How to drive a van?
Discussion
I would disagree, and say that whilst some may, many will be used to being bigger than other cars and will drive as though they expect you to move out of their way. HGV drivers will frequently come across fools in 4x4s or vans who are used to bullying other road users and expect 30 tonne vehicles to give way to them too.
944 Man said:
I would disagree, and say that whilst some may, many will be used to being bigger than other cars and will drive as though they expect you to move out of their way. HGV drivers will frequently come across fools in 4x4s or vans who are used to bullying other road users and expect 30 tonne vehicles to give way to them too.
Your prerogative to disagree but many miles driving vans showed me that nearly everything car size including 4X4s, especially anything relatively new, will cede to an old transit size van. And van not driven aggressively either.I'm not an HGV driver so don't personally experience what they are on the end of, but have enough inconsiderate dicks cut me up when I'm in van on L1 of a DC or Mway and they are diving off at the last minute and cutting me up in the process, to understand some of the crap they have to put up with.
I once encountered a woman in a Land Cruiser when I was in my big Transit on a very narrow lane.
Either she reversed 20ft or I reversed 300ft, so I just sat and looked at her.
She had clearly *never* reversed for anyone as she literally stared at me wide-eyed for about thirty seconds then literally did jazz hands.
At which point her hubby got out of the passenger seat, shrugged resignedly at me and took over driving duties.
georgeyboy12345 said:
Did you get the job in the end?
Yes, I got the job suprisingly (pending my test), apparently beating out quite a few candidates who actually have Questions I still have:
How do I set up the mirrors on a luton? Is it exactly the same as setting up on a typical car, or should I be looking for a wider horizontal angle and a lower vertical angle?
What do these driving assessments usually entail? Is it as strict as a driving test?
VS02 said:
Yes, I got the job suprisingly (pending my test), apparently beating out quite a few candidates who actually have a lot more experience than I do. I have my driving assessment on Wednesday. That has just made me more nervous! I had my interview last week and it was just a generic interview about sales experience, basically nothing related to driving which I thought was a bit bizarre considering this is a delivery role. Hopefully it all goes well thanks to the really useful advice on here
Questions I still have:
How do I set up the mirrors on a luton? Is it exactly the same as setting up on a typical car, or should I be looking for a wider horizontal angle and a lower vertical angle?
What do these driving assessments usually entail? Is it as strict as a driving test?
Well done mate. Set up the mirrors in a way that you are comfortable that you can see what you want to see. Don't be afraid to stop and adjust them mid assessment, you are driving, not him/her.Questions I still have:
How do I set up the mirrors on a luton? Is it exactly the same as setting up on a typical car, or should I be looking for a wider horizontal angle and a lower vertical angle?
What do these driving assessments usually entail? Is it as strict as a driving test?
Driving assessments usually consist of the assessor telling you where to go, whilst simultaneously regaling you with tales of how awesome he is at driving whatever you're driving. Don't stress, you'll piss it. Vans are not big. If you get down a street with parked cars and are not 100% sure you'll fit, get out and look. I still do it after driving heavy haulage for 24 years, and it's my business. Though it's more to do with the fact the lads who work for me would absolutely love it if I cracked something.
As much as this thread has given you some pointers, on the day just go and drive about for a bit. Once you over think things, and possibly get worked up, you make daft decisions you wouldn't normally make. Go in with a clear head, confident of your abilities, take your time and just listen to the load of b
ks spewed forth by your assessor.VS02 said:
How do I set up the mirrors on a luton? Is it exactly the same as setting up on a typical car
One Amp Andy said:
Set up the mirrors in a way that you are comfortable that you can see what you want to see.
Yes...rear view mirrors are designed to give a view of things that are behind your seated position, but naturally need to be adjusted to enable you to see everything that is important.This one is about as simple as it gets.
I am just finishing a year with Ocado as a driver. The assessment will just be to make sure you are not a nutter, you will be fine if you passed your test recently. The assessor will probably find one tricky turn for you to make, and you will get out the van to see how big the blind spot is behind. The gearshift is on a stalk to your right which may take some thinking about. The newer Sprinters have very quick steering, and sharp brakes. They are like a big car to drive.
Reversing was a worry for you in your original post. Use the mirrors and angle the van as you reverse from side to side to see what is behind. Basically if you can do a 20 point turn instead of reversing into an area you can't see, do it. The lock is really good and you will be amazed at what the van can do. And if you can avoid reversing do so even if it means taking longer to get to a drop. It will take a bit of time to adjust to the height. Just be very careful. Stick religiously to speed limits. You are not in a rush even if others are.
