Driver authorisation The categories explained
Ten years after it was re-launched, Bungle brings us up to date on how the categories work now
Driver Authorisation update - part 2 Following a number of queries about the WRG Driver Authorisation scheme recently, we thought it was a good opportunity to go through the categories and clear up misunderstandings. Part 1 of this article (in Navvies 267) covered categories 1a to 4a. Unfortunately we can’t give you 4b and 4c yet so you’ll have to wait until next time to find out about trailers up to 3.5 tonnes (towed by vehicles with up to 9 seats) and trailers up to 3.5 tonnes (towed by vehicles with up to 17 seats) respectively. But first an introductory note on how it works...
The Categories It is important to note that the categories are cumulative, so if you have 1c, you also have 1b and 1a. For fun I have included in brackets at the end the number of people who have each category. The DA scheme is recognised and used for all WRG camps and local groups as well as some canal societies (for example Wilts & Berks Canal Trust). Some local societies run their own equivalent scheme which may or may not accept a WRG card. 5a – Tractors up to 1000Kg. Remember the small tractors we used to borrow for the National? They were category 5a. If you are using them to drag trailers around then you will also need 4a. If using them to power implements you may need other categories, e.g. 17, 19 or 20. [26 operators, of whom 2 are instructors] 5b – Ride-on mowers up to 1000Kg. [8 operators, of whom 1 is an instructor] 5c – Tractors over 1000Kg. Anything from a small grey Ferguson T20 up to ‘gert bigguns’. Don’t forget that you may need other categories with it if using trailers or attachments (e.g. 4, 17, 19 or 20). [38 operators, of whom 10 are instructors] 6 - Loading and securing of plant. More accurately loading and securing of anything to a trailer or truck. Note that this is not needed for packing a van or kit trailer, the nature of their construction and equipment carried means the risks in that situation are much lower. This is more for strapping down dumpers, rollers, excavators etc. onto flat beds and beavertails. [32 operators, of whom 6 are instructors] 7 - Skid Steer. Mostly applies to the Case skid steer loader, in recent years seen at some National Festivals and currently on the Erewash, though we have been known to hire them in. [33 operators, of whom 10 are instructors] 8 - Was dumpers, no longer used or valid. Replaced by categories 24, 25 and 26. 9a – 180 degree excavators for example Thwaites Tusker, Alldig, also sometimes found as an attachment on the back of tractors. [7 operators, of whom 2 are instructors] 9b – JCB3 and equivalents. Got a loading shovel on the front and a digging arm on the back? You’ll be looking at 9b then, no matter whose brand name is on the side (though chances are it will be JCB). [34 operators, of whom 7 are instructors] 10a – 360 degree excavators up to 7 tonnes. [154 operators, of whom 18 are instructors]
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