stevieboy308:
But where do you draw the line on letting someone sort it out? Once they’ve made contact? We don’t know how close it was, but the op isn’t coming across that he thinks it was unfair
If the driver under assessment doing a reverse in a yard can stop and say
'I’ve made a mistake can I sort this out and do it again? ’
That shows maturity, awareness and confidence.
I agree, if the assessor has had to stop the driver from causing damage. That’s probably not the best way to pass an assessment.
The OP read to me that he had a good road test but his reversing was rusty. I personally approve of driving assessments but I’m uncomfortable on how arbitrary the assessors might be…
If you ask me, I think the OP had a lucky escape…
W
Do you mean ask to sort it out if it’s not going back in one, or ask for another go after the assessor shouted stop?
After re~reading the Thread again with fresh eyes this morning I can see where you are coming from Stevieboy.
All I can say is that if the OP had done the same at our place he would of got another chance. We do a driving assessment not a driving test.
Perhaps it’s the culture at ESL, perhaps it’s because they are a big firm with lots of assessments/tests to do? I don’t know but as an outsider it does seem all a bit too arbitrary to me.
It might be worth mentioning, that in spite of our more tolerant attitude towards driver assessments. We still have to reject at least half the applicants because the standard is so low…
I had done several shifts for my firm through an agency without an assessment,before I got on the books,when one of the transport supervisors that knew I’d done previous work,said I was competent when it came to setting me on.
Four years later,I was told it had been noticed that my records showed no signs of a driving assesment so I’d have to take one.
After coupling up to a trailer,one of the instructors took me out for a five mile run around the town,then had me drop the trailer between two others where there was plenty of room to get in a straight line before starting,knowing that with some of the tight places some of our depots are,or even a bay in our yard,any driver in doubt would get someone to act as banksman.
1 - Was the assessor in the cab with you or standing outside? If outside maybe the numonic GOAL (Get Out And Look) would have been advised, if inside then I would suggest mirror use may have been a consideration.
2 - How close were you to the adjacent trailer? More than 3" would have been OK at our place if going that close knowingly and in control.
So OK, the assessor felt the need to stop the proceedings - but why couldn’t he have got the OP out the cab walked him around the area and then said, OK fella, do you want to have another go at that?
Socketset:
So OK, the assessor felt the need to stop the proceedings - but why couldn’t he have got the OP out the cab walked him around the area and then said, OK fella, do you want to have another go at that?
Problem is most ‘Driving Assessors’ at big or biggish firms are often nobs who could not do the job properly themselves
Socketset:
So OK, the assessor felt the need to stop the proceedings - but why couldn’t he have got the OP out the cab walked him around the area and then said, OK fella, do you want to have another go at that?
Problem is most ‘Driving Assessors’ at big or biggish firms are often nobs who could not do the job properly themselves
Back in 1961 I applied for a job at a small haulage outfit in The Angel, Islington. It was to drive a 5 tonner about the size 0f today’s 18 tonners. I had never previously driven anything bigger than a Commer van.
I turned up and had a chat with the woman owner, in which I assured her that I had driven similar trucks before and knew my way around London (neither was true). She then called an old boy from the back of the shop (It was a greengrocer’s as well as haulage) and told him to take me for an assessment.
The shop was in St John St. facing South, and after we set off, I had just got it up to 2nd gear when he said to turn left and pull up outside the cafe. We went in and he bought me a mug of tea and we had a chat; then we set off again; left up Goswell St and left again to come back to the shop. I never got past 2nd gear (out of 4) and yes - I got the job.
You are quite right to moan about these assessors.The problem with a lot of companies who run assessments they do not want to pay out for a qualified assessor.
What a lot of them do is pick their favourite driver or some driver that thinks they can carry out assessments.
The problem is these people have no experience of training or doing assessments and consequently they make up their own rules which are normally completely wrong.
A properly qualified instructor or assessor has to pass all the relevant test and exams and prove he can carry out everything to a far higher standard than the people he is training or assessing.
Problem is most drivers can’t reverse worth a ■■■■. When I was doing shunting with two other drivers who had far more experience than me I was doing three trailers to their every one and I was having to move the odd one of theirs over onto the bay properly as well.
