Getting stuck in junctions. I don’t know how but I always end up coming out of a junction, almost hitting a lamppost or one of those little lit up cone thingies that tell you to stay left or right, then having to reverse to get through the corner (didn’t help I was taking an 18t through a 5t weight limit (there was no bridge and the sign came out of nowhere)).
And again when the sat nav sent me straight past where I needed to be than made me take a “sharp right” (too flipping sharp), and the MAN with absolutely no steering at all, couldn’t make it. Makes me miss the first truck they had me in (and makes me a little glad to be put back on 7.5t for no money that is an absolute killer (on the body). Thanks agency!)
I just looked through your posts and you have very recently passed C so I am thinking that you need to take things slower to give yourself time to get used to new situations - I get the impression you are rushing … am I wrong ?
htmldude:
And again when the sat nav sent me straight past where I needed to be than made me take a “sharp right” (too flipping sharp),
Your sat nav can’t make you do anything mate. It can only offer you advice on which route to take based on the limited knowledge it has of the road system. This, even in the best truck specific sat navs, should be used in conjunction with common sense.
I was driving along once with a driver who had previously followed a sat nav into a bridge. My sat nav tried to direct me down a side road as a short cut to the main road I needed to get on. Was a very sharp turn with cars on both sides, very narrow and totally unsuitable for the artic we were in. He said to me “see, sat navs are rubbish, it just tried to send you down a dodgy road”.
To which my reply was “yeah, but did I take that road” ?
Getting stuck in junctions. I don’t know how but I always end up coming out of a junction, almost hitting a lamppost or one of those little lit up cone thingies that tell you to stay left or right, then having to reverse to get through the corner
I’ll bet your approaching junctions as you would in a van or 7.5t. Think as you approach that you need wide wide turning and use all road if need be to get into correct position.
I used to do exactly same but now very aware of turning circle or lack of !
Still occasionally creep forward when turning right waiting for oncoming traffic , only just making it round as I’ve edged too far to make a clean turn.
It’ll get easier honest !! Take your time and as much room as you need, best over exaggerate room you need till you get more familiar with your truck
Judging junctions can be tricky without experience, but the more you do the better you’ll know what to expect your lorry to do.
Go really deep into turns to give your back end enough room to swing round and cut in, wait for a gap in oncoming traffic and then use their lane if necessary. Go over dashed white lines if you have to, that’s why they’re only made of paint.
Found the best way with junctions is to treat the cornerspace as if I was turning in the artic wether I am in that or the smaller rigids . Basically pinch as much space as you can and then even the tightest turns are easier and if looks tight slow it down
I was on multi drop carrying steel thursday jn a very long flat bed c rigid all around north devon and having to cross exmoore ,the sat nav in the truck tried to send me down some very narrow looking roads linking one A road to another which was strange as my sat nav correctly set up for the dimentions of a truck rarely does. I pulled over and checked the settings of the sat nav which i found was incorrectly set up for a truck .what I’m saying is never trust a sat nav and if it looks too narrow find another way or carry a map as i do and double check ,it only takes minutes to check but can save you hours if you get stuck. I also find google maps on my phone useful as it will pinpoint your position so you can zoom in or out and find a more suitable route.
ROG:
I just looked through your posts and you have very recently passed C so I am thinking that you need to take things slower to give yourself time to get used to new situations - I get the impression you are rushing … am I wrong ?
I was going to say this…the reason being,when I was learning I found I couldn’t get the gears in time for the junction etc and my uncle said slow down…such a simple thing will give you time to look and will make all the difference honestly. Also remember this,take as much room as you can as if you go in too tight you can’t get it back…as you are finding.
It’ll get easier shag,this is your learning curve that’s all.
(there was no bridge and the sign came out of nowhere)).
