Feeling Gutted!

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

Hi,folks

I am feeling down at the moment.The problem is that I have tried to pass my C Test and after my 3rd time have basically been told that I will never become a truck driver.

The thing is that I haven’t gotten near a test so,I must be pretty bad.The first 2 times that I have tried,I had not been near a 18t in my life.I decided that,I would get some experience with 7.5T which,I did,mainly lifting heavy furniture around Derbyshire which was tiring to say the least before trying my 3rd time.

The first day,it took me a while to get back into it,my main problems were mirror work which,I told him about it and positioning as it was an 18t lorry.I did do a bit of 7.5T driving but,it was tear arsing (under the clock so to speak).I would also say that it was 2 trainees and the trainer.The trainer Dave,I liked and respected as he was a 20 year examiner but to be told was gut wrenching.I have also spent £3K so enough is enough.He didn’t think that I could pick it up in a week and needed a lot more time which,I could understand.I was also nervous on the first day.

I though that the next day that I was understanding it better but there was an incident with a bus.The road was narrow,but not too narrow and I pulled in but at the end so my front end was jutting out slightly.The bus could pass no problem,but said Dave said to me that would be a fail.

Anyway,we got back to base and then told me.I was offered to stay for an afternoon session but declined.

I haven’t decided to go back to the vans/7.5t yet. Thanks.

2

Commiserations pal, but I’m not sure I can say anything else…

However :wink: have you considered going for an assessment drive at PSTT as he LOVES a challenge! :smiley:

You can thank me later Pete! :grimacing:

3

Seems to me like Dave is the problem.

I had driven nothing bigger than my Fiesta before I got in a 26T wagon and did my test 4 days later & passed,if you’re ok driving 7.5T then you will be fine in class 2 just maybe some slight adjustments in vehicle dimensions to get used to.

4

i was going to say same as xichrisxi. the fact you have been driving 7.5t you are more than half way there. don’t take this wrong way as I’m not qualified to say much but for 7.5t which I assume you didn’t have to take test for apart from car. that goes back nearly 20 years when they changed the rule, I just missed out. lot of it is driving 7.5t without an instructor making sure you are driving correctly. bad habits over many years need to be undone. I’m sure an instructor can get you over the line.

i’m dreading getting into the vehicle for first time as it will like learning to drive a car for the first time but with practice it becomes easier and easier.

keep at it - subject to your financial situation - i’m sure you will get there.

5

I’m unsure, as we have 2 failed tests and the advice of another 3rd instructor.
Now only the OP knows the exact details, so we can only guess.
Yes “Dave” may have assessed the OP as a difficult case that he didn’t want, or something else, as again we don’t know Dave…
Hence why I propose the OP goes and sees Pete to get a 100% honest assessment of whether they are capable!

6

Go to Pete Smythe .Tim is excellent …

7

Albert1:
Go to Pete Smythe .Tim is excellent …

I second that,Tim is excellent as he got me through my Cat C first time,as are all the instructors i had there.

I would DEFO say give PSTT a call and have an assessment drive. Funds permitting.

I went for an assessment with a company,then another company and was told i would need at least 24 hours training at a cost of around £2,400 fo cat C! My confidence took a bit of a knock too after hearing that.

Decidied to try PSTT,did the the free assessment drive and i felt really confident after having a go in the rigid and talking to the staff. Paid my deposit there and then. I really wasnt a “natural” HGV driver,despite expecting to be as i really do love driving,so i had to work hard at my training.

Im a newbie and dont know sod all,but to me 1 to 1 good quality training is essential in passing that test!

8

An assessment is the only way forward for the OP.

We spend a lot of time sorting out the outcomes of poor training which is just how it is. It’s rare to get someone who is incapable of passing the test but certainly some folks present a bigger challenge than others. It’s what makes the job interesting!

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

9

I firmly believe from the sounds of it you are letting nerves and anxiety get the better of you.

A good instructor can help with that to a degree but at the end of the day it comes down to you and how confident you feel when driving.

Are you confident driving the 7.5 Tonne? Are you even confident when driving a car?

I failed my 7.5the twice. Passed 3rd time cause the examiner let me off with an issue on a roundabout and my vision being poor due to mirrors and how these two cars where at the time.

After a few months I got more confident and took class 2 and passed with 11 minors. Class one I passed a few weeks ago with 3 minors.

The fact of the matter is its down to you and your head game needs to be strong. I’ll assume you delivered for DFS or someone else so you’ll have driven down some pretty crappy streets with rubbish parking and for that you need to have your wits about you.

My advice is get back in a 7.5t. Get your confidence back up and then get an assessment with one of the lads mentioned further up. Then take it from there.

If you want any advice on how to get your mind in the right gear let me know I’ll be happy to help.

Don’t be put off and don’t take this as the end of your journey.

10

Hi,

Thanks for the advice,much appreciated.

I want to say that I was with the training company twice.The first time that I was with them,I thought that it would be easy to get through it.How wrong was I,I only lasted a couple of days,kept hitting the kerb.I must admit that found it an uphill struggle and decided to quit.I then left for a couple of months and decided to try elsewhere.Mainly to see if I could try it again.This time,I tried it with an automatic,and was ok.I realised that I need to get some experience and in Jan went for my CPC and passed.

I then went out and got some experience with vans/7.5t.Was nervous to start with on 7.5t,but after a while,was ok.I should point out that I have had only a weeks work throughout the month,as I was mainly on vans,but I must admit that the experience calmed me down a bit.

I got mainly van work as It was all I could get.The 7.5T work was mainly 2 man deliveries and I did struggle a bit,lifting beds up sides of hills so gave it a miss.

By Aug felt a lot better and decided to try again.When I was in the lorry,I didn’t feel any nerves at all,and when it was my time to start,I got on with it.I would like to say that,I did feel a lot better this time in driving it than before.

I am taking JaxDemon’s advice in that,I am would like to get an assessment at PSTT,but also get some more driving under my belt.When driving 7.5T,I was using my grandfathers right and got on ok.

I think in hindsight,I did let the nerves get to me and also should have concentrated more and also sort out my mirror work.I did take notes after I left ,which I will use.I would like to say that,I am used to driving cars and although the 7.5T was daunting at first,I was ok later on.If possible,I would like to get more 7.5T work,especially trunking,haulage work if possible.Great experience for 18t.

Thanks for all your advice,Evil,Jax,xichrisxi,LE1erRE,Ghostrider17 & Peter Smythe.Much appreciated

11

Corby 312512:
Hi,

Thanks for the advice,much appreciated.

I want to say that I was with the training company twice.The first time that I was with them,I thought that it would be easy to get through it.How wrong was I,I only lasted a couple of days,kept hitting the kerb.I must admit that found it an uphill struggle and decided to quit.I then left for a couple of months and decided to try elsewhere.Mainly to see if I could try it again.This time,I tried it with an automatic,and was ok.I realised that I need to get some experience and in Jan went for my CPC and passed.

I then went out and got some experience with vans/7.5t.Was nervous to start with on 7.5t,but after a while,was ok.I should point out that I have had only a weeks work throughout the month,as I was mainly on vans,but I must admit that the experience calmed me down a bit.

I got mainly van work as It was all I could get.The 7.5T work was mainly 2 man deliveries and I did struggle a bit,lifting beds up sides of hills so gave it a miss.

By Aug felt a lot better and decided to try again.When I was in the lorry,I didn’t feel any nerves at all,and when it was my time to start,I got on with it.I would like to say that,I did feel a lot better this time in driving it than before.

I am taking JaxDemon’s advice in that,I am would like to get an assessment at PSTT,but also get some more driving under my belt.When driving 7.5T,I was using my grandfathers right and got on ok.

I think in hindsight,I did let the nerves get to me and also should have concentrated more and also sort out my mirror work.I did take notes after I left ,which I will use.I would like to say that,I am used to driving cars and although the 7.5T was daunting at first,I was ok later on.If possible,I would like to get more 7.5T work,especially trunking,haulage work if possible.Great experience for 18t.

Thanks for all your advice,Evil,Jax,xichrisxi,LE1erRE,Ghostrider17 & Peter Smythe.Much appreciated

I passed three weeks ago mate !!

Two days of hitting curbs is nothing !! The third day for the first two hours I was still hitting them !!
Then it clicked I believe it will come mate :slight_smile: my head was working overtime resulting in nerves and as such mistakes.

Stick.in there

12

I think you need to change driving schools & teachers. You will pass anything worth doing takes effort. Pick yourself up & dust yourself off. Say bollox to it & you won’t be beaten. Then when you do pass you can hold your head up a mile high & wave at Dave from your 18 tonner

13

Hi,guys thanks for the positives.I will keep at it.

14

Corby 312512:
Hi,guys thanks for the positives.I will keep at it.

That’s the spirit mate

15

Corby 312512:
Hi,guys thanks for the positives.I will keep at it.

Good, and it was me that suggested an assessment at PSTT! :laughing:

16

Driving school may be the problem but don’t forget the old saying that a “bad workman always blames his tools.”
Some people aren’t cut out to be truck drivers, sadly some manage to blag the test or go back home, get a licence off a cornflakes box and come back here…just search on here for the countless bridge strikes and rollovers.
Or for the extreme example, that idiot in Altrincham who drove off with a stabiliser leg out and killed a woman.

17

From other posts on this forum, as a newly qualified driver youll probably be offered mostly multi drop shop deliveries at first. Youll almost certainly need to get experience on physically hard work like that before moving into easier work. If youre sure its really for you then good luck, but don`t spend money on a vague dream.