Potential Newbie

Hi all, just wanted to pick some brains and get some ideas from yourselves.

Im currently contemplating doing my class 2 but as im also looking at transfering university i wanted to make sure that there will be opportunity for employment should i pass.

I shall be moving up Wales (Aberystwyth) and like i said shall be at uni so im afraid cant work all the hours god sends! Just wondered if people can point me in the general direction of agencies where i can try for part time work. Dont mind travelling either.

I just wanna sensible and make sure that there are employment opportunities before i spend the money rather than have a the class C on my licence but no job opportunity.

Many thanks

**:D :smiley: :smiley: Welcome tonka236 :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 :smiley: :smiley:

To book any LGV training I suggest the trainee-to-be, visits the training school, meets the head person(s) and has a quick look at the truck BEFORE parting with any money.

Using the site Search facility at the top of this page and putting the words TRAINING AND WHERE you wish to train may turn up some recommendations. :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

I just wanna sensible and make sure that there are employment opportunities before i spend the money rather than have a the class C on my licence but no job opportunity.

How long is a piece of string :question: - if you are looking for full time permantent work as a newbie then the most likely outcome is…

MY PERSONAL OPINION - the current economic climate is making it hard for seasoned drivers to find work from what I read on this site with some saying that they are lucky to get a couple of days work each week :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth:

If you WANT to do it - GREAT :smiley: but make sure you have another option in case it don’t work out - could always go back to it when things pick up again.

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 :exclamation:

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.

Welcome to the mad house

Hello and welcome to Odd World,I see one of the Jedi masters has already made his appearance ( take note of his advice,its normally spot on )
Simon :smiley:

Thought I’d be nice for a change ROG :wink:
p.s.I’m up you’re way tomorrow-got to collect me wagon, so watch out :smiley:

Cheers for the welcome guys!

Rog, thanks for the tips!
this is why im trying to be sensible and find agencies that cover that area to make sure that there are those options for part time work should i pass my C.
I would truely love to get my class c however, 700-800 quid to a lot of money to put towards it if there isnt that opportunity for the part time work.
Because im going to be at uni naturally im not able to work F/T im afraid.
I do have other options but this was top of the list and just wanted to research it properly before going ahead thats all? me trying to be sensible :blush: lol.

Reading other posts on here, like you say, other drives are struggling to find regular work, as a result this is what lead to this post.

Thanks animal and thegeordie as well.

Tonka,

i was talking to a mate at work about this last week. i have a full time job and drive on the weekends and he was asking about it, is it worth it?

i told him it was and we ended up having quite a long discussion about it. the up shot was that he intends to get work on a weekend but as he isnt ‘established’ with an agency at the moment he may struggle to get a few jobs, the work is starting to die off again (it is around here anyway) except for people with the feet in the door with the agencies.

do your course and get the licence as it will pick up eventually, it may take a few years but it will pick up again ( it always does after a recession, just look at history) and by then you will hopefully have a your licence and a bit of experience under your belt.

when it does start picking up again and there is fewer drivers as people have found other jobs they will start charging you more for your lessons and people will need to pay more.

good luck what ever you chose.

thegeordie:
Thought I