Well, that was my last full day of CE training today. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and my instructor, Alan, has been fantastic. I did my rigid in October and I’m back with LAGTA for the CE. There’s been plenty discussion on here about wether to go for artic or wag’n’drag so here’s my tuppence worth.
With LAGTA it’s wag’n’drag and I found that climbing in to the same truck, knowing where all the buttons and dials and gears are etc, made me so much more relaxed. My driving and observation have been smoother than they were even in my C test. I think that’s because I am spending less time trying to remember what gear I’m in or worrying about the size of the truck and just getting on with the job of driving. It has started to feel more like second nature and there’s a definite shift of conciousness from inside the cab to the big, wide world outside. There are definite positives to doing it in the same wagon. You just know the truck better and so don’t think about it so much. Of course, you do have to be aware that there’s a dirty great trailer behind you and drive accordingly but as my instructor said, “It follows ye like a wee dug”.
Anyway, it’s your choice. Once I have that CE in my hand I am going to go for some familiarisation training in an artic. If I can get hours towards CPC in the process… bonus.
Some of you will know that I, in my naievity, went through a broker for my training. My experience has been favourable but with hindsight I would absolutely recommend that you go direct to the training providers. For one thing you can get free assessment drives from many schools. If you sample a few different schools that could amount to several hours of free training! You will not get that with a broker. Also you will get more days training for the same money by going direct. Once you are in with a school they can continually assess your abilities and tailor the progression to your needs. If you’re looking for training in central Scotland then I highly recommend LAGTA. They have a good fleet of MAN trucks, all manual 4over4, nice facilities and their instructors are great.
Right, I am off to chill in the bath with a wee glass of wine and forget about that test for a while. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Good luck mate. Let us know how it went.
Thanks Mark. Just sitting in the canteen with a wee cup of tea before we go out for the last wee stint before my test. A few butterflies in the belly but so long as I can drive like the last few days everything should be ticketyboo. I’m not going for perfection but a steady, safe, confident drive. Here we go…
Hope all goes well and you get a pass 
Good luck fella
Good luck.
Good luck mate, sounds like you’ll breeze it.
So is it a pass or not…
Thanks for all the good vibes guys. Must have helped as I passed with only two minors. 
Thank ■■■■ that’s all over. Just need to get the 35 hrs out of the way then I can start eating yorkies! I’m going to knock on a few doors anyway and get my name out there. Good luck to everyone who’s going through it. Stay relaxed and drive safe and you’ll get there.
Nice one!
Good luck with the job hunt.
Jon
Wooo nice one!
Well done pal
Well done
Now click edit on your first post and edit the title to add - NOW PASSED 
Congratulations
Ach jeez I love this. Thanks very much everyone. I’m still grinning like a cheshire cat and boring anyone who will listen with grand tales of how I smoothly avoided a guy on a bicycle whilst negotiating a zebra crossing hindered by parked cars and kids kicking footballs and wild caribou leaping across the road and rescuing stranded maidens. I’m over the flippin moon. I love those fireworks Rog 
Very good mate. Congrats
Well done
Well done my mate, just hope I have the same result when I go for mine.