eagerbeaver:
On your lessons, you don’t do a blindside reverse as it is not required on the test. You don’t run fully loaded either, so as others have said, you simply do enough to show you have the basic skills to control the vehicle.
You can gain a full CE license, by driving a 12 tonner wag n drag auto. The trainers don’t mind, because its a nice little earner for them, by offering a ’ conversion course '. In other words, come back for a couple of hours in an artic, and/or a manual gearbox.
Ker-ching!!
IMO, the training and test criteria, need somewhat toughening up. And before anyone thinks they are clever, yes I passed in a knackered 51 plate DAF CF manual artic.
I am not sure your first sentence is true unless the reversing exercise has changed recently? The first part of the reverse is blindside is it not?
Apart from that if you attend a good training school you will practice blindside reverses if there is time. Depends if the candidate struggles on forward driving or not.
the training and test criteria, need somewhat toughening up How true this is!
eagerbeaver:
On your lessons, you don’t do a blindside reverse as it is not required on the test. You don’t run fully loaded either, so as others have said, you simply do enough to show you have the basic skills to control the vehicle.
You can gain a full CE license, by driving a 12 tonner wag n drag auto. The trainers don’t mind, because its a nice little earner for them, by offering a ’ conversion course '. In other words, come back for a couple of hours in an artic, and/or a manual gearbox.
Ker-ching!!
IMO, the training and test criteria, need somewhat toughening up. And before anyone thinks they are clever, yes I passed in a knackered 51 plate DAF CF manual artic.
Running fully loaded as opposed to empty isnt an issue. You soon get the feel of it.
ROG:
Driver regs are not covered that well for newbies but they could be if the authorities (EU) ever decide to take a common sense decision to change initial dcpc mod 2 to a test on the regs …
LGV trainees only learn on one type of gearbox and as there are so many out there then it makes no odds as to what they train with
All the practical training issues could be dealt with if all the trainees were prepared to pay a lot more for extended training but is that realistic as it could amount to about £4k for each course ?
Spot on Rog. If you don’t understand the gears on a new truck get a lad out the workshop to run around the yard with you to show you. It’s no big deal.
Running fully loaded as opposed to empty isnt an issue. You soon get the feel of it.
I think it’s a big issue. There is a huge difference between running empty and loaded and some are not capable of making the transition safely. It is blatantly obvious by the way some drive on the roads everyday.
Training needs to involve driving a loaded wagon in all situations.
if we’re arguing about driving standards then go look at the car test and the idiots that seem to come from that! I spoke to a guy at a party who had had his car licence less than 6 months and he’s already going to be dragged to court because he was caught speed twice by the same copper! 50mph in a 30mph zone and 83 in a 60mph zone!
It aint that difficult to drive a truck, just take it steady on roundabouts and allow more braking time on inclines. The ‘real skill’ comes in loading the vehicle, securing the load, route planning and dealing with stroppy customers.
As regards reversing cameras, I personally think they should be compulsory on all trucks and trailers now they are so cheap.
The first part of your reverse IS technically, a bindside. However, there is nothing to hit, and you are simply aligning a ’ mark ’ on the headboard so you can then change direction to deal with the cones.
As for empty vs loaded, you are part loaded on lessons and test. I was merely attempting to highlight the fact, that lessons and tests are in my opinion, not very realistic.
albion1971:
Running fully loaded as opposed to empty isnt an issue. You soon get the feel of it.
I think it’s a big issue. There is a huge difference between running empty and loaded and some are not capable of making the transition safely. It is blatantly obvious by the way some drive on the roads everyday.
Training needs to involve driving a loaded wagon in all situations.
Its gonna take longer to accelerate, longer to stop, and it’s harder to corner at speed. So basically a heavy load (or an unstable load) means you’ve got to drive more carefully. That is not difficult to pick up. Once you’ve had a little scare taking a bend too quick you soon learn to be more careful next time.
> Radar19: > if we’re arguing about driving standards then go look at the car test and the idiots that seem to come from that! I spoke to a guy at a party who had had his car licence less than 6 months and he’s already going to be dragged to court because he was caught speed twice by the same copper! 50mph in a 30mph zone and 83 in a 60mph zone!
Ahem all truck drivers are car drivers. They also get done for speeding. Some even seem to condone it. The guy you talk about is not the fault of the driving test or the training but his own stupidity for thinking he is a boy racer.
eagerbeaver:
The first part of your reverse IS technically, a bindside. However, there is nothing to hit, and you are simply aligning a ’ mark ’ on the headboard so you can then change direction to deal with the cones.
