[Brisel]

A Quadtrac or 8RX are not steered by the tracks, so are the normal tractor category F. Twin track crawlers like Caterpillars or JD RTs are category H, so require a H test to be driven on the roads.

I organised my own with DVLA for 3 of us but getting someone on the phone who actually understood them was a faff. Your local dealer for the crawler usually has fresh sales staff etc to put through the test so give them a call first.

The test isn't difficult. Emergency stop, pulling away from the side of the road, turning left into a junction and turning right. A few basic Highway Code questions and we were done. The examiner came down from Newcastle on Tyne to South Lincolnshire on a Friday so he was keen to get home in good time!

 

[Exfarmer]

Do be aware the theory that Quadtracs are not subject to the requirement for Cat H has never been tested in court. One simple reason being that anyone in possession of a Cat B car driving licence is entitled to drive a Quadtrac with an L plate and no accompanying qualified driver. Thus the penalty for not possessing a licence is actually not displaying L plates a very minor offence.
driving any vehicle of this size requires the driver to be over 21and there are issues regarding weights and widths .
this will one day be tested after a very serious accident when the insurance is testing the requirement to pay out

 

[Brisel]

No L plate required for a Quadtrac if the driver has a full licence as Category F is granted automatically. Subject to being 21 due to the size and weight, as you say.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Looks like we may need to book an inspector for 3 tests on a Friday!

All drivers over 21

 

[Exfarmer]

No L plate required for a Quadtrac if the driver has a full licence as Category F is granted automatically. Subject to being 21 due to the size and weight, as you say.

This assumes that Cat F covers Quadtracs. The legislation regarding tracked vehicles precludes vehicles not steered by their tracks, which was intended to cover Half tracks, which definitely steer conventionally by their front wheels. There is no way on earth that any sane man could argue that applies to a Quad trac. However this is irrelevant as pointed out before , unless the driver has only got Cat F and no provisional. If there was a serious accident a clever barrister in a court could argue that such a driver was not insured and thus his company should not pay out possible several million pounds damages Which could bankrupt many owners. It is only such an accident would resolve such an argument.
while it is unusual to have drivers with no Cat B there are a few and I am aware of quite a large farmer who has never had one

 

[ajd132]

Looks like we may need to book an inspector for 3 tests on a Friday!

All drivers over 21

Good luck, I booked some tests weeks ago and havnt heard a peep

 

[ajd132]

Is it true you can drive them on the road with an L plate? Does this include towing something? I was told you could on an l plate but not if something was being towed.

 

[TripleSix]

These guys offer training and test.

Seems fairly dear

H Licence Training and Test - Just £1300 plus VAT (Northants)

Our H Licence Training and Test is a 2 day course with qualified instructors followed by your test with a DVLA Examiner. Total price is £1300 plus VAT.

tanks-alot.co.uk

 

[Brisel]

Is it true you can drive them on the road with an L plate? Does this include towing something? I was told you could on an l plate but not if something was being towed.

No. Like a 16 year old, towing nothing and only on your way to or from the test.

The NFU have good legal advice on the detail of crawler Road rules.

 

[Exfarmer]

No. Like a 16 year old, towing nothing and only on your way to or from the test.

The NFU have good legal advice on the detail of crawler Road rules.

I think actually you can tow with a tractor or crawler of any description on L plates. You must abide by the weight limits remember the big Quadtrac can easily weigh 28 tonnes before you add weights and mud so with a 31 tonne gross limit you are very restricted. I see now the rules on passengers have been changed and if it has a passenger seat fitted any driver with only provisional licence must have a suitable qualified driver alongside! I believe virtually all large tractors have one today so driving unaccompanied on L plates is not an option

 

[Brisel]

Hmm. The second seat in a tractor is called a training seat because they are only type approved for one person in the cab.

Anyway, Category H exists because they originally had levers, not a steering wheel. The distinction is what steers the vehicle. If it is a steering axle or chassis articulation, not the tracks that steer, it's F.

@Simon Chiles has expertise in road traffic legislation. What say you?

 

[Exfarmer]

Hmm. The second seat in a tractor is called a training seat because they are only type approved for one person in the cab.

Anyway, Category H exists because they originally had levers, not a steering wheel. The distinction is what steers the vehicle. If it is a steering axle or chassis articulation, not the tracks that steer, it's F.

@Simon Chiles has expertise in road traffic legislation. What say you?

if you check the DVLA website it is quite clear if you have a second seat, you must have a qualified passenger in it. This did not use to be the case and I was unaware till now.

 

[cvx175]

This assumes that Cat F covers Quadtracs. The legislation regarding tracked vehicles precludes vehicles not steered by their tracks, which was intended to cover Half tracks, which definitely steer conventionally by their front wheels. There is no way on earth that any sane man could argue that applies to a Quad trac. However this is irrelevant as pointed out before , unless the driver has only got Cat F and no provisional. If there was a serious accident a clever barrister in a court could argue that such a driver was not insured and thus his company should not pay out possible several million pounds damages Which could bankrupt many owners. It is only such an accident would resolve such an argument.
while it is unusual to have drivers with no Cat B there are a few and I am aware of quite a large farmer who has never had one

So if you have a quadtrac and another wheeled version you need different licenses for 2 basically identical machines. Pretty sure a half clever barrister would can argue that they are the same thing.

 

[Exfarmer]

So if you have a quadtrac and another wheeled version you need different licenses for 2 basically identical machines. Pretty sure a half clever barrister would can argue that they are the same thing.

The law is clear any vehicle steered by tracks requires an H
what is not clear and nowhere can you find clarification what that means.
It is quite obvious a half track is steered by its front wheels or in the case of a combine its rear wheels.
but I cannot see Any wheels on a Quadtrac. But your wheeled version has
All the sites government, NFU and others are very vague as to what requires an H, until recently it was clear you could drive on the road unaccompanied with L plates. That has been tweaked to needing an accompanying passenger if you have only a provisional. You also need a Cat B which is recent
so the risk is you may be driving not just with no licence but far more concerning no insurance
remember I am just the messenger and believe strongly the law needs clarification, otherwise one day there will be a field day for a group of barristers in court, which ever of us is correct

 

[Brisel]

The law is clear any vehicle steered by tracks requires an H
what is not clear and nowhere can you find clarification what that means.
It is quite obvious a half track is steered by its front wheels or in the case of a combine its rear wheels.
but I cannot see Any wheels on a Quadtrac. But your wheeled version has
All the sites government, NFU and others are very vague as to what requires an H, until recently it was clear you could drive on the road unaccompanied with L plates. That has been tweaked to needing an accompanying passenger if you have only a provisional. You also need a Cat B which is recent
so the risk is you may be driving not just with no licence but far more concerning no insurance
remember I am just the messenger and believe strongly the law needs clarification, otherwise one day there will be a field day for a group of barristers in court, which ever of us is correct

In the meantime, before such a test case, It's best to have a H licence for a crawler, be over 21 etc. At least you've tried to do all that is reasonably required by the current guidance. https://www.gov.uk/learning-to-drive-a-tractor-or-specialist-vehicle

Whether you cover yourself for a half track (8RX, Quadtrac, Claas Axion etc) with a H licence is up to you!

Self propelled vehicles like telehandlers, sprayers and combines need drivers over 21 and arguably relevant training & qualifications e.g. PA1,2 for a sprayer, telehander certificate but that's another story not relevant to this thread.