Class C1 Licence, how difficult?

[CAPP0]

I had my first day out driving in prep for my Cat C today. It's just something which has been on my bucket list for a very long time and with a mate owning an LGV school, I have the opportunity now to do something about it. I was in a 12m 2015 Mercedes Actros, I think MGW is 26t.

Nailed the reverse pretty quickly; my very first one I clipped a cone but then did 6 attempts successfully each time. That's in a yard on a course marked out the same as the test centre with the same A/B/C cones.

Out on the road, the instructor had me in Saturday town traffic within about 5 minutes! I was expecting a quiet drive around quiet roads to start with! For my first day driving something that size, my takeaways were:

- use the mirrors more. No, even more. I passed my car test 43 years ago so I'm full of bad habits. I thought I was using the mirrors FAR more than I do in the car but apparently still not enough.
- remember the truck has a handbrake when stationary!
- remember 10 to 2 on the steering wheel. I was fairly OK at that considering how long since I last "had" to do it, but still crossed arms a few times on roundabouts

Road positioning generally wasn't too bad but I need to get my head around when to take control of two lanes, eg at a roundabout. Also it's still odd when the instructor says "straight, straight, straight, don't turn yet" when you think you're going to end up stuck against the wall in front of you! Hillstarts done no problem.

Generally not unhappy with day 1 although (partly in answer to the first post in this thread) I very clearly wouldn't have passed a test today. I did clip a kerb twice which I was really annoyed with myself about. Once was arguably caused by another vehicle driving badly which I instinctively reacted to (but of course still 100% my fault and a test fail for the kerb), the other time I simply didn't get it right. At 12m the truck has quite a significant rear overhang too which needs to be considered for swinging out when turning.

Apart from that, with about 5.5 hours driving today, I'm absolutely shattered and will be in bed very soon!

[Its Just Adz]

Sounds like you had a good day!

Couple of replies.

My instructor said crossing arms doesn't matter, said do what ever works for you.

Control your lane, yes it's important to hold the white line and sometimes past it. Bloody big things.

Handbrake at stop, yea it does help.

Good news you nailed reverse, it will be hardest thing you do once you're on your own.

[944 Man]

Drive you car in the way that you have been instructed. Sounds silly but really helps.

[CAPP0]

Thanks Adz

944 Man said:

Drive you car in the way that you have been instructed. Sounds silly but really helps.

Yes, that thought did occur to me, I was even tempted to cover the internal mirror so I have to use the wing mirrors!

[944 Man]

I adjusted mine, but whatever works for you. You are driving using a new system, so keeping it up at all times will make it far easier on your test. It is very good advice that I was given and always pass on.

[graham22]

Your learning experience sounds like mine did - surprised me how slow the rigid turns. With an artic you get used to shoving the unit in there then worrying about where the trailer cuts the corner!! It becomes second nature.

If you do the artic, get a few days away with an experienced driver once you've done your test - you'll learn alot more about reversing than relying on taped markings and pointers on mudflaps - I went out with my dad and played at reversing!

One of the best things I've done, 35 years in insurance, now a long distance driver, 100k miles since last June, in lockdown!!

[CAPP0]

Well, I didn't want to put myself on the spot on this thread before today but:



Can't deny I'm a little bit pleased with myself! I passed it in this - first time I'd driven anything that size was Saturday morning! Belongs to a good mate.

[944 Man]

Congratulations. That looks like a horrible thing to drive.

[CAPP0]

Thanks, I'm quite pleased with myself.

12ft of overhang at the back so it has a chunk of tail swing to watch out for. Interesting on mini roundabouts in residential areas! It was built specifically to that size for removals, mainly international.

[Its Just Adz]

That's a bloody big rigid!

Well done, you got something lined up?

[red_slr]

Well done. I passed in an FL12 rigid - you will thank yourself the first time you find yourself in the middle of a tight spot for sitting the test in a larger wagon!

[CAPP0]

Its Just Adz said:

That's a bloody big rigid!

Well done, you got something lined up?

Thanks for that. It sure is!

The size is ok in general driving but you really notice it in town. Next step, C+E, I’m actually retired from my (non-driving) job but always wanted to do this. I’ll probably pick up odd jobs from the mate who owns that one and maybe one other mate too but not planning regular stuff.

red_slr said:

Well done. I passed in an FL12 rigid - you will thank yourself the first time you find yourself in the middle of a tight spot for sitting the test in a larger wagon!

