First step to becoming a HGV driver

First step to becoming a HGV driver

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callmedave

Original Poster:

2,686 posts

144 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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Im so Jealous! That looks an absolute beast to drive! smile

Ive applied for some driving jobs, (under 3.5t) so that I can at least get some experience for when I come to apply for LGV.

I think the best method of finding work is what you done, getting mates to speak to their mates etc. Hope you enjoy your new office! smile

callmedave

Original Poster:

2,686 posts

144 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
Training is Booked!

Im doing HIAB training (2 day course) on 12th and 13th April

Truck training (2 to 1) booked for week commencing 15th May.

cannot wait! smile

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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callmedave said:
Im so Jealous! That looks an absolute beast to drive! smile

Ive applied for some driving jobs, (under 3.5t) so that I can at least get some experience for when I come to apply for LGV.

I think the best method of finding work is what you done, getting mates to speak to their mates etc. Hope you enjoy your new office! smile
Now I'm used to the width it's good fun (no longer flinching everytime another lorry comes past wink ) . Been running loaded today and it's a rather different game (12T vs 32T) especially up and down the steep hills around the quarry! Makes my Range Rover feel like a gokart though biggrin

Having done 3.5T van driving as part of my job years ago it's a similar thing (on the road and dropping off) but the tool itself is a completely different ballgame so don't rely on it too much as experience. I could reverse my LWB Sprinter anywhere but my first complicated reverse today was a bloody joke. Ended up letting my mate sort it out as I just got frustrated frown .

It's worked for me so far. I'm on it 3 days this week and then what happens after that is still unknown but the experience has been worth its weight in gold smile

Old Tyke

288 posts

85 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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carmadgaz said:
Now I'm used to the width it's good fun (no longer flinching everytime another lorry comes past wink ) . Been running loaded today and it's a rather different game (12T vs 32T) especially up and down the steep hills around the quarry! Makes my Range Rover feel like a gokart though biggrin

Having done 3.5T van driving as part of my job years ago it's a similar thing (on the road and dropping off) but the tool itself is a completely different ballgame so don't rely on it too much as experience. I could reverse my LWB Sprinter anywhere but my first complicated reverse today was a bloody joke. Ended up letting my mate sort it out as I just got frustrated frown .

It's worked for me so far. I'm on it 3 days this week and then what happens after that is still unknown but the experience has been worth its weight in gold smile
I hope you've watched Hell Drivers from start to finish before getting behind the wheel of that 8 legger. The Hell Drivers educational video is part of tipper driver training course and you cannot call yourself a tipper driver until you've watched it. nono

Oh and being serious for a moment, never ever raise a loaded body on anything but level ground. If the load sticks to the bed you've got 16 tonnes 30ft up in the air and it won't end well for you or the truck if you're not on level ground. It's a much bigger problem with artic tippers but you still need to be aware of it with rigids. Also watch out for power lines as well!!

Edited by Old Tyke on Monday 27th March 23:07

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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Old Tyke said:
I hope you've watched Hell Drivers from start to finish before getting behind the wheel of that 8 legger. The Hell Drivers educational video is part of tipper driver training course and you cannot call yourself a tipper driver until you've watched it. nono

Oh and being serious for a moment, never ever raise a loaded body on anything but level ground. If the load sticks to the bed you've got 16 tonnes 30ft up in the air and it won't end well for you or the truck if you're not on level ground. It's a much bigger problem with artic tippers but you still need to be aware of it with rigids. Also watch out for power lines as well!!

Edited by Old Tyke on Monday 27th March 23:07
Cheers OT I'll take a nosey tomorrow as I've just found it on Youtube wink

Aye I've been double manning with a mate who has been doing it for years has been drumming that into me everytime we tip (along with tree and powerline checks). Seen some of the videos of the artic tippers on the piss and it's rather eye opening eek

Old Tyke

288 posts

85 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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carmadgaz said:
Cheers OT I'll take a nosey tomorrow as I've just found it on Youtube wink

Aye I've been double manning with a mate who has been doing it for years has been drumming that into me everytime we tip (along with tree and powerline checks). Seen some of the videos of the artic tippers on the piss and it's rather eye opening eek
And don't be under any illusions you'll be leisurely driving your tipper round ruralshire enjoying the scenery. Tipper work is very cut throat and is usually a low basic salary with load bonuses to make it up into a half decent wage. You'll have to be on the go ALL THE TIME to make decent money if that's how they pay - the lads there will be able to fill you in on how to make the best from it, but watch out for them looking after themselves to ensure they get to the loading shovel before you for that last extra load wink. If you're on an hourly rate with no load bonuses then I bet it's crap money but it's a good way to cut your teeth and get experience. We all had to start at the bottom. Expect the pressure to increase exponentially to get to places quicker once you've been there a few weeks.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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Old Tyke said:
And don't be under any illusions you'll be leisurely driving your tipper round ruralshire enjoying the scenery. Tipper work is very cut throat and is usually a low basic salary with load bonuses to make it up into a half decent wage. You'll have to be on the go ALL THE TIME to make decent money if that's how they pay - the lads there will be able to fill you in on how to make the best from it, but watch out for them looking after themselves to ensure they get to the loading shovel before you for that last extra load wink. If you're on an hourly rate with no load bonuses then I bet it's crap money but it's a good way to cut your teeth and get experience. We all had to start at the bottom. Expect the pressure to increase exponentially to get to places quicker once you've been there a few weeks.
I'm happy to go as fast as I am comfortable with, I don't do leisurely driving in general (though I do respect the sheer bulk of what I'm in!). The roads around here don't really allow for anything banzai in a truck as if you meet another one in several places near the quarry you would be screwed in short order (there have been two this year that have ended up off the road due to stupidity).

The lads on the shovels where we are good in the way they load, they will load in order (I watched one try to jump the queue then move rather quickly when the shovel driver noticed and told him to shift).

Still no idea wtf I'll be on money wise (the 5 days I'm doing are "training" which tbh is coming in as bloody good experience for me and I wasn't doing anything else so I'm happy enough with the situation) but I think the idea will be my mate runs the truck in the daytime and I do nights with it. Had my first chutes job today which was a nice 85min on site watching the world go by and occasionally moving the bed smile

I'm lucky to have two mates currently up there (one of which I'm double manning with) and another that has done previously and they've been a great help with getting the best from it (as has your advice thumbup )

Old Tyke

288 posts

85 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
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Be careful of the shovel drivers putting an extra scoop on putting you overweight. Do you have on-board weighers?

SteellFJ

793 posts

166 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
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This has been a good read as i'm in the same boat, hating office life and just struggling to get out of bed to make a living doing work i hate in the office.

I've been thinking about this route for years and it maybe now or never, looking now at getting some funding together before I can consider it though.

Good luck to the both of you!

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
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OT we don't on our wagon but they do on the shovels. We also tare the vehicle at the start of shift and have to go over the weighbridge after we load each time so we know where we are.

Cheers SteelFJ thumbup I was in the same boat as you, just thought "sod it" and went for it. I took a loan personally but I was hoping to stay in my last employment until I found something new. As it is I took voluntary redundancy so I'm paying the loan off with that atm :/ . Aside from the bulk (and the 2x steering axles) when reversing I'm finding the Tipper good fun.

Had a drop in Tipton this morning where I managed to back in with only a few shunts biggrin . Then spent 3 hours today sat on site waiting for the tarmac lads to unload the chutes so a reasonably quick one today. Got one more day training on Thursday and my MQPC on Friday then hopefully onto the tarmac next week smile

