Dieseldoforme:
Don’t worry. It’s dead easy. Most people
only need four half days driving to become fully qualified
with C+E - so it ain’t that skilled.
.
.
albion1971: Four and a half days! That’s an eternity compared to some.
I know good drivers that have passed after one days training.
Some deadheads need more than four and a half!
.
.
I said four X half days (Mon Tue Wed Thu + test on Friday) !
.
.
I apologise I missed the four half days.Joking aside with the civilian co. I worked for people took anything from 3 days to ten days(2 students)
and with the military to start with it was about 3 weeks but that was straight on a lorry(without any licence) and they gained Cat B and Cat C.These days are now long gone of course.
Latterly it was 3 days with 2 students then test.That was C+E or Cat D.Some of the better ones did it in one day as I said.
All this talk about the RLC .
There must be a lot of sproggs on here lol, it was the RTC when i was in .Did they not join the Pioneeres [jerry can throwers or chunkies as we knew them ] and RTC toghether to make the knuckle dragging regiment .
Just kidding.
Good luck with your new job , take it steady and never be afraid to ask no the question no matter how trivial it may seem.
You will here more tall stories in driving than a lifetime in the army, pull up a sandbag and take them with a pinch of salt.
regards tzz .
ex-scaleyback [ED- powerman] .
twozuluzlu:
All this talk about the RLC .
There must be a lot of sproggs on here lol, it was the RTC when i was in .Did they not join the Pioneeres [jerry can throwers or chunkies as we knew them ] and RTC toghether to make the knuckle dragging regiment .
Just kidding.
Good luck with your new job , take it steady and never be afraid to ask no the question no matter how trivial it may seem.
You will here more tall stories in driving than a lifetime in the army, pull up a sandbag and take them with a pinch of salt.
regards tzz .
ex-scaleyback [ED- powerman] .
twozuluzlu:
All this talk about the RLC .
There must be a lot of sproggs on here lol, it was the RTC when i was in .Did they not join the Pioneeres [jerry can throwers or chunkies as we knew them ] and RTC toghether to make the knuckle dragging regiment .
Just kidding.
Good luck with your new job , take it steady and never be afraid to ask no the question no matter how trivial it may seem.
You will here more tall stories in driving than a lifetime in the army, pull up a sandbag and take them with a pinch of salt.
regards tzz .
ex-scaleyback [ED- powerman] .
Think you’ll find it was actually R C T dude!
sorry about that ,typo error, guess i asked for that, ought to pick my knuckles upto keyboard height next time lol.
regards tzz,
So… End of day 4 and ive tramped out 2 nights, this is my third. Home tomorrow night.
its going really well, ive been turning and round in tight busy quarries and onto awkward weigh bridges and I sort of am getting used to where I need to put the unit before I start backing up, this is completely different to a draw bar and drag (to me) as the towing outfit is just as long as the trailer, and the trailer pivots at the centre so all steering movements are noticed, it takes me a lot of unit / trailer angle to push it round and get back straight behind it. Tipping in quarries is scary! If the trailer is leaning a little, once the body is up and its been loaded all at the front because the loader thinks im a 8 wheeler! It starts swaying… Not a great experience for a novice! R l c stands for retards last chance, or reme luggage carriers pioneers have there own section under the rlc cap badge, all they do is stag on.
tmjns796:
the driver I am replacing is coming along for the day, to get me experienced with the tipper e.t.c I have been completely honest about my experience, the boss said ‘we have all got to start somewhere’
I am an Ex squaddie, but I was required to pass quite a few more tests than the average royal logistics corps or infantry!
I passed my test in 2010 in the army, obtaining my C+E (Class 1) with a drawbar trailer added to my C licence (class 2) vehicle. so I have never driven an articulated Vehicle, except for a bit of shunting in my previous HGV fitter job.
I am competent in connecting the suzzies and lifting axles etc, just not driving on the road. does anyone have any tips?
from watching people reverse i can see that the tractor unit has to move around a lot more to get the trailer to turn e.t.c, And i understand that the trailer is going to cut more of the inside corner. I’m just bricking it because its all new!
I’m going to be tramping out in it too, which is all new to me… any tips are welcome!!
Its the end of week 2 now. Going very well. Cab is a bit filthy, as I felt bad about asking them to clean it before I had it. first couple of days I was quite nervous, going alone was when I really started to learn. I get out of the cab about one in five reverse into bays, and about half the time i reverse I take a shunt to get straight first. Make it as easy as I can for myself. Ive been living off cuppa soup, porridge, pita bread, apples, grapes and coffee. I make a point of walking to get milk at night, the lay-bys I use are a couple of mile away from a small town or village and just outside the quarries or council yards, so it keeps me from feeling lethargic. i find that once im back in the cab at about 8pm, im ready for bed, up at 5, breakfast, brew, then load or drop, onto the next job. I have no time for tv, playstation or any of that.
im enjoying this job, the variety of places that I go to, and the independence of it.
albion1971:
Ignore all the negativity.It is not a steep learning curve at all.You have passed your C+E and you have a licence to drive an artic.It is not rocket science and it is just a case of taking your time and asking about anything you are not sure of.
After a couple of weeks you will be fine.Just do not get complacent about anything.
Good luck.
Don’t fret the bigger they are the easier they are to operate- you can get into more trouble with a land rover than an APC…
think I should update this.
Finished with the tipper company in November,Had enough of going flat out everywhere chasing my tail to make someone else money, having my 15 break whilst nudging foreword in the cue for the weighbridge, and sleeping in ■■■■■■ laybys in a truck that kept breaking down whilst I was on £80 a day! but I got some valuable experience and a EPIC / MPQC out of it! been driving for a new relatively large chilled haulage company until I got picked to go in the office as a supervisor.
I must say a massive thank you to the helpful support, and my previous boss for giving me a shot.
got my Mod 4 done a month or so ago after reading an article in a truck mag about the cut off date for acquired rights on the cpc, thankfully I got away with it. though I had passed 3 driver agency screenings and got work out of all of them! they didn’t notice.
Im off to better places again next week, driving a curtainsider rigid and a small trailer. cant wait to get back driving.
I passed my test in 2010 in the army, obtaining my C+E (Class 1) with a drawbar trailer added to my C licence (class 2) vehicle. so I have never driven an articulated Vehicle, except for a bit of shunting in my previous HGV fitter job.
I am competent in connecting the suzzies and lifting axles etc, just not driving on the road. does anyone have any tips?
from watching people reverse i can see that the tractor unit has to move around a lot more to get the trailer to turn e.t.c, And i understand that the trailer is going to cut more of the inside corner. I’m just bricking it because its all new!
I’m going to be tramping out in it too, which is all new to me… any tips are welcome!!
My tips for what they are worth:
i) ASK and ASK again
ii) ASK a Third time
iii) Dont be bothered about know-it-alls. Decent drivers will ALWAYS help not hinder you.
iV) Reversing…take your time…get OUT and get OUT again.
v) PLAN your route!! Most IMPORTANT. Bridges other crap/diversions you have to deal with.
vi) Know your legal stuff/hours/breaks/rests…YOU will cop the fine and work for nothing.
vii) I could go on…
However, the first time in an Artic is AMAZING. I wont lie you will be on pins…however, if all goes well (I am sure it will) just go steady as youre driving your Grandmother. STEADY EDDIE that’s your name for a good while. There are numerous trailers/weights/loads to contend with…learn them in your own time/pace…above all the road is long…enjoy the ride, view and the journey…life is what you make it and all the best to you.
tmjns796:
think I should update this.
Finished with the tipper company in November,Had enough of going flat out everywhere chasing my tail to make someone else money, having my 15 break whilst nudging foreword in the cue for the weighbridge, and sleeping in [zb] laybys in a truck that kept breaking down whilst I was on £80 a day! but I got some valuable experience and a EPIC / MPQC out of it! been driving for a new relatively large chilled haulage company until I got picked to go in the office as a supervisor.
I must say a massive thank you to the helpful support, and my previous boss for giving me a shot.
got my Mod 4 done a month or so ago after reading an article in a truck mag about the cut off date for acquired rights on the cpc, thankfully I got away with it. though I had passed 3 driver agency screenings and got work out of all of them! they didn’t notice.
Im off to better places again next week, driving a curtainsider rigid and a small trailer. cant wait to get back driving.
I was gonna say that I can’t believe someone would be stupid enough to drive without having their DCPC qualification, but your ex Army and most of them can’t tie their laces without someone telling them how to do it.
tmjns796:
think I should update this.
Finished with the tipper company in November,Had enough of going flat out everywhere chasing my tail to make someone else money, having my 15 break whilst nudging foreword in the cue for the weighbridge, and sleeping in [zb] laybys in a truck that kept breaking down whilst I was on £80 a day! but I got some valuable experience and a EPIC / MPQC out of it! been driving for a new relatively large chilled haulage company until I got picked to go in the office as a supervisor.
I must say a massive thank you to the helpful support, and my previous boss for giving me a shot.
got my Mod 4 done a month or so ago after reading an article in a truck mag about the cut off date for acquired rights on the cpc, thankfully I got away with it. though I had passed 3 driver agency screenings and got work out of all of them! they didn’t notice.
Im off to better places again next week, driving a curtainsider rigid and a small trailer. cant wait to get back driving.
I was gonna say that I can’t believe someone would be stupid enough to drive without having their DCPC qualification, but your ex Army and most of them can’t tie their laces without someone telling them how to do it.
haven’t we got till September 14 to get the DCPC? (for licence obtained in 1979) I haven’t done mine yet, but got it booked.
.