midlifetrucker:
This week I was in a puddle jumper (from an artic) Kept reversing like a berk. The more I thought about it the worse I got.
I change from one to the other (and back again) quite frequently. I end up having to pause momentarily each time I start to reverse, just to get my head around which way I’ll be turning the wheel 
Roymondo:
Dafman:
We all had to start somewhere but it would be much better if the company had a trainer who could do this.Totally agree - but as long as the experienced guys can simply say “No” without any negative consequences, I’d be happy. Then again, maybe we should be paid more while we are doing the training/mentoring role
Paid more for sleeping in the passenger seat?
Dafman:
We all had to start somewhere but it would be much better if the company had a trainer who could do this. And if they can’t speak English very well how did they pass the interview.
We have a lot of Polish chaps, not all have perfect English, but guess what, as they have made an effort, we natives have too, and a few of us have learn t some basic Polish ( including rude insults 
) amongst our pool of drivers we have quite a few languages including basic Chinese, Farsi,Doric,Gaelic even a manager who speaks [zb] 
waynedl:
Roymondo:
Dafman:
We all had to start somewhere but it would be much better if the company had a trainer who could do this.Totally agree - but as long as the experienced guys can simply say “No” without any negative consequences, I’d be happy. Then again, maybe we should be paid more while we are doing the training/mentoring role
Paid more for sleeping in the passenger seat?
Not me, Guv. Every time I’ve had a new bod out with me there has been too much to talk about - no time for kipping!
waynedl:
Roymondo:
Dafman:
We all had to start somewhere but it would be much better if the company had a trainer who could do this.Totally agree - but as long as the experienced guys can simply say “No” without any negative consequences, I’d be happy. Then again, maybe we should be paid more while we are doing the training/mentoring role
Paid more for sleeping in the passenger seat?
Why not, they are saving a wage by not having a trainer so I don’t think an extra £50 a shift is to much to ask.
I would love to have the banter would be easier to explain things and chat rubbish but basic english your limited to what you talk about, iv not had an english person or speaker (enough to talk rubbish to) iv always had either agency or the new lads that cannot really speak.
I no the little urbans are a funny thing to reverse i bet ill jump in a triaxle and look a right ■■■■ as iv been on urbans for ages now.
I no we all started once upon a time i was a lad at my old mans place driving an erf lol
And looking back i bet the bloke i went with after passing my test thought what prat have i got here with his shunt here shunt there.
Don’t worry, first artic job I went for (after passing on a wagon a drag) on my assessment drive was asked to back it onto a loading door, been wet behind the ears and nervous as fupp, I attempted to blindside it on 
The guy took pity and realising my training hadn’t been the best, took me to the far end of the yard and spent half hour teaching me the best way to reverse an artic before offering me a job!
We all start somewhere but I feel for you having to cope with the language barrier on top of everything else. 
We’ve all got to start somewhere , some people would prefer to be shown the ropes others perform better on their own , I haven’t sat in an artic since passing my test last November , and will be leaving my present employer ( Local Council ) next March , to try and become a Trucker , only done Rigid work ,as the council don’t have Artics , my preference would be to be shown the ropes , helps if the person helping you out doesn’t mind Newbies , maybe more suited to someone into showing people the ropes and quite likes doing so , personal ambition to be a trucker although I am 50 .
Pah… single axle trailers are a complete doddle.Try an A frame drawbar and you will realise that!
albion1971:
Pah… single axle trailers are a complete doddle.Try an A frame drawbar and you will realise that!
Yeah, but some people make it look hard
teatime:
Dafman:
We all had to start somewhere but it would be much better if the company had a trainer who could do this. And if they can’t speak English very well how did they pass the interview.We have a lot of Polish chaps, not all have perfect English, but guess what, as they have made an effort, we natives have too, and a few of us have learn t some basic Polish ( including rude insults
Not having a go at them.
albion1971:
Pah… single axle trailers are a complete doddle.Try an A frame drawbar and you will realise that!
Definitely some days you would be not far from having a mental breakdown, ours were just weird some sort of stupid German design
trubster:
albion1971:
Pah… single axle trailers are a complete doddle.Try an A frame drawbar and you will realise that!
Yeah, but some people make it look hard
I s’pose the prize prat that did the video is perfect eh. If I’d been there, I’d have offered to help !
The 30’ singles were awkward in London. 28’ tandems disappeared pretty quick on you too, until you got used to them.
Nearly all trailers over here have the axles right at the back, makes 'em easier I think… if you have the room.
8 & 10m trailers are a pain in the arse, add in rear steer too and… 
albion1971:
Pah… single axle trailers are a complete doddle.Try an A frame drawbar and you will realise that!
You’re my hero, wish I could drive / reverse one of those…
WAIT!! That’s right, I did, we had these at Crowfoots Carriers.