LGV TRAINING TIPS [Reworked 01/02/2022] (Read only)

This Test report Sheet is used for all DVSA tests so there are some sections which are not used on the LGV test.

Summary of DVSA fees and charges

SHOW AND TELL

LGVTrainer:
I am about to start a series of posts explaining both to candidates and trainers what actually happens on a test. The DL25 is the form the examiner has on his lap throughout the test. I will post every few days with another box on the form.
Let’s start at the beginning. Show/tell questions. On a LGV test you will be asked 5. 3 show me questions and 2 tell me questions. Each incorrect answer will earn 1 driving fault (minor) get all 5 wrong it’s a serious fault. I’ve never seen that. But I have seen 16 faults (fail) where 1 was a question so learn them all.
Next time I will discuss reversing faults. That is probably more interesting.

MIRRORS - CHANGE SPEED

LGVTrainer:
Following on from previous subjects this is an often misunderstood part of the test. But what exactly does Mirrors Change speed mean.
Generally it is assessed when slowing down but it can also apply when accelerating.
It will not be assessed when you need to slow in an emergency or even when the lights change to Amber, it is more when you get to choose when to slow down.
For example you are asked to pull up at a safe or designated place. Without checking mirrors you apply left signal and pull up. Was anybody behind you before you slowed down? Do you know? The examiner will know. Based on what is there you will be assessed. With no mirror check you will not be assessed as No Fault so you leave yourself at the mercy of the gods.
Another example. You’re in a National speed limit but ahead is a 30 or 40mph speed sign. You see the sign late and brake in time. You feel great because you slowed in time but did you check the mirrors before you slowed down? The examiner did and again he assesses the situation.
Another one. You’re in a 30mph road and it changes to a 50mph. Without checking you accelerate but what you don’t notice is a car starting to overtake you. Because you accelerate he struggles to pass you and there’s traffic coming towards you.
Mirrors change speed is important for the above and many other reasons. It’s basic, check your mirrors before changing speed.
Hope this helps

JUNCTIONS - OBSERVATION

LGVTrainer:
Continuing on with this series of explanations into the DL25 this is a Very Important element to understand. Firstly for Observation to be marked, your vehicle MUST have crossed the white give way line. Any faults before this point will be marked elsewhere on the sheet for example approach speed or turning left / right or road markings etc.
Observation doesn’t mean you didn’t see another vehicle, it means you didn’t take effective observation and act correctly on what you did see. It happens regularly at roundabouts where a candidate thinks there is enough room to pull out in front of a vehicle already coming round. If you pull out and there is no other vehicle visible whatever happens after, you should not be marked. Examiners will make an assessment based on what could be seen at the moment you choose to go. Of course it’s not only roundabouts, it can just as easily be at a give way or Stop sign at any road junction.
So what needs to happen to get marked? As always there are 5 levels of fault:-

No Fault - Your action has no effect whatsoever on another vehicle
Not worth of recording - There is a vehicle visible but your action causes absolute minimal effect to the other road user
Driving Fault - Its possible the other driver needed to lift off the accelerator to allow you to clear his path but there was just about enough space
Serious Fault - The other driver clearly had to brake or change direction to avoid you
Dangerous Fault - There is a high possibility of a collision and may need the examiner to take verbal or Physical action to prevent it happening
So crossing the give way line is the point of no return, the commitment point. It can’t be undone. Before crossing that line with your vehicle you must be absolutely sure that you wont fall into the last 2 levels above. If you are not sure then don’t go. Many candidates worry about getting marked for Progress or undue hesitation but it is extremely rare to receive a serious mark for either based on just 1 situation.
Approach speed is often the underlying root of the problem because the candidate is reluctant to stop from a high speed and can easily misjudge the time it takes to get a LGV vehicle clear of the situation.
In my experience this is the NUMBER 1 cause of test failure but it’s not really that difficult. If you can see another vehicle approaching don’t cross the white line.
Hope this helps a few people.

SIGNALS

LGVTrainer:
This is an interesting subject. The form has 3 elements connected with signalling. Give signal NECCESSARY, CORRECTLY, TIMED
NECCESSARY - This is most commonly marked when a candidate does not give a signal when it would have helped someone. For example when exiting a roundabout and vehicles are waiting to emerge from the road you are leaving on. Before changing lanes when other vehicles would benefit from a signal. When turning left or right and vehicles are waiting to leave that road. It is absolutely not NECCESSARY to signal when nobody would benefit from it, however with limited vision around the truck most trainers will teach to signal anyway.
CORRECTLY - Of the 3 this causes most problems. Leaving a signal on after it has served its purpose can be fatal. For example you exit a roundabout with a left signal but don’t cancel it afterwards. The first few seconds is not worthy of recording. Then longer than that moves to a driving fault. Now imagine the left signal is still on as you approach a road on the left with cars trying to pull out. Reasonably they might expect you to turn left so they respond to signals by other road users but you’re not turning left. You forgot to cancel the signal after the roundabout. What do you expect the examiner to mark as a near miss happens?
TIMED - Too late too early with the signal. You intend to take the 2nd road on the left/right but put a signal on before the 1st road. A car pulls out expecting you to turn. You intend to turn right at a roundabout, 3rd exit, but put the left signal on before you even pass the 2nd exit.
This is a large complex subject. If you’ve got a test coming up learn about Signals. Once you understand if to signal and when to signal and why to signal you’ve mastered a key subject.

REVERSING

LGVTrainer:
The reverse exercise is normally done before the road drive but it can be done at the end occasionally for several reasons, especially at a busy test centre with several examiners all using the same reversing area.
The DL25 has 2 marking areas for the reverse. Control and Observation.
CONTROL - You will receive a serious fault for control if either any of the vehicle tyres COMPLETELY crosses the area boundary lines (touching a line would be marked as a driving fault) Or making contact with any cone or marker pole Or not finishing with the rear of the vehicle within the yellow/black hatched area before the barrier Or taking too many forward shunts to re-position the vehicle. There are 2 types of forward shunt, a comfort shunt which was not really necessary will not be marked or a corrective shunt which is taken to correct a misjudgement will receive a driving fault. There is no set limit to the number of shunts permitted but generally 2 should be regarded as the maximum. Touching the barrier at the back is Not a fault provided the barrier is fully upright at the end of the exercise.
OBSERVATION - All round observation should be maintained throughout the entire exercise to avoid receiving a fault. The examiner can only mark the fault once and will wait until the exercise is over before deciding the weight of the fault.
IMPORTANT
All actions are judged in 1 of the following fault weights
No Fault
Fault not worthy of recording
Driving fault
Serious fault
Dangerous fault
Either of the last 2 will result in failing the test

GUIDANCE FOR DRIVING EXAMINERS

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