Well, excited, nervous, impatient, ect. My C&E course and test with Peter Smythe starts on Monday. Anybody have any advice/tips for me. Do I need to be trying to learn or memorise anything before I start? All help greatly appreciated.
all the best,
wish me luck,
Rich
Rich, enjoy the experience. They won’t expect you to have done much preparation before you arrive. Put all your faith in your trainer. He knows 100% of what it takes to get you ready for the day.
Know the speed limit know what gear you’re in and always know what’s happening behind. Get them right for 50 minutes and you are mostly there.
PS: start the reverse with some right hand lock.
Thanks John, Is that a little lock a lot of lock or full lock, or do I wait and see how the trainer does it?
Rich
Although I haven’t experienced Peter’s training yet, you’ll see that nobody has a bad word to say about any of the trainers. I’m sure they’re more than capable to handle your problems. Drawbars are a bit more twitchy than an artic though.
Only thing I’ll mention is that air lines etc are a pain in the backside to get on if you haven’t done it before. Don’t expect them to go on without some back pressure… that or I’m doing it wrong.
I would not like to advise in advance of your trainer but as we have very similar vehicles when you stop at cones A & A1 (the start cones) the Iveco sign on the steering wheel will be upright. We teach to turn it 1.5 revolutions to the right. Go back until you see about a third of the trailer in the left mirror (normally a mark there to judge it by) then FULL lock left. When you see cone B in offside mirror get the whole thing straight and you’re nearly there.
You sound like you want and are keen to learn so my money is on a 1st time pass with around 4/5 minor faults. Without even knowing you.
Good luck
My money is on a clean sheet as PSTT trainees have been getting recently. 
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Each trainer teaches the reverse differently. They will probably have marks on the trailer to help you out.
I never needed lock, just a couple of turns 
as its a WnD and does not need large steering input to correct your heading.
Best of luck and enjoy the training.
Are you staying in BnB? (The meals are very nice and beds are comfy in the BnB that Pete books for he courses).
Peter tells me the B&B deal is only available for folks over an hour away and I’m a 45 min drive to it so I’ll be going home at night to write my diary, even if no-one reads it I found that writing one helped me to asses the days driving when I did my class 2.
Rich
Yes that is correct about the BnB.
It will make for an interesting read and bring back memories.
quote=“LGVTrainer”]
You sound like you want and are keen to learn so my money is on a 1st time pass with around 4/5 minor faults. Without even knowing you.
Good luck
[/quote]
dar1976:
My money is on a clean sheet as PSTT trainees have been getting recently. .
Thank John, 4/5 minors would be nice but I’ll take any pass and be delighted.
Thanks Dean, I don’t feel any pressure ay all after that prediction 
I remember Harry predicted I would pass my C with 4 minors and I was so nervous that I got 2 minors before I had even left the yard and up untill then I had the reversing down cold.
R
Best advice is to arrive well rested and ready to do some enjoyable graft. It’s well documented that all our trainers are superb so, no matter which one you have, you are assured of the very best on offer. And that’s what you’ve paid for!
Remember that the silly question is the one you don’t ask. If anything isn’t crystal clear, ask for further explanation. Don’t try to blag it.
Everyone worries about the reverse. You’ve already had good advice on this thread but you should relax and let the trainer explain it. There’s more than one way to skin a rabbit and our trainers are skilled in not making hard work out of it.
As LGV Trainer said, we don’t expect much in the way of preparation. But brush up on the speed limits and mirror use and you’re half way there.
Ref air lines. They can be tricky which is why we have ours mounted at waist height so there’s no scrambling about on the ground. Also gives max purchase to get them on and off. And pleny of ladies have managed it so I should imagine you’ll be fine!
I wish you all the best with your training; please make yourself known to me if you bump into me. (Old ■■■■ with beard and glasses)
Pete
Well I am an old ■■■■ and I do wear reading glasses. Do I need to hire a false beard
Good luck mate, having the same driving background as you it still felt like driving just another truck despite the size difference so just just follow all the good advice you have already been given and I look forward to reading your diary.
All the best… Neil…
Mirrors
Relax & chill out !!!
Mirrors
Just ask if you’re not sure on anything, the only stupid question is the one not asked.
Mirrors
Have a good un, looking forward to the diary btw.
Did I mention mirrors?
Thanks Madbaz but I don’t have enough hair to need mirrors!
Rich
You never know Rich:))
Best of luck with your training.
Andy
make sure you set the seat height correctly before you move anywhere
make sure that you can hold the brake pedal on whilst turning your body in all positions, if you can’t, adjust the seat until you can
a friend of mine failed his test as he rolled back slightly (twice) whilst turning to reach the hand brake, i told him to lower his seat an inch, and try again
My advise would be try to rid yourself of bad habits as much as you can beforehand 
You shouldn’t have too many as you did cat c in 2011 , I did cat c. 2 years ago then
PStt . For c + e. a couple of months ago , found it quite easy to be honest mind you the nearly new euro cargos and excellent standard of instruction helped 
Good luck with training / test ,looking forward to the diary .
Cheers mike
If Peter taught me to reverse , he can teach anyone , believe me your in good hands looking at when this thread started you must be at test stage , so hows it going ?
good luck although you wont need it
Hi Jen, I start the course next Monday (the 13th) and test on Thursday. I booked a week off on holiday as I thought the course was a full week so I,ll have Fri, Sat and Sun to celebrate or hide under the bed with sh**loads of biscuits.
Rich
You’ll have nothing to worry about.
Just don’t read my diary lol.
Enjoy