C+E Training Not Needed AnymoreModerators: ROG, dieseldave By posting content to TruckNet, you're agreeing to our terms of use and confirm that you have read our Privacy Policy, and our Cookie Use Policy. You acknowledge that any personal data you post on TruckNet may be accessed by other members of TruckNet and visitors to the forum
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C+E Training Not Needed Anymorei start my C+E tomorrow with Zenith.
i have my licence (both parts) which i wont be letting out of my sight for the next 5 days until i have done (and hopefully passed) my test. apart from the gloves and hi viz can you think of anything else i need to take with me? will i need a notepad and pen? is it worth taking one just in case? Last edited by Lee G on Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
We dont stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!
Best of luck Giblsa
![]() ![]() Have B
On the way for C. Medical done! Forms sent! Licence Back! Theory Passed! Rigid Training failed. NEED A DRIVING JOB OF ANY KIND TO TRY FOR LICENCE AGAIN! HAPPY TO TRAIN UP!!!!!!
We all started somewhere, none of us were born doing it.
Things I take with me to work now are: Butties, drinks, satnav, pens - ballpoint, felt and gel pen for different parts of tacho and envelope, ruler, ipod walkman, 2 bulldog clips and rubber bands (you will learn what for - trailer plate), beer towel, screwdriver with 6 bits, stanley knife, lock knife (you try undoing wet ropes and straps with gloves on, you will end up cutting the damn things) high vis coat and waistcoat, digi tacho paper (been told we have to carry 2 spares, not sure if true but easy enough to comply with), notepad, headache pills, wetwipes, tissues, 2 pairs of gloves - rubber and leather, book (at the moment I am reading the story of Hindley and Brady), newspaper, hat (MUFC!), sunglasses (yes I know I work nights but I drive home early morning!), money (change for coffee machines), wallet, paperwork folder containing 4 weeks tachos, timesheets weekly and daily, holiday form, some company paperwork like digi tacho instructions, fire regs, memos we are given and so on.... You'll learn all this with experience, nobody actually teaches you these!
Well ladies and gentlemen........
I have just finished my first day (3 hours really but it feels like a full day, I’m drained now) training to become a C+E Driver. I’m learning in a DAF CF85, its not the most modern of wagons but for what it is used for I found it to be quite good, sometimes you struggle to get it into 5th but adding things like this make it more realistic for when you do get on the road (I think!) gearbox is a four over four splitter. (Is this right? I hope so or I’ll look a plumb ![]() What a hard morning it has been. I knew it would not be too dissimilar to driving a rigid but what a difference that bendy bit and those couple of feet make. It is a whole new world. The gears were fine, with the exception of 5th doing impressions of lord lucan and trying to select seventh going up hill after being in fourth, the wagon didn’t like that much and neither did Stu the instructor but at least he laughed about it. Anyway we haven’t gone over the trailer checks yet, we will do that tomorrow to let the traffic calm a bit plus Stu said that they had been done this morning as it had just come out of the workshop 30 mins ago. I got in and sorted my seat out for the journey ahead. He got in the passenger seat and said “right then off we go!” this is where the nerves kicked in and I went all sweaty. I pulled slowly forward as we were in quite a tight parking space and he talked me through it so we got out of there ok and off we went, round through Fareham and up to Eastleigh. It was quite an uneventful drive then we went to Eastleigh for a brew and a smoke. As we were parking up and trying to Parallel Park with the kerb I had trouble finding reverse, found it, got sorted and got a cup of tea. After the break it went to rat poop and was a nightmare, it was as if I had my “driving head” removed and my “[zb] everything up head” put back on. Pulling out of the industrial estate there was numerous cars parked on the road opposite a mini roundabout, they shouldn’t have been there is my defence ma’ lord, but as I turned right Stu ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Not to worry back to the job in hand. I was pootling along the road and wanted to go into 8th on a 40mph limit, having a bit of a blonde moment (no offence to blondes intended here) but somehow I had f l i c k e d (that is not a swear word) the switch back to the lower gear range and selected 8th, in Lee’s [zb] everything up world it was 8th anyway, 4th gear at 35 isn’t very good driving and promptly nearly stood a 40 footer on its nose. After that it was all quite sweet until we got back to yard and Stu said we’ll do a braking exercise, without going from 7th to 4th. No problem thought I. did the run up, into 5th, 20mph cones approaching hit the brake and the truck stops quite sharpish, sat feeling quite smug about it Stu reminds me you have the whole truck length to stop in. Look in the mirror and the cones are no where to be seen, lean out the window and there they are, sat giving the rear wheels of the cab a nice kiss and cuddle, I wonder how many more I will kill this week. I do it one more time and get it right this time. Feeling quite chuffed with myself for being out on the road and leaving all buildings tree’s and signposts standing until Stu says “right then, put it back where you got it!” Males round hairy things think I! ![]() What a thoroughly enjoyable 3 hours (where did they go, I'm sure I was only driving for about 2 minutes). I have to admit it has been very enjoyable and I am so glad I took the leap and started it. Let’s just hope tomorrow goes better than the second half of today. I’ll keep you posted but I’m off for a nap now. Sweet dreams! We dont stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!
Nearly - it's a 4 over 4 range change ![]() A splitter is where each individual gear can be split. I like the bit where he says "off you go then" - just like me ![]() ![]() LINK TO - LGV TRAINING TIPS - LGV INSTRUCTOR 2005 to 2008 - LGV DRIVER 1978 TO 2004
OBSERVER FOR ADVANCED DRIVING 1998 to 2016
Of course you do - it's FUN ![]() ![]() ![]() LINK TO - LGV TRAINING TIPS - LGV INSTRUCTOR 2005 to 2008 - LGV DRIVER 1978 TO 2004
OBSERVER FOR ADVANCED DRIVING 1998 to 2016
is the splitter the nobbly bit on the side of the gear stick, used for "half gears"? was told wont be using that as we werent carrying anything! or do i look even more of a plumb now ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() if you dont ask you will never find out! ![]() We dont stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!
But it does not stop someone like me from giving you daft answers...... ![]() ![]() Last edited by ROG on Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
LINK TO - LGV TRAINING TIPS - LGV INSTRUCTOR 2005 to 2008 - LGV DRIVER 1978 TO 2004
OBSERVER FOR ADVANCED DRIVING 1998 to 2016
i knew it was some where but i just couldnt remember where. diesel dave saves the day again with his very helpful thread about different gear types http://trucknetuk.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=24700 now i dont feel such a plumb asking daft questions We dont stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!
cheers Rog. We dont stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!
Hi Giblsa As ROG said, that's a range change mate. ![]() The 'splitter' is the other switch, which 'splits' each gear if needed. Memory tip:: The range change gives you a 'range' of gears- either 1-4 OR 5-8 and the 'splitter' splits them, ![]() Don't worry mate, that happens to lots of trainees at the stage you're at- trust me. ![]() I'd say you're doing just fine mate, and from the way you wrote your post, it looks like you're the sort who doesn't mind a bit of banter... ....says he hopefully.... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() BTW, you're NOT a plumb, because a plumb is the guy who doesn't ask. ![]() dieseldave
MISSION STATEMENT:- TRYING TO MAKE ADR AS EASY AS ABC FOR EVERYBODY
yes you do. there is no better feeling than working hard and achieving something like a licence of this sort. do you remember the feeling of achievement you had when you passed your car driving test, times that by about 1,000,000. i have only had my class 2 since November and it is a very worthwhile experience. one thing that i keep reminding myself is this:- how many of your mates are able to basically jump in a wagon and drive it? not many of mine can, but fingers crossed, in 4 days time i will be able to do it in a artic! do it man, you know you want to! you wont know until you try it! also you have come to the right place being here. there are loads of helpful and very knowledgeable people. good luck anyway We dont stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!
Giblsa, Im glad your enojoying yourself and i really enjoyed the read but your making me soooooo jealous
![]() Keep up the good work and humour mate ![]() Have B
On the way for C. Medical done! Forms sent! Licence Back! Theory Passed! Rigid Training failed. NEED A DRIVING JOB OF ANY KIND TO TRY FOR LICENCE AGAIN! HAPPY TO TRAIN UP!!!!!!
Nice post Gibsla, hope it comes together for you today. I´ll be reading with interest.
I´m off to the airport 2am tomorrow morning to come over to UK for my C training and test next Thursday (just missed out on Fri 13th ![]() I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my old Grandad, not screaming in terror like the 31 passengers on his bus.
Todays instalment of the intrepid adventures of Giblsa.
Got to the yard at about 0725, parked the car and needed to get hold of a snorkel and flippers to get to the office, it was raining very heavily and I thought this isn’t going to go too well today. You know when you get that feeling….well, I had it! Get given the keys and told to go and get the wagon started, got it started and my new instructor (sorry I can’t remember your name) pulled the rigid out of the front and I pulled the artic out. Waited for him to return the keys of the rigid to the office and then off we go. It was better than yesterday apart from when we were pulling out of the site. For those that don’t know, Zenith do their training from the old HMS Daedalus site which is an old airfield, the South East coast guard helicopter flies from this site. On the way out of the gate I went into rigid driving mode and nearly took out the security barriers and gate until the instructor said “look in this mirror” “oops” were the words that passed my lips! Got to the junction and nearly took out an audi A4 that was turning in to the road we were coming out of. I have no idea how but I just hadn’t seen him. I won’t tell you what I called myself for such a stupid and possibly dangerous mistake. Good job it wasn’t on my test, instant fail springs to mind! Apart from that it went quite well, he decided to take me off the test route along some “tighter” routes as this would improve my concentration and ability on the road in the real world, when you’re not wrapped up in cotton wool and L plates. The traffic was horrendous because of the rain so he said we would have a short lesson as he didn’t want me just sat in traffic for 2 hours and only 1 hour driving, which is fair enough really. The only time I had a bit of a problem was coming out of Botley towards Swanick(sp) (not wing mirror alley, the other road, past Silverdale scrappy) when you get to the end you have to turn right to get back to Fareham/M27 and the kerb on the nearside kicks out a little just before the junction so you have to hug the white line and basically nearly touch the bollard then swing it right a touch so you are ready to turn but can see what is coming from the left. Got round that ok but driving back down Newgate lane, by nook farm, I caught the kerb with my front nearside wheel and then again further along. I have no idea how or why I just did. I have got a four hour lesson tomorrow and will be doing the reversing and coupling/uncoupling as we didn’t do it today because the instructor would have drowned in a matter of minutes out in the rain. I guess tomorrow is another day and all I can say is “Bring it on” Below are some pictures of the instructor parking the wagon. They are not very clear as they were taken with my phone. ![]() ![]() I feel a bit more confident now towards the test but I'm not getting to confident as that will just blow up in my face. We will have to see how the reversing and the coupling/uncoupling goes tomorrow. At least it didn’t go to rat poop again today which I believe is a good sign, as long as I have another rat poop day I should be ok, please don’t let it happen on the test day. We dont stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!
Hi Giblsa, I was only joking after your comment yesterday, but you're welcome to it mate. ![]() BTW, that gearshift pattern is from the Volvo FL10 in my gearbox topic. Having read day #2 of your C+E efforts, I'd say that, during slow-speed manoeuvres, you might need to look in your mirrors even more often than normal. ![]() Of course, 'slow-speed' means exactly that....... so another tip is to double check before pressing the 'loud' pedal. ![]() IMHO, the training school would be quite happy for you to wear out the mirrors from over-use rather than settle claims for trashed vehicles and roadside furniture. ![]() I still reckon you're doing OK mate, so, steady as she goes eh?? ![]() dieseldave
MISSION STATEMENT:- TRYING TO MAKE ADR AS EASY AS ABC FOR EVERYBODY
that gearshit pattern is exactly the same as the one i am using in the DAF. cheers for the pointers regarding mirrors, i know that now ![]() ![]() not to worry, its better to get these BIG mistakes out the way now rather than on the test, i suppose thats why we do it ![]() We dont stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!
Fascinating read Giblsa, brings back memories when I did it 20 years ago. Good luck to you!
I'm also thinking the same as everyone else at this point, show me a driver who hasn't taken car door mirrors off and I'll show you a liar!! I do it regularly, whenever there is a something on at Old Trafford, they always park half on the kerb without folding the mirrors in. Nice Range Rover without a door mirror now after last week's Springsteen gig there.... Don't worry about it, we don't, just don't do it on your test!! I also can't remember the last time I drove a manual, all our lorries 05 onwards are autos or pre-select (Actros you know the one - Warning the handbrake is not applied... warning the handbrake is not applied!!) Again, don't bother with that for now, they won't be putting you in a £60K 08 Actros just after passing your test. Another thing I forgot on my list is a torch. For finding the trailer brake in the dark!! I'm looking forward to reading your installment tomorrow about coupling/uncoupling. I bet none of us do it in the correct sequence, we all do it the quickest way!!
LINK TO - LGV TRAINING TIPS - LGV INSTRUCTOR 2005 to 2008 - LGV DRIVER 1978 TO 2004
OBSERVER FOR ADVANCED DRIVING 1998 to 2016
cheers rog. i have already got that and printed it off. no offence to dave but it is by the side of the lav at the minute and everytime i go to drop the kids off at the pool i have a read through it. i think it is going in but we will see tomorrow hopefully! cheers for all the support guys and gals. if you are thinking of doing your c+e but dont know all i can say is do it! it might be a bit daunting with the size of it but once you look at it through the mirrors (im sure i used mine at least twice today ![]() ![]() We dont stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!
When finished with it - remember to recycle - bog paper ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() LINK TO - LGV TRAINING TIPS - LGV INSTRUCTOR 2005 to 2008 - LGV DRIVER 1978 TO 2004
OBSERVER FOR ADVANCED DRIVING 1998 to 2016
Hi Giblsa, No offence taken mate. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() dieseldave
MISSION STATEMENT:- TRYING TO MAKE ADR AS EASY AS ABC FOR EVERYBODY
This thread is in danger of 'going down the pan'
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I'm feeling a bit 'FLUSH' now ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I know ![]() LINK TO - LGV TRAINING TIPS - LGV INSTRUCTOR 2005 to 2008 - LGV DRIVER 1978 TO 2004
OBSERVER FOR ADVANCED DRIVING 1998 to 2016
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91 posts
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