First C+E job

[bonnie_lass]

Well, yesterday I just got home & changed out of my driving clothes & boots, when I had a phone call asking if I could do a night shift Although I only had an hour to get changed back in to me driving kit , fed (hadn’t eaten all day ), & get to my destination, with a little time to spare

The vehicle I had been allocated was a MAN articulated curtainsider, & my job was to haulage loads to said destinations, which weren’t too far apart, (which was great as it gave me loads of reversing) wait while being tipped, & waiting for further instruction as to wether I head off with a load on, or empty to haul from somewhere else

I have never driven an automatic HGV before, but me, being me was well chuffed & more than happy to give it a go In the first instance I couldn’t stop myself ‘pressing’ an imaginary cluch although it wasn’t long before my left foot gave that one up!! , & I soon got the hang of the automatic gearbox

sometimes I would be reversing in wide spacious yards with good lighting & sometimes I would be reversing in very tight small yards with particuarly poor lighting & overcast with shadows, with a lot of activity going on all around & having to ’ curl’ the trailer in the shape of a letter ‘L’ back onto the bay around the front of a couple of other trailers also on their bays There was very little space, & as the night drew on, & in the small hours, I found myself battleing to get the right angle to curl the trailer around the front of the trailer on the next bay, in a blindside reverse. The bays where ‘Very’ close to each other & the lack of light & casting shadows was hinderance. So I was in & out of the cab something similar to a squirrel up & down a tree continuously checking just how close I was to anthing I couldn’t pick up in my mirrors, No way was I going to risk clipping anything!!! Some of the reverses I’d done throughout the shift had gone pretty much alright, with a lot of the blindside reverses, although under ‘different conditions’
All the depot workers were extremely friendly & helpfull , as & whenever I needed, which realy made a difference, & was very much appriciated too
So as the small hours rolled forward, towords the end of the shift , I was still smiling as all was good, job done well, I just hope I am asked to do some more driving for them. Happy Trucking

[dar1976]

Great start to your CE driving career and hope for many more to come.

Well done x

[bonnie_lass]

Awwww thanks dar1976, I hope there’s many more to come too You are doing a great job yourself too I find it difficult sometimes to keep with everything thats posted, mainly due to bad signal, pc problems, & limited access on my phone to respond, so I try & read the posts & catch up when I can. Happy Trucking X

[dieseldave]

That was a great read BL, welcome to the bendy truck club!!

[james_bateman2]

Good on ya Bonnie Lass.

[jennie]

So glad you enjoyed your first job , and good on you fo doing the blindsiding on your first shift my hat goes off to you , im sure the company will have you back and dont worry about getting in and out of the cab all th time , im the same , reversing in bad light goes with the territory of night driving and better to spend a few seconds getting out to check than having that awful moment when you hear a bump,
good on ya

jen x

[bonnie_lass]

dieseldave:
That was a great read BL, welcome to the bendy truck club!!

Thanks dieseldave, I realy enjoyed that shift

James Bateman2:
Good on ya Bonnie Lass.

Thanks james, I wouldn’t mind a few more shifts like that one

Jennie:
So glad you enjoyed your first job , and good on you fo doing the blindsiding on your first shift my hat goes off to you , im sure the company will have you back and dont worry about getting in and out of the cab all th time , im the same , reversing in bad light goes with the territory of night driving and better to spend a few seconds getting out to check than having that awful moment when you hear a bump,
good on ya

jen x

Thanks jennie, on the blind side reversing I did a number of those that evening, even managed a ‘double’ blindsider while dodgeing a load of cages with the front of the cab!!! & I will always take the trouble to get out & look if I’m not sure , I just won’t risk clipping summat
Happy trucking all

[jackg]

Go Bonnie Lass Go Bonnie Lass, glad you enjoyed it
Top Trucking

[bonnie_lass]

Thanks jackg, I deffinately enjoyed it certainly made for more headwork, & a gateway to gaining more experience, Happy Days

[bonnie_lass]

Well, here’s a quick update. The feed back is encourageing, as the company is willing for me to return & drive some more for them However on the down side, they don’t know when so I suppose I can only wait for a call :-/

[paul_pstt]

Well done on your first job. Maybe this will enlighten those who think you cant drive or reverse an artic having learned on w+d!

