Becoming a HGV driver?
Discussion
We all had to start somewhere, nobody was born to be ace at maneuvering, its practicing as much as possible and not avoiding having to do so which makes it all come together, some of the biggest mouths i've come across have been the most useless.
We all do it differently too, there isn't a right and wrong way, find what suits you best, starting off with clean windows mirrors and lights makes all the difference.
We all do it differently too, there isn't a right and wrong way, find what suits you best, starting off with clean windows mirrors and lights makes all the difference.
Thats definitely true, we've got a driver who will happily tell everyone how to do things, but when it comes to him he avoids stuff like the plague!
Everyone blindside reverses into the yard in artics, but not him, yet he knows everything.
The funniest thing was him moaning to me one day saying he's now being sent to places that they never used to send artics, all because he kept telling the office you couldn't get in there. He was moaning at me because I told the office that all of the places were doable and I did them, so now he has to go there too and can't do it
Everyone blindside reverses into the yard in artics, but not him, yet he knows everything.
The funniest thing was him moaning to me one day saying he's now being sent to places that they never used to send artics, all because he kept telling the office you couldn't get in there. He was moaning at me because I told the office that all of the places were doable and I did them, so now he has to go there too and can't do it
^^^ ah the blindside, something which understandbly terrifies, but again its only practice which makes these not so frightening, best practiced where nothing can be damaged.
I still try to perform at least one every day even if not needed, use it or lose it as it were, its like when you come back to work after a couple of weeks off the truck feels huge for a while.
We had an impossible reverse at one place back in the dim and distant past, i went there first night of my shift and it simply wasn't possible due to a signpost being directly opposite, told them why, went back next night signpost gone they'd only bloody cut it down during the early hours, i got the truck in with barely 2 inches either side, which meant the others had to do it too, one of them never forgave me, sorry Mick...not
I still try to perform at least one every day even if not needed, use it or lose it as it were, its like when you come back to work after a couple of weeks off the truck feels huge for a while.
We had an impossible reverse at one place back in the dim and distant past, i went there first night of my shift and it simply wasn't possible due to a signpost being directly opposite, told them why, went back next night signpost gone they'd only bloody cut it down during the early hours, i got the truck in with barely 2 inches either side, which meant the others had to do it too, one of them never forgave me, sorry Mick...not
One of our collections is a 90 degree blindside into a narrow yard with an extended length double decker with passive rear steering axle. One of the drivers who hasn’t passed very long admitted that he wound himself up so much about doing it that he would be sat in tears. It’s really not worth getting wound up about to that degree! Get out and check and just take your time. He was worried about people waiting and moaning, they can wait, just ignore them!
Stussy said:
One of our collections is a 90 degree blindside into a narrow yard with an extended length double decker with passive rear steering axle. One of the drivers who hasn’t passed very long admitted that he wound himself up so much about doing it that he would be sat in tears. It’s really not worth getting wound up about to that degree! Get out and check and just take your time. He was worried about people waiting and moaning, they can wait, just ignore them!
It all goes with time. I used to crap myself when going to central London or some place that I knew was a tricky reverse. Now I just enjoy the challenges. In fact I couldn't go to the same place everyday it would drive me nuts.Day 1 of practical cat c training today for me, should of been Mon-Fri but doing Tue-Fri now. Did a walk around and start up, followed by two practice reverses and then the reversing test which I passed then spent a few hours out on the roads, clipped the curb 2/3 times but think I've got over that now.
Truck is a 67 plated Iveco, 20 mins into the drive... engine warning light, so we swung into a HGV mechanics place who they use, couldn't get the laptop to communicate with the truck through OBD. The light then went off when we went over a speed bump haha.
Over heard the trainer say that my test is Thursday not Friday so fingers crossed.
Truck is a 67 plated Iveco, 20 mins into the drive... engine warning light, so we swung into a HGV mechanics place who they use, couldn't get the laptop to communicate with the truck through OBD. The light then went off when we went over a speed bump haha.
