A different trainer diary

I really enjoyed John’s diary which gave us the story of 2 fellas on a short CE course and their test passes. (Well done BTW).

This made me think about other aspects of my work. So I’m going to put a diary up about my work for tomorrow (and it may extend). I have to train an assessor for a national company based near me. I thought it might be interesting for newbies to know what happens “behind the scenes” and who that assessor is who takes you out for your nervous pre-employment drive.

All I know about my candidate is that he’s an experienced CE driver who is moving over to assessing.

Oh, the other thing I know is that I can drive as badly as I want and he should be able to pick up the faults! There’s many an instructor who can vouch for my skill at poor driving! (Trust me, it takes years of practice to drive as badly as me - - and then be able to drive perfectly in the same session. Messes with your head a bit!!)

So watch this space, if you want, for something quite different to normal.

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Peter Smythe:
I really enjoyed John’s diary which gave us the story of 2 fellas on a short CE course and their test passes. (Well done BTW).

Oh, the other thing I know is that I can drive as badly as I want and he should be able to pick up the faults! There’s many an instructor who can vouch for my skill at poor driving! (Trust me, it takes years of practice to drive as badly as me - - and then be able to drive perfectly in the same session. Messes with your head a bit!!)

So watch this space, if you want, for something quite different to normal.

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Les Dawson = Piano :slight_smile:

Good call Pete. A new idea lets tell the lads what happens from our side of the fence.

A true lifelong trainer needs to earn a living but also really, really wants his guys to pass. In the last few years there are companies that totally depend on retest fees to survive. The trainers that bother to offer advice without limit on here are not in that camp.

This thread is about trainer diaries so I guess until you’re bored we will provide probably the best advice we can.

Let me begin by saying if I had a son that needed training there are only 2 trainers I would recommend. Either Peter Smythe or Bob Holder, who occasionally works for KW&Daughters in Maldon, Essex. A true master of the art.

Peter Smythe:
I have to train an assessor for a national company based near me. I thought it might be interesting for newbies to know what happens “behind the scenes” and who that assessor is who takes you out for your nervous pre-employment drive.

I only hope the people that read this thread understand how lucky they are to have this level of input FREE from someone that gives a ■■■■.

Nice one Pete

Not the most pleasant weather - pouring with rain! And I am convinced that the harder it rains, the less chance there is of doing trailer drops under cover!

Never mind - big coat on and off to site… will be back later.

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Just got home, removed soggy clothes (rain - nothing else!) and got a luvverly mug of tea in front of me. So, as promised, a bit of a diary on the day’s activities.

The company who asked me to train their assessor is in a truly massive factory complex. Possbily the biggest Iv’e been on since Fords at Dagenham. Went to the wrong end of the site first then to the correct end and was still a good 10 minutes early. Reported to security, signed in and was escorted to the traffic office. I don’t exaggerate if I say it was a good 5 minutes walk. I was introduced to Fred (not his real name) and we made our way to a quiet office to make a start.

I asked him to explain what he thought his new role of driver assessor actually entailed. This he did, explaining that he started assessing last week but wasn’t at all sure if he was doing it correctly.

So we started with licence checks and assessment reporting systems. Tea break. Then we made our way to the yard where the units are parked. Didn’t count them but they stretched as far as the eye could see. When I asked why there were so many trucks apparently parked up, I was told it was because most deliveries happened at night with trucks normally leaving between 1700 and 0100. We found our 12 plate Scania R400 and it was time to start the role play. I became one of my alter egos - a 25 year old fella who passed his test first time last week at a local, very reputable, driving school. He passed on a w+d. Fred was hell-bent on teaching me the vehicle checks. This was his first real learning curve; assessing is nothing to do with training. He must get the idea of leaving me alone to do the checks giving guidance when requested eg where do you check the oil? Unit checked and all ok. Now to another massive yard to locate the trailer. Once again, Fred wanted to teach me how to pick it up. Some instruction was handy eg use of air suspension but the rest I could have managed without because I could already couple up a drawbar and it really isn’t that different!

Light check - o dear. Trailer top markers and os tail light not working. Never mind. It’s only torrential rain and gale force winds! Uncouple and pick up another trailer further down the yard. But this time the trailer had been dropped high making it impossible to pick up. 3 or 4 attempts nearly removing the rear of the unit and then the penny dropped for Fred. Maybe we could raise the rear of the unit so the 5th wheel would actually make contact with the pin. All coupled up, light check. O dear. Same set of lights out. Serious reprimand for Fred as coupling not checked either. So this time we took another outfit, already coupled, and with all it’s lights working.

We made hesitant progress across the yard and out onto the road. Negotiated a series of roundabouts and then into a village with a nasty bend and loads of parked cars. Sorted. Straight up a more major road. Fred got it again as I wasn’t easing off for green lights. Worse still, it was very wet. Right turn at some lights. More problems for Fred as he forgot to mention headboard swing (not a feature with w+d). More traffic lights too fast. As I became more confident, I started missing mirrors and pulling up too close to traffic in queues. Fred sorted that - well done. Then he got me for speeding. Then for chopping the trailer across chevrons, not signalling off a roundabout and nearly clouting the kerb leaving the next roundabout. All good stuff. Another drive up a major road with loads of lights and it’s looking as if he’s getting the idea. Time for tea and bacon butty.

