AndyM's C+E Training Logbook

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
41

Nah, its because of work. They have got to sort out all the recruits that are going for the jobs. So when they have a slot, I’ll have it. I just hope thats soon…

I tell ya, I am so gutted. I actually knocked down the middle post, and all through training, I have been quite a way from it. Even Bill, my instructor thought I was wernt telling him the truth when I said I had never reversed anything before… It was going like an absolute dream.

But today, as soon as the Examiner said, “Okay, when your ready”… I went to pot. I started backing up, and didnt get the lock on fast enough, then a was miles away from the yellow line which wasnt pushing the trailer round and I thought to myself, I aint gonna make this. Tried to correct it, but then I heard the DONK of the cone B going over. I just sat there, and thought Nooooo… It cant be… But yep, it was. The examiner Yeld Stop, and that was it… end off, thanx very much… and Goodnight!!

He moved the cone out the way, and I carried on, but by then I had basically given up and even trying to get the trailer in the box, I took 2 shunts, and hit the barrier nearly knocking into Lakeside Shopping center!!!, Put it this way, I didnt just touch it, I Smacked it!!

Anyway, then we done the braking exercise, and that went okay, and then we went out on the road. I knew by then I had failed, so I just drove around… and as I say, only got 2 minors. One for Observastion on a roundabout, but he said that was 50/50, and one for hesitating. At some roadworks, I didnt think I had enough room, but he thought I had sufficient room, but I waited til a bus coming the other way pulled over and he flashed me, so I went, and found that there was loads of room…

But apart from that, every corner that I kept bumping up, and kerbing, and hitting, I went round with no probs at all.

Just goes to show what nerves do to you…

42

Commiserations Andy, but at least you did a near perfect drive with only 2 minors and you know what to expect next time.

43

I’m sure it would me easier if you could go out on the drive first, to settle the nerves then come back and do the reverse.

Why dont they do that :exclamation:

44

looks like the drinks are off then… i am sorry for you… when r u going for it again

45

Thanx Coffee… I have heard al the best drivers pass second time round… lets hope so eh??.. :sunglasses:

And yeah Shed… I wish that would happen too, I mean, if you could go out on the drive, and as you say, settle the nerves, then you could come back do the reverse and then go straight into the Unhitching exercise…
Make perfect sense to me.

Yeah, goof… the drinks are off buddy… and I’m the one thats sorry.

I have to wait to hear about a retest. As I am training with fords own instructors, its not like a normal school. It all goes through the personell dept, so the instructors tell the personell that I failed and they get me booked up for my retest. Ive only got one more shot and thats it, out of the running for this time round.
I cant even go to another school, and use them for the test and pass, as that will throw me to the back of the line and I’ll have to start all over again, when they re advertise for the jobs… and there are 90 people waiting for training now after the last recruiment intake, so If I dont get it this time, It will be next year before I get another chance… and thats if I am lucky

46

Sorry to hear you failed Andy. Don’t think about what happens if you fail next time, thats just an added pressure that you dont need!

Put it all down o experience, what have you learned from today? Well, by the sounds of it you’ve learned that you CAN pass the test. Your actual drive was fine. Secondly you have learned nerves are evil!! Like you say you have had no problems at all all week with the reverse and you messed it up today. Nerves plain and simple. Relax, you’ll get there next time, and if you don’t we’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there.

All the best Mate Mart.

47

Hard luck mate 2 minors is EXCELLENT.Don’t worry about how many people are behind you.As for reversing mate the golden rule Get Out And Look.They want to see you put it in the hole safely.If you lose sight of something or you’re not sure where it is,stop,pull forward and start it again.It’s what we all do everyday when it doesn’t go in first time.Keep your chin up mate you gave him a nice drive today with 2 minors.And yes,IMHO,the best drivers don’t pass first time!(My Uncle Jim was one of the worst drivers I’ve ever seen and yup,you guessed,passed first time!)

48

Andy,
I’m gutted for you mate, no doubt you’ll crack it next time.

Kate

49

good luck for next time!

50

sorry to see you failed andy it seems lady luck didn t show up today for you . the skills are their ,just bad bad luck i am putting in for class 2 shortly at vast expense.anyway stay positive and KEEP IT REAL !

51

:imp: :imp: :imp:
ANDY!!!

Oh well…you have until March to pass OK!!! otherwise you are buying the beer for the whole WEEK!!!..thats alot of beer my friend :open_mouth:

I have faith in you.

Bully

52

Thanx for your post Ian… and I wish you all the very very best for your class 2 mate, I really do… And Welcome to TrucknetUK mate… :smiley:

And Bully, I really do hope I get a retest before the end of march. If I dont, as I said to you once before, you wont get rid of me. I’ll live in your back garden in a tent, and get my CDL (the american class one) and become an ex-pat me self…LOL…
Besides, from what Ive heard about the UK vs USA MATS (Mid America Truck Show!!) Drinking comps, I think my credit card has only got a £6000 credit limit… and thats not gonna be enough is it… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

By the way, Ive been practicing tonight Bully… so I’ll be in full swing for the end of march…LOL… hic :sunglasses:

53

Sorry to hear your result Andy - nerves are hellish things, they’ve been the root cause of both my Class 1 fails. I did exactly the same thing as you on my first test - I hit the middle cone on the reverse; I say hit, I mean smacked. I say smacked, I mean crunched. I say crunched, I mean absolutely, totally and utterly obliterated the ■■■■ thing so much so that it is now a permanent smudge on the reversing area in the test centre. I then told the examiner that my test was now complete and that I will be smoking a ■■■ whilst he clears the area of any other cones that I decide I don’t like the look of.

But the best of luck for your next test - with only 2 minors for the drive that should buoy you with ample confidence to nail the sucker next time around.

(By the way I passed on my second attempt - it’s just that the examiner had to keep to his pre-arranged ratio of passes and fails!!) :smiling_imp: :laughing:

Kind Regards,

Popeye.

54

Popeye:
… snip… I then told the examiner that my test was now complete and that I will be smoking a ■■■ whilst he clears the area of any other cones that I decide I don’t like the look of.
… snip…

Hahahaha, thats what I should have done Popeye… thing is, I wasnt even given the choice of going out on the road or not… Everyone was saying that the Examiner asks you if you want to carry on, but the guy who took me, just carried on as normal… I actually thought for one moment that he might ask me to do it again at the end, as I gave him such a good drive… but alas, he didnt… :blush:

well, its now monday night, and I still havent heard about a retest, But I’ll keep you all informed… :smiley:

And thanx to everyone for the well wishes and post of comiserations…
Next time guys… Next time… hee hee :smiley: