I don’t really do them anymore but the trainer was on his ADR course, so I was asked to conduct some driving assessments yesterday.
I had a few good candidates, and one young lad who is a member on here, and he proved to be an excellent driver with a great attitude. I parted some of my wisdom (debateable), and after I wondered, if you only had the chance to give a new driver one piece of helpful and “will stay with him forever” advise, what would you tell him?
NEVER turn your back on a forky! They’ll have ur ankles!
Get your head tested.
Try to be polite and cheerful at ALL times, it can be difficult as we all know, but a smile and a bit of courtesy can go a long way to easing the daily/nightly struggle. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice, treat the shunter as your friend (sometimes VERY difficult), be reasonable but don’t take crap from anyone.
Above all else though my advice is don’t get stressed out, it simply makes life more unpleasant for everyone!!
Chilled out… (mostly 
)
Get a trade & choose a different career …
As a new driver myself and to much disgust probably from others on here, I’d say if your passionate about driving and only want to drive then do it! It’s your choice! There are jobs out there and you might find it difficult to start, but be persistent it will pay off! 
forgot the words of wisdom lol! advice would be left mirror, left mirror, left mirror and don’t rush! 
Regs,
Nick
mkb600:
Try to be polite and cheerful at ALL times, it can be difficult as we all know, but a smile and a bit of courtesy can go a long way to easing the daily/nightly struggle. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice, treat the shunter as your friend (sometimes VERY difficult), be reasonable but don’t take crap from anyone.Above all else though my advice is don’t get stressed out, it simply makes life more unpleasant for everyone!!
Chilled out… (mostly
As a new driver I have found all the above to be good advice,
Especially the ‘don’t get stressed out’. If you can keep the attitude of ‘I refuse to get stressed’ most other things pan-out.
Stress is Britain’s biggest killer and 90% of stress can be avoided with the right mindset.
All IMO of couirse.
kemaro:
Get a trade & choose a different career …
+1^^^^^ Oh & stay away from agencies…!
Never Pee against the wind…
OH you mean about driving
Engage Brain before the engine
Use common sense at all time
Check Things your self (the guy in the office has no idea what you truck can and can’t take or fit!!!)
If Unsure ask
If your unsure get out and look
Don’t panic and think things (manoeuvres) through before making a move.
Don’t pull forward 5 feet when you can pull forward 20 feet - always use as much space as you can to go forward, as it’ll make lining up the reverse much easier.
Don’t trust anyone else’s assessment of your vehicle & load, it’s your licence so check them both thoroughly, before during and after each trip. As above says, take all the room you can. Everyone was a noob at one time and years of experience later still manage to take a couple of shunts, especially when others ate watching, relax & enjoy.
Ha, I,m open to POSITIVE advice, and thanks again “theonlybigman”!
I had an assessment for my class 1 today which went well, just cant wait to get that license sorted then next step ADR!
Best advice I ever got as a new driver was … if in doubt about ANYTHING, don’t be embarrassed to ask . 99.9 % of other drivers will help you out .
The other 1% are the same kind of people that become tabloid journalists or bankers .
Dont assume anything! Check everything, your load, your paper work, before you drive in somewhere so you know you can get back out again, check you’ve cleared that parked lorry whilst reversing close etc!
Never rush anything that you do, remain composed at all times…And never ever, respond to pressure from other road users.
Don’t trust a sat-nav!
Use in conjunction with a good map, and if you have a phone with maps on it use this as well. Can be really useful to find the way into a place!!! If in doubt stop and ask.
Agree with earlier posts about getting out and having a stroll up to where you are going, can save an awful lot of aggro and embarrassment.
If anyone tells you they had a bigger truck in last week - don’t believe them!!!
But most of all use your eyes, road signs CAN be useful, especially low bridge warnings
My hgv instructor told me the following and it sure helped me…
Don’t be a c**t take a shunt
If you don’t know, don’t go
If in doubt, get out
And most of all enjoy yourself 
If you think you may hit something when reversing you probably will, get out and have a look.
Smile and be polite, particularly to miserable goods in staff (remember you’re only visiting the dump they’re stuck with it)
If in doubt ask.
And finally don’t attempt to inflate a super single with a coin operated forecourt airline. 
Spooky558:
Don’t pull forward 5 feet when you can pull forward 20 feet - always use as much space as you can to go forward, as it’ll make lining up the reverse much easier.
So true … I always do this