I want to see what we think is the hgv C and C+E to easy?
Reason i ask i took another newbie out last night albeit in a 6 wheeler not an artic i drove for close on 4.5 hrs with the idea he does the flip side of 2hrs back to ndc. Sadly after 2 miles enough was enough and i was trying to explain what had just happened to my ndc the plod etc. I said at the next lights go left and straight over the next set! On the approach to the left i said take it wide and use as much rd as you can, it didnt workout he took railings out then the gantry set of traffic lights so now were impaled on this lot. He had never used a splitter box but i explained that at 1st and thought after my last rant id stay calm and remember we all started somewhere. But after not listening and crashing is it getting to easy to get a hgv?
No, I don’t think the tests are too easy. When I first went out with another driver after passing my test and getting my first job I found that the more experienced drivers advice consistently contradicted almost everything that I had just learnt. This put me under a bit of stress as I didn’t want to go against what I had been taught but found that I had to in order to please the other driver. It wasn’t until I went out on my own that everything came together and I found the whole experience a lot more relaxing.
I voted no because the test is fit for its basic purpose
If we want to go further than a basic test then the training would need to be many weeks perhaps months and the cost would be too high for most to consider
Its the responsibility of the company who a newbie drives for to ensure that the driver has the relevant experience and if not then to give them the required training - sadly many companies cannot be bothered
For a person who has done no or very little driving of trucks So they only know how to drive to pass the test, it maybe easy, But for those who have been driving various types of commercial vehicle’s from the 3.5t lwb merc sprinters to 44t artics or 18t rigid on a provisional, for years prior to passing the required tests it can become harder, because drivers develop bad habits and can become too complacent (some find these habits ect very hard to break in order to pass the test)
The LGV driving test IMO isn’t there to assess if you can drive or not,(car licence covered that) it’s there as a revenue generator for the DSA ,The driving test is more about driving safely and according to how they want you to drive on the day, So unless your employee had some practical hours driving the same vehicle cat prior to, or after the test then it’s not that surprising he (zb)'d the job up, and having someone on his case probably did him no favours sounds like a lapse of concentration
Personally I’d like to see more reversing on the test… i.e. reversing onto loading bays, more realism between two trailers… and two couple and uncoupling exercises… one with the trailer you used during the test and one that is picked out for you… I would also like to see someone taking a the test secure a load…
There are so many varieties of gearbox and trucks for that matter, when I was on the buses no one was allowed to take any new vehicle out unless they where familiarised with it, this went for new drivers experienced or not they where trained on every variant of vehicle.
The reverse exercise should be changed completely, I have never had to reverse blindside round “Cone B” since passing my test, I remember my first run out after my test, it took me about 10 minutes to park in a easy slot at a RDC.
The test is fit for purpose and has been for some considerable time, I too mine in 89 and found it difficult.
The problem lies with the complete lack of training post test what training is available is almost always inadequate, where i work we have a comprehensive assessment before the person gets the job then continuous training thereafter when you train to take the test you are only learning how to pass a test not how to do the job.
However we still spend an average of £3500 a week on preventable damage.
I think the test is too easy. It didn’t prepare me at all for the actual job. Maybe its because I learnt and passed on an autobox and I’m agency where they just throw a set of keys at you and say “get on with it”. My last job I did I was presented with a 4 over 4 range change, if I hadn’t of done some research on them before I started getting my HGV license I would of been screwed. Some of the places I’ve had to reverse into as a newbie have been terrifying, I believe they should make you do a reverse test out in the field like you did in your car test. They should make you reverse down into a loading area from the blindside.
ROG:
I voted no because the test is fit for its basic purpose
If we want to go further than a basic test then the training would need to be many weeks perhaps months and the cost would be too high for most to consider
Its the responsibility of the company who a newbie drives for to ensure that the driver has the relevant experience and if not then to give them the required training - sadly many companies cannot be bothered
Not often I agree with Rog, but this is one of those occasions. Couldn’t have put it better.
But…
vysie:
I want to see what we think is the hgv C and C+E to easy?
