After long and difficult discussions the management have decided that, in direct contrast to our competitors, we will NOT be taking part in the predicted forthcoming recession.

This means we will not be cutting costs; we will not be cutting jobs; we will not be complaining about the cost of fuel; we will not be offering silly discounts in order to bribe new customers;

We will, however, continue to offer top quality training from experienced and enthusiastic instructors who enjoy their work (this is work??); we will continue to use up to date, reliable and easy to use vehicles and equipment; we will continue to offer superb value for money; we will continue to be as flexible as possible and offer training to meet your needs, not ours.

Above all, we will continue to remember that you have a choice of who provides your training needs (although, in our humble opinion - realistically, not much of one!!)

With off road training facilities close to the Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich test centres, we are able to provide training in preparation for the B+E test for most of East Anglia, covering Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

We can also provide help and assistance for those not needing to take the test but need help with any aspect of towing or just wanting an introductory course to get started. All our staff are extremely dedicated and enthusiastic with a number of years experience in the driver training industry.

Caravan introduction courses, on an individual basis, available (caravaning is a practicle passtime and we believe the only way to learn is to get your hands dirty! We don't think you can do this in a group.

We can also offer theory and practical training for C, CE, C1 catagories. Classroom facilities are available for theory and hazard perception training with PCs available for clients' use - CDs provided at end of course for home practice.

We have a dedicated instructor who offers training for learner car drivers in manual or automatic cars, plus vehicles with various adaptations to assist those with disabilities We are always happy to discuss your requirements - we don't run set courses - we are all individual and have different requirements.

Call us and see how we can help you - even if you just need a bit of advice - that comes free!! (even in a recession!)

For example, most horse trailers have a MAM of between 2 tonne and 2.5 tonne; most caravans are between 1.2 and 1.5 tonne.

3. If you passed your car test on or after 1 January 1997 and either of the above weight combinations applies, you will need to take the test. This will give you B+E entitlement (see our license definitions table further down.)

4. If the combined MAM is less than 3500Kgs, and the MAM of the trailer is less than the unladen weight of the vehicle, you will not need to take the test.

5. If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you will have category B+E entitlement on your license already and will not need to take the test.

There, easy, isn't it!

What does the test consist of? The test is conducted by the LGV examiners at the lorry test centres, taking about an hour to an hour and a half. The first part is off road, comprising of a reversing manouevre; a controlled emergency stop and disconnect/connect the trailer. The on road part is a full driving test and you will be expected to drive to a very high standard. Particular emphasis is placed on use of mirrors, forward planning, general observations, road positioning and consideration for other road users.

What training can you provide and much will I need?

We tailor our training to suit you, so we don't run pre-set courses. The amount you will need will depend on your previous experience and how quickly you learn. As a rough guide, I have found that people who have some experience of towing and reversing need 2-3 days; those with no experience at all need 4-5 days.

In order to find out and give you an honest assessment, we do a half day session of about 3 hours. During this time we take you through the off-road manouevres in some detail and then spend as much time as we can on the road, taking you through a variety of different road conditions. At the end of this session, we can explain the areas that need attention. After that, it is up to you. If you have your own vehicle and trailer (and someone to accompany you) you could practice on your own then come back for further assessment when you think you are ready. Or, you take the full on training with us - this can be in half day, or whole day, sessions spread over a period of time to help you budget for it, or as a block with the test at the end. Waiting times for tests vary but are usually around 3-4 weeks.

How much does it cost? (this is probably the most important one!)

Using your vehicle and trailer - whole day: £180

Using our vehicle and trailer - whole day: £220

If you have friends that also want (or need) to do the test, we can run session with more than one person which will help you save some money.

Do we have to have our own vehicle and trailer or can you provide one?

We can do this either way. If you have your own then it makes sense to do the training in that, as this is what you are going to be driving in the future. However, if you don’t have one, or don’t want to use your own, we can provide either car or trailer, or both. We believe our responsibility is to provide you with the necessary skills to enable you to tow safely. Therefore, we use vehicles that are similar to those you are going to use after the training, not something just adequate to get you through the test. We currently use a Toyota HiAce van (with side windows and rear seats) with a large caravan shape trailer, and a Toyota HiLux double cab pickup with an Ifor Williams general purpose trailer. In fact, the very vehicles you see on this page.. We believe this is the only safe and responsible way to provide towing training – other companies may have a different philosophy!

If you passed your car test after 1 January 1997, you are restricted to category B (car up to 3500kgs) only. If you want to drive vehicles in C1 (small lorries between 3.5 tonne and 7.5 tonne) or D1 (minibuses with between 9 and 16 passenger seats), you will have to take the additional test. You will also have to take the relevant theory (including hazard perception test) and have a medical.

(The source of this information is the Summer edition of DESPATCH - a magazine sent to all driving instructors and trainers and produced by Paul Burton, the Assistant Chief Driving Examiner. Any official queries should be addressed to: techicalstandards@dsa.gov.uk or TXB, Stanley House, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GU)

There is a whole mass of license categories but here is a brief description to help: