jbaz73:
The good news… you have passed the entire test, just not all at once. I think nerves are getting the better of you, and by the sounds of things, you are not well prepared enough. Relax, concentrate on the bit of road in front of you and don’t worry about what could happen 3 streets away.
True that. The first time before the test I was feeling like I was about to vomit - that’s how nervous I felt, I had never felt so nervous before. After I failed the reverse I was relaxed during the drive because I knew whatever happened wouldn’t have any more negative consequences (well, apart from crashing the truck)
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jbaz73:
Yes, you can take your test anywhere with any school. Number 1: changing trainers is expensive, so I would make sure it’s what you really need.
How expensive? They’re already charging me 325 per test here
jbaz73:
I don’t know your circumstances, but if as I suspect he has put you in for 2 tests before you’re ready, I would be looking for a new instructor pronto!
Yeah I wasn’t feeling ready at all but I asked him after the 4th (last) training day if he thinks I’ll pass and he said “I think you have a very good chance”. Throughout the training I got very little feedback on my driving, he was mostly looking bored out of his mind, playing with his phone etc. I had to ask multiple times for feedback and got mostly 2-3 word answers. That and I drove for a total of probably 7-8 hours, a lot of time wasted waiting at traffic lights, left turn junctions etc. I was feeling totally unprepared, tbh I was surprised I did that well on the driving the first time around
jbaz73:
Or secret box number 3: you may be taking your test in a failure hotspot. Where are you doing it? Maybe we can tell you of a place locally to you which is easier.
Birmingham area, driving between West Bromich and Walsall. Lots of parked cars on small two-way streets, road works with cones/portable traffic lights, busses and bus stops, a mix of small and large roundabouts, long (2-3 km ) descents. Last test was at 8:30 am. at the start of the week, tbh traffic wasn’t that bad. I think it’s doable but there are just so many things that can go wrong that are outside of my control + the pressure from the test itself.
Honestly I don’t want to give this “driving school” any more of my money. Last time I went in for my 2nd test, the instructor (not the one who led my training) pointed me to the test truck and muttered “get in adjust your seat and mumble mumble” so I thought “hm just like last time, get in and do a couple of practice reverses, got it”, he then disappeared back into the office. So I adjust my seat etc., start the reverse, he comes out and starts YELLING at me “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING who told you to do a ****** reverse you can’t do *****ing reversing unless I’m here”. Wow, ok, cause I did do it alone last time with no one around…So that had me riled up as well - this was happening 15 mins before the test.
Then the truck had an air leak which he managed to temprorarily fix by moving about one of the airlines, a minute later the engine went off while idling in neutral so they called in a guy to come take a look at it. It was a total charade- I’d never driven this particular truck before - yes it was the same model as mine, but the brakes felt differently, the kingpin I had to pull really hard which yelling guy tried to explain to me before the test but kept getting carried away talking about wanting to shoot down some birds that just happened to fly above; so I found out about the kingpin trick the hard way during the uncoupling part of the test when I tried to pull the tractor away and it turned out it failed to disengage so I had to get out and re-do it…
Anyways, thanks for the feedback/encouragement. I still have my C license and I was thinking doing agency work for 2-3-4 months just to get used to driving a large vehicle, perhaps it will boost my confidence for when I go for take 3? I’m still determined to do it but no way I’m giving a single penny to that company after my last experience with them. I could complain about the overall course length and quality but what can you do- it’s the same everywhere - 4 days.