First step to becoming a HGV driver
Discussion
Exactly that! Where I work there are drivers that are on old contracts from a previous TUPE. They’re on a higher hourly rate, get more holiday, better overtime rates, longer sick, days in lieu, and better bonuses.
Yet all they ever do is moan about how crap their jobs are, yet funnily enough they don’t leave, and from what I’m told, there are a lot who left and came back.
I keep telling them if it’s that s
t then don’t do it, no one is forcing them to. They don’t have an answer to that...
Yet all they ever do is moan about how crap their jobs are, yet funnily enough they don’t leave, and from what I’m told, there are a lot who left and came back.
I keep telling them if it’s that s
t then don’t do it, no one is forcing them to. They don’t have an answer to that...Stussy said:
Exactly that! Where I work there are drivers that are on old contracts from a previous TUPE. They’re on a higher hourly rate, get more holiday, better overtime rates, longer sick, days in lieu, and better bonuses.
Yet all they ever do is moan about how crap their jobs are, yet funnily enough they don’t leave, and from what I’m told, there are a lot who left and came back.
I keep telling them if it’s that st then don’t do it, no one is forcing them to. They don’t have an answer to that...
You could say the same for Doctors, firefighters or even Police Officers. If they don't like it why don't they leave... But that's a bit dense. Perhaps they have a family to feed and know that realistically it's the best way to put food on the table. Perhaps they are unhappy enough to complain so they can improve their lot rather than running away. Yet all they ever do is moan about how crap their jobs are, yet funnily enough they don’t leave, and from what I’m told, there are a lot who left and came back.
I keep telling them if it’s that s
t then don’t do it, no one is forcing them to. They don’t have an answer to that...I'm really really really lucky - I drive Pharmacuitical trailers and get good money and an easy life. I'm left alone and I'm treated well. But I still think it's rubbish. Tell me something that will be me the same money and I'd leave it tomorrow.
I'm eternally grateful to have my class 1 license. With it, I'll never need to go on the dole. And I've worked bloody hard to be in the position where I'll walk into most driving jobs. I've done all the rubbish and developed the skills. But I have absolutely earned the right to complain about it when it gets me down.
ymwoods said:
I think its very marmite. I came out of it about 4-5 years ago after doing a few years on low loaders and then a few years on General, fridges and pharmaceutical stuff as I promised my Mrs that once she fell pregnant I would stop tramping. I now have my own, non-related business things going on but I miss driving. So much so, that 2 weeks ago I started doing a few nights for the old company I worked for. Home each day and only short shifts, but I have missed it!
I would argue that wages very much depend on the type of work. Go into general haulage where the rates are lower with no speciality and your not looking at much more than 4-500 a week take home. Get yourself into other areas of specialisation and I was on nearly 800 take home a week before I left just for piloting a steering wheel down the M1. Some of the continental boys doing the pharmaceutical work are taking over a grand a week home but are away from home for 2 weeks at a time.
What company is that with? I would argue that wages very much depend on the type of work. Go into general haulage where the rates are lower with no speciality and your not looking at much more than 4-500 a week take home. Get yourself into other areas of specialisation and I was on nearly 800 take home a week before I left just for piloting a steering wheel down the M1. Some of the continental boys doing the pharmaceutical work are taking over a grand a week home but are away from home for 2 weeks at a time.
First day of training completed. It is challenging, but I'm getting the hang of it. Gears are ok, but when I need to change from Hi range to Low I do have some issues, but not all the time. Tomorrow will be driving up until lunchtime, then reversing on an airfield. Looking forward to it
Stussy said:
I was taught in a 4 over 4, and told to near come to a standstill in 5th, then change to lower range as you prepare to move off again. It sounds wrong Alan’s hard to explain, but works well. But yes, going from high to low can be awkward at times!
In general what you say is true. But there are bends and corners where you do need 4th and even 2nd as today's training has showed.Tomorrow will be a bit of town driving till mid day than reversing on an airfield.
True, I suppose the main thing is to take your time, so it has a chance to change range as you pass through neutral.
The reverse manoeuvre is a strange one, it’s not something you’d do very often.
That said, one of my farm collections is the same thing but blind side up a farm yard covered in slippery cow st, in the dark 
Most trainers seem to have a set list of movements to guarantee success every time, mine certainly did.
I was lucky in that I already had 20 years of experience shunting at work, but I’d concentrate most on the manoeuvre needed rather than random reversing, that just comes with experience and practice.
The reverse manoeuvre is a strange one, it’s not something you’d do very often.
That said, one of my farm collections is the same thing but blind side up a farm yard covered in slippery cow s
t, in the dark Most trainers seem to have a set list of movements to guarantee success every time, mine certainly did.
I was lucky in that I already had 20 years of experience shunting at work, but I’d concentrate most on the manoeuvre needed rather than random reversing, that just comes with experience and practice.
If the range change issue is that the box wont go down when you want it to then this will be caused by the interrupter. Its purpose is to prevent selection of low range when road speed is too high. Attempt to operate the switch later: if youre already going slowly then it will be faulty, which is common, especially in DAF CFs.
If the gears are repeatedly not where you expect when going up and down between ranges, then the issue will probably be their alignment. It isnt uncommon for the lower range to be biased towards falling in line with 3rd and 4th, and the high range to be biased towards 5th and 6th.
This makes a loaded vehicle far easier to drive, but its an absolute fker if youre inexperienced and arent aware of the feature...
If the gears are repeatedly not where you expect when going up and down between ranges, then the issue will probably be their alignment. It isnt uncommon for the lower range to be biased towards falling in line with 3rd and 4th, and the high range to be biased towards 5th and 6th.
This makes a loaded vehicle far easier to drive, but its an absolute f
ker if youre inexperienced and arent aware of the feature...GC8 said:
If the range change issue is that the box wont go down when you want it to then this will be caused by the interrupter. Its purpose is to prevent selection of low range when road speed is too high. Attempt to operate the switch later: if youre already going slowly then it will be faulty, which is common, especially in DAF CFs.
If the gears are repeatedly not where you expect when going up and down between ranges, then the issue will probably be their alignment. It isnt uncommon for the lower range to be biased towards falling in line with 3rd and 4th, and the high range to be biased towards 5th and 6th.
This makes a loaded vehicle far easier to drive, but its an absolute fker if youre inexperienced and arent aware of the feature...
The truck I’m learning on is a Scania P240 if I’m not mistaken. Going from high to low does not seem to be an issue anymore If the gears are repeatedly not where you expect when going up and down between ranges, then the issue will probably be their alignment. It isnt uncommon for the lower range to be biased towards falling in line with 3rd and 4th, and the high range to be biased towards 5th and 6th.
This makes a loaded vehicle far easier to drive, but its an absolute f
ker if youre inexperienced and arent aware of the feature... it was as you pointed out the speed I was travelling at. Second day of training finished and I think I’m getting the hang of it. Today we had some really challenging and tight roads to go on and I only clipped the kerb once. We got the weekend off training wise so I will have a lot of time to think about stuff I need to improve on, there is plenty to be fair. The reversing exercise is a pain in the ass for me because I just don’t feel the clutch that much as of yet. We will be back on the airfield on Tuesday for more reversing exercises.
You can see where you are in the road by looking in the drivers side mirror and observing your vehicles position relative to thr white line. Then look at the white line and nearside kerb as they approach the dashboard. These cues will then be able to show your position in the road as you approach obstacles. This will soon become second nature.
With the clutch on reversing, usually you’ll have enough torque to just use the clutch with no revs. This allows you to cover the brake, and also go slower with more control.
Regarding road position, I was taught to check near side mirror every 7 seconds or so, and that testers like to see it.
It’s an easy habit to get into, literally anything you see on the verge, check it in the mirror as you pass, especially pedestrians
Regarding road position, I was taught to check near side mirror every 7 seconds or so, and that testers like to see it.
It’s an easy habit to get into, literally anything you see on the verge, check it in the mirror as you pass, especially pedestrians
Thank you all for the advice. The instructor is telling me the same thing. As soon as you pass someone check the right hand mirror, pedestrians, parked cars and all check the left hand side mirror. It's coming to me very well. At first I thought 4 days training is not enough, but it might well be. Can't wait for the test . The problem I noticed is that I'm impatient at roundabouts, but I will be there for ages if it needs to be on the test
. The problem I noticed is that I'm impatient at roundabouts, but I will be there for ages if it needs to be on the test Update: Test on Wednesday at almost rush hour. Reversing exercise sound, no shunt whatsoever. Uphill start and controlled stop all good. Ended up with 6 minors and at the very very last turn back to the test centre clipped the kerb and failed. It’s a bit annoying to be honest , but no problems, gonna have another crack at it next Wednesday. In the meantime I passed the theory part of the cpc and going to have the practical bit Monday morning. God I’m so stupid 
Well that sucks
Failed my CE back in May for something silly (got a total of 2 minor and 1 major) and was kicking myself. Went back August 1st and I didn't drive half as well (imo) but passed with a handful of minors.
Only been out in the bendy one twice since, quite happy running around the countryside in my little 18Ter
. Just do a day here and there to keep my eye in (and I'm still shunting in the yard as before)
Failed my CE back in May for something silly (got a total of 2 minor and 1 major) and was kicking myself. Went back August 1st and I didn't drive half as well (imo) but passed with a handful of minors.
Only been out in the bendy one twice since, quite happy running around the countryside in my little 18Ter
. Just do a day here and there to keep my eye in (and I'm still shunting in the yard as before)That reminds me of one of my training days, I’d driven all day around Northampton town centre without a single error, then on the way back to the yard I clipped a curb on the last roundabout. The instructor said the obvious, but it’s so true, never let your guard down!
He also made a huge fuss over the very last turn off the main road into the test centre, saying quite a few people had been caught out by its strange shape, and the sudden relaxing of realising your drive has finished
He also made a huge fuss over the very last turn off the main road into the test centre, saying quite a few people had been caught out by its strange shape, and the sudden relaxing of realising your drive has finished
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