Old Tyke

288 posts

85 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
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If you've experience of driving a LWB van then you shouldn't be needing to take shunts in a rigid truck as it's exactly the same, just on a bigger scale. I grant you that 8 leg tippers have a turning circle the size of Kent but you should still be able to piss a reverse if you position yourself correctly to begin with. Sounds like you're not thinking about that and pulling up wherever then worrying about how you're going to get it in the slot. If you ever go on to drive artics you need to lose that mindset right now otherwise you'll get yourself in a whole world of trouble. Needing to take a shunt comes from not positioning yourself correctly from the start. It can be argued that it's not always possible to do that - and that's true - but I'd say 90% of the time there is adequate space to set yourself up. If you need to reverse into a slot at 90 degrees to you, don't drive past it and try to reverse in from 90 degrees as you'll struggle and probably need a shunt. Instead (if the slot is on your right) swing out to the left about 45 degs just before you get to the slot, then as you're slowing to a stop swing the steering wheel so your wheels are pointing slightly to the right of centre. Bang it in reverse and if you've done it correctly you'll hardly have to touch the steering wheel at all and it'll go straight into the slot. In short, the straighter the angle you make for your reverse, the easier it is. tongue out

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
quotequote all
Aye getting the right position to allow for the turning circle is where I stuffed up this morning. Problem is I then get frustrated because a) My passenger is watching me and it's "his" truck and b) I CAN reverse so I get pissed off I can't just jump in the 8 wheeler and do it when it is as you say just a "big van"

Old Tyke

288 posts

85 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
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carmadgaz said:
Aye getting the right position to allow for the turning circle is where I stuffed up this morning. Problem is I then get frustrated because a) My passenger is watching me and it's "his" truck and b) I CAN reverse so I get pissed off I can't just jump in the 8 wheeler and do it when it is as you say just a "big van"
Letting other people pressure you will lead to accidents. Ignore him and take your time. Give it another week and you'll be reversing them without even thinking about it.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
quotequote all
Aye it's me providing the pressure not him tbf. He's been bloody good with regards to not pressuring me in general, he appreciates it's new to me.

Would help myself if I remember the "rear view mirror" cam on the dash too wink

chilistrucker

4,541 posts

150 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
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Old Tyke said:
carmadgaz said:
Aye getting the right position to allow for the turning circle is where I stuffed up this morning. Problem is I then get frustrated because a) My passenger is watching me and it's "his" truck and b) I CAN reverse so I get pissed off I can't just jump in the 8 wheeler and do it when it is as you say just a "big van"
Letting other people pressure you will lead to accidents. Ignore him and take your time. Give it another week and you'll be reversing them without even thinking about it.
Definitely this, never let anyone rush you no matter how important they think they are. Tell them you are new at it, and they'll have to bear with you and most will be fine, (there will always be the odd arse though.)
Positioning is key, get it right and your reverse/life will be much easier, it comes in time so try not to stress on it to much for now, easier said than done though I know.

I remember the first time out on my own in an artic many moons ago thinking I was the bees knees, until I got to the yard I had to reverse into, and then I looked a right lemon and really made a meal of it. In time though it all slowly started to drop into place, position right, steer little and often rather than big over sweeps, and any time you are unsure on a blind spot, stop, handbrake on, get out and have a quick visual to check all is ok. Much better to get out and check than hear a large thud.

Its all practice and experience and it all starts to drop into place after a while, so enjoy it as well smile
I've not driven one since 2014, but had been doing it for 21 years and could still learn something new everyday.

Good luck to all that are doing, or are thinking of giving it a go.

GC8

19,910 posts

189 months

Tuesday 4th April 2017
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carmadgaz said:
So a month after passing and throwing my CV at anything that is vaguely LGV related...

Had a trial with a recovery company driving C1+C wagons that didn't work out (60hr weeks I could live with but some of the rules and regs were a little more "stretched" than I was comfy with so I turned it down).

Had a pair of mates up at the local quarry putting my name about and one of them gave me a call on Wednesday night telling me to be up the Quarry at 6am the next morning. I spent Thurs/Fri double manning the wagon with him to get used to it (running it back unloaded) and I've got 3 days next week double manning it running it loaded (It's one helluva difference running at 12T to running at 32T, especially as all the routes from the quarry are steep hills redface ).

