Hi,
My first post on here after finding the site at the start of the week while bored at work while I wait for my final test. this will be a bit long winded but I’ll try and make it readable
So I’ve worked in warehouses and offices all my life and every time I saw a truck go by id wonder where it was going and what it must of felt like to have some sort of freedom on the daily. Mind you I was walking to work or using public transport for all these years.
So 2020 rolls around just before lockdown one month before I passed my driving test first time around, got myself a car and freedom I thought until I realised I was inventing reasons to go for a drive just to get out and explore.
Lockdown happens and I began to work from home for a living which zapped the fun of working in a office all together so I began to look for other jobs out there, driving jobs. most requiring more than a year or 2 of driving experience so I continued to work from home while looking into financing training of CLASS 1 myself when I got my lucky break, my stepdad who drives for HUNTAPAC a relatively small family owned fresh food company which is tucked away in a village in between Southport and Preston tells me they are looking for apprentice drivers for the first time.
So I apply, within a couple of days I’ve got an interview. interview went great expect with this all being the first time the company have done something like this it takes a long time for a decision 3 months almost but I got the gig. brilliant… wont be long now until am training and driving… So i send of for my provisional to be updated and my tacho card end of September, tacho comes back in days the provisional doesn’t get done for 2 months which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as could now go straight to class one.
So November comes around Huntapac decide to out source the training to RED ROSE Bolton, which is fine for me its local expect I’ve got to wait until 24th December for a assessment drive on class two?? which goes really well and in the mean time I wait to complete theory and hazard perception in January… passed first time Brilliant I thought now things can really start to move forward.
At this point Huntapac are starting to question why I am doing a class 2 when they only operate class 1s and with the new rules I could go straight to class one, so that is finally sorted and I go for a assessment drive in a class one with Red Rose and Pat my instructor and assessor for the day. that goes brilliantly and come March id have a 2 half Saturdays and one full week of lessons which would lead to my 3A Test Wednesday morning and 3B test on the Friday April 1st at Bredbury.
My lessons started simple on a Saturday afternoon in a quiet industrial estate just getting used to the size of the vehicle as i was coming straight from a small Corsa with just over 2 years of car driving experience. but it clicked really quickly and we was out on the open roads of Bolton within the hour all my lessons where 4.5 hours of which about an of each lesson was focused on the reverse and coupling. the first two lessons i did the reversing ok but nothing special then come Monday morning something clicked and it all came together really well.
My lessons where progressing really well my instructor was happy and my head was getting BIG.
Wednesday morning Test day for 3A at the end of my lessons. so we go for a drive and i am driving like, well an IDIOT! so much so that the instructor has me pull over step out the cab and stretch my legs.
Pat my instructor was brilliant to be fair to him told me how it was and what was needed didn’t sugar coat anything. we hoped back in the cab and the rest of the lesson was brilliant.
Back to the yard and ready for the 3A test after a couple of practices which went the same as they all had since Monday straight in no shunts perfect space either side and stopping distance, well test comes along and the nerves got me. Was inches from passing the yellow lines on the offside and required a shunt but it went in and after that the un couple and re couple went fine. so 3A passed…
That’s everything passed first time on to Friday and 3B test. we drive down to Bredbury for test and while am slightly nervous am also quietly confident.
The drive goes well despite some unexpected roadworks which led to the test being 15/20minutes longer than expected and my instructor back at the test centre starting to worry to say the least I pass with a few minors. YES!
so next up CPC which because of the confusion between Huntapac and Red rose is being done after ive done Modules 3A/B, Case study test comes up and that’s passed 1st time with little to no studying other than a couple hours the day before hand all that is left for me is Module 4 which is on Monday and i can finally drive for a living 10 months after attending the interview 7 months after being accepted for the job.
What stage are you at and how are you getting on?
Waiting on module 4 test date Monday 30th May.
Where are you located and where are you doing your training?
Southport/Preston, Red Rose handling training
Why do you want to be an HGV driver?
Freedom of the road
What kind of work do you want?
Bulking/Trunking along with some Fridge work is what i will be doing not sure on what shift pattern yet.