Hi all,
Had my assesment drive with Mark Thompson (Liverpool North West HGV Trainer)
@2.30pm today, i arrived at 2.05pm 
he just pulled up in the yard in the lorry with another learner haha.
He came over and asked me to park my car round the corner behind his car and to walk over to the lorry.
At first he talked me through the low/high gears, mirrors etc and how the test/examiner works. He drove me round a few corner to show me what gears to choose etc as the lorry was unloaded, pull off in 3rd, then straight to 5th gear, then 6,7,8 etc, by slapping the gear lever towards me (had to get used to that haha).
We swapped seats and for the first time me being in the drivers seat of a lorry, (well my dad gave me a go of his scannia years ago when i used to take time off school to accompony him on the nights out etc) and he really trusted me enough to go on;
motorways, country roads, normal roads, round abouts etc and even reversing back into the yard right up to a trailer (drawbar)
He said for an assesment drive it was like my second lesson 
cant wait for july now 5 days of 4 hour lesson and the test at the end of the week!!!
[attachment=0]HGV.jpg[/attachment]
Sounds good. Out of interest, is it the MAN or the Volvo? Pete 
Forget the question! MAN has slapover whereas Volvo is a 4 over 4 with a swich. Senior moment. Going to have Ovaltine now! Pete
Glad it all went well. And seems like you are a natural.
Bet you can’t wait till July.
Pete, you seem to be having a few of those senior moments lately
Haha thanks, your right it was the MAN with the slap over (I think I’d rather have the volvo as the switch sounds easier) and I cant wait till July
great93:
Haha thanks, your right it was the MAN with the slap over (I think I’d rather have the volvo as the switch sounds easier) and I cant wait till July
I used to hate slap over boxes until I spent 7 weeks with one. It’s just what you get used to.
4 over 4 is what I learned a passed in with both C and CE.
That’s partly why I suggest going for assessments with a few local trainers. You then get a feel for different setups and an idea of which you will feel comfortable in to get that blue certificate
Best of luck
did mine in 2000 volvo 4 over 4 was easy enough to get used to, just take your time when you start your training, and listen to your instructor, and enjoy it! good luck
There’s only 2 trainers in Liverpool and marks the most recommended I know 5 people who’ve trained with him including my dad.
so I’ll just have to get used to the slap over gear box haha 
his artic is a clip so I’ll look forward to doing that when I can
I’ll take my time and listen lots mirrors mirrors mirrors
used an iveco with slap over for my C…using it incorrectly was the main issue I kept getting ollocke for! Would appear I was too heavy handed with it and kept shoving it too hard from left to right resulting in the poor old truck struggling to find gears (and me struggling to get away from traffic lights 
)
Looks like you will have a whale of a time, well done
Tazbug
Why did you practically take a picture of the Volvo if you were in the MAN? haha
congrats, feels good.
Cheer,
And Sam there was another lorry next to it that you can’t see on the photo that was the closest I could get to it when I got me car haha
Sounds like you’ve picked it up quick mate.
I’m just over the water in wallasey. Is the nearest test centre for you wrexham?
I heard Birkenhead I’m not sure I’ll ask mark when I next see him.
It used to be at Kirkby easier there so my dad says oh well