My first week as a 'proper' trucker

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

So, yesterday I finished my first week as a Class 1 pilot. The things I`ve learned so far … :

  1. Car drivers are moronic lemmings who are hell bent on self destruction.

  2. Other HGV drivers (for the most part) have been extremely helpful when I tell them I`m new at this. Ditto the guys unloading me.

  3. I haven`t got enough pairs of eyes, particularly in the back of my head, when navigating tight spaces and dealing with car drivers (see point 1)

  4. The facilities for women are appalling.

  5. The way you are “taught” to drive to pass the “test”, in no way mirrors real life. The DCPC tests have a huge amount of holes in correlation to what you ACTUALLY need to know, and for a number of questions I`ve asked, no one seems to know the answers :open_mouth:

  6. It`s surprising just how quickly you can bring 44 tonne of lorry to a halt when needed (again refer to point 1).

  7. Reversing is a b@$t@rd … Complete and utter pain. At one very tight right angled bay I got it in, no worries at all, another where I had limited room, I set myself up brilliantly and again got it on the bay with out issues, yet another straight run back with a football pitch size amount of room and I ballsed it up good and proper and took about 6 shunts to get on the bay :laughing: … and don`t even get me started on blindside reversing on the Riverside at Immingham, that finished off my Friday night/end of the week perfectly … not :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Again (see point 2) thank god for the Polish fella who gave me a hand and watched me in.

Just how do you do that type of reverse? Is it something you learn? Does something finally click and youre like "yep, I can do it now?" or what■■? I watch others do it like theyre reversing a car, bosh, done. Will that ever happen to me? :laughing: :laughing:

Here`s to next week and another shot down the road 10 - 4 :wink:

2

re #4 theres nowhere that caters for male drivers so why would anyone cater for the minority of females ones.though there is an occasional place that assists them using the reverse sexism aspect…we dont let minging truckies use our facilities as they are for our colleagues only…oh…your a wifey…here you go,you can use the ladies bogs… :unamused:

3

Trouble:
So, yesterday I finished my first week as a Class 1 pilot. The things I`ve learned so far … :

  1. Car drivers are moronic lemmings who are hell bent on self destruction.

  2. Other HGV drivers (for the most part) have been extremely helpful when I tell them I`m new at this. Ditto the guys unloading me.

  3. I haven`t got enough pairs of eyes, particularly in the back of my head, when navigating tight spaces and dealing with car drivers (see point 1)

  4. The facilities for women are appalling.

  5. The way you are “taught” to drive to pass the “test”, in no way mirrors real life. The DCPC tests have a huge amount of holes in correlation to what you ACTUALLY need to know, and for a number of questions I`ve asked, no one seems to know the answers :open_mouth:

  6. It`s surprising just how quickly you can bring 44 tonne of lorry to a halt when needed (again refer to point 1).

  7. Reversing is a b@$t@rd … Complete and utter pain. At one very tight right angled bay I got it in, no worries at all, another where I had limited room, I set myself up brilliantly and again got it on the bay with out issues, yet another straight run back with a football pitch size amount of room and I ballsed it up good and proper and took about 6 shunts to get on the bay :laughing: … and don`t even get me started on blindside reversing on the Riverside at Immingham, that finished off my Friday night/end of the week perfectly … not :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Again (see point 2) thank god for the Polish fella who gave me a hand and watched me in.

Just how do you do that type of reverse? Is it something you learn? Does something finally click and youre like "yep, I can do it now?" or what■■? I watch others do it like theyre reversing a car, bosh, done. Will that ever happen to me? :laughing: :laughing:

Here`s to next week and another shot down the road 10 - 4 :wink:

Your reversing will improve with practice but you will find the more room you’ve got the higher the chance of a balls up!

4

I’m in year 8 of class 1 and I can reverse into the tightest of spaces with ease and still struggle sometimes on an empty row of bays :laughing: It’s because it’s simply easier with a line to work with and less space I find slow and steady helps in all situations and helps avoid looking a plank but it’ll happen now and then anyway.
Don’t think she’s looking for special treatment as a woman DD so lay off a bit, why shouldn’t she expect facilities for females? We might not get the red carpet but we all expect to be able to go to the bog in peace :unamused:
If it was a weird attempt at humour it was crap, if it wasn’t I think you’re being harsh.
Anyway good luck Hun, don’t let the ■■■■■■■■ get you down as they say. We were all new once and you seem to be doing ok :wink:

5

I am always annoyed by the comments about car drivers once people get a HGV licence :open_mouth:
Do truck drivers not drive cars when they are not working ? Surely when you get in a car you then become one of those annoying drivers :laughing:

6

i dont see any implied humour in it either.just an observation.most places hardly cater for visiting drivers who for the most part are predominately male,why would they go out of their way to accomodate a female driver in todays society of equality (when it suits)

7

For reversing at Riverside Immingham docks, don’t bother. Just stick it in any bay, make a note of which lane its in, the bay number and the code. When you exit just punch in the new info and the computer will update itself. You need to get the code and bay right otherwise the trailer will not go on the boat. The tug drivers on riverside are lazy and will not look for it.

8

If you had watched me backing into a slot a London gateway container port last evening you would have watched what looked like a complete and utter novice!
And that after 40 years of the game too, so dont knock yourself :slight_smile:

9

  1. Yes esp the ones in cars beginning with A, M and wanabe four wheel drives in my experience. Got to be passed you and cant wait 30 seconds. Oddly BMWs seem to have more respect than above.

  2. Play the newbie card and almpst all will help you. Theres always the odd idiot of course like you get with forkies too. Actually theres about 40% idiot forkies and 60% great people.

  3. Now got reversing cameras on a rigid and still have headaches with idiots in cars and postmen who insist on getting up right behind you. Previous job didnt have camera which made life interesting.

  4. Facilities are virtually non existant or so bad that no one wants to use them. Its why I have a couple of Lucozade bottles in the truck…not really that suitable in your case however unless you can figure a way round the obvious probs.

  5. Yeah great isn’t it, all the bits they dont have time to include. Oh and yeah trucks stop pretty fast, although you will have plenty of buttock clrnchimg moments when its not certain it’s going to stop. :slight_smile:

10

dieseldog999:
**i dont see any implied humour in it either.**just an observation.most places hardly cater for visiting drivers who for the most part are predominately male,why would they go out of their way to accomodate a female driver in todays society of equality (when it suits)

Me neither :confused:

11

dieseldog999:
re #4 theres nowhere that caters for male drivers so why would anyone cater for the minority of females ones.though there is an occasional place that assists them using the reverse sexism aspect…we dont let minging truckies use our facilities as they are for our colleagues only…oh…your a wifey…here you go,you can use the ladies bogs… :unamused:

I didnt mean at the places I tip at. To be fair, the places Ive been so far have all been fab. Offering me use of toilets, canteens and making me coffee, so no complaints there at all, everyone has been kind :smiley: It was more being stuck in traffic in the middle of Bradford and realising I cant just pull into a lay at the side of the road :laughing: That was Monday, my first day, its a bit harder to find a parking place to park a truck in to find a loo.

johnboy76:
Your reversing will improve with practice but you will find the more room you’ve got the higher the chance of a balls up!