Thanks again. Still pinching myself a bit. I (obv) can drive it but I’ve just the three days experience, so plenty to improve on.

Re the truck size, that’s exactly what my mate who owns it and trained me said. We saw people taking the test in things nearly half the size, and I won’t deny, I thought “they’ve got it easy”, but as he said, if they passed and were then given a job in something like that Merc, he’d fully expect them to wallop it.

[944 Man]

red_slr said:

Well done. I passed in an FL12 rigid - you will thank yourself the first time you find yourself in the middle of a tight spot for sitting the test in a larger wagon!

Train hard: fight easy.

[fttm]

Well done Cappo , never stop learning . Congrats

[exelero]

944 Man said:

red_slr said:

Well done. I passed in an FL12 rigid - you will thank yourself the first time you find yourself in the middle of a tight spot for sitting the test in a larger wagon!

Train hard: fight easy.

I passed on an 18T. I still can’t get my head around how some pass theirs in a 12 tonne van and then get the keys for a 26T or a tipper. They might be in for a shock haha

[mercedeslimos]

Re the size thing, it's the same as the buses. I have been driving full D vehicles for over 2 years and passed in a 10.6m Bova Futura, with the minimum length of the vehicle to be 10 metres here for the test. I can imagine if I took it in 8.5m or whatever I'd be struggling. I am very lucky in that I was working for the coach company for a few months before taking the test so was shunting around the yard, and was frequently moving and parking 13+m stuff and vehicles with rear steer too. I reckon that was the clincher for me, fair play for passing in that Merc, savage overhang and no tri-axle with the steering to help you (assume that tag axle isn't steered). The biggest machine I've driven has been 14.8m Van Hool TDX27 Astromega, by god that is a big rig but surprising how quickly you get used to it. Looking forward to taking my rigid test and moving straight onto the artic stuff!

[CAPP0]

mercedeslimos said:

fair play for passing in that Merc, savage overhang and no tri-axle with the steering to help you (assume that tag axle isn't steered).

Cheers for that. No, no rear steer. And the test route was all town centre and residential!

mercedeslimos said:

Looking forward to taking my rigid test and moving straight onto the artic stuff!

I've been out for a couple of hours in an artic today. Really enjoyed it, far more so than the rigid. The tractor is a Scania R480. It's got
that weird "auto but need a clutch to start & stop" transmission on it.

You have to think and compute more in terms of how you'll get it round a bend or roundabout but it almost somehow seemed easier, even for my first time? Again, I did town centres (picked it up by the Dartford Tunnel, drove through Greenhithe/Northfleet/Swanscombe, a lap of Gravesend town centre, then back the same way, but then went into Dartford town centre too. Some very tight turns, less overhang than that Merc but then you've got the headboard to watch as well. No kerbs! That was my first drive in an artic but as soon as my licence is back I'll bung in for the test whilst I'm still in test/learning mode I think, and get some hours in in the meantime.

[Venisonpie]

CAPP0 said:

Well, I didn't want to put myself on the spot on this thread before today but:



Can't deny I'm a little bit pleased with myself! I passed it in this - first time I'd driven anything that size was Saturday morning! Belongs to a good mate.

Please tell me that was specced with a rear steer? It's a lot of truck for an urban application.

[One Amp Andy]

Venisonpie said:

CAPP0 said:

Well, I didn't want to put myself on the spot on this thread before today but:



Can't deny I'm a little bit pleased with myself! I passed it in this - first time I'd driven anything that size was Saturday morning! Belongs to a good mate.

Please tell me that was specced with a rear steer? It's a lot of truck for an urban application.

A rear steer on that would make it worse. The distance between the steer and drive axle isn't that bad to be honest. It's the eleventy billion foot overhang that's the bugger (that a rear steer would make it more of an issue).

Oh, and well done CAPP0!

[One Amp Andy]

CAPP0 said:

It's got that weird "auto but need a clutch to start & stop" transmission on it.

3 pedal opticruise One of our V8's has this box. After three years, I STILL sometimes forget the clutch pedal after a long journey, until it doesn't seem to want to stop, then it's a case of 'Wtf? Oh, clutch pedal'. Our others are manual.