Well my journey for class 2 started in febuary , when my application for lgv provisional was put on hold by dvla medical team for rougly 4 weeks, I was never told the reason why but my eyesight was on limit at medical , but I got glasses straight away .
I never actually returned to work nightshift ,I was a shelf stacker with Tesco for 15 years so just couldn’t do it anymore , due to pain in my feet and bored sick of it and of course constant nightshift itself . So in the meanwhile im doing agency work but work is slim but gets my foot in to doors of depots etc around here but with 7.5t maximum im doing more handballing than driving lol , but its experience and really don’t mind handballing it keeps the weight off lol but isn’t ideal when I want be doing long distance etc.
Anyway I took my test last week and failed for speeding (40 in a 30) , a ■■■■ I know !. It could only have been speeding for few seconds but it was enough to fail. Ive never felt so gutted but took 10 mins to get over it and dust myself down . with my training days I was struggling to do mirror checks consistently and my approach to junctions was ropey, but nailed it all on test day then goes and speed ïŒ
The only thing unhappy about so far is the money involved, it kind of reminds me of going on holiday abroad , as soon as you step into the departure lounge everyone is trying to get money out of you on your journey .
Anyway not all bad , my enthusiasm grew to 150% as soon as I got into driving seat and I knew this is what I want to do , and nothing will stop me . my goal ultimately is to be driving long distance in a class 1 with established company and make a living doing what im good at (self rated lol) and enjoy , is it to much to ask ? .
Anyway test next week 10th june 2014 hopefully will nail it this time!!!..
Sorry to hear you failed your first attempt, but as you say get back on the horse and try again. Only difference this time Is you know your weak spots so you will be ready for the 2nd attempt. I have my Cpc on the same day as your test so fingers crossed for a good day all round.
Well spent few hours going round possible tests routes yesterday and today and all speed signs are blatantly obvious tbh , so must of just been nerves on the day . Also drummed into my old brain to keep checking mirrors then check again and over the shoulder when moving off which is quite difficult at lights etc in a car without confrontation so was just a quick check lol . I have two days of work with agency before test with no timed deliveries etc so hopefully can practise some more on route with deliveries, im just hoping using the split gearbox comes back to me ok as its been a wee while now anyway time is ticking lol …
Well I passed my class c , by the skin of my teeth the examiner said, I was to hesitant which I think points towards an isolated incident when I had a chance to overtake a stationary bus , I don’t know why but I froze lol I had enough time and room to manouver but didn’t!, when bus stopped I stopped behind it with a full view of approaching traffic the seconds counted up and I was thinking if I go now the bus is going to pull out etc but going to put to nerves as would of past it no problem any other day . And I was kind of approaching junctions slower so I could be sure to take in everything which I guess was better than pulling out on someone or pulling away in wrong gear . But anyway pass is a pass lol but will admit I still have lots to learn and I guess I will keep learning for my whole driving career .
I let agency know and they said they will keep me busy but just to grin and bear the work that will come along until I get some experience , so don’t know what to expect lol, but nice of them to be up front about it , so until my licence returns im going to chill chill and few beers lol.
Well done. A pass is a pass. Examiner wouldn’t let you loose on the roads unless he was happy.
Victa1:
is class 1 test harder than rigid?
Reversing is harder. Apart from that, even more mirror checks, little bit steadier on some corners, more paranoia about keeping the trailer in the lane; some turns are actually easier in artic, believe it or not. If you look at class 1 diaries on here, you’ll see it’s mainly the reversing that people take time to learn.
Don’t leave it too long, it’s easier when you are still in the driving test frame of mind.
Hope you get some work soon and your journey continues!
Well landed a job with a local cement plant driving mixers (jaegers) , its not what I planned but absolutely love it and cant get better experience of driving rigid as it has maximum weight of 32 ton some sites have the cruellest of access and plenty of hazards that can and will catch you out, to reverse on to them their is no room for error cough cough, some sites have loose ground aswell as mounds etc so it is challenging to say the least but come out of sites well pleased that I done it almost a little buzz, The owner of the fleet has been great he took me out letting me drive until I was confident to go on my own which took a week but he still gave me full pay which im grateful for and only this week have been managing 20 or so deliveries so hes been at a loss up to now and keeps his lorries in tip top condition regardless of cost and anything needing done gets done asap (mines is a scania) I will leave a few months before mentioning it would look better with some spotlights and scania livery . So going to put artic test on hold until next year as few other thing have popped up with family etc .
But what a difference to my life I actually cant wait to get to work now and im happy when I get home , I seem to get more respect as a professional driver with the pond life on the road and other hgv drivers but lots to learn still with the trade and driving a bigger vehicle .
And to have done all this in matter of six months is an achievement on its own I think so well proud but as I say still lots to learn and I guess the day I stop learning is the day I hang the keys up.
The only thing I miss is the open road but as I says I wont get better experience driving in busy places aswell as different conditions on sites so happy here for now.
Well still driving jaeger and love it to bits , boss is top notch (genuinely friendly guy not because he wants you to do crap job next day)get paid for 50hr week even though job and finish vehicle gets attention straight away if any problem amd 2 weeks off at xmas and home every night for few hours before snoring during football etc my daughter is in a bad way atm so getting away every evening is great as hospital is 15 mins away if I was on long distance I would of gave it up or been frowned upon by any other company so I guess someone is looking down on me and my kids …
th2013:
Well done. A pass is a pass. Examiner wouldn’t let you loose on the roads unless he was happy.
Victa1:
is class 1 test harder than rigid?
Reversing is harder. Apart from that, even more mirror checks, little bit steadier on some corners, more paranoia about keeping the trailer in the lane; some turns are actually easier in artic, believe it or not. If you look at class 1 diaries on here, you’ll see it’s mainly the reversing that people take time to learn.
Don’t leave it too long, it’s easier when you are still in the driving test frame of mind.
Hope you get some work soon and your journey continues!
I passed my rigid on the 12th and haven’t had any work for it yet through an agency, as i’ve been working for Stirling council for the last 5 weeks driving there 8.25T artics and I can say they are harder to reveres but can do a u-turn better than cars.
I’m not putting pressure on the angecy to get me work until this contract is finished as I’m getting some experience driving artics for when I start take lessons and test.
Well done on the pass mate, I too passed all my cpc On the same day and walked into job driving 8 wheel tippers max weight of 32 ton. I agree with your statement of access to sites but I love it. I work local no nights out and I take my truck home so saves me even more time each day. My boss sounds like yours, proper down to earth old school genuine person. I don’t see or hear off anyone all week, just get a text off the receptionist at 5pm every night with the next days work.
well after 6 months experience I found my bosses true colours, he is a prolific liar anyway without slagging the guy as he done me a good turn but had to get out as he was very twisted . Anyway here I am in no mans land 8 weeks before xmas and worried lol , I have meeting with agency on Monday who I believe cover scotmid , dhl and Iceland so don’t where I go from here , hopefully class 1 test in January or February .
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. So going to put artic test on hold until next year as few other thing have popped up with family etc .