Whilst drinking tea, we discussed the drive and he could see what he had missed but was also pleased with the stuff he’d found. Decided it was time to stop trying to instruct and sit back and assess. Time for the next alter ego - I’m now a middle aged ex factory worker who passed his test 3 rd attempt last week on w+d. I’ve got little confidence but need this job desperately as I’m redundant and now 2 months behind with the mortgage and the credit cards are maxed out.

Fred asked sensible questions to establish my background and pointed out that he would be making notes - and also said these would not all be negative so not to worry.

Eventually, we left the layby. Acceleration painfully slow and the Opticruise had just about lost all interest! Finally got to around 25 mph in a straight line. Can almost feel the pants filling - - I’m so nervous!! Fred selected the route thoughtfully. No turns. Just a straight road with lights every mile or so. Then it happened - “at the next lights we’ll turn left please”. PANIC. It’s a not very wide slip road. Railings to the left, traffic lights to the right. And I’ve got 45’ of trailer behind this Scania that sits half way up to the sky. Fred noticed the panic (couldn’t really miss it in truth) and calmly but firmly talked me into position. Once there, it was clear that I had over-reacted. But the look on his face was priceless! Lights green, limped around the corner and very gingerly up to 35 in the 40 limit. Turned into a village. A bit twisty so good steering practice. Overhanging trees and oncoming traffic. Stopped rapidly, let everyone go, then made my way. Then onto a proper main road where the confidence started to build and we reached 40 in a 40 limit. Even managed to slow to 30 for the 30 limit. Reached a big roundabout and was asked to follow the road ahead - 3rd exit. Did all that without drama so feeling better all the time. Then to leave at the next slip road. Sorely tempted to slow down on the carriageway but decided to behave. Right at the lights at the top, across the bridge and right down the opposite slip road and onto the dual carriageway again. Joined at close on 50 - quite proud of myself. Lorry waiting to pull out of a filling station said something about coffee beans as I didn’t move over to let him in. Fred told me off. A couple more roundabouts without drama, up a minor road then a few more roundabouts and back to base.

At this point Fred asked me to reverse into a bay . Got it with one shunt and was duly congratulated.

Fred gave me a debrief which was accurate in content but lacking style in it’s delivery.

So I gave him many tips on how to tell someone they’ve got it wrong without making them feel like ■■■. Next session planned for Thursday when I hope I’ll be able to give him the good news that he’s shown he knows what he’s doing.

Often wondered what it’s like to get home and write a diary - now I know!!

Good luck all, Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Nice write up Peter :smiley:

I liked doing role play in that situation = great fun trying to do wrong without being dangerous in any way

Just doing some prep for tomorrow and was wondering what the weather would be doing (torrential rain at the moment). There is a God! Sunny intervals all day - - but it doesn’t say what happens between the “sunny intervals”!

Tomorrow “Fred” will meet an arrogant “been there, done everything” prat of a driver in his mid forties. Can’t imagine what bad habits will come out the woodwork!!

Hope Fred’s bowels are ok cos he’s gonna get the ride of his life!!

Will update this little diary tomorrow.

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

In his mid 40’s now that is taking role play to the extreme :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Unkind

:laughing: :laughing:

Well, that’s the second and final day completed. Pleased to note that the sky had finally run out of rain and decided to settle for overcast.

Arrived on site 10 minutes early and made my way though security to the transport office to meet my candidate - “Fred”. Spent quite a long time discussing the standards that should be accepted, and the reasons why. He was ready and eager to make a start so straight down to the yard. On the walk (which takes a few minutes) he was telling me about an assessment he’d done yesterday and described my planned alter ego to a tee. The real one was a bit younger, but was much better at talking the job than actually doing it. Quite correctly, that driver has been recommended for remedial training. But that took my material straight out of my hands. So a rapid change of plan and I became a fella who had been driving artics for 20 years. We went for a 15 minute drive and then stopped so Fred could discuss the errors of my ways. One handed steering, occasionally letting go altogether, lumpy steering and no signals. Not difficult faults to spot and Fred decided he would not be offering work to this driver.

The next few minutes was another experienced driver. Sadly he wasn’t offered work either due to his inability to stick anywhere near the speed limits and the mirrors may as well have been removed. Add some “attitude” to other road users and that’s him gone.

Then I became a young man with a new licence. Trained on artic but with little confidence. The drive was a bit on the steady side and too much effort was put on keeping in lanes - to the point that we were running 3 or 4 inches from the kerb at 30 mph. Not good. This character was offered work accompanied by a mentor for a few days.

The next one had just passed on w+d. He had been driving Scania Opticruise on CAT C so no probs there (today’s vehicle was R420). Too wide on some turns. Upset a car when pulling out of a junction having not realised how much road we were going to need. But the route continued through a housing estate and down a long country lane, narrow with a 90 degree been on it. Locals know it as Sookholme. He managed all that in fine style, back through the small town and into the depot. Sorted the reverse with one shunt. Explanation of artic coupling compared to w+d and he demonstrated this straight away. Offered work accompanied by a mentor.

Another natter regarding giving directions, appropriate intervention etc etc. As far as I am concerned, Fred is ok and I’m ready for home.

Then the conversation turns to people who pass tests with us and there is a strong indication that they should sign with one of 3 agencies with a view to working for this particular employer. So that’s a bonus!

So the added extra is that I’ve also stumbled across possible employment for new drivers. Happy days.

Time for my cocoa.

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Great write up Pete, thoroughly enjoyed this post :smiley:

Nicely written, Pete. I enjoyed reading that - thanks :slight_smile: