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 
