Evening all, I have held my Class 1 licence for around 10 years (completed in the military) but never used it on the commercial driving circuit, having got in touch with many firms to no avail due to no experience. Recently tried my luck again and approached a couple of agencies, 1 of which started out promising but didn’t really materialise and the other wanted me to conduct a refresher course which consisted of 4 hours for £265, was advised to stay well clear of this as it wouldn’t be worth it and to persevere with finding a local firm! I have now been given the opportunity with a reputable firm which shall currently remain nameless and have a 1 on 1 tuition covering most things on Saturday morning and more than likely followed by an assessment!! On the one hand I am excited about this as I could finally get my foot on the ladder so to speak, but on the other hand, if it goes horribly wrong then I am pretty much screwed!! I have not reversed an artic for years now and slightly apprehensive about this as it is a pretty major part of being a Driver!! All well and good getting there but pretty pointless if you can’t reverse onto the bay!! This is a golden opportunity for me and don’t want to [zb] it up!! Any useful pointers or advice!?
Make a plan as soon as you drive into the yard. Use all the room you have available and make life easy for yourself. Don’t go blindside reversing if you don’t have to!
One thing I’ve learned is that all drivers have good and had days getting onto bays, so if you’re struggling a bit, don’t worry about what your driving looks like to anyone else, no one is watching you unless you bump it, so make sure you don’t do that!!
By that I mean get out and have a look if you need it. I’ve been doing this job for two months now, the first day gave me a massive headache, the second was better, today was second nature!
take it steady it’ll come back to you in time as rick said use as much room that’s available never worry about getting out to have a look . some places RDC’s actually like the driver to exit the cab and do a full 360 walk round for 2 reasons .
1.after driving for x hours the walk round wakes you up making you more alert
2. your checking for potential hazards in your area.
avoid any agency that wants to charge you for anything … and if you work for an agency make sure your paid for Everything …
By the way what part of the country are you in - drivers will be able to tell you who to avoid
Many thanks for commenting! I believe that I will be getting a one on one “tuition” off another driver where by he will take me through everything from daily checks, coupling/uncoupling, reversing etc etc. Then I imagine he will then give me an assessment and say do this this, do that, and leave me to get on with it and only step in if I miss something important and / or if something is about to go horribly wrong!!
If that goes well then I think they may send me on a little jaunt such as taking a trailer from one yard to one of there other yards, with a return trip. All being well, hopefully get given regular weekend jobs leading onto weekly employment when I am on leave.
I did my licence in a wagon and drag, therefore could some experienced drivers advise on whether it is easier or harder to reverse an artic compared to wagon and drag!? Or is it a case of just getting used to something new!?
I am located in the south of England and the company in question is located within a 100 mile radius of London, I won’t be too specific as I don’t want to name the company in question in case it all goes belly up!! Just grateful to be given the opportunity! Like a lot of people just starting out I imagine, just need a chance!!
I have aborted the route of going to an Agency for that very reason, they are after new lads’ money and they don’t really care because all they have to do is provide a company/customer with A driver and they have fulfilled there contract!!
Happy days, turned up this morning and had some time in and around the yard then got taken out on the roads, did well, nobody died, didn’t crash, didn’t hit anything!! Wasn’t quite what I was expecting but what I did do has been very worth while, next step is to go in and have a day with the trainer/assessor just to make sure I am good to go due to not using my licence in years and years and not doing anything on artics!! Once that is complete I can crack on!!!
Glad I didn’t bother with the agency route or emails/phone calls!! Better to go in and see people so they can see what they are dealing with!!!
Just want to get started now!!!
Alright mate,
I was in the same position as you a year ago.
Done all my tickets in military and never drove anything. Just had all the tickets with no experience and never touched an arctic.
Il give few pointers mate.
Get your military head well and truely off.
Don’t run about like your in the army trying get things done as fast as possible. Cause that’s what we have always done.
Take your time doing everything and don’t rush about like your in the army. Cause guarantee it will go ■■■■ up.
Don’t try in bull ■■■■■ like every squaddie does. If you don’t know ask. You maybe look like a ■■■■ for few minutes. If you make a mistake in Arctic or wagon drags, people get hurt and the damage caused is crazy.
Also I would say get a job with a company that’s happy to take you on with your experience and willing to develop your driving.
As soon as you jump in a truck they will know you can’t drive as it sticks out like a sore thumb.
I wouldn’t go with the agencies as they want lads that can jump in truck anywhere and drive anything on any given day of the week with no hassles.
There is loads of work about.
Look up all your local companies and email them a cv.
You get a job no probs just now.
Alright mate, thanks for comments, pretty much just reiterated what I have been thinking!! I was down at the company the other day and was 100% straight up with them, they happy with my situation and was happy with the drive I have him, he just wants me to have a day with the trainer/assessor who happens to be ex mitary to just be sure and iron out a few rough edges, but being inexperienced rough edges are to be expected! Glad I didn’t mess it up and avoided mounting kerbs and roundabouts and stuff, I felt it was a very confident drive, but like I say just a few rough edges but very minor!! All in all looking promising, just glad of the chance and pretty much got my foot in the door, but not going to get carried away or over confident!!