Reason i ask i took another newbie out last night albeit in a 6 wheeler not an artic i drove for close on 4.5 hrs with the idea he does the flip side of 2hrs back to ndc. Sadly after 2 miles enough was enough and i was trying to explain what had just happened to my ndc the plod etc. I said at the next lights go left and straight over the next set! On the approach to the left i said take it wide and use as much rd as you can, it didnt workout he took railings out then the gantry set of traffic lights so now were impaled on this lot. He had never used a splitter box but i explained that at 1st and thought after my last rant id stay calm and remember we all started somewhere. But after not listening and crashing is it getting to easy to get a hgv?
Maybe a basic English spelling and grammar test should be part of the driving test? That would soon bring the pass rates down, eh vysie?
Newly passed and after spending £3500 I don’t think my McDonalds wage would be able to afford a harder/longer tests.
Think what was included in your C+E test and compare that to the tests we have to do now. They have only got harder from 50+ years ago.
The problem is learners have to drive “ok” for 1 hour and then they get the licence. Now that doesn’t mean they are a professional HGV driver. I believe now you start learning when you get out on the road doing all kinds of mistakes.
I can’t back up the lad that didn’t give enough room after instructed to do so, that’s just his stupidity.
I don’t think the test is the problem, I think it’s a lot to do with driving schools teaching how to pass a test as opposed to how to drive.
But saying that if the new driver that was with you couldn’t turn left at a set of traffic lights without hitting anything then I would suggest they should be given some practice in an open area to get to grips with the basic driving of the lorry before being taken out on the open road.
Hmmm,didn’t you realise he wouldn’t make the turning?personally if you were sent to supervise him and he hit something then you’ve gotta take some responsibility for that imo.
I’ve always said you learn faster when you are on your own because you assume that if you’ve got something wrong the guy with you will stop you,if your by yourself you pay a lot more attention.
Maybe he would have been better on his own!
That’s it Ricekrispies. My reverse was done by full lock until I see the rivet and then straighten up the cab with slight bit of left hand down. Right… So God help me in the big wide world. Comman sense is also a big help when starting, if you can’t see your not going to make it then why try?
It would help if there was a bit more detail as to why a newly qualified driver would need to be told how to get through a turn and then why having done so the thing ended up wiping out the street furniture.Nothing whatsoever to do with the ‘test’ being that would be an obvious fail on test.Either the driver in question has never learn’t how to drive a truck with obvious implications regarding the validity of the licence and/or simply just isn’t cut out to be a driver.In which case it’s anyone’s guess how such a driver managed to pass the test as it stands.Having said that their might be areas of the country where the existing test is much easier to pass than others.Such as in the urban London area v the wide open rural spaces of East Anglia or Northern Britain.
ckm1981:
I’ve always said you learn faster when you are on your own Maybe he would have been better on his own!
^ This.Having said that wiping out street furniture during turns possibly points to a basic failing in driving ability.Next time it might be a person/cyclist/car etc etc.
In my day it was HGV2 and then the EU bought in C1, C & C+E.
Or as it used to be HGV 3, 2 & 1 so not a lot apart from going from numbers to letters!
But yes it does depend on the driving school you use, some are ■■■■■ & some are good.
I used a good one and was trained to drive a lorry on the highway safely, properly and professonialy.
It’s not always the cheapest firm that offers the best training!!!
Hiya…when drivers had a mate years ago. the lad learned the profession…i learned by going with a friend
and having a sneaky drive on unfinished motorways…now you can’t carry passengers how can kids learn
not only driving but routes. when i was only 21 i went to the London area with 18 drops with a artic from
the Stoke area. i had good training by going with other drivers before i passed my test…new laws have
killed the profession. some laws for better some laws are not so good.
John
skypilot:
In my day it was HGV2 and then the EU bought in C1, C & C+E.
Or as it used to be HGV 3, 2 & 1 so not a lot apart from going from numbers to letters!
But yes it does depend on the driving school you use, some are [zb] & some are good.
I used a good one and was trained to drive a lorry on the highway safely, properly and professonialy.
It’s not always the cheapest firm that offers the best training!!!
Assuming the training is the problem then the test would usually be more than capable of sorting out the ones who aren’t good enough for the job at least to the point where they can’t take a truck through a tight turn in an urban area.Which realistically either means that the test is too compromised in some parts of the country by not being taken on challenging enough roads.Or the person in question possibly hasn’t actually had any training and taken the relevant test.