Ha ha ha, thanks, that honestly seems to be true, one of the tips in Queensferry was so tight, but yet I nailed that, and the other where I could have turned a jumbo jet round I needed 6 of shunts?!! Go figure :blush:

OllieNotts:
I’m in year 8 of class 1 and I can reverse into the tightest of spaces with ease and still struggle sometimes on an empty row of bays :laughing: It’s because it’s simply easier with a line to work with and less space I find slow and steady helps in all situations and helps avoid looking a plank but it’ll happen now and then anyway.
Don’t think she’s looking for special treatment as a woman DD so lay off a bit, why shouldn’t she expect facilities for females? We might not get the red carpet but we all expect to be able to go to the bog in peace :unamused:
If it was a weird attempt at humour it was crap, if it wasn’t I think you’re being harsh.
Anyway good luck Hun, don’t let the [zb] get you down as they say. We were all new once and you seem to be doing ok :wink:

Cheers pal, I certainly looked like a plank as I snaked my way on to the bay yesterday afternoon, especially when their shunter flew in, span around in half the space and was on the next bay before I had finished backing up :laughing: … And yeah, youre right, Im not looking for any special treatment, Im a grafter, always have been, I just hadnt realised just how limited you are in a truck, and more so as a laydee as I can`t just tiddle in a layby :laughing:

Pat Hasler:
I am always annoyed by the comments about car drivers once people get a HGV licence :open_mouth:
Do truck drivers not drive cars when they are not working ? Surely when you get in a car you then become one of those annoying drivers :laughing:

Oh no, Ive always known car drivers are muppets (and 80% of them are), but some of the suicidal lemmings Ive had throwing themselves in front of me this week has taken it to a whole new level :laughing:

dieseldog999:
i dont see any implied humour in it either.just an observation.most places hardly cater for visiting drivers who for the most part are predominately male,why would they go out of their way to accomodate a female driver in todays society of equality (when it suits)

I dont need accommodating through equality, Ill pee in a mucky toilet if thats all that available, as I said up there ^^^ it was more the realisation that as a woman it`s a bit more difficult to pee up my own tyre in a layby :laughing: .

Radar19:
For reversing at Riverside Immingham docks, don’t bother. Just stick it in any bay, make a note of which lane its in, the bay number and the code. When you exit just punch in the new info and the computer will update itself. You need to get the code and bay right otherwise the trailer will not go on the boat. The tug drivers on riverside are lazy and will not look for it.

Oh ok? So youre actually allowed to do that then? I was under the impression you had to drop it in that row on your ticket? Oh well if thats the case that makes it a lot easier … cheers for that Radar :slight_smile:

Twoninety88:
If you had watched me backing into a slot a London gateway container port last evening you would have watched what looked like a complete and utter novice!
And that after 40 years of the game too, so dont knock yourself :slight_smile:

phew thanks for that, I just seem to end up surrounded by talented folk, that makes me feel even more like a muppet :laughing:

trevHCS:

  1. Yes esp the ones in cars beginning with A, M and wanabe four wheel drives in my experience. Got to be passed you and cant wait 30 seconds. Oddly BMWs seem to have more respect than above.

  2. Play the newbie card and almpst all will help you. Theres always the odd idiot of course like you get with forkies too. Actually theres about 40% idiot forkies and 60% great people.

  3. Now got reversing cameras on a rigid and still have headaches with idiots in cars and postmen who insist on getting up right behind you. Previous job didnt have camera which made life interesting.

  4. Facilities are virtually non existant or so bad that no one wants to use them. Its why I have a couple of Lucozade bottles in the truck…not really that suitable in your case however unless you can figure a way round the obvious probs.

  5. Yeah great isn’t it, all the bits they dont have time to include. Oh and yeah trucks stop pretty fast, although you will have plenty of buttock clrnchimg moments when its not certain it’s going to stop. :slight_smile:

Heh heh heh … thanks for that, good to know Im not alone in it all, and so far **touch wood** all Ive had is decent forkies, so I must have a big learning curve coming then eh?? … Yes!!! Posties!!! what is their problem :laughing: :laughing:

12

You don’t need to put it in the right bay/lane. The computer will allocate the lane but its not always possible to put it in. When you find a space, make a note of which lane you are in, the bay number and then the bay code. It should look like this. Lane 222, bay 08, bay code UX. When you exit the dock, the computer will ask you where you put it. It will default to the lane that was originally set by the computer, just punch the screen then edit the numbers using the keyboard. Its so simple, even I can do it :grimacing:

Dockside is easier though. Just drive up to the gatehouse, they will ask you if its loaded and hazardous. Then they’ll tell you which lane they “want” it in but just stick it anywhere there is space.

Also, if you have a hazardous load you need to have the correct hazard diamonds in place before you get to the gatehouse because they will refuse you entry if you haven’t. To add to that, make sure you have completed your DGN’s because they sometimes ask to see them before you enter the dock. I had a trailer kicked off last week because they hadn’t written the hazard classification on the DGN so the gatehouse refused it. Its not a bother for me as I only have to take it round the corner and dump it but it would be annoying if you traveled over 200 miles only to be refused entry. Just to add, if you do have hazardous, always go to lane 1. Ignore what the screen says when you come over the bridge.

If there is anything else you’d like to know about Immingham docks, don’t worry about asking. There are a few of us on here who do it regularly.

13

Aaah the elusive blindside reverse,only undertaken by most when it’s forced upon to them…here lies the problem!

Practice makes perfect so any chance you get to blindside it even if the option is there to good side it,consider blindsiding it to get some practice…better to practice where there is plenty of room than panicking when it’s forced upon you,also is your n/s mirror is electric use that to aid you by moving it with the trailer when your coming round with it.

14

Embrace the blindside, practice it whenever possible and it will be your saviour.
Use your wide angle mirror and look out the driverside window at the front of your trailer this will help a lot.

15

Pat Hasler:
I am always annoyed by the comments about car drivers once people get a HGV licence :open_mouth:
Do truck drivers not drive cars when they are not working ? Surely when you get in a car you then become one of those annoying drivers :laughing:

+1

16

Dipper_Dave:
Embrace the blindside, practice it whenever possible and it will be your saviour.
Use your wide angle mirror and look out the driverside window at the front of your trailer this will help a lot.

Would I be correct in saying a blindside reverse is slightly easier in a flatbed??

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

17

Trouble:
So, yesterday I finished my first week as a Class 1 pilot. The things I`ve learned so far … :

  1. Car drivers are moronic lemmings who are hell bent on self destruction.

  2. Other HGV drivers (for the most part) have been extremely helpful when I tell them I`m new at this. Ditto the guys unloading me.

  3. I haven`t got enough pairs of eyes, particularly in the back of my head, when navigating tight spaces and dealing with car drivers (see point 1)

  4. The facilities for women are appalling.

  5. The way you are “taught” to drive to pass the “test”, in no way mirrors real life. The DCPC tests have a huge amount of holes in correlation to what you ACTUALLY need to know, and for a number of questions I`ve asked, no one seems to know the answers :open_mouth:

  6. It`s surprising just how quickly you can bring 44 tonne of lorry to a halt when needed (again refer to point 1).

  7. Reversing is a b@$t@rd … Complete and utter pain. At one very tight right angled bay I got it in, no worries at all, another where I had limited room, I set myself up brilliantly and again got it on the bay with out issues, yet another straight run back with a football pitch size amount of room and I ballsed it up good and proper and took about 6 shunts to get on the bay :laughing: … and don`t even get me started on blindside reversing on the Riverside at Immingham, that finished off my Friday night/end of the week perfectly … not :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Again (see point 2) thank god for the Polish fella who gave me a hand and watched me in.

Just how do you do that type of reverse? Is it something you learn? Does something finally click and youre like "yep, I can do it now?" or what■■? I watch others do it like theyre reversing a car, bosh, done. Will that ever happen to me? :laughing: :laughing:

Here`s to next week and another shot down the road 10 - 4 :wink:

First of all get things in perspective.
You are not a pilot. A pilot flies planes.
You are a lorry driver(a driver) with no experIence yet you think you know so much.
You are heading in the right direction though to become a driving god that only believes one thing.
I AM THE BEST…but in reality…oh dear…lol.