Over heard the trainer say that my test is Thursday not Friday so fingers crossed.
the-norseman said:
Day 1 of practical cat c training today for me, should of been Mon-Fri but doing Tue-Fri now. Did a walk around and start up, followed by two practice reverses and then the reversing test which I passed then spent a few hours out on the roads, clipped the curb 2/3 times but think I've got over that now.
Truck is a 67 plated Iveco, 20 mins into the drive... engine warning light, so we swung into a HGV mechanics place who they use, couldn't get the laptop to communicate with the truck through OBD. The light then went off when we went over a speed bump haha.
Over heard the trainer say that my test is Thursday not Friday so fingers crossed.
That's normal for an Iveco, also DAF. Wait til you get your artic ticket then you'll have all that, along with various ABS and EBS faults, and if you have the luxury of driving a MAN, you can add "trailer left indicator fault", "trailer right indicator fault" to your growing collection too, whenever you turn the steering wheel in either direction. Truck is a 67 plated Iveco, 20 mins into the drive... engine warning light, so we swung into a HGV mechanics place who they use, couldn't get the laptop to communicate with the truck through OBD. The light then went off when we went over a speed bump haha.
Over heard the trainer say that my test is Thursday not Friday so fingers crossed.
.Before taking any DAF out you will be sure that the radio works, because you will need it to drown out the endless chorus of warning gongs "da-da-da-dum, da-da-da-dum, da-da-da-dum" for absolutely everything under the sun and there's no way of disabling them.
the-norseman said:
Messaged my mate last night who is a driver for Culina previously Stobart and Irlam, told him the wagon broke down and he replied "daf or iveco"
Yup. Actually in Iveco's defence, the dashboard lights up like a Crimbo tree with every symbol there is, but it's just s
t wiring in them and in most cases there's nothing actually wrong and the truck still goes fine so you can safely ignore. DAFs on the other hand have the crappiest Chinese sensors ever made and they only last 2 minutes before breaking and needing new ones at huge expense. They'll quickly dump you in limp mode with barely enough power to pull the skin off a rice pudding and require a call out to clear the code so you can attempt to get home.Smint said:
We all had to start somewhere, nobody was born to be ace at maneuvering, its practicing as much as possible and not avoiding having to do so which makes it all come together, some of the biggest mouths i've come across have been the most useless.
We all do it differently too, there isn't a right and wrong way, find what suits you best, starting off with clean windows mirrors and lights makes all the difference.
Agree there is no right and wrong way, fortunately I never found reversing a problem, and following passing my HGVIII in 72 which gave me access to a car, I have always reversed my cars, one delivery job to the Isle of Wight was to drive down a one way street, stop, get out and tell the vehicle behind to wait, drive forward jut past an ally and reverse about 200 yards to the back of the butchers for my delivery, just take your time, and and they say practice makes perfect.We all do it differently too, there isn't a right and wrong way, find what suits you best, starting off with clean windows mirrors and lights makes all the difference.
On the right and wrong, a pal of mine who was my No.2 when I drove a truck in the RN, used to make 3 point turns odd, well to me it was odd, I would put right lock on, drive until you got close to the kerb on the other side, then as I reversed would take the lock off and put left lock on.
He used to put right lock on, drive until he got close to the kerb on the other side, and just before he got there he would change to left hand lock, it worked but I have never seen anyone else do it.
Smint mentions windows mirrows and lights, excellent advice, I have been driving over 50 years now, and apart from making things are squeeky clean on a daily basis, if I make my annual jaunt from north of the border to London, at each and every stop for fuel/cuppa I clean my windows, mirrors and lights, pity so many dont bother.
the-norseman said:
Ah good! I watched the Ashley Neal video and he said basically if you mess up your reverse then thats test over straight away I've got 15 years of car + motorbike experience behind me now so more confident than I was when I took my car/bike test but still a nervous person when tests come around.
I have to wonder how so many car drivers ever pass their tests to be honest.Well went or my HGV medical yesterday via D4Drivers £50, what a con. Walked in,
Can you read that number plate. Yes
Take any medication. No
Passed.
