First step to becoming a HGV driver

[Its Just Adz]

It seems ages since I signed up for this! Anyway, had theory and hazard perception this morning, passed both with a score of 87 and 74.
I was confident going into it that I’d done the learning necessary but once I sat at that computer I got nervous! But just took my time and once completed I went back through and counted up what I knew was definitely correct and knew I should have passed.

[Defconluke]

E36Ross said:

Any coach drivers here?

Currently doing lessons for my D licence in a 92 Volvo B10M.


Plan to do my C licence also.

Passed my Cat D in November. We used a Caetano Nimbus bodied Dennis Dart for our lessons and test so significantly smaller than the Volvo you're learning in.
I'm typically driving a Mercedes Bens Vario based bus that's barely larger than a minibus so it feels quite normal to drive.

[Its Just Adz]

Got my CPC theory in the morning, quite nervous about it.
The online stuff I’ve read seems a huge amount to take in, then the test questions I’ve done don’t always match to that revision!
Oh well, done all I can do, see how it goes tomorrow.

[callmedave]

Its Just Adz said:

Got my CPC theory in the morning, quite nervous about it.
The online stuff I’ve read seems a huge amount to take in, then the test questions I’ve done don’t always match to that revision!
Oh well, done all I can do, see how it goes tomorrow.

I was nervous too. Take your time. You can flag and review questions if you are not sure.

Best of luck!

[carmadgaz]

Well done on the theory Adz and good luck on the CPC

[Its Just Adz]

Thanks guys, passed with 45 / 50 correct.
Onto the driving lessons!

[callmedave]

Its Just Adz said:

Thanks guys, passed with 45 / 50 correct.
Onto the driving lessons!

Excellent work! Well done.

[carmadgaz]

You still on with TP Dave? how are you getting on?

[callmedave]

carmadgaz said:

You still on with TP Dave? how are you getting on?

Yep still work there, still going fine.
I have booked my class 1 lessons to commence 12th Feb for 4 days with test on fith day. It's £1323 for the additional training, but I don't have any more theory tests or similar to pass this time. Just the practical lorry bit.

I don't have class 1 work lined up yet but I will register with a few agencies as I did before while I apply for jobs.

I can't decide exactly what I want to go for, but I know that I want a job where I have my own truck, a couple of nights out a week is ok.

I quite fancy low loader work or maybe containers but beggars can't be choosers and I think I will have to take whatever I can get until I have the experience.

[ezi]

callmedave said:

carmadgaz said:

You still on with TP Dave? how are you getting on?

Yep still work there, still going fine.
I have booked my class 1 lessons to commence 12th Feb for 4 days with test on fith day. It's £1323 for the additional training, but I don't have any more theory tests or similar to pass this time. Just the practical lorry bit.

I don't have class 1 work lined up yet but I will register with a few agencies as I did before while I apply for jobs.

I can't decide exactly what I want to go for, but I know that I want a job where I have my own truck, a couple of nights out a week is ok.

I quite fancy low loader work or maybe containers but beggars can't be choosers and I think I will have to take whatever I can get until I have the experience.

Probably easiest to get on containers or general haulage to start out with, low loader work can be tricky to get into especially as a fresh pass.

[carmadgaz]

callmedave said:

Yep still work there, still going fine.
I have booked my class 1 lessons to commence 12th Feb for 4 days with test on fith day. It's £1323 for the additional training, but I don't have any more theory tests or similar to pass this time. Just the practical lorry bit.

I don't have class 1 work lined up yet but I will register with a few agencies as I did before while I apply for jobs.

I can't decide exactly what I want to go for, but I know that I want a job where I have my own truck, a couple of nights out a week is ok.

I quite fancy low loader work or maybe containers but beggars can't be choosers and I think I will have to take whatever I can get until I have the experience.

Best of luck with it bud

Seems to be plenty of tramping work about on the CE side if you don't mind what you're doing. Low loader seems like a good craic. Much rather those than the double deckers. I've moved them around our yard but having followed them down the road I'd be in no rush to take one out myself (even if I had the appropriate license )

Where I am have threatened to put my through CE at some point but there is one ahead of me and they've just given me a new(er) 18Ter (62plate Axor 1824) so no rush

[TommoAE86]

callmedave said:

Yep still work there, still going fine.
I have booked my class 1 lessons to commence 12th Feb for 4 days with test on fith day. It's £1323 for the additional training, but I don't have any more theory tests or similar to pass this time. Just the practical lorry bit.

I don't have class 1 work lined up yet but I will register with a few agencies as I did before while I apply for jobs.

I can't decide exactly what I want to go for, but I know that I want a job where I have my own truck, a couple of nights out a week is ok.

I quite fancy low loader work or maybe containers but beggars can't be choosers and I think I will have to take whatever I can get until I have the experience.

Good luck, our transport guys never have enough drivers for container jobs but it doesn't seem the most fun and ports are quite willing to lie if they've made a mistake and make the drivers wait around alot

[GC8]

I see your future: it is agency work!

Id say that there is zero chance of finding low loader work with a new licence and little HGV experience, even if you could demonstrate familiarity with the plant in question.

Not what you want to hear, but it is the same for everyone.

[callmedave]

GC8 said:

I see your future: it is agency work!

Id say that there is zero chance of finding low loader work with a new licence and little HGV experience, even if you could demonstrate familiarity with the plant in question.

Not what you want to hear, but it is the same for everyone.

I know what you mean. I don't mind a bit of agency as I will get a lot of varied experience. Downside is I'll end up in the ropey dodgy smelly trucks.

Thanks to all for the kind words, I will keep you updated with the training etc.

[callmedave]

Ok. Day 1 of training completed.

I was single manning in a MAN. We started off with a reversing manoeuver. I have to pull forward into a box then reverse into into another box over to the left.

This is similar to the manoeuver you do when you do class 2, just on a slightly larger scale.

We then went out on the road. Mostly motorways/main roads so I can get a feel for the truck and trailer and room to navigate roundabouts etc. We will build up to more difficult situations as the week progresses.

Came back to the yard about 11:20 and done a de-couple re-couple exercise.

I think I done well, the reversing took a few attempts to understand how the trailer reacts to how I move the wheel but I felt improvements after a couple of tries.

Out on the road went well, I got close to 1 kerb but not actually onto it. Some bad habits are starting to show, I'm making a conscious effort to stay at 10&2. And I need to slow down a lot sooner.

The coupling is a whole new thing to me, I've just gotta make sure I follow the correct method and don't miss anything off.

I'm using the BLACK anagram to decouple that is:

Brakes (trailer brakes)
Legs
Air lines
Clip (dog clip on 5th wheel)
Kingpin.

Then the reverse to couple up.

I'm tired as I rarely drive for more than 4 hours in a day. Let alone doing it all in 1 stint!

Looking forwrd to more of the same tmw. It's a decent truck and a nice instructor so it's pleasant to be doing this.

Then it's a reverse to

[ezi]

Easy way to remember how to steer the trailer is to put a single hand on the bottom centre of the steering wheel, move your hand to the right and the trailer will go right, move your hand to the left and the trailer will go left. When I first started on Class 1 I was always getting in a tackle steering the wrong way and that little tip transformed reversing for me.

[callmedave]

ezi said:

Easy way to remember how to steer the trailer is to put a single hand on the bottom centre of the steering wheel, move your hand to the right and the trailer will go right, move your hand to the left and the trailer will go left. When I first started on Class 1 I was always getting in a tackle steering the wrong way and that little tip transformed reversing for me.

I think I know what you mean. I turn the bottom of the wheel in the direction I want the trailer to go if that makes sense

[ezi]

callmedave said:

ezi said:

Easy way to remember how to steer the trailer is to put a single hand on the bottom centre of the steering wheel, move your hand to the right and the trailer will go right, move your hand to the left and the trailer will go left. When I first started on Class 1 I was always getting in a tackle steering the wrong way and that little tip transformed reversing for me.

I think I know what you mean. I turn the bottom of the wheel in the direction I want the trailer to go if that makes sense

Yes that's correct, it's an easy way of learning to steer that doesn't take too much attention, eventually it'll just become basic muscle memory and you won't need to think about the steering.

[Its Just Adz]

Sounds great fun.
I start class 2 lessons on Thursday.

[warch]

ezi said:

Easy way to remember how to steer the trailer is to put a single hand on the bottom centre of the steering wheel, move your hand to the right and the trailer will go right, move your hand to the left and the trailer will go left. When I first started on Class 1 I was always getting in a tackle steering the wrong way and that little tip transformed reversing for me.

That's brilliant, cheers!