Yesterday i started driving a artic since passing my test i have just taken on a tramping job currently driving a 57plate daf xf mannual what a day it was yesterday started off in bristol with drops in lydney and a few in forest of dean followed by a little trek upto hereford and worcester i spent the night in strensham wishing i didnt now as i am £29 lighter and had someone pull up with a fridge and park next to me all night what a treat that was kept waking up to it so not the best night ive ever had but i will soldier on other than that im getting on better than i thought with the artic reversing isnt as bad as i thought it was as not under as much pressure as when i was learning just take my time and get on with it but so far really enjoying it just sat waiting at my first of 5 drops in worcester waiting for them to open 
Yea mate same boat as you. Just finished my first week of tramping. First night layby rocked about all night. I spent one night in the services and the truck next to me kept running their engine.
Got any tips for reversing as that’s the only thing I can’t get the hang of. Oh yea on the second broke down coming out of a rdc blocking the exit for an hour. What fun.
Maybe you guys need to invest in some ear plugs 
wally22:
First night layby rocked about all night…
Trailer Brake, Legs down, pull kingpin, forward a bit. Then trailer rocks and cab doesn’t. For heavens sake remember in the morning though!
(Thanks Switchlogic)
Or are you in a rigid?!
Regarding reversing - think as much about where to start as you do about the reverse. In general it’s easier to put more turn on than try and get rid of too much turn. Main thing - don’t be scared or embarrassed to get out and look.
Re reversing
Most of the battle is setting yourself up to start with,look where you need to go drive past it slowly,imagine yourself driving out the bay then set yourself up to reverse,slowly does it little and often with lock and get out and look every one does.
It comes with practice nowt else we do a shop in Leamington used to hate reversing in off the road but now it goes in 1 and I don’t worry now.
th2013:
wally22:
First night layby rocked about all night…Trailer Brake, Legs down, pull kingpin, forward a bit. Then trailer rocks and cab doesn’t. For heavens sake remember in the morning though!
(Thanks Switchlogic)
Or are you in a rigid?!Regarding reversing - think as much about where to start as you do about the reverse. In general it’s easier to put more turn on than try and get rid of too much turn. Main thing - don’t be scared or embarrassed to get out and look.
Thanks to you there’s going to be bloody trailers left in laybys across the country now lmao!
th2013:
wally22:
First night layby rocked about all night…Trailer Brake, Legs down, pull kingpin, forward a bit. Then trailer rocks and cab doesn’t. For heavens sake remember in the morning though!
(Thanks Switchlogic)
Or are you in a rigid?!Regarding reversing - think as much about where to start as you do about the reverse. In general it’s easier to put more turn on than try and get rid of too much turn. Main thing - don’t be scared or embarrassed to get out and look.
Good bit of advice that is
First night in an artic. Did you wake up early hours and ■■■■ in a bottle?
I know I did lol.
eagerbeaver:
First night in an artic. Did you wake up early hours and ■■■■ in a bottle?I know I did lol.
Yeh but was it a refreshing drink later that day…lol
I remember my first night out, low cabbed Axor rigid which you had to be some sort of contortionist to get into the bunk with seats/gearstick/organiser tray in the way. To make matters worse i’d parked on a slight slope and been naïve to bring a lycra sleeping bag- I’ve had 99% better nights sleep since then and very few worse.
The company I work for will reimburse for parking but as you found out sods law a fridge will always rock up so I stopped using pay parking after all why pay money for a crap nights sleep?
I use hgvparking.com to try and find an industrial estate nearby where I know i’m going for the night- it’s not a comprehensive list but I’ve found it useful in unfamiliar areas. I don’t mind laybys but I try to avoid the ones with no dividers to the main road unless it’s absolute last resort.
When you’re on your travels if you see a good place then mark it on your sat nav/road map you just never know when it might come in useful in the future. After a while you’ll build up a healthy knowledge of locations and facilities and build up your own list of favourites in certain areas
SaintAndy:
I remember my first night out, low cabbed Axor rigid which you had to be some sort of contortionist to get into the bunk with seats/gearstick/organiser tray in the way. To make matters worse i’d parked on a slight slope and been naïve to bring a lycra sleeping bag- I’ve had 99% better nights sleep since then and very few worse.The company I work for will reimburse for parking but as you found out sods law a fridge will always rock up so I stopped using pay parking after all why pay money for a crap nights sleep?
I use hgvparking.com to try and find an industrial estate nearby where I know i’m going for the night- it’s not a comprehensive list but I’ve found it useful in unfamiliar areas. I don’t mind laybys but I try to avoid the ones with no dividers to the main road unless it’s absolute last resort.
When you’re on your travels if you see a good place then mark it on your sat nav/road map you just never know when it might come in useful in the future. After a while you’ll build up a healthy knowledge of locations and facilities and build up your own list of favourites in certain areas
thanks for the tips and advice my neext night out is sunday and i will be with another person from the same company as traveling in convoy i spoke to my boss and he said they dont generally use services unless they have a high value load on bord where extra security is needed and that they generally se lay bys/industrial estates which i will be doing from now on but just wanted to get used to spending the night in the cab as was first time out which is why i chose the services but other than the fridge next to me really enjoyed the peace of not being disturbed unlike at home normally and found that i feel i have benefited from being chucked straight in the deep end with tight windy roads in forest of dean as i am now very aware of the size of my truck i wasnt enjoying at the time but i am so pleased i took on the challenge and didnt let it get to me i just stayed positive all day and got the job done and the truck bak to bristol aftter my maiden voyage and i now love every minute of my job was well worth the investment of doing my licenses to make my child life dream come true
Congrats on the new job and first night out!
If your around bristol and looking to park up for the night, go to Avonmouth Lodge. £17 gets you parking , shower and £3 off scran. Be quick though, usually full by 6ish.
All the best in the future
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thanks for the tips and advice my neext night out is sunday and i will be with another person from the same company as traveling in convoy i spoke to my boss and he said they dont generally use services unless they have a high value load on bord where extra security is needed and that they generally se lay bys/industrial estates which i will be doing from now on but just wanted to get used to spending the night in the cab as was first time out which is why i chose the services but other than the fridge next to me really enjoyed the peace of not being disturbed unlike at home normally and found that i feel i have benefited from being chucked straight in the deep end with tight windy roads in forest of dean as i am now very aware of the size of my truck i wasnt enjoying at the time but i am so pleased i took on the challenge and didnt let it get to me i just stayed positive all day and got the job done and the truck bak to bristol aftter my maiden voyage and i now love every minute of my job was well worth the investment of doing my licenses to make my child life dream come true
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So you work for someone who won’t pay for parking and expects you to sleep in a layby with no facilties while he’s ok at home, sounds like a wonderful man
Thanks for advice fellas