No blood pressure, no listening to my heart or lungs nothing.
The guy who went in before me must have been 300lb and could barely ge out the waiting room seat.
Same again in there for 5 mins max.
Now just got to contact a few local training provider to see who I’m going to use.
Can you read that number plate. Yes
Take any medication. No
Passed.
No blood pressure, no listening to my heart or lungs nothing.
The guy who went in before me must have been 300lb and could barely ge out the waiting room seat.
Same again in there for 5 mins max.
Now just got to contact a few local training provider to see who I’m going to use.
MB140 said:
Well went or my HGV medical yesterday via D4Drivers £50, what a con. Walked in,
Can you read that number plate. Yes
Take any medication. No
Passed.
No blood pressure, no listening to my heart or lungs nothing.
The guy who went in before me must have been 300lb and could barely ge out the waiting room seat.
Same again in there for 5 mins max.
Now just got to contact a few local training provider to see who I’m going to use.
And to think some people pay £150+ with their own GP. The doctors who work for D4D do those forms day in/day out so they are rapid, although they should have checked your BP. Can you read that number plate. Yes
Take any medication. No
Passed.
No blood pressure, no listening to my heart or lungs nothing.
The guy who went in before me must have been 300lb and could barely ge out the waiting room seat.
Same again in there for 5 mins max.
Now just got to contact a few local training provider to see who I’m going to use.
I paid about £50 a few years ago and it was quite thorough.
Day 2 today of practical, still getting close to curbs, he took me to a notorious set of lights where everybody clips it and i clipped it, second time round I didn't. He also took me to a road just outside of Luton Hospital that is double parked on both sides, absolute nightmare.
Day 2 today of practical, still getting close to curbs, he took me to a notorious set of lights where everybody clips it and i clipped it, second time round I didn't. He also took me to a road just outside of Luton Hospital that is double parked on both sides, absolute nightmare.
Vipers said:
He used to put right lock on, drive until he got close to the kerb on the other side, and just before he got there he would change to left hand lock, it worked but I have never seen anyone else do it.
That’s the easy way, a last second flick the other way while going forwards can make the reverse a lot easier. Most people struggle to reverse because they don’t do a good set up while going forwards. You can have a lot of the work before before you move an inch backwards if you do it right
MB140 said:
Well went or my HGV medical yesterday via D4Drivers £50, what a con. Walked in,
Can you read that number plate. Yes
Take any medication. No
Passed.
No blood pressure, no listening to my heart or lungs nothing.
The guy who went in before me must have been 300lb and could barely ge out the waiting room seat.
Same again in there for 5 mins max.
Now just got to contact a few local training provider to see who I’m going to use.
TBH I am somewhat shocked, quick google found this re HGV medical :-Can you read that number plate. Yes
Take any medication. No
Passed.
No blood pressure, no listening to my heart or lungs nothing.
The guy who went in before me must have been 300lb and could barely ge out the waiting room seat.
Same again in there for 5 mins max.
Now just got to contact a few local training provider to see who I’m going to use.
The medical test is in two parts. The first of these is an interview between the doctor and the driver who is the subject of the test. In this interview, the doctor asks the subject of the test about any pre-existing medical conditions (including mental health issues) they have which might have some bearing on their ability to drive.
Drivers are obliged to be open and honest about their health under interview. Drivers with conditions which they are aware of and fail to declare when interviewed, and which later come to light following an accident or other violation, could face serious sanctions.
The second part of the test involves the actual medical examination. The doctor conducting it will examine a range of aspects relating to the subject’s physical health including blood pressure, heart, vision and testing for diabetes.
Not that you will, but he should be reported to someone, with that attitude, god who knows is driving around our roads with pre-existing medical conditions, remember the fatality with a bin lorry in Glasgow when the driver collapsed, cant remember the exact details, but he had kept quiet about something to do with his medical well being.
On the plus side good to hear you passed.
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