Becoming a HGV driver?
Discussion
the-norseman said:
Got my theory, HP and CPC booked in November, I've been given an app to practice on, both theory and HP I have passed every time, I've got a separate login to study CPC. I've been studying but failed every CPC test on this app, the questions seem stupid compared to the stuff I have been studying.
I would also recommend recalibrating your hazard perception technique. Dumb yourself down almost.The actual DVSA test videos are all CGI, not like the videos on most apps/websites where it's a GoPro stuck on the roof of a car driving round and then the scores are programmed by the video editors. The DVSA videos are very clear cut as to when the hazard presents itself and the scoring zones. Don't think like an experienced driver - think like a 17 year old who has no driving experience and doesn't spot a hazard until it's literally there, rather than an experienced driver anticipating the hazard and clicking too early, thereby scoring 0 points. Click when you think you've seen the hazard, and one second later just to be sure
My favourite has been bulk cement tankers for years. The own contract ones, cemex, tarmac, breedons are all £47k ish for a 50hr week on days. There's loads of overtime/ lieu if you want it and there's no pressure, you just plod around and visit the same people who eventually become your mates. There's cement plants that do their own collections that are good to get on, but dead man's shoes stuff.
Today I kicked off at 5 in Essex, went to sheerness then up to Aylesbury and back down to Essex. Was in my car by 2, and drivers drag that out for 12 hours and call it a hard day.
The most boring thing that I've done is containers and the worst is supermarkets, although that was mainly Christmas stuff. Most fun is low loaders but it's impossible not to get covered in crap.
Today I kicked off at 5 in Essex, went to sheerness then up to Aylesbury and back down to Essex. Was in my car by 2, and drivers drag that out for 12 hours and call it a hard day.
The most boring thing that I've done is containers and the worst is supermarkets, although that was mainly Christmas stuff. Most fun is low loaders but it's impossible not to get covered in crap.
I had my first Class 2 lesson today. We started off with the reverse manoeuvre and test all within the first hour. Easy enough and figured I was all set. Then we went out on the road and it was a steep learning curve. I’m trying to drive it like I drive my van and keep arriving at turns, junctions etc carrying too much speed. Although I’ve been driving cars and vans for 20 years the lorry seems quite alien to me. Hopefully it’ll click tomorrow and I can start getting on with it properly.
s p a c e m a n said:
My favourite has been bulk cement tankers for years. The own contract ones, cemex, tarmac, breedons are all £47k ish for a 50hr week on days. There's loads of overtime/ lieu if you want it and there's no pressure, you just plod around and visit the same people who eventually become your mates. There's cement plants that do their own collections that are good to get on, but dead man's shoes stuff.
Today I kicked off at 5 in Essex, went to sheerness then up to Aylesbury and back down to Essex. Was in my car by 2, and drivers drag that out for 12 hours and call it a hard day.
The most boring thing that I've done is containers and the worst is supermarkets, although that was mainly Christmas stuff. Most fun is low loaders but it's impossible not to get covered in crap.
Every job is a trade off as you say. Best one I had was working for a flour mill, own account with a good variety and lots of long distance uk stuff but all within the same group. Overnight parking on own sites and no one really hassling you. Trailers were all low height so interesting routes always an option.Today I kicked off at 5 in Essex, went to sheerness then up to Aylesbury and back down to Essex. Was in my car by 2, and drivers drag that out for 12 hours and call it a hard day.
The most boring thing that I've done is containers and the worst is supermarkets, although that was mainly Christmas stuff. Most fun is low loaders but it's impossible not to get covered in crap.
Was nearly 30 years ago though.
Sammo123 said:
I had my first Class 2 lesson today. We started off with the reverse manoeuvre and test all within the first hour. Easy enough and figured I was all set. Then we went out on the road and it was a steep learning curve. I’m trying to drive it like I drive my van and keep arriving at turns, junctions etc carrying too much speed. Although I’ve been driving cars and vans for 20 years the lorry seems quite alien to me. Hopefully it’ll click tomorrow and I can start getting on with it properly.
That's very common, try to get your speed down enough to negotiate the junction by the time you're a couple of lorry lengths back from the give way. Then if it's clear you're at the right speed to go, if it's not you can slow down, keep some momentum and roll into a gap. It'll come.
Koyaanisqatsi said:
I would also recommend recalibrating your hazard perception technique. Dumb yourself down almost.
The actual DVSA test videos are all CGI, not like the videos on most apps/websites where it's a GoPro stuck on the roof of a car driving round and then the scores are programmed by the video editors. The DVSA videos are very clear cut as to when the hazard presents itself and the scoring zones. Don't think like an experienced driver - think like a 17 year old who has no driving experience and doesn't spot a hazard until it's literally there, rather than an experienced driver anticipating the hazard and clicking too early, thereby scoring 0 points. Click when you think you've seen the hazard, and one second later just to be sure
I watched a few videos that said to do the 3 click method, one when you see it, 1 a few seconds later and 1 a few seconds after that just to make sure you spread across the scoring zone. The actual DVSA test videos are all CGI, not like the videos on most apps/websites where it's a GoPro stuck on the roof of a car driving round and then the scores are programmed by the video editors. The DVSA videos are very clear cut as to when the hazard presents itself and the scoring zones. Don't think like an experienced driver - think like a 17 year old who has no driving experience and doesn't spot a hazard until it's literally there, rather than an experienced driver anticipating the hazard and clicking too early, thereby scoring 0 points. Click when you think you've seen the hazard, and one second later just to be sure
Sammo123 said:
I had my first Class 2 lesson today. We started off with the reverse manoeuvre and test all within the first hour. Easy enough and figured I was all set. Then we went out on the road and it was a steep learning curve. I’m trying to drive it like I drive my van and keep arriving at turns, junctions etc carrying too much speed. Although I’ve been driving cars and vans for 20 years the lorry seems quite alien to me. Hopefully it’ll click tomorrow and I can start getting on with it properly.
I went out a few years ago with Scania for an hour or so and the chap said I did the slowing bit well, think its because I like to spot gaps to go into. It will come, tomorrow is another day and you'll be that bit more mindful of it.
Sammo123 said:
I had my first Class 2 lesson today. We started off with the reverse manoeuvre and test all within the first hour. Easy enough and figured I was all set. Then we went out on the road and it was a steep learning curve. I’m trying to drive it like I drive my van and keep arriving at turns, junctions etc carrying too much speed. Although I’ve been driving cars and vans for 20 years the lorry seems quite alien to me. Hopefully it’ll click tomorrow and I can start getting on with it properly.
It's funny, when I did my class 1 the bit I struggled with the most was how deep you have to drive into junctions before cutting back to avoid climbing the kerb or smacking the road furniture.I've been driving with trailers more or less since I passed my test, did my B+E and started pulling large trailers with big cars and vans when I was about 20 but it still took me a couple of days to get used to it!
For me it was almost easier to learn the completely alien stuff than it is the stuff that was closer to my existing experience!
ETA - Meant class 1, don't know why I said 2!
Edited by The Wookie on Tuesday 26th September 12:51
Sammo123 said:
I had my first Class 2 lesson today. We started off with the reverse manoeuvre and test all within the first hour. Easy enough and figured I was all set. Then we went out on the road and it was a steep learning curve. I’m trying to drive it like I drive my van and keep arriving at turns, junctions etc carrying too much speed. Although I’ve been driving cars and vans for 20 years the lorry seems quite alien to me. Hopefully it’ll click tomorrow and I can start getting on with it properly.
Well done - who are you training with? What vehicle is it?the-norseman said:
I watched a few videos that said to do the 3 click method, one when you see it, 1 a few seconds later and 1 a few seconds after that just to make sure you spread across the scoring zone.
This is the best method.Most of the decent revision material (not free) should have some of the new CGI clips, personally I think they are better. That said, there is nothing wrong with the old-style clips for practice, the mechanics are exactly the same.
Triple Six said:
This is the best method.
Most of the decent revision material (not free) should have some of the new CGI clips, personally I think they are better. That said, there is nothing wrong with the old-style clips for practice, the mechanics are exactly the same.
Just realised the test on the HGVT is using CGI Most of the decent revision material (not free) should have some of the new CGI clips, personally I think they are better. That said, there is nothing wrong with the old-style clips for practice, the mechanics are exactly the same.
Sammo123 said:
Triple Six said:
Well done - who are you training with? What vehicle is it?
I’m using EP Training in Guildford. It’s a MAN of some description. Didn’t actually pay much attention to it other than the badge 
Glad to hear you are making good progress, all the best with it.
This has livened up! I agree strongly with the ‘find your niche’ comment and I disagree strongly with the ‘tippers is easiest’ comment. Some of the hardest work you can do in a wagon will be in a ‘tipper’ - and they aren’t all the same. Asphalt is a specialised role. Muck away is very different. Lumping them all in together shows that you don’t really know about it. It is common, but wrong. I will add that whilst muck away may be the bottom end of the market, attracting a lot of tigger boot and wide beater models, it is still significantly more difficult and requires far more skill than driving trailers from large yard to large yard.
Triple Six said:
They are a good firm, I think I actually supplied them the yellow barrier you would have reversed up to on the 3A test
Glad to hear you are making good progress, all the best with it.
Haha that beautiful yellow barrier you mean. Glad to hear you are making good progress, all the best with it.
Well my instructor is happy enough with me today that he’s suggested I could move my test to Thursday morning if I wanted to, rather than Friday morning.
Well I’ve just finished my Class 2 test and failed 
I got one minor for not slowing down enough as we passed an accident and one major for junction observation.
I was pulling onto a roundabout using a van as a blocker. I got the lorry halfway out and an X3 had pulled onto the roundabout behind the van and then had to slow down as I was by that point 3/4 of the way onto the roundabout. I knew I’d failed as soon as it happened and it was right at the start of the test. I drove to the best of my ability for the rest of the test in the hope he might overlook it if I smash the rest, but unfortunately not
I got one minor for not slowing down enough as we passed an accident and one major for junction observation.
I was pulling onto a roundabout using a van as a blocker. I got the lorry halfway out and an X3 had pulled onto the roundabout behind the van and then had to slow down as I was by that point 3/4 of the way onto the roundabout. I knew I’d failed as soon as it happened and it was right at the start of the test. I drove to the best of my ability for the rest of the test in the hope he might overlook it if I smash the rest, but unfortunately not
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