And I’m already bricking it. When I see them out of the motorway I think, “yeah I could do that all day long”. On Thursday however I was doing a drop in a small business park in Bradford, said to the guy unloading me “Its a bit tight round here, those idiots in the vans don’t make it easier”. His reply was “Yea, the artics we get here don’t like it either”. I’m thinking how the zb do you get an artic in here when it was tight getting my 26 tonner around the place?!
Radar19:
And I’m already bricking it. When I see them out of the motorway I think, “yeah I could do that all day long”. On Thursday however I was doing a drop in a small business park in Bradford, said to the guy unloading me “Its a bit tight round here, those idiots in the vans don’t make it easier”. His reply was “Yea, the artics we get here don’t like it either”. I’m thinking how the zb do you get an artic in here when it was tight getting my 26 tonner around the place?!
Is this just nerves getting the best of me?
when you get your class 1 and back in a tight spot some one will allways tell you had bigger than thatin mate just when you thin you done a good job best off look for the test you only av to drive perfick for anhour then you can forget what thay tould you and drive like the rest of us
Radar19:
And I’m already bricking it. When I see them out of the motorway I think, “yeah I could do that all day long”. On Thursday however I was doing a drop in a small business park in Bradford, said to the guy unloading me “Its a bit tight round here, those idiots in the vans don’t make it easier”. His reply was “Yea, the artics we get here don’t like it either”. I’m thinking how the zb do you get an artic in here when it was tight getting my 26 tonner around the place?!
Is this just nerves getting the best of me?
Newbie section better for this stuff radar,us lot are propper truckers
Honestly artics are a piece of ■■■■ to drive and you will one day realise that its an easy job as long as you keep your wits about you. Best thing is it will keep food on the table until you find a decent job.
You will find masses more lock and u can spin an artic on the spot , which u cant with a 26T.
They the same width and only 15 ft or so longer .
Just watch out for n/s arse end swing
Piece of …
After a few weeks practice and experience you will wonder what you were worrying about. I would not like to go back on a rigid, artics are easier to drive and manoeuvre trust me.
Best of luck with it anyway.
A lot of it is about confidence. You’ll soon build it up. As another driver has already said keep your wits about you. My but of advice is don’t rush and don’t be afraid to get out and look what’s around you.
Anyway good luck and all that.
Radar19:
And I’m already bricking it. When I see them out of the motorway I think, “yeah I could do that all day long”. On Thursday however I was doing a drop in a small business park in Bradford, said to the guy unloading me “Its a bit tight round here, those idiots in the vans don’t make it easier”. His reply was “Yea, the artics we get here don’t like it either”. I’m thinking how the zb do you get an artic in here when it was tight getting my 26 tonner around the place?!
When you’ve passed your test the best thing you could ever do is spend a few months as a shunter, I did and it was the best thing I ever did. Once you’ve done that which involves lots of reversing and close space manoeuvring you’ll be at the point where if its possible to get an artic in/out of somewhere you’ll be able to do it.
I went to one Wincanton depot a couple of weeks ago. Its a tight triangle shaped yard where trailers are dropped with barely a foot between them, you usually have to wind down the legs, raise the suspension then reverse the last 10ft in because you can’t wind down the legs otherwise. Anyway there’s a driver there who has been with the company I was driving at 25 years fannying around trying to get into a space with two drivers helping to guide him. For reasons I cannot fathom he is trying to blindside it in and its an end bay so there’s even more room than the others. Anyway he gives up, goes finds another space. Whilst he’s still backing into that I go into the yard, spin round and in 30 seconds from setting off to stopping, back straight into the bay he’s been trying to get into for the last 5 minutes in one go. He comes storming over, “why did you come in whilst I was still reversing?” “Can’t wait all day for you to learn how to drive” was my reply.
Seriously, for anyone who has just passed their Class 1, doing shunting for a month or two will serve you well during your career.
I did shunting for 3yrs before getting my C+E, no stressing for me when turning up at places. I was always thinking how daunting would this be for someone who had only been driving an artic for 5 days.
Conor:
Anyway there’s a driver there who has been with the company I was driving at 25 years fannying around trying to get into a space with two drivers helping to guide him. For reasons I cannot fathom he is trying to blindside it in.
Whilst he’s still backing into that I go into the yard, spin round and in 30 seconds from setting off to stopping, back straight into the bay he’s been trying to get into for the last 5 minutes in one go.
Back on form I see champ. Decided not to give modesty a go this time then?
just when you thin you done a good job best off look for the test you only av to drive perfick for anhour then you can forget what thay tould you and drive like the rest of us 