Buy a really powerful torch for the winter, you will need it to find house numbers.
Reversing was a worry for you in your original post. Use the mirrors and angle the van as you reverse from side to side to see what is behind. Basically if you can do a 20 point turn instead of reversing into an area you can't see, do it. The lock is really good and you will be amazed at what the van can do. And if you can avoid reversing do so even if it means taking longer to get to a drop. It will take a bit of time to adjust to the height. Just be very careful. Stick religiously to speed limits. You are not in a rush even if others are.
Buy a really powerful torch for the winter, you will need it to find house numbers.
I've been driving coaches for the past three years or so, and my instructor (a woman of twenty years on tour experience) gave me a great bit of advice: bully your way through with a smile. If you're driving something bigger chances are people will (or should) give you the right of way. And if they pull in or reverse back for you, smile and thank them. You're being the bully, but they think you're OK because you don't look angry 
You're lucky they run new machines, with cameras and auto boxes, etc. I remember after I passed my test being landed into a 2001 coach with a manual box and no camera. Came upon an old lady down a country ane dropping forty kids to an adventure centre and she took ten plus attempts to reverse around a slight bend into a gate to let me past (narrow lane with high walls and plenty of traffic behind me + no camera = no reversing for me). In the end, I got out and reversed it for her, so just be patient that some people never have to reverse in their normal daily driving lives and then get very stressed about it.
You're lucky they run new machines, with cameras and auto boxes, etc. I remember after I passed my test being landed into a 2001 coach with a manual box and no camera. Came upon an old lady down a country ane dropping forty kids to an adventure centre and she took ten plus attempts to reverse around a slight bend into a gate to let me past (narrow lane with high walls and plenty of traffic behind me + no camera = no reversing for me). In the end, I got out and reversed it for her, so just be patient that some people never have to reverse in their normal daily driving lives and then get very stressed about it.
Maybe rent a van for a day, was what I was going to suggest. Might be a bit late now.
You'll be ok, best of luck, and as others have said, modern vans are so car like to drive.
I was in a courier van the day after I passed my test but that was 1982 thus no power steering, terrible manual gearbox and no parking aids. Probably took a day to get used to it.
Then there was the time my Transit lost reverse gear and I still had to use it for deliveries across London for 3 days.
Certainly made me think about where I parked it
Tell us all how you get on this Wednesday.
You'll be ok, best of luck, and as others have said, modern vans are so car like to drive.
I was in a courier van the day after I passed my test but that was 1982 thus no power steering, terrible manual gearbox and no parking aids. Probably took a day to get used to it.
Then there was the time my Transit lost reverse gear and I still had to use it for deliveries across London for 3 days.
Certainly made me think about where I parked it
Tell us all how you get on this Wednesday.
Passed with no minors! The first two I did not actually have the time to do so the assessor just gave me an M.
The van was an older model Sprinter, not a box van just an MWB. Manual. It was very torquey and suprisingly easy to drive. It was absolutely knackered though, 225,000 miles and it sounded it . Everything squeaked, the brakes didn’t appear to work, and the mirrors don’t work, the stereo didn’t work, the electrics were a bit haphazard with the indicators going mad. There were no parking sensors, or reversing cameras, I had to do a parallel park and a reverse bay park which was a bit nervewracking as I ended up leaving about 2 in between the wall and the van. Still I enjoyed driving it, especially the powertrain and the driving position. The shift quality also was quite nice.
Apparently all the vans are manual at this Waitrose.
Like this
The van was an older model Sprinter, not a box van just an MWB. Manual. It was very torquey and suprisingly easy to drive. It was absolutely knackered though, 225,000 miles and it sounded it . Everything squeaked, the brakes didn’t appear to work, and the mirrors don’t work, the stereo didn’t work, the electrics were a bit haphazard with the indicators going mad. There were no parking sensors, or reversing cameras, I had to do a parallel park and a reverse bay park which was a bit nervewracking as I ended up leaving about 2 in between the wall and the van. Still I enjoyed driving it, especially the powertrain and the driving position. The shift quality also was quite nice.
Apparently all the vans are manual at this Waitrose.
Like this
Edited by VS02 on Wednesday 7th July 15:21
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