Lesson 1
I’m glad to say I’ve finally got my class 1 going 
I was supposed to start yesterday but it had to be put back to today, so I had 2 sessions today, 6 hours and I loved every minute. 
We started off with a little walk around while the lad in the rigid was doing his reverse. After about 15 minutes or so we had the yard to our self. We started off just driving forwards and reversing back so I could play with the handling and get used to how the trailer acts to different turns etc. After about 10 minutes we got lined up and we started the reverse manoeuvre. My instructor (Peter) walked along the vehicle as I was reversing like Bob did on my rigid and gave my instructions as I was going, it went in fine and I gauged the distance to the barrier perfect 1st time. We took another run at it this time I just did it and Peter stepped in when needed. I had to take a shunt on the 2nd attempt but it still went in just fine. We did 1 more then we headed out into Newport.
We headed out into Magor around the country lanes and tight residential streets. We encountered a few varied sized roundabouts and I started to get to grips with the space needed to get the trailer around without touching the kerbs, most of the junctions and roundabouts went really well I did rub a couple of kerbs here and there but nothing too bad. We drove around for about 1 1/2 hours before heading back to the yard.
We got back and went through the coupling and un-coupling procedures. This went just fine nothing to worry about really just getting the routine down really. This was the end of lesson one.
Lesson 2
We got started by doing a quick reverse, this one I did completely on my tod. It went just as well as the last few. I did take a shunt as I put the wrong lock on when reversing into the bay and the trailer went all funky
After this we headed back out into Newport, heading for the city. Narrow busy city streets really test your driving abilities it all went well though
Nothing really to report on this we just had a drive around for a while. Headed up a dual carriageway for a while. Quite a lot of small roundabouts to get used to them. I need to get back in the habit of taking roundabouts PROPERLY lol. I did drastically slowed down 2 cars, which would have no doubt been a fail on test. The 1st one was down to the car driver though. He was indicating to take the first left and seemed to be positioned for it too. Then all of a sudden as I pulled out he flew right at me.
We stopped for a coffee half way through the drive then we made our way back to the yard after a bit more driving. I think we’re heading into Cwmbran on Monday. Looking forward to it
Best of luck to ya matey, hopefully you’ll get the test first time! Im starting my C+E training in a few weeks and cant wait for it!
Cheers Chris, it would be nice best if luck to you mate.
Lesson 3
We started off this morning with a reverse. I was a little rusty after the weekend and made a bit of a mess but I jut took a shunt and got it in.
We headed out to Cwmbran today, I was hitting every kerb I coud see for the first part of the lesson. We stopped for a coffee half way through the lesson and Peter was talking to me about my approach positioning to roundabouts.
After our coffee we headed back out and I was doing much better, I did hit one or two, but most of them I managed to keep a good foot from the kerb.
I’m finding it hard to gauge what space I need at each roundabout. We’ll be driving along and I’ll hit or mount a kerb and Peter will tell me I need to go out wider before turning in, so on the next one I’ll make sure I get more room, then he’ll tell me I need to keep in my lane becuase I’m taking up both lanes. Its kind of one or the other, I’m not getting enough room or too much it seems.
Getting around the kerbs is the only thing I’m having trouble with. My mirrors and gears etc are fine. The reverse needs a little fine tuning but its coming along. Its just those bloody kerbs 
When we got back into the yard we done a un-couple and couple. This isn’t anything too hard just remembering the routine of which everything goes.
Got my lesson at 7:30 tomorrow, then my test is at 2:30 in Pontypool on Wednesday.
LR18-8:
Cheers Chris, it would be nice best if luck to you mate.
Lesson 3
We started off this morning with a reverse. I was a little rusty after the weekend and made a bit of a mess but I jut took a shunt and got it in.
We headed out to Cwmbran today, I was hitting every kerb I coud see for the first part of the lesson. We stopped for a coffee half way through the lesson and Peter was talking to me about my approach positioning to roundabouts.
After our coffee we headed back out and I was doing much better, I did hit one or two, but most of them I managed to keep a good foot from the kerb.
I’m finding it hard to gauge what space I need at each roundabout. We’ll be driving along and I’ll hit or mount a kerb and Peter will tell me I need to go out wider before turning in, so on the next one I’ll make sure I get more room, then he’ll tell me I need to keep in my lane becuase I’m taking up both lanes. Its kind of one or the other, I’m not getting enough room or too much it seems.
