Hi all having passed my test yesterday I will be driving an artic from Norwich to London Spitalfields tonight as the company I’ve now started with want me to go with the regular driver to see how I drive and to make sure I know the route as I will be doing this every other friday . I know that on friday they will more than likely look at the camera footage so hopefully all goes well . I know there are at least 2 nightmare roundabouts and that’s before getting to London and the traffic around Spitalfields at just after 7pm .
Sounds like a baptism of fire! Good luck though.
markc1290:
Sounds like a baptism of fire! Good luck though.
Just a bit 
markc1290:
Sounds like a baptism of fire! Good luck though.
Best way sometimes.
m1cks:
markc1290:
Sounds like a baptism of fire! Good luck though.Best way sometimes.
F that London markets Good Luck
Who are you driving for?
McCarthy’s?
1968kg:
Who are you driving for?
McCarthy’s?
Yes McCarthy’s but every other friday night when Spitalfields gives me a pass to drive the forklift (waiting on my certificate to comeback from RTITB) also possibly covering for the regular driver when he is off
Don’t worry your being chauffeured .
Lorries been going to them mkts for years and not one of them has failed to come home.
Your driver for tonight is your best mate he will no everything you need to no, empty his head of all info.
Get him to show you an alternative route in and out of the mkt in case of future road closures.
Enjoy and try and get a walk round the mkt.
use a name:
Don’t worry your being chauffeured .
Lorries been going to them mkts for years and not one them has failed to come home.
Your driver for tonight is your best mate he will no everything you need to no, empty his head of all info.
Get him to show you an alternative route in and out of the mkt in case of future road closures.
Enjoy and try and get a walk round the mkt.
Went down there with the driver a couple of weeks ago for the whole week and luckily beacause the 406 was closed northbound one of the nights we had to take a detour but tonight I’ll be driving either both ways but definitely coming back which I’d prefer as no traffic 
you didn’t waste any time mate!! nice one.
hope you have a good run and enjoy it.
look forward to hearing how you got on
Just pulled into Spitalfields all good .
Angof1497 good luck with your test
Gillberry:
Just pulled into Spitalfields all good .
Angof1497 good luck with your test
cheers bud,it was 2pm today lol
passed thankfully
angof1497:
Gillberry:
Just pulled into Spitalfields all good .
Angof1497 good luck with your testcheers bud,it was 2pm today lol
passed thankfully
Well done
Got back to Norwich no probs stuffed reversing onto the bay had to get regular driver to do it 
it’s a bit different from having cones laid out for you to reverse into
Gillberry:
Got back to Norwich no probs stuffed reversing onto the bay had to get regular driver to do it
the best of the best can stuff a reverse it’ll come
Gillberry:
Got back to Norwich no probs stuffed reversing onto the bay had to get regular driver to do it
The regular driver did you a disservice. He should have not stopped you and got you to complete the reverse, even if it meant driving round the block and starting again.
By taking over, you’ve missed a chance to get experience and also can make you lose confidence. Next time, just politely say you’d like to finish doing it now you’ve started it.
m1cks:
Gillberry:
Got back to Norwich no probs stuffed reversing onto the bay had to get regular driver to do itThe regular driver did you a disservice. He should have not stopped you and got you to complete the reverse, even if it meant driving round the block and starting again.
By taking over, you’ve missed a chance to get experience and also can make you lose confidence. Next time, just politely say you’d like to finish doing it now you’ve started it.
To be honest my 1st reverse gave me curtain on my right but curtain and shutter on my left door so my shunt forward and little wiggle back would have been brilliant , unfortunately one of the group of loaders watching my 1st attempt switched the magnet on in the wall and the rear of the trailer kept going for that
While we were at Spitalfields initially we couldn’t get into our regular load area but after 15mins the space was free so while the regular driver went to fetch the forktruck I pulled forward kicked the trailer out to the angle I wanted and reversed lovely onto our regular slot , then When stopped I answered my phone and it was the regular driver telling me that in the last week a letter had gone out saying no reversing .
Without the audience I would have got it but next time when I’m on my own they will have to wait for me to get on the bay as none of the loaders can drive an artic .
Just as an aside I’m one of those caravaners so understand the reversing albeit a different pivot point on an artic but when I first started caravaning my reverses were woeful but with time I can now reverse that with an audience , not always spot on but I’ll get it , so apart from being annoyed with myself the confidence is not a problem especially as I only passed my class 1 wednesday and this was my first trip out and in all my years with 7.5 and vans the 1st time actually reversing onto a bay . I know I’ll do it and over time a lot better
Forg to say it would probably have helped if I’d looked at the reversing camera but on your test and in training you don’t have one just mirrors . Looking at the camera when the regular driver reversed you could see where you would end up on the bay much easier for those last minute adjustments .