And that was with tugs.
The excuse of one of them? “Been driving powder tankers for the last few years so not had to do much reversing”.
Conor:
Problem is most drivers can’t reverse worth a ■■■■. When I was doing shunting with two other drivers who had far more experience than me I was doing three trailers to their every one and I was having to move the odd one of theirs over onto the bay properly as well.
And that was with tugs.
The excuse of one of them? “Been driving powder tankers for the last few years so not had to do much reversing”.
Hopefully Stobarts will be reading this then, and offer you the job instead of the OP. Given that you’re amazing at reversing and all that.
AlexWignall:
All I can say is that if the OP had done the same at our place he would of got another chance. We do a driving assessment not a driving test.
Ive only had one assessment but it was more an hour of training than anything else, the trainer was a real top bloke aswell, he also did cpc courses for the company and he you told him something and he hadnt come across it he’d write it down and look into it instead of just telling you your wrong… His approach imo is exactly the right one and because of the way he was, he was well respected amongest the drivers… Doubt theres many other trainers like him out there,
judging by the standard of some stobart drivers reversing out there, quite a few of them fluked there assessments. seems more of if your face don’t fit syndrome going on
I wouldnt let it get you down at all…maybe your just a bit rusty on the reverse but hey i aint ridden a push bike for 30 yrs but i could probably ride one and not very well, a few shunts on your own and not under pressure you will put it all behind you…plenty to go at out there…good luck matey…shytalk.
1 - Was the assessor in the cab with you or standing outside? If outside maybe the numonic GOAL (Get Out And Look) would have been advised, if inside then I would suggest mirror use may have been a consideration.
2 - How close were you to the adjacent trailer? More than 3" would have been OK at our place if going that close knowingly and in control.
Yes the trainer was outside the vehicle when I was reversing, he was stood on the n/s at the back of the trailer, I personally don’t think I would of hit the trl but as said before he stoped me before I did. and then I pulled forward and backed in.
gunner1983:
Sounds like a load of bollox to me mate. If the drive went well I don’t see the problem the reversing will soon come back to you the more you do it. Some of these driver trainers need to get there head out there own arse
couldnt agree more the exact reason why i go for little haulage companies that dont have all this crap i watched someone doing walk round checks with a clip board he must have been there 20 mins(and still never noticed the puncture)what that all about
So the assessor was standing at/near the rear of the trailer whilst you were reversing ?
He was acting as a banksman ?
He was not stood at the front of your cab in your full peripheral vision then ?
hhmmm , let me think about that one - on grounds of good practice - banksman H&S , maybe
I think he needs to re-think his own working practices
May be , thats where your major fail came from, you did not instruct him on safety grounds to remain in full view at all times , and NOT to stand in a position where he may have got squashed or injured . just my opinion
Did you ask the company or assessor for feedback on your interview /assessment
Unlucky dude , better luck next time .
From what you havetold us I would say it was unfair, you didn’t hit anything and were about to stop, he had no way of knowing that. I wouldn’t bother applying again out of pure pride, get a better job somewhere when one comes along, and rub it in with Stobarts.
If that HR recruitment ■■■■■ still works there I wouldn’t drive for them anyway … she is evil.
Santa:
Back in 1961 I applied for a job at a small haulage outfit in The Angel, Islington. It was to drive a 5 tonner about the size 0f today’s 18 tonners. I had never previously driven anything bigger than a Commer van.
I turned up and had a chat with the woman owner, in which I assured her that I had driven similar trucks before and knew my way around London (neither was true). She then called an old boy from the back of the shop (It was a greengrocer’s as well as haulage) and told him to take me for an assessment.
The shop was in St John St. facing South, and after we set off, I had just got it up to 2nd gear when he said to turn left and pull up outside the cafe. We went in and he bought me a mug of tea and we had a chat; then we set off again; left up Goswell St and left again to come back to the shop. I never got past 2nd gear (out of 4) and yes - I got the job.
I bet you thought all your xmas’s had come at once
especially at ESL 