18

Uncle Albie:

Trouble:
So, yesterday I finished my first week as a Class 1 pilot. The things I`ve learned so far … :

  1. Car drivers are moronic lemmings who are hell bent on self destruction.

  2. Other HGV drivers (for the most part) have been extremely helpful when I tell them I`m new at this. Ditto the guys unloading me.

  3. I haven`t got enough pairs of eyes, particularly in the back of my head, when navigating tight spaces and dealing with car drivers (see point 1)

  4. The facilities for women are appalling.

  5. The way you are “taught” to drive to pass the “test”, in no way mirrors real life. The DCPC tests have a huge amount of holes in correlation to what you ACTUALLY need to know, and for a number of questions I`ve asked, no one seems to know the answers :open_mouth:

  6. It`s surprising just how quickly you can bring 44 tonne of lorry to a halt when needed (again refer to point 1).

  7. Reversing is a b@$t@rd … Complete and utter pain. At one very tight right angled bay I got it in, no worries at all, another where I had limited room, I set myself up brilliantly and again got it on the bay with out issues, yet another straight run back with a football pitch size amount of room and I ballsed it up good and proper and took about 6 shunts to get on the bay :laughing: … and don`t even get me started on blindside reversing on the Riverside at Immingham, that finished off my Friday night/end of the week perfectly … not :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Again (see point 2) thank god for the Polish fella who gave me a hand and watched me in.

Just how do you do that type of reverse? Is it something you learn? Does something finally click and youre like "yep, I can do it now?" or what■■? I watch others do it like theyre reversing a car, bosh, done. Will that ever happen to me? :laughing: :laughing:

Here`s to next week and another shot down the road 10 - 4 :wink:

First of all get things in perspective.
You are not a pilot. A pilot flies planes.
You are a lorry driver(a driver) with no experIence yet you think you know so much.
You are heading in the right direction though to become a driving god that only believes one thing.
I AM THE BEST…but in reality…oh dear…lol.

19

Yeah Radar I am quite mad but not as mad as some of our fellow truckers.
Too many get a class one and seem to think they are superior to other drivers.
Trouble is most of them are the biggest dicks on the road.
Maybe the OP is not a ■■■■ but he is beginning to sound like one already and he has only been driving a week. Oh dear.

20

Uncle Albie:
Yeah Radar I am quite mad but not as mad as some of our fellow truckers.
Too many get a class one and seem to think they are superior to other drivers.
Trouble is most of them are the biggest dicks on the road.
Maybe the OP is not a ■■■■ but he is beginning to sound like one already and he has only been driving a week. Oh dear.

Wow, and you really pay attention in class don`t you :laughing: :laughing:

Firstly, Im a "she" not a "he", I have been driving for many years, I have held my Class 1 dock licence and have "piloted" both Class 2 and Class 1 (Flatbed and tipper) around our local docks, I have also driven all points North, East, South, West, Class 1 whilst on L plates. Yes up here we term drivers as "pilots", whether youre driving a Mini or a Magnum, we say you are “piloting” that vehicle, maybe its a regional thing? I have also been a nationwide courier for a number of years too and Ive found car drivers have always had their moments, its just more noticable when they throw themselves in front of you with no warning at all, and youre trying to bring 44 tonne to a standstill with out rear ending them, as I found out a number of times this week, usually heading into roadworks when folk suddenly decide they want that jct, I even had a copper do it to me :open_mouth:

Secondly the post was made tongue in cheek, maybe that was lost on you, well, not maybe actually, it was fully lost on you :laughing: :laughing:

Thirdly, if you read anything I put, youll see I said folk had been helpful (which Im grateful for), and I was asking for advice on various things, which thankfully a number of people offered. I KNOW im not a driving god, I never claimed to be, just thought Id write a bit of a light hearted post about my first week, and how Id found it to be, the reality of the Cpc (and how inept it is), and how as a woman its a bit harder to pull into a layby for a pee :unamused: :unamused: