42 years old Noob

Going for my asessment and theory test on 22nd May :open_mouth: . When thats over going to do c then c+e straight away.

Assuming I pass (eventually) :confused: what are my chances of work? I have 25 years driving experience with cars vans and trailers. Does this along with my age give me an advantage in finding work as a new Lgv driver over the younger ones? What are the chances of being taken on?

I ask this because most of the posts I read from new drivers having trouble finding work seem to be from younger ppl.

Many thanks

Nope, the problems with finding work are mainly (if not all) down to insurance companies. These are the people that make sure no company can hire people who haven’t driven trucks for 2 years. They are then forced to get agency work, and get the same new drivers, and people from all over who have bought an HGV licence on ebay (other fake/dodgy licence suppliers are available).

Your age won’t help or hinder, just being over 25 is a major advantage, because you’re a more sensible driver now. Who knows, maybe being older will help. Only way to know is to try it and find out.

Good luck anyway.

Thanks Alli looks like I´ll have to use the good looks and charm then.

**:D :smiley: :smiley: Welcome schrodingers cat :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:**

If you click the link in my signature it will lead you to an index where you can access a lot of info which may be of use to you :smiley: :smiley:

GENERAL DRIVING TIPS BEFORE STARTING LGV C TRAINING

A number of LGV instructors, myself included, are finding that the general driving standard of many trainees coming to do their LGV ‘C’ course is not at a very high standard.
I have had a number who ‘THINK’ they are good but find myself having to go ‘BACK TO BASICS’ before they can really start learning how to handle a truck.
For the trainee this means wasted time on the course and that means that the trainee is paying good money to be taught how to drive again :exclamation:

There are a number of things that a driver can do before starting their first LGV training course to improve their general driving.

The obvious ones are to practise the DSA procedures, which could mean losing the rear view mirror, and then, every time to set off, doing the mirror, mirror, blind spot routine. Checking BOTH side mirrors before moving within the lane you are in, signalling or before the increasing & decreasing of your speed.

The less obvious is to practise forward planning — the THINKING bit.

A good way of doing this is to use your brakes a lot less than what you do at present — sounds daft but think about it — to use the brakes less then you will have to ease off earlier — to ease off earlier you will have to plan ahead more.
I don’t mean by changing down through the gearbox either as that will waste fuel.
A good example would be when approaching a queue of standing traffic, which is waiting for traffic lights to change or waiting to enter a roundabout.
The moment you see the queue, check mirrors and ease off in the gear you are in. let the vehicle slow down on it’s own, dipping the clutch as necessary to control any possible stalling. If the vehicle gets to the lowest gear speed (usually first gear) then engage that gear.
If, whilst easing off, you anticipate that the traffic is going to proceed, then engage the gear that will take you with them without rushing up to the rear of the queue.
You will be leaving a large area of tarmac in front of your vehicle when you ease off early. If another vehicle goes into the gap then re-adjust to accommodate it. If you curse at the vehicle that went into your forward space then decide if a few feet of tarmac is worth getting stressed over!!

When following other traffic, do you touch your brakes when they touch theirs? — If yes, then you are too close. Back off so that you can ease off without the use of brakes. Again, this requires a good deal of forward planning, which will be very useful when you drive a truck.

The general idea is to never stop but to keep moving forward even if at a very slow pace.

If you have to use the brakes then plan to use them gradually. Start by taking up the play of the pedal then resting the weight of your foot & leg on the pedal. That is then followed by squeezing down onto the pedal and squeeze down to a depth that will do the job during the middle of your braking so that you can ease off the pedal well before you actually need to come to a stop.

Welcome.

It’ll put you in the same position as me…at the bottom of the greasy pole.

25 years experience driving small vehicles and your age won’t make that much difference if you’ve no experience driving LGVs.

All things being equal, it might sway the decision, but a 25 year old with two years experience is going to be favourite.

Fantastic advice Rog.

I´ve seen some of your earlier posts and was talking to the wife about them while we were walking the dog earlier. I have already pledged to drive like a learner right up to the test, even taking the wider lines needed for a long vehicle. I do have experience of driving lwb transit with trailer, no internal mirror and reversing into tight spaces, (+ to my shame many caravan holidays, plz don´t hate me :blush: ) so I hope I have the measure of how to steer a trailer in reverse. Just getting used to the size will be the problem. Is it true that a longer trailer is easier to handle? (oh I hope so).
My biggest problem will be getting used to driving on the left as I am moving back from Spain after 8 years.

My biggest problem will be getting used to driving on the left as I am moving back from Spain after 8 years.

The examiners do not take too kindly if you drive directly into oncoming traffic :unamused: :wink: :laughing: :laughing:

Is it true that a longer trailer is easier to handle?

YES :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: - you already know the principals of trailer reversing so when it comes to doing CE ( artic - not W&D :exclamation: ), you will have a head start.

Thanks Mac I think your right, maybe trying for class 2 temp may help to get a foot in a door, fingers crossed.

Rog your right I dont think the head on scenario will help especially on roundabouts (only once during a visit back to the UK honestly). I´m hiring a car before my asessment to get the hang of it, but its one thing in a car and another in something completely different to what your used to driving.

I´m relieved that you think the previous trailer experience will help but I think getting used to wheel shuffling and the very exaggerated looks in the mirror will be the next hurdle.

I alrady feel nervous about taking the cat c test because right now I wouldn´t feel confident about re-taking my car test never mind all the extra things I will have to think about.

Thank god for the cd’s and books available, have taken the theory test simulator 7 times now and not failed, hope nerves don´t get me on the day :open_mouth: still planning on taking it another 20 times before the test.

Thanks again to all the replies I guarantee I will ask hundreds more questions before the big D day.

I´m relieved that you think the previous trailer experience will help but I think getting used to wheel shuffling and the very exaggerated looks in the mirror will be the next hurdle.

MIRRORS - YES - LOADS OF THEM - not looked for a few seconds :question: - better look NOW - IN BOTH - not just LOOK but SEE - they can tell the difference :exclamation: :exclamation:

wheel shuffling

  • NO - they prefer you to use pull/push in the higher range of gears but as long as you are in control of the steering then, these days, just about anything goes.

Don’t get me wrong Schro, I think you should do them back to back if you can afford it. Just don’t expect miracles waving a fresh CE licence under employer’s noses that’s all. You might get lucky, but a lot of door-stepping will be involved otherwise to get a break.

Thanks for all the advice guys, going in with my eyes a bit more open now and a slightly less rose tinted hue on the trucking world.

I´m still going for it just realise that I have to be either lucky or spend time door-knocking. I´m happy to start agency if they will have me anyway.

If you have a clean licence, a digi tacho card, and your own car, and prepared to be flexible, agencies will leap at you. You will need to hunt around to find the ones that are honest with you and get you work. I’m with 3, and only 1 has got me work recently.

Yeah agencies will leap, but they they’ve done hee-haw for me.

I’ve with 4, but since mid-Feb, I’ve had 4 days B work out of one, and 1 day C work out of another. Dealing direct would be more successful if you can get talking to enough people and put the word out on the street.