I warn you before you read this, stick the kettle on its going to be a long one! 
Safe to say I’m still pinching myself as i still can’t quite believe I’ve passed my test 
granted its took me long enough!!
So the start of yesterday was to get back in the swing of things as my last lesson was over 2 weeks ago! So get going upto the reversing area just up the road in sherburn and its a good job i went as it was obvious i needed a little practice 
thankfully i knew what you had to do just putting it back into practice after a few goes it was there in the end! So off we go from there to have a little practice of the roads etc covering all that we have been and all seemed to be like natural, taking enough room to pass cars giving enough room, going around and coming off of roundabouts at the right speed. We stopped just up the road from the test centre on the industrial estate. Paul said I was at test standard and didn’t see why I shouldn’t pass my test plus that if i make any mistake to not dwell on it and carry on and enjoy it most of all!
So with that into the test centre we go and we park up by the reversing area all set up just for me seems strange upto this point like is this actually happening!! So into the shelter we go, paper and photo license onto table, and the what feels like never ending wait for the examiner to turn up!! Upto this point I’m thinking of each outcome, pass and fail as to prep myself for the worst before i even start!! 
Eventually the examiner Steve turns up, such a friendly chap compared to both car test examiners could certainly do with more up beat characters like him! So off i go towards the truck where i get asked the show me tell me questions.
First question being on how would you load the truck and restrain it etc, ‘I would put the pallets on putting any heavy pallets over the back axle and secure them either using internal or external straps’
Second ‘how would you check the condition of the reflectors’ now obviously an easy question but my mind went blank but it came back to me, ‘check for cracks, and in good working order’
Third ’ how would you check the doors and cargo doors are secure’ my answer being ‘lock the front doors and check make sure they don’t open and the cargo doors making sure the catches on the doors are in place and the handles flat against the doors’
Fourth ‘how would you check the mudguards are safe’ look to make sure they aren’t cracked or hanging off and give a little tug to make sure they aren’t going to come off!
the last one being how would you check for any air leaks, i started to explain but the examiner told me he wants me to show how. So no bother i said, got in the truck started the engine told him, i would check either for a warning buzzer warning me of an air leak or i would let the air build up for 5 minutes switch off the engine and walk around listening for hissing which is a sign of an air leak.
Answers perfectish! Time for the reverse! I was instructed how the manouver was wanted to be done, up to the cone with the stick as close as i can get then upto the first ‘bay’ again as close to the cone to the left as i could get, bags of room! So back i go, checking mirrors perfectly, full lock to left back getting close to the line slowly taking it off and backed into the bay perfect well not dead straight but good enough, got out and checked as the examiner didn’t say yep! So i got back in backed up a MM handbrake on! Reverse spot on!
The examiner gets in the truck and time to set off, at the test centre when leaving there’s two lanes on exit one for MOT vehicles and one for EXIT. Obviously i was in the exit lane, i was told there isn’t need to stop but its good practice to do so, needless to say there was a truck i saw before the test just going round and i saw the lad was going to set off so stop at the line handbrake on, let the truck go and off i go checking both mirrors! Out of the test centre turning left.
Off the first roundabout I was told this is the start of the independant drive where i thought ‘You what!? On my driving test this was at the end of the test near enough!’ but i just went with it following signs for the A1 south, plenty of roundabouts along the way. Off the first roundabout i was a little quick, and i saw he put the pen to paper i thought ’ ■■■■■■■ well done failed already’ so further up the road i get told now follow signs for thorner, so we turn right at a junction, picture perfect mirror checks spot on on we go!
At this point i haven’t a clue where im going so bits will be mucked about from the bits i can remember! We go down a few country roads, quite tight but giving enough room so the mirrors aren’t catching on the branches (having heard the sound of one making contact with a tree at 40mph is scary enough let alone with an examiner at the side of you! So going at a steady 30-35 keeping it safe and enough to stop if something is coming the other way etc.
So down the road we stop on a uphill gradient quite steep! This point my brain ■■■■■■ massively to the point i would have failed had i not caught myself! I stupidly confused downhill start with up hill prepping as though i was going down hill !!! I promptly shouted at myself ‘uphill you thick ■■■■ not down hill!!’ which i think the examiner heard me but thankfully saved in the nick of before i did anything stupid! Just up the hill you end up going down hill shortly which where a second problem arose not on my part though surprisingly! 
We stopped on the downhill, and at this point i knock it down to low range from.high but on the dashboard the light for highrange is still on, so i try put it in gear as I was in the low range but it wouldn’t go into gear so it looked like i was struggling with the gears which i was in a sense of not being able to get a gear! So i knocked it back over into high range, then back over to low and by magic i have 1-4! Lol. So into second and downhill we go, (in the right way, foot on footbrake, handbrake off, clutch to bite, mirror, signal, over shoulder, mirror, move off check offside mirror!!
All the way through this i could see the examiner put his pen to paper which i thought was me done with as i could have swore he marked down a good 8-9 times!! We eventually head towards whetherby which to me springs ‘thank ■■■■ its nearly over!’ we get to a mini roundabout which i was warned about as when turning left obviously anything from the right give way but at the left if anything was coming you cant go as you will one kerb it and two cause traffic to either come to an abrupt stop or have them back up and quite obviously give you a big fat shiney FAIL! I did get a minor for apparently not checking to my left but i did as i wouldn’t have bloody gone if i saw something coming! I thought i failed it on there as i bet a van to the roundabout on the opposite side who had to slow down behind me etc. So wasn’t a good feeling:(
We eventually get into Whetherby town centre, slowly crawling through at 20 mph checking the mirrors like a hawk as the last thing i wanted was to give someone a happy slap with my mirrors! Through safe and sound and come to some cars parked on the left, i stop at the correct distance, mirror indicator right to let folk know i want to come through, i was flashed through which the examiner saw thankfully and through perfectly 
and up turn right before morrisons petrol station, mirror signal, clear to go offside mirror check as i go, double checking as i go in so he sees im being as observant as possible.
We eventually come to what i feel from experience are the most stupid lights known to man! Lights on green slowing down a little foot hovering the brake…they turn red so i stop in good time but as soon as i stopped the ■■■■■■■ turned green again after a millisecond i thought ‘what was the ■■■■■■■ point in that!’ we eventually get our way back to where im familiar with and see were nearly back, we turn right at a junction back on the main road heading back to the test centre, where on the way back i saw two training trucks one of tockwiths (VERY smart volvo FL i must say!) and another one i cant remember the name of but both instructors saw i was on test both with slightly smug looks on their faces seeing my face looking as terrified as sin
So back into the test centre we go park up near the waiting room, where the examiner starts talking and then says well I’m pleased to say you’ve passed! Where i asked if he was serious as i couldn’t believe those words were just spoken!!! To where he asked where i thought i failed where when i replied he said the only thing that would have been a fail is of something had of come from the left of that mini roundabout as i didn’t check…which i did as I wouldn’t have gone if there was something!! But never mind I passed! First time! 4 minors. Not a bad result! Better than my driving test funnily enough!
So to put a little review of my training, Pauls been an excellent instructor throughout all of my training and certainly has been a good laugh. Has been very patient with me where i reckon anyone else would have probably given up on me And I would recommend anyone in Yorkshire whose silly like me and want to be a lorry driver Paul is no doubt the best choice by far. No ■■■■■■■■ just does what it says on the tin.
No one would understand how much weight has been lifted off my shoulders with this, and well now just my cpc to worry about now which i doubt will not be a problem. Now all I need to do now is find work preferably on the tippers! But if the right tramping job came along that would be great! Have a good day folks
Cheers
Jonny 
And to add to this I have an interview tomorrow morning for a job that is pretty much mine. Until next time though, keep an eye out for a yorkshireman with potentially white knuckles and a wide grin chances are its me 