Been given a not so shiny M reg scania 143 450. First impressions are it seems to pull well enough but you do have to work the gears quite a lot. And its drafty, but thankfully the heater works well.
today went well enough, just 2 stops at daventry and northampton with a load on the way home. No real dramas so quite pleased.
So far so good 
1 am start, changeover at tewkewsbury then 5 stops on the way home tomoro so its good night from me
Donāt knock it,folk have started in some sheds.Sounds like a steady number,good luck,keep the shiny side up!
bestbooties:
Donāt knock it,folk have started in some sheds.
Absolutely agreed bestbooties, Iād be one of those people you mentioned 
The first wagon I drove after passing my test was a clapped out Ford āDā series. 
Then I was āpromotedā to a clapped out Bedford TK. At least I could sleep in it
having an old truck to start with is a blessing i think, it takes a lot of the stress out of still learning. The job is steady for the next 2 years as my gaffer paid for the licence upgrade and iāve been told if i keep my act together iāll get a volvo fh come the new year, only be a few years younger but still an all round improvement.
Feel a bit more confident today but its still taking me a good few shunts to get square on bays but thats just a practice thing
baracus:
Feel a bit more confident today but its still taking me a good few shunts to get square on bays but thats just a practice thing
I wouldnāt worry how many shunts it takes.
At your stage, Iād say that avoiding hitting anything or damaging your truck is far more important.
The last thing you need is a reputation for hitting things, bosses donāt like it and nor do the insurers.
So, you end up with a reputation for being slow, steady and cautious-- big deal 
IMHO, thatās far better 
give me a 143 to drive all day they are a good truck mate always get you home, keep the revs in the green v8ās donāt like being raced. nurse the motor and itāll give ya no problems