Becoming a HGV driver?
Discussion
I can only imagine that those wagons are absolutely wrecked in a short time from the ditches and hedgerows and overhanging crap!
Last year, I had a school run out very rural, something similar and the only machine that could make the turns was a 2010 Setra 416 at 13.040m with rear-steer. You'd still meet people and they'd expect you to reverse!
6 months of that and the mirrors are worn through the casings and scrapes on all 4 bumper corners. I was given a 2018 Van Hool EX15H after that, but that idea was soon kiboshed
Last year, I had a school run out very rural, something similar and the only machine that could make the turns was a 2010 Setra 416 at 13.040m with rear-steer. You'd still meet people and they'd expect you to reverse!
6 months of that and the mirrors are worn through the casings and scrapes on all 4 bumper corners. I was given a 2018 Van Hool EX15H after that, but that idea was soon kiboshed
lost in espace said:
Bootcamp progress to date: Medical completed, provisional licence received back, and booked onto a CPC course in June. Been practicing my theory and the hazard awareness, theory is no problem but hazard awareness is not as easy as I thought.
Am I right in thinking if I complete the CPC with my 7.5t grandfather rights I can start a job at this truck size, as long as I get my digi card?
How's the boot camp going ?Am I right in thinking if I complete the CPC with my 7.5t grandfather rights I can start a job at this truck size, as long as I get my digi card?
Edited by lost in espace on Thursday 26th May 13:59
I have registered for one and just wondered how you were getting on with it, pm me if you like i'm really interested on your experience so far.
Cheers
Nick
I had a great day out in a demo Merc Actros on Monday. I haven't done any driving since passing my C+E a couple of years ago, so it was nice to get back on the road. A local transport company also lent us a large trailer to use.
The tractor unit was bloody massive (tall) compared to what I drove before, and those camera mirrors took some getting used too, I found the depth perception when reversing difficult to get used to.
But what a great place to sit and drive. I forgot how much fun it is to drive one on the roads. Admittedly it's not my living so I don't get tainted by that, but the week I originally spent doing my C+E and this day out really have been one of the most enjoyable driving days I've had. And, I think most people would say that the stuff I do during my day job would be pretty enjoyable driving wise.
The tractor unit was bloody massive (tall) compared to what I drove before, and those camera mirrors took some getting used too, I found the depth perception when reversing difficult to get used to.
But what a great place to sit and drive. I forgot how much fun it is to drive one on the roads. Admittedly it's not my living so I don't get tainted by that, but the week I originally spent doing my C+E and this day out really have been one of the most enjoyable driving days I've had. And, I think most people would say that the stuff I do during my day job would be pretty enjoyable driving wise.
carinaman said:
I've got the provisional entitlement and renewed the Tacho Card as I've previously done some 100 mile round trips in 7.5 tonners using my car licence.
I would say you could do C1 to CE in as little as 5 days but an assessment would be a good ideaFree accommodation if over 70 miles away and one of the best training fleets and instructors are at Peter Smythe LGV training school in Notts
Has Smythe changed his fleet? I remember years ago he was cheaping out by using a rigid drag for his artic test which bears no resemblance to real world artic driving. If he's still using that I'd avoid and go with a proper training school that runs a full size artic trailer. Everyone I've spoken to over the years that passed in a drag regretted it when they were slung the keys for a 45 fter on an agency job as they were physically unable to do the job because they didn't have any true artic experience.
r3g said:
Has Smythe changed his fleet? I remember years ago he was cheaping out by using a rigid drag for his artic test which bears no resemblance to real world artic driving. If he's still using that I'd avoid and go with a proper training school that runs a full size artic trailer. Everyone I've spoken to over the years that passed in a drag regretted it when they were slung the keys for a 45 fter on an agency job as they were physically unable to do the job because they didn't have any true artic experience.
Got artics now and has just had some new units deliveredI’d prefer a drag and draw for C+E as an experienced HGV driver.
I think that it is a mistake to suggest that a few half days training in a semi-trailer sets you up in any way for working in one.
I learned in the largest vehicle that the training company had, but my first day in a tiny FL6 tarmac tipper was a massive shock.
Training hard doesn’t mean fighting easy.
I think that it is a mistake to suggest that a few half days training in a semi-trailer sets you up in any way for working in one.
I learned in the largest vehicle that the training company had, but my first day in a tiny FL6 tarmac tipper was a massive shock.
Training hard doesn’t mean fighting easy.
Whether wag n drag or artic semi trailer, the theory is the same, they both bend but with thankfully only one pivot point unlike an A frame wag n drag, those are in a world of their own.
You can be the most experienced artic driver but get a full sized wag n drag and it takes a bit of getting used to, the same if you've spent years driving a wag n drag and suddenly have to drive artics again, been there T shirt etc.
I agree with 944 in that there are plus points to learning on a wag n drag, you are in a normal size rigid but with a similar size trailer on the back, the prime mover lacks the fork lift like turning circle of an artic tractor and you can't fully jack knife a drag because the design of the hitch and the front frame of the trailer will get damaged if you tried 90' angle turns which an artic can perform usually without issue.
or how little steering input the prime mover has in comparison to a tractor unit, plusses and minuses for both designs.
You can be the most experienced artic driver but get a full sized wag n drag and it takes a bit of getting used to, the same if you've spent years driving a wag n drag and suddenly have to drive artics again, been there T shirt etc.
I agree with 944 in that there are plus points to learning on a wag n drag, you are in a normal size rigid but with a similar size trailer on the back, the prime mover lacks the fork lift like turning circle of an artic tractor and you can't fully jack knife a drag because the design of the hitch and the front frame of the trailer will get damaged if you tried 90' angle turns which an artic can perform usually without issue.
or how little steering input the prime mover has in comparison to a tractor unit, plusses and minuses for both designs.
I know quite a few people that used them and passed, I did my rigid and artic with them.
All of the training is done in Northampton, so by the time you do the test you will be familiar with every possible junction and roundabout on the test routes
Edit to add, the doctors at Irchester do cheap medicals, they used to put one or two afternoons a week aside just for them.
Would be worth finding out if they still do
All of the training is done in Northampton, so by the time you do the test you will be familiar with every possible junction and roundabout on the test routes
Edit to add, the doctors at Irchester do cheap medicals, they used to put one or two afternoons a week aside just for them.
Would be worth finding out if they still do
Edited by Stussy on Sunday 13th November 21:20
Stussy said:
I know quite a few people that used them and passed, I did my rigid and artic with them.
All of the training is done in Northampton, so by the time you do the test you will be familiar with every possible junction and roundabout on the test routes
Edit to add, the doctors at Irchester do cheap medicals, they used to put one or two afternoons a week aside just for them.
Would be worth finding out if they still do
Thanks for that StussyAll of the training is done in Northampton, so by the time you do the test you will be familiar with every possible junction and roundabout on the test routes
Edit to add, the doctors at Irchester do cheap medicals, they used to put one or two afternoons a week aside just for them.
Would be worth finding out if they still do
Edited by Stussy on Sunday 13th November 21:20
Called Powerdriver this morning and very knowledgeable and helpful.
They're slightly more expensive than one or two others I've spoken to but put me at ease straight away, very friendly and the reviews are excellent, so I'm going to go with them. They're only down the road as well so that's a bonus.
Not sure how I feel about the chowns mill roundabout in my first time out though
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