Good morning people.
Just a quick post to applaud this great site which gave me so much information and helpful tips before my test.
Last year June 13 I passed my class 2 rigid and planned to attempt my class 1 right after that, but unfortunately due to different circumstances had to put on hold. Finally got round to attempting last week.
Done my training with scania of newbridge (nr edinburgh). The instructor Ian (fantastic guy and patience of a saint would highly recommend.
Anyway the week started of quite well and by midweek the confidence was beginning to build a little, but in Thursday I had the nightmare day when a set of traffic lights were nearly taken out the ground by my poor attempt at a tight left turn. Thankfully Ian shouted in time to “STOP”. Nerves shot we went for the reversing exercises and after struggling most of the week I nailed it 4 times in the trot. Feeling a bit better again!!
Test day Friday, out for a drive went fine until the reverse part. 4 times could not get it right and all over the place, Ian stopped the practising and said “forget today and think what you did yesterday, next reverse will be your test”
Arrived at test centre, nervous as hell. Over to truck to start reverse, started to swing trailer and realised it had not swung far enough and was going to hit cone, stopped went forward and started again, got it this time round the cone and just starting to straighten up for the final bit, ended up all over, so decided to take 2nd shunt forward to straighten myself up, got all the way back and into the zone! Sweat dripping off forehead lol. Out on the drive I felt I had done ok so back to the test centre, uncoupling and recouple (remembering everything). Examiner gets back in and says can I give him a few minutes to complete paperwork, felt like a lifetime and eventually turns round rounds and say… Congratulations on a safe and near perfection drive you have passed with only 4 minors.
Elation now hit and can honestly say it was the biggest relief ever. All I say to people is the nerves can help u in the end and you can overcome them, also expect a dip in your training week (as Ian the instructor said it is perfectly normal). Anyway just thought I would share my week with this brilliant and informative site.
Cheers
