My first CE run

Well it’s been a literal rollercoaster of tension and emotion today.

I starts at around 7 this morning and was faced with a 55 plate DAF XF. 4 over 4 with splitter.

It was already coupled up to the trailer. A tri axle bulk tipper.

I spent a few minutes looking round making sure everything looked ship shape.

Then I was instructed to reverse it over an inspection pit so the trailer could be adjusted.

My heart skipped several beats as I thought about exactly how I was going to get this beast from one side of the yard to the other and then reverse accurately so as not to drop the trailer into the pit.

Thought back to November and all my training. Knew I would have to screw it round so it was not going in blind side. Got it with one shunt. I was shocked.

Took the empty trailer out the yard and a run up to Liverpool. Nice few motorway and D/C miles which helped me relax into it before some tighter turns around Liverpool.

Then backed the trailer I had against the back of the full one I was to tip later in the day. Uncoupled and swapped over. Checked the load and netted and strapped it for onward journey.

Then came the fun. All the paperwork from different buildings had to be collated so I could be allowed to leave the complex. No the buildings weren’t close by so I had lots of manouvering and shunting around the site and plenty of reversing practise.

I spent a good 2 hours on site attending to all this and lost track of time. Bet you can guess what’s coming.

Yes. Too late for the tip location and therefore ending up on a night out so I can tip early tomorrow.

And do the same all over again tomorrow without the delays hopefully.

So here I am in a services not far from you and here is my ride for the couple of days.

It’s been fun and a very steep learning curve. But I’m glad I took the run on.

Not sure what will be said when I get back . People didn’t sound happy .

No damage done (apart from my ego - thought I’d manage this easily in a days driving).

These things happen mate, your new to the Industry. Make up for it tomorrow by gettin it done proper like.

As for your picture . Download the photo bucket app stores pictures online gives you hyperlinks etc straight from your phone/ iPad

Oh and remember you KNOW how to drive you passed your test you can do it. Put the niggles to the back of your mind and focus on things easily forgotten like mode switch in tacho , WTD times etc etc and eventually it will all be second nature. I remember being exactly the same dreading trailer swaps and anything new but eventually something will click and it will get easier

Thanks Mike

Hi Dean, I came to this truck driving having been self employed for 10 years answering to only myself. I was really hard on myself when anything outwith my experience made me feel “small”. Thats a tough thing after being an experienced driving instructor learning that driving is not the only skill involved.

Anytime you have to do anything that is outwith your experience it will slow you down, i.e ■■■■■■■ about “strange” places collecting paperwork, find Joe bloggs etc. The run I’m doing tomorrow should hopefully be without a second 45 min break being needed as the run taught me I need to use my full 4.5 hrs, I didn’t the first time and stopped at 4.15 on the first leg because I wasn’t sure about parking, that 15 would have got me back to base. So there’s me back in “a” yard last as usual and being shamed by the imaginary “usual guy” who would have done that run so much better.

No You have to learn that you just do your best, if it’s not good enough for “the handlers” ■■■■ them. If their going to be dicks then move on. Don’t be too hard yourself, it’s a lesson I’m learning.

If this jobs for you it won’t go past you, good luck drive.

Dean you did great for your first day , just remember your learning the job , not just the driving but all that goes with it !!!

so what if the usual guy would have taken less time , I bet he didnt the first time he did it !!! you had a fantastic first day apart from time it allwent to plan , your driving , all the reversing practice and most importantly the truck is still intact , to quote your own words , dont be so hard on yourself , today will be better time wise as you already know a bit more and tomorrow will be even better ,

keep on trucking hun

jen x

Dean, I read your post and asked myself why you think you’ve done wrong!..I can’t see anything wrong! You’ve been hit by the company bureaucracy that’s all, nowt your fault. Next time you’ll know where to go, who to see etc.

Of course the usual bloke was faster…bet he wasn’t when he did it 1st time

Tazbug

Hi Mate.

As i’ve found out with another drive today it’s all about learning something new and it doe’s come quicker than you think.

Everything will come good and I know you can do it so just keep going.

See you on the road sometime and i’ll spring for a coffee.

Madguy

Today was a lot more relaxed.

Set off nice and early for the drop which was a tight scrap yard. Plenty of reversing and screwing round just to tip in the right place and get back onto the weigh plate.

Then returned up to Liverpool to swap back to the trailer I had dropped yesterday which had now been filled and drop the empty one against it.

Then I headed back to Oldbury to be tipped and was in the middle of Friday afternoon M6 traffic and incidents all over the place.

Thought in my mind that I didn’t want a repeat of yesterday but once south of the M6 Toll turning it was a clear run and I made it in time.

I have the weekend off so have come back to Somerset tonight to see the kids. They were over the moon to see me.