Great to hear it’s going well. Pete

[bonnie_lass]

Peter Smythe:
Well done on your first job. Maybe this will enlighten those who think you cant drive or reverse an artic having learned on w+d!

Great to hear it’s going well. Pete

Thank you Very much Peter I know without your training me through both C & C+E, I doubt I ever would have been able to tackle with success, on my first C+E job!! on night shift!! such a long triaxel trailer of 14ft 6ins heigh , reversing in the tightest of places (numerous times), & in defaulting light, with forkies wizzing past without warning.

I realy enjoyed that nights work & I wouldn’t mind working there perminantly when you have an expert trainer training you, it makes a huge difference to how you handle vehicles on the road in all conditions , & off the road too . And I’m still a newbie with a hunger to gain more experience, but with a good foundation of training I’m certainly looking forward to progressing, & taking new work on & putting my skills to good use

Like you say Peter, it dosen’t stop you driving or reversing an articulated vehicle if you’ve done your training & passed your test on a wagon & drag, I did

[scally2]

Good read hope everything go’s well I’ve been with a company for 6months now and still making mistakes but as the saying go’s learn with experience am getting better though also for anyone finding it difficult reversing i find small turns of the wheel make the biggest impact.

[bonnie_lass]

Thanks scally2 I’ve been offered more C+E work, so I’m hopeing things are looking up That’s great that you’ve had on going work for six months, & like you say you’ll gain a lot of experience too I have also found small turns on the wheel needs time to allow the trailer to react. Lining up in a very tight space can be a bit awkward sometimes though I need to practise that one a bit more

[dar1976]

bonnie lass:
Thanks scally2 I’ve been offered more C+E work, so I’m hopeing things are looking up

Fantastic

[jennie]

Thats great news bonnielass ,

dont worry as soon as the company have work you will get the call , if you make a good impression companies always want you back as they want reliable drivers who take a pride in what they do , carry on like this and you will be turning work away good on ya

Jen x

[bonnie_lass]

dar1976:

bonnie lass:
Thanks scally2 I’ve been offered more C+E work, so I’m hopeing things are looking up

Fantastic

Cheers dar

Jennie:
Thats great news bonnielass ,

dont worry as soon as the company have work you will get the call , if you make a good impression companies always want you back as they want reliable drivers who take a pride in what they do , carry on like this and you will be turning work away good on ya

Jen x

Cheers jennie, just had another call, just as I was leaving for home, someone wants me for tankers just waiting on futher info about that one , I just hope this sort of working activity dosen’t wear too thin after Christmas though

[cattle_wagon_man]

I have just returned from 2 weeks holiday in Malta to read of bonnie lasss adventure.
Good on you , bonnie lass , to accept both the opportunity and challenge of your first solo drive.
I am pleased that you managed the job successfully , and hope that it is the first step in your ambition to
becoming a full-time H.G.V. driver.

One question , though , please.
Is it easier than driving a “multi-combination” outfit,;-

• meaning a Van - pulling - a - car - pulling - a - caravan .

I`d better get mi coat ,…or head away on holiday again.

Cheers, cattle wagon man.

[bonnie_lass]

cattle wagon man:
I have just returned from 2 weeks holiday in Malta to read of bonnie lasss adventure.
Good on you , bonnie lass , to accept both the opportunity and challenge of your first solo drive.
I am pleased that you managed the job successfully , and hope that it is the first step in your ambition to
becoming a full-time H.G.V. driver.

One question , though , please.
Is it easier than driving a “multi-combination” outfit,;-

• meaning a Van - pulling - a - car - pulling - a - caravan .

I`d better get mi coat ,…or head away on holiday again.

Cheers, cattle wagon man.

Thanks CWM for your kind words of suport . The way I look at it is…the truck has to get from here to where ever & i’m going to get it there I’m happy to drive solo, I like to drive on my own anyway, & I find I can concentrate better, without interuption, & if I’m unsure of anything, then I ask somebody

"Van…pull…car…pull…caravan, lol there’s always someone stuck in the mud somewhere!! good job I had my tow chain with me to pull 'em out

I hope you had a most enjoyable holiday in Malta
Ooooh by the way did you bring back a tin hat with you!!!