Getting around the kerbs is the only thing I’m having trouble with. My mirrors and gears etc are fine. The reverse needs a little fine tuning but its coming along. Its just those bloody kerbs
When we got back into the yard we done a un-couple and couple. This isn’t anything too hard just remembering the routine of which everything goes.
Got my lesson at 7:30 tomorrow, then my test is at 2:30 in Pontypool on Wednesday.
On my C+E training our instructor gave us alittle tip as to never hit any curbs ect on roundabouts, and that was to line up the tarmarc join that’s on many roundabouts ( it’s like a tarmac join that separates the 2 lanes) with a join on our dash in the lorry and keep that join roughly level with the join on the dash and the trailer will follow the roundabout leaving the right amount of gap and you never mount any curbs!
Not sure about the setup with your veichle ect but maybe simular.
So your taking your test at the New Inn test centre? thats where i took my tests, i had Phil on my Cat C (tall bloke with glasses) and Carl on my C+E (short well built bald guy), both seemed okay examiners.
Goodluck with the rest of the training 
Yeah I’m a that test centre mate, I had Fran on my Cat C.
I really don’t follow you with what your saying, just going to read it again and visualise lol
Best of luck with Ur test will keep fingers crossed for u
Jenx
you will be fine try and relax which i know its hard try not to let the nerves get to you, i just pretended it was my instructor giving me the test and started talking to her << yes female examiner and this helped me relax and better still she understood i was nervous, still remember my C+E test day very well and how im sure someone was intent on making it the hardest day of my life with idiots cutting me up and pulling in front, no turn signals on the roundabouts etc GRR but apart from that i passed lol,
So a big good luck to you for tommorrow
Well how’d things go today? Hope you passed!
He’s probably out celebrating
I wish I was 
I failed and its really ■■■■■■ me off because its something I thought I’d done and on the easiest part of the test too.
I thought t my self in the morning that if anything would fail me it would more than likely be the reverse, but the reverse went amazingly well. It just went exactly where I needed it to go.
So then we went for the drive, I picked up 2 minors for hesitation and 2 because twice I pulled out on a roundabout making two people ease off a bit. He counted those as minors.
We got back to do the coupling and uncoupling. Started going through the procedure and when I got to reversing onto the trailer is where he failed me. I came back onto the trailer and heard the trailer and unit lock together so I put it in 3rd and tugged twice to check I had it, at this point I felt movement from the cab and when I looked behind me I saw the trailer bounce up and down so as far as I was aware the trailer and unit we securely together and I had checked. The examiner seems to think the cab didn’t pull on the trailer at all.
It really ■■■■■■ me off I feel so fed up. When he asked me what I done wrong I was so shocked because in my mind I had done everything. When he said you didn’t pull forward on the trailer I told him I did and from my view and position in the cab I felt it tug but he was having none of it. Its not like I completely forgot to do it, I did it and maybe I could have pulled it harder but I thought I had pulled it enough as I felt it.
FYI the trailer was secure as he asked my instructor to check it and it was fine.
Sorry to hear you did not pass. You know what it’s all about now and will be geared up for next time.
Keep your chin up and we look forward to hearing about your pass next time
Dean
Sorry to hear the bad news mate, atleast the rest of the test went deadon! Just make sure you make it as obvious as possible that your pulling forward next time! Best of luck for the next time!!
So sorry to hear u failed but u will get it next time good luck just go and have a few beers and numb the pain
Jenx
Jennie:
just go and have a few beers and numb the pain
Would a bottle of whiskey be suitable lol
I’ve got my re-test in for Monday, got to be at the yard for 1:30 so I’d imagine its around 2:30 again
LR18-8:
Jennie:
just go and have a few beers and numb the pain
Would a bottle of whiskey be suitable lol
I’ve got my re-test in for Monday, got to be at the yard for 1:30 so I’d imagine its around 2:30 again
Whatever works I find lol
Good luck for Mon I’m sure Ull nail it this time as the rest was fine !
Jenx
Thats unfair imho but u cant argue with them.
You will pass no probs mate sounds a good drive otherwise part from that.
