Mike-C:
Blindsiding is not something that can be taught, because they can’t see you can’t tell them, its something that comes with esperience, familiarity, and probably a few scrapes, but whatever it is its not something someomne should have to do to get in a designated waiting area.
Try a year on Somerfield - you’ll blindside anything anywhere after that. 
Thats exactly what my old boss said to me! He gave me the old Scanny below and said if i kept it straight for 6 months he would give me a brand new motor, true to his work the Volvo below arrived 6 months later!
muckles:
Wheel Nut:
My point was that all the old gaffers would let you make your mistakes in the old nail, or at least mine did. I almost [zb] myself when I was sent to Bromborough in a brand new Daf in the snow at night. I went because my boss had seen me drive, he must have trusted me and Im still learning to drive. I dont know it all yet MikeThat’s the problem the old school bosses would have made sure you were able to handle the kit because it was the way they were taught to do the job. But most companies now reckon if you have a licence you can drive. Maybe if you a real newbie you might get an assesment drive, but that probably only a trip round the block and then reverse it onto the bay.
You’ve just jogged my memory muckles, one of yr old employers always used to do driving assesments dint they?
MR VAIN:
You’ve just jogged my memory muckles, one of yr old employers always used to do driving assesments dint they?
If you mean that famous Renault using North Walsham Haulier. 
Yes he did, but with mine I didn’t have a trailer it involved taking a unit to Norwich with Richard. I suppose it proved I could drive truck in forward direction and knew where the tachograph went.
Although in recent years he’s actually put some of his new drivers with an old hand for a week, not a bad idea, especially as he’ll take on newly qualified drivers and 21 year olds.
I think most them spend a week loading and shunting trailers to and from the quarry, under the guidence of Frank, But as with all these things it’s not really a formal company policy, (I don’t think they have company policies, except to buy Renaults and run them until the die ) depends on how much work there is and driver experience.
but like alot of these small haulage companies you really learn from the old boys, it’s just you have to be humble enough to ask them for help and listen when they tell you.
It’s ok as long as you don’t mind listening to stories of the old days. No bunks or night heaters in them days boy. No motorways either 20mph was all you could do. (I’m thinking we’re driving fully freighted Renaults round North Norfolk in the Summer, 
Still no motorways and still lucky if we get much above 20 mph )
Well I must say after over 35 years of driving benders I still make mistakes when getting in to tight spots, thankfully without hitting things though, but as one post says what is to stop the driver getting off his backside and guiding the reversing driver in rather than using the horn ?
It just shows how lazy some drivers are as they sit there and then have the audacity to complain or shout stupid comments to a bloke who for all they know might be a “Newbie” and hasn,t got much experience.
As for the driver who couldn,t get a “shortened” trailer in to a reversing slot which took 5 cuts to get it in he should have known better as if I try to reverse round a corner with my MAN with my trailer shortened it just digs in and won,t turn even with the 2nd axle lifted as I lose traction!
As any driver with any intelligence knows (or should) the less axles and the shorter the trailer the harder it is to reverse as they come round quicker especially if you have a self steering axle even on a tandem or tri-axle.
And I thought I was the only one to have been to Woolworths at Rochdale as the post says it was built for horse and carts not 60ft artics!
The old Borough market used to be a lot of fun with an artic, anyone remember it ?
muckles:
MR VAIN:
You’ve just jogged my memory muckles, one of yr old employers always used to do driving assesments dint they?If you mean that famous Renault using North Walsham Haulier.
Although in recent years he’s actually put some of his new drivers with an old hand for a week, not a bad idea, especially as he’ll take on newly qualified drivers and 21 year olds.
I think most them spend a week loading and shunting trailers to and from the quarry, under the guidence of Frank, But as with all these things it’s not really a formal company policy, (I don’t think they have company policies, except to buy Renaults and run them until the diebut like alot of these small haulage companies you really learn from the old boys, it’s just you have to be humble enough to ask them for help and listen when they tell you.
It’s ok as long as you don’t mind listening to stories of the old days. No bunks or night heaters in them days boy.
I don’t see them as a bad outfit, subbed to them for about 10 weeks, some of the best paying work that i’ve done. Can’t fault them at all. I think old fashioned values are now on short supply every where, that’s the last place i know to do assesments. Not sure about the Renault policy