hi all, Just wanted to say hi, been a viewer of topics for advice going back a while now.
I’ve been driving cars since '96, upto and including 7.5t. passed my class 2 in sept 06, did the training with ep training near leatherhead in Surrey, I had a good week sharing the driving with another driver, he unfortunately failed his test, I passed at first time of asking with 4 minor faults. the company I was with moved me up to 18t rigids and I was delivering all over the uk and Europe which I enjoyed. I moved on 2 years ago to a firm delivering our own products around the uk. I was told from day one that they’d be looking to replace their 09 scania p230 with a draw bar set up and put me through the necessary training. fast forward to a few weeks ago and I was told I’d been booked for a weeks training w/c 7/9. I told my boss that I’d like to fund it myself and he was ok with that. I don’t like the idea of being tied to a firm as like the first time round, when you’re asked to do a particular job that you’re not happy with you feel under pressure to do so anyway.
I did my class 1 with lancing driver training on the south coast between Brighton and Worthing. first drive out was daunting, (think I still had my class 2 head on) I settled in after an hour or so and had a pleasant drive until our tea break. second stint of the day was also pleasant, just a few reminders of general road positioning, signals at mini roundabouts. (these themes continued for the remainder of the week, but became less frequent as the hours clocked up). test was on Friday 11/9 at 10:30. driving down to the training school in the morning I felt sick as a parrot, I think it was just fear of failing and wasting my hard earned readies. I had a little drive around in the morning and the silly errors continued, we had a drive through the test centre as the entrance and exit can be tricky at lancing. first time out I clipped the kerb, so we went round again and had another try, came through perfectly. I practised uncoupling/coupling procedure, again had a bit of a mare doing handbrake before legs on trailer on coupling up. test time soon came round, I was introduced to my examiner, John. he checked a few details on my driving licence and we went out side to begin the test. first question was tell him five things I’d write on tacho disc at the start of the shift. I’ve been digi for 6 years, but I remembered what they were thankfully! next question was tell him how to check for air leaks on truck and trailer. went through answer showing him how/where I’d look and then was asked to do the reverse manoeuvre. I’d practised this 3/4 times a few days before, 1st attempt was a right balls up! second was better, 3rd and 4th were spot on and I was happy with. on test I did have to take a cheeky shunt forward a few feet but reversed in to the bay and stopped perfectly. ( remember to switch engine off when exiting the vehicle to check you’re within the boxed area) examiner was happy and repositioned the b cone for the next guys class 2 test. and he climbed aboard and we went out for the drive. I managed the exit from the test centre ok, although I still think I rubbed the near side front tyre on the opposite kerb on the way out. drive went very well, we drove around Worthing and out towards rustington. did the couple of pull over at a safe place pieces but not a hill start as I’d been expecting, the truck was a daf cf430 with a 4 over 4 high and low range gear box. I drive a 4 over 4 in my scania but I showed that I was competent using high and low ranges on test. I have read about people on here opting for auto and totally get that, as said its one less thing to worry about, it may have been the opposite for me had I been in an auto! we headed back to the test centre and into the test pad for uncouple/couple procedure. all went well, I did it at my own pace, and made sure I didn’t ■■■■ it up as I felt my drive was good enough for the pass and that maybe I’d clocked up 5/6 minor faults. John asked me to climb back into the cab afterwards to do paperwork and I just had the dreaded thought that something had gone wrong, those 3 steps up were the longest climb I’ve ever had to do! I can’t tell you the relief when he told me I’d passed. I have a thumbs up out of my window to my instructor Mark who was loitering on the off side of the trailer pretending to look it over! I thanked John and climbed down and was congratulated by Mark on passing, we had a look through examination sheet and he told me that I’d got round with zero minor faults!! I couldn’t believe it and at that point I felt 12feet tall!! we drove round the corner to the training school and went in to give the good news to the owner steve, he was delighted.
I said my thank yous to steve and a huge thank you to mark for his expert tutelage this week, and with that I headed home to break the news to my wife.
I’ve now got to wait until March '16 for our new truck to arrive, (not that I’m counting the days or anything!) a Volvo fh13 420 globetrotter xl with drive plus+ package and a few other trick bits. so until then it’s in the Scania!!!
Rob9b:
hi all, Just wanted to say hi, been a viewer of topics for advice going back a while now.
I’ve been driving cars since '96, upto and including 7.5t. passed my class 2 in sept 06, did the training with ep training near leatherhead in Surrey, I had a good week sharing the driving with another driver, he unfortunately failed his test, I passed at first time of asking with 4 minor faults.
the company I was with moved me up to 18t rigids and I was delivering all over the uk and Europe which I enjoyed. I moved on 2 years ago to a firm delivering our own products around the uk.
I was told from day one that they’d be looking to replace their 09 scania p230 with a draw bar set up and put me through the necessary training. fast forward to a few weeks ago and I was told I’d been booked for a weeks training w/c 7/9.
I told my boss that I’d like to fund it myself and he was ok with that. I don’t like the idea of being tied to a firm as like the first time round, when you’re asked to do a particular job that you’re not happy with you feel under pressure to do so anyway.
I did my class 1 with lancing driver training on the south coast between Brighton and Worthing. first drive out was daunting, (think I still had my class 2 head on) I settled in after an hour or so and had a pleasant drive until our tea break.
second stint of the day was also pleasant, just a few reminders of general road positioning, signals at mini roundabouts. (these themes continued for the remainder of the week, but became less frequent as the hours clocked up).
test was on Friday 11/9 at 10:30. driving down to the training school in the morning I felt sick as a parrot, I think it was just fear of failing and wasting my hard earned readies.
I had a little drive around in the morning and the silly errors continued, we had a drive through the test centre as the entrance and exit can be tricky at lancing. first time out I clipped the kerb, so we went round again and had another try, came through perfectly. I practised uncoupling/coupling procedure, again had a bit of a mare doing handbrake before legs on trailer on coupling up.
test time soon came round, I was introduced to my examiner, John. he checked a few details on my driving licence and we went out side to begin the test. first question was tell him five things I’d write on tacho disc at the start of the shift.
I’ve been digi for 6 years, but I remembered what they were thankfully! next question was tell him how to check for air leaks on truck and trailer.
went through answer showing him how/where I’d look and then was asked to do the reverse manoeuvre. I’d practised this 3/4 times a few days before, 1st attempt was a right balls up! second was better, 3rd and 4th were spot on and I was happy with.
on test I did have to take a cheeky shunt forward a few feet but reversed in to the bay and stopped perfectly. ( remember to switch engine off when exiting the vehicle to check you’re within the boxed area) examiner was happy and repositioned the b cone for the next guys class 2 test. and he climbed aboard and we went out for the drive.
I managed the exit from the test centre ok, although I still think I rubbed the near side front tyre on the opposite kerb on the way out. drive went very well, we drove around Worthing and out towards rustington. did the couple of pull over at a safe place pieces but not a hill start as I’d been expecting, the truck was a daf cf430 with a 4 over 4 high and low range gear box.
I drive a 4 over 4 in my scania but I showed that I was competent using high and low ranges on test.
I have read about people on here opting for auto and totally get that, as said its one less thing to worry about, it may have been the opposite for me had I been in an auto! we headed back to the test centre and into the test pad for uncouple/couple procedure.
all went well, I did it at my own pace, and made sure I didn’t ■■■■ it up as I felt my drive was good enough for the pass and that maybe I’d clocked up 5/6 minor faults.
John asked me to climb back into the cab afterwards to do paperwork and I just had the dreaded thought that something had gone wrong, those 3 steps up were the longest climb I’ve ever had to do! I can’t tell you the relief when he told me I’d passed.
I have a thumbs up out of my window to my instructor Mark who was loitering on the off side of the trailer pretending to look it over! I thanked John and climbed down and was congratulated by Mark on passing, we had a look through examination sheet and he told me that I’d got round with zero minor faults!! I couldn’t believe it and at that point I felt 12feet tall!!
we drove round the corner to the training school and went in to give the good news to the owner steve, he was delighted.
I said my thank yous to steve and a huge thank you to mark for his expert tutelage this week, and with that I headed home to break the news to my wife.
I’ve now got to wait until March '16 for our new truck to arrive, (not that I’m counting the days or anything!) a Volvo fh13 420 globetrotter xl with drive plus+ package and a few other trick bits. so until then it’s in the Scania!!!
Good write up 
I split up the text on your post in the quote as it looked like a sea of text
Good write up
I split up the text on your post in the quote as it looked like a sea of text
[/quote]
Thanks, it looks much better now, I’m not a regular poster on forums as you can probably tell! I will pick up the etiquette in time!
A great write up and congrats Rob!
I read ROG’s version mate! 
And i think DieselDave will be along for the auto censor dodge at some point too! 
Best of luck for when the new truck arrives, every scratch and scrape will be yours! 
You won’t be able to blame the previous driver! 
I’ll level you with fella,I can’t be arsed to read all that in your first post but welcome along anyway
Brilliant result - well done!
Pete
A good read, well written. Congratulations passing.