As for empty vs loaded, you are part loaded on lessons and test. I was merely attempting to highlight the fact, that lessons and tests are in my opinion, not very realistic.
We are fast approaching the line of training for driving an HGV and training for the job of driving an HGV. You could do your Class 1 and pull nothing but those silly massive American caravan things. You can trained to drive an HGV to an acceptable road standard, its down to the company to train you to drive to suit the job. You will drive differently when pulling a curtain sider loaded with fizzy pop compared to a tipper carrying sand.
Radar19:
if we’re arguing about driving standards then go look at the car test and the idiots that seem to come from that! I spoke to a guy at a party who had had his car licence less than 6 months and he’s already going to be dragged to court because he was caught speed twice by the same copper! 50mph in a 30mph zone and 83 in a 60mph zone!
Are you saying you’ve never done 50 in a 30 and 83 in a 60?
albion1971: > Radar19: > if we’re arguing about driving standards then go look at the car test and the idiots that seem to come from that! I spoke to a guy at a party who had had his car licence less than 6 months and he’s already going to be dragged to court because he was caught speed twice by the same copper! 50mph in a 30mph zone and 83 in a 60mph zone!
Ahem all truck drivers are car drivers. They also get done for speeding. Some even seem to condone it. The guy you talk about is not the fault of the driving test or the training but his own stupidity for thinking he is a boy racer.
Never said it was the fault of the actual test but of the standard of driving today. Its the same with the HGV test, most of the things they teach get forgotten when you actually start driving. People get bad habits, even you!
Radar19:
if we’re arguing about driving standards then go look at the car test and the idiots that seem to come from that! I spoke to a guy at a party who had had his car licence less than 6 months and he’s already going to be dragged to court because he was caught speed twice by the same copper! 50mph in a 30mph zone and 83 in a 60mph zone!
Are you saying you’ve never done 50 in a 30 and 83 in a 60?
Hand on heart here, never done 80+ unless on a motorway. I have come roaring into villages from national speed limit zones using my gears to slow done so I’m not actually doing 30 when entering the village. I’m not saying an a good driver, in fact I’m a bad driver, very bad in some cases.
albion1971: > Radar19: > if we’re arguing about driving standards then go look at the car test and the idiots that seem to come from that! I spoke to a guy at a party who had had his car licence less than 6 months and he’s already going to be dragged to court because he was caught speed twice by the same copper! 50mph in a 30mph zone and 83 in a 60mph zone!
Ahem all truck drivers are car drivers. They also get done for speeding. Some even seem to condone it. The guy you talk about is not the fault of the driving test or the training but his own stupidity for thinking he is a boy racer.
Never said it was the fault of the actual test but of the standard of driving today. Its the same with the HGV test, most of the things they teach get forgotten when you actually start driving. People get bad habits, even you!
Yes you are quite correct but that has always been the case.Nothing has changed in that respect. Drivers are still dumb and forget.
Radar19:
You can trained to drive an HGV to an acceptable road standard, its down to the company to train you to drive to suit the job.
Doing agency work, I am expected to drive all sorts of vehicles carrying all sorts of loads, but nobody has ever given me any sort of training. I usually have to ask other drivers (if still in the yard) where the location of things like pto’s etc are as no two trucks are the same. No advice given on carrying certain items, I basically have to just crack on with things. I’ve even had to use YouTube videos to show me how to use digi tachos. Am not a newbie as had a HGV for 27 years, but couldn’t tell you what the electronics on a modern truck do, up till three weeks ago had never driven a truck with an autobox and I have never ever used cruise control. Training for many drivers is totally non existent, but you just have to muddle through as best as you can with most places.
Radar19:
You can trained to drive an HGV to an acceptable road standard, its down to the company to train you to drive to suit the job.
Doing agency work, I am expected to drive all sorts of vehicles carrying all sorts of loads, but nobody has ever given me any sort of training. I usually have to ask other drivers (if still in the yard) where the location of things like pto’s etc are as no two trucks are the same. No advice given on carrying certain items, I basically have to just crack on with things. I’ve even had to use YouTube videos to show me how to use digi tachos. Am not a newbie as had a HGV for 27 years, but couldn’t tell you what the electronics on a modern truck do, up till three weeks ago had never driven a truck with an autobox and I have never ever used cruise control. Training for many drivers is totally non existent, but you just have to muddle through as best as you can with most places.
I totally agree with most comments on here but it does just go to prove my point about how little training there is before passing your test.
haha