Not sure what is in store for Monday. I start at 7.

No words were exchanged about my lack of timekeeping yesterday. In fact I was asked if I enjoyed the run / experience.

I have been buzzing the last 2 days and have to keep checking I’m not imagining the tri axle trailer in my mirrors lol.

Anyone thinking about whether to go for CE I would say go for it. The opportunities are out there.

As I said its not the cleanest or most prestigious job but I know that I am very lucky to be given the chance / opportunity and hoping it leads to other things within the company.

glad to hear you are doing well at the new job. have you tried to get in the wrong side of the cab? when i went back on trucks a while ago i did that for about a week and go up bus lanes . have a good weekend

dilbert:
glad to hear you are doing well at the new job. have you tried to get in the wrong side of the cab? when i went back on trucks a while ago i did that for about a week and go up bus lanes . have a good weekend

Not tried wrong side of cab yet. No bus lanes either.

Just haven’t worked out where the ticket machine is

Good job - sorting paperwork at different drops is a complete nightmare, I’m hoping that the first time on each site will be the worst and then next time I’ll remember where to go and who to see. It’s working so far! Thanks for the diary, it’s good to see others experiences.

kvin:
Good job - sorting paperwork at different drops is a complete nightmare, I’m hoping that the first time on each site will be the worst and then next time I’ll remember where to go and who to see. It’s working so far! Thanks for the diary, it’s good to see others experiences.

Yes I definitely found it easier yesterday as I knew exactly where to drop the trailer and the steps to take to get the paperwork sorted in the right order.

Also with having connected up the hydraulic pipe and engaging PTO in the morning to tip the trailer I was able to be fairly proficient when I returned later in the day.

I am sure you can all remember those first day nerves and anxieties. Just doesn’t help that I don’t take failure very well and tend to be over critical of my performance to the point of perfectionism.

dar1976:
I am sure you can all remember those first day nerves and anxieties. Just doesn’t help that I don’t take failure very well and tend to be over critical of my performance to the point of perfectionism.

Yes me too Dean, you have to lose it or die of stress, It was easy to please myself when I was a self employed ADI answering no one. ■■■■ flows down the pecking order so you have to drop it down the nearest drain, no use holding onto it. With the jobs market being saturated you feel the bosses have you over a barrel “call their bluff”. It’s no wonder some people prefer the dole. I was entitled to f all so anything I earn on agency is a bonus, just as well the missus works and the kids are older.

dilbert:
glad to hear you are doing well at the new job. have you tried to get in the wrong side of the cab? when i went back on trucks a while ago i did that for about a week and go up bus lanes . have a good weekend

Yeh, i had a lapse of memory and went up a bus lane, the £60 fine quickly made me remember

Madguy

I love the challenges of this job.

Unfortunately I can’t take a picture of the yard as they are tight on security here but 17 shunts (yes i counted each and every one) later on a near 90 degree blindside. Trailers to the front of me so no way I could swing it to straighten my approach.

I’m fine until I lose sight of the trailer in the nearside mirror and then i panic. Have I overshot it? Will I hit the barrier on the offside.

Love the way that the youngster is filming my efforts. I might be on YouTube later

Didn’t hit anything. But god I feel small. 17 shunts and everyone around giving you that impatient look.

When you do the DSA test and training leading up to it, you are lucky if you have much bigger than a 7.5t with an equally small drag trailer and you do a (comparatively) easy S bend which you are taught - 1 turn to the right. Watch for the marks on the trailer. Etc etc.

I’m not dissing Pete’s training because it was top class.

What I am saying is I wish that there was some tight reversing on both sides as part of the test.

I know that I’m not expected to be perfect from day 1. Just … Grrrrr lol

You got it in the end, that’s all that matters, but 17 stunts ?, just kidding,

Just roll with it dean, there was probably not enough space to park a mini. Knowing the “yard” is like knowing the “drop” it’s 9/10’s of the law. Don’t be hard on yourself it will KILL YOU lol.

dean dean dean what did you say to me , dont matter as long as it gets in without damaging owt , did my first blindside the other day and i know what you mean about losing site of the trailer you need jedi powers to know where it is , just get out an have alook , you know from some of the answers on here that drivers who have been at it for years hate a blindside rev , your doing great keep it up

jenx

Jennie:
dean dean dean what did you say to me , dont matter as long as it gets in without damaging owt , did my first blindside the other day and i know what you mean about losing site of the trailer you need jedi powers to know where it is , just get out an have alook , you know from some of the answers on here that drivers who have been at it for years hate a blindside rev , your doing great keep it up

jenx

I can never take my own advice lol

Getting out and having a look means I have to look at all those people watching not willing to help