Hello everyone,
Just recently passed theory test and have training for class C at the end of coming week.
Would much appreciate any advice that would help me prepare …
Hi woodsie73 and welcome, Rog will be along soon i bet, with links to useful information. Where abouts are you doing your training?
Hi woodsie73, WELCOME.
ROG might be busy, (or having a nap) so I’ll give you A LINK TO CLICK It’s the same one that ROG would have given you anyway.
If you click the link, it will take you to lots of very useful info, which ROG has assembled into one easy to use spot.
Please don’t hesitate to post any questions or comments on each topic, that way we’ll know whether we got it right. 
It will also increase your post-count. 
Hi Woodsie, welcome.
Looks like youre a couple of days ahead of me, I passed my theory 2 days ago and start my c training on the 4th of next month.
You´ve done well to join this forum, all you will get is good advice and good wishes.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
thanks for the links for advice will have a good read
my training is in manchester at a place called enterprise lgv tuition…
i am booked for 16 hrs tuition over 4 days with the test on the morning of the fifth
have no previous truckin exp … but hoping i can reach a standard to get a pass
Welcome Woodsie,
Like has been mentioned you have done the right thing by joining here.
The advice I would give you is go into the training with an open mind, you obviously can drive a car but to be honest driving a wagon is a lot more different. I find that I spend more time looking behind me than in front and you have to plan a hell of a lot more than you do in a car, try stopping 18 tonnes in a car length and you will have trouble and you will notice a lot more car drivers are a pain in the arse as they are faster than you so they are entitled to nip into the space you are leaving as you stopping distance. Try not to get angry as you wont do your blood pressure any good and sadly it is something you need to get used to.
Listen to what your instructor tells you and it will all become relevant, probably on the 2nd or 3rd day of your training.
Most of all enjoy it and stay safe, my instructor told me to always remember you cant kill anybody by getting the wrong gear but you can by not watching the road (when I was on a roundabout trying to get the right gear and looked down at the gear stick and nearly took out a bus!)
have no previous truckin exp … but hoping i can reach a standard to get a pass
Much of it depends on your attitude towards it, don’t think that you will ■■■■ the test as it’s a lot harder than you realise. The training is 4 hours a day so your brain doesn’t explode.
You’ll be amazed at how much time you spend looking in the mirrors, get in the habit of using your car wing mirrors by pointing the rear view at the roof so you have to keep looking at the wing mirrors. You’ll still not be looking nearly enough but it’s a start.
Hi again Woodsie.
Have you had an assesment drive? I took one just before my theory test and it was a bit of an eye opener. It´s not going to be as bad as taking your car lessons again but is, I reckon, around 90% of the way there. I have 23 years car driving experience and have driven 7.5 tonners and many trailers but changing to a vehicle of that size, along with re-learning how to pass a test is quite a step. They really are a different animal.
My best advice to you (what I am doing right now) is learn as much of the theory as you can before getting into a truck, why pay truck training rates to learn what you should have learned from a book?
Good luck!
schrodingers cat:
Hi again Woodsie.Have you had an assesment drive? I took one just before my theory test and it was a bit of an eye opener. It´s not going to be as bad as taking your car lessons again but is, I reckon, around 90% of the way there. I have 23 years car driving experience and have driven 7.5 tonners and many trailers but changing to a vehicle of that size, along with re-learning how to pass a test is quite a step. They really are a different animal.
My best advice to you (what I am doing right now) is learn as much of the theory as you can before getting into a truck, why pay truck training rates to learn what you should have learned from a book?
Good luck!
i partly agree with what you are saying but then again i dont. there is a hell of a difference from learning the theory and being able to do it in practice. not everyone is able to understand things from a book, they need to be shown/explained then carry them out on thier own. for one the reversing exercise, i had a complete understanding of it from the book but when i got there and looked at the cones my instructor said go on then see if you can do it without me. what a mistake that was, i killed a few cones. then he showed/instructed me and i got it on the second go
you should already know the theory if you have just passed your theory test!
**:D :smiley: :smiley: Welcome woodsie73 :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:**
If you click the link in my signature it will lead you to an index where you can access a lot of info which may be of use to you
GENERAL DRIVING TIPS BEFORE STARTING LGV C TRAINING
A number of LGV instructors, myself included, are finding that the general driving standard of many trainees coming to do their LGV ‘C’ course is not at a very high standard.
I have had a number who ‘THINK’ they are good but find myself having to go ‘BACK TO BASICS’ before they can really start learning how to handle a truck.
For the trainee this means wasted time on the course and that means that the trainee is paying good money to be taught how to drive again 
There are a number of things that a driver can do before starting their first LGV training course to improve their general driving.
The obvious ones are to practise the DSA procedures, which could mean losing the rear view mirror, and then, every time to set off, doing the mirror, mirror, blind spot routine. Checking BOTH side mirrors before moving within the lane you are in, signalling or before the increasing & decreasing of your speed.
The less obvious is to practise forward planning — the THINKING bit.
A good way of doing this is to use your brakes a lot less than what you do at present — sounds daft but think about it — to use the brakes less then you will have to ease off earlier — to ease off earlier you will have to plan ahead more.
I don’t mean by changing down through the gearbox either as that will waste fuel.
A good example would be when approaching a queue of standing traffic, which is waiting for traffic lights to change or waiting to enter a roundabout.
The moment you see the queue, check mirrors and ease off in the gear you are in. let the vehicle slow down on it’s own, dipping the clutch as necessary to control any possible stalling. If the vehicle gets to the lowest gear speed (usually first gear) then engage that gear.
If, whilst easing off, you anticipate that the traffic is going to proceed, then engage the gear that will take you with them without rushing up to the rear of the queue.
You will be leaving a large area of tarmac in front of your vehicle when you ease off early. If another vehicle goes into the gap then re-adjust to accommodate it. If you curse at the vehicle that went into your forward space then decide if a few feet of tarmac is worth getting stressed over!!
When following other traffic, do you touch your brakes when they touch theirs? — If yes, then you are too close. Back off so that you can ease off without the use of brakes. Again, this requires a good deal of forward planning, which will be very useful when you drive a truck.
The general idea is to never stop but to keep moving forward even if at a very slow pace.
If you have to use the brakes then plan to use them gradually. Start by taking up the play of the pedal then resting the weight of your foot & leg on the pedal. That is then followed by squeezing down onto the pedal and squeeze down to a depth that will do the job during the middle of your braking so that you can ease off the pedal well before you actually need to come to a stop.
ROG:
If you click the link in my signature it will lead you to an index where you can access a lot of info which may be of use to you
Hi ROG, That’s the link I gave in my post above whilst you were having a nap.
WUATB !!
Hi ROG, That’s the link I gave in my post above whilst you were having a nap.
What makes you think that I was awake when I posted mine 