It may result in me running the truck of a night shift or it might come to nothing but as I'm not doing anything else atm I am taking the opportunity to grab the experience with both hands (and having an experienced hand in the passenger seat has been a bonus). Got my MQPC course on Friday so then I'll be allowed to drive on the quarry itself smile

Cliffe Hill?

On newer vehicles there isn't a great deal of difference between 12t and 32t, compared to older vehicles.

As soon as youre competent with asphalt then Id expect that they will offer you a job on nights at the very least. Every operator struggles to get night drivers.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Wednesday 5th April 2017
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GC8 said:
Cliffe Hill?

On newer vehicles there isn't a great deal of difference between 12t and 32t, compared to older vehicles.

As soon as youre competent with asphalt then Id expect that they will offer you a job on nights at the very least. Every operator struggles to get night drivers.
Clee Hill. Though I believe this truck also turns up at Cliffe Hill and Wednesbury.

Yeah the actual handling and the way it goes up hill isn't too bad but the downhill makes the weight noticeable (though the VEB mitigates a lot of it!)

That was the original plan! The driver I was out with was happy that I was competent to drive it and the plan was he'd do the days then I'd do the nights in it.

Despite repeated requests from myself and the day driver for the gaffer to make contact and arrangements with myself as to: a) what he wants and b) how much he is going to pay have led to no contact. I e-mailed him on Friday essentially saying "You're wasting my time" and the driver rang me back within 20min (I copied him in at his request) saying the gaffer had been in contact with HIM about it and to give him the weekend to sort it. It's now Tuesday, nowt heard and as far as I'm concerned he can shove his truck up his arse!

GC8

19,910 posts

189 months

Wednesday 5th April 2017
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My advice would be to be patient. He might be struggling to get you insured or they may not have confimed night working for him.

I dont know Clee Hill, but I am familiar with Cliffe Hill and Bardon Hill. Is Clee Hill a hardstone quarry?

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Wednesday 5th April 2017
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GC8 said:
My advice would be to be patient. He might be struggling to get you insured or they may not have confimed night working for him.

I dont know Clee Hill, but I am familiar with Cliffe Hill and Bardon Hill. Is Clee Hill a hardstone quarry?
I was insured before I started driving (we checked I was covered before I started training) and the truck regularly does night work but he wanted a local (the other drivers have to come a distance to collect the truck before they can start) to save them wasting time on travel. I've been patient and he has consistently kept me out of the loop. I e-mailed him 2 weeks ago asked "Where/When/How much" and not so much as a "Let me get back to you" or "Go away you aren't needed" (which I'd prefer to silence!)

I know he's a busy man but a 5min phone call or even a quick e-mail to me direct would be polite rather than a regular comments of "yes I'll call him soon" via the other driver. My last correspondence with him told him that while I appreciate he's a busy man he's wasting my time so I'm going back to the job search" and even then the response came via a phone call from the other driver rather than from the boss himself mad

Yeah they do allsorts of hardstone and tarmac out of there. Most of the loads I did were Type 1. Only know the basics of the site as I'm still waiting to do my induction now I have my MPQC.

GC8

19,910 posts

189 months

Wednesday 5th April 2017
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Id stick at it. Asphalt is a job in itself and nights is the best place to learn due to the type of work completed then. Usually carriageway/motorway resurfacing or road building - both of which are safe and straightforward.

With regards to 'hardstone': I think that you may have misunderstood. By 'hardstone' I am referring to the type of aggregate produced at the quarry. The majority of quarries work limestone and bring hardstone in to use in their wearing course.

For example both Bardon Hill and Cliffe Hill produce granite aggregate and this is regularly carried to other quarries to use in their coating plants. I asked because I am familiar with Cliffe Hill and Bardon Hill, but not Clee Hill. A bit of Googling shows that Clee Hill is a limestone quarry, so they will use their own aggregate for base and binder and light use wearing course material, and they will bring in hardstone (probably granite from Cliffe Hill) to use in their durable wearing courses (SMA, Hot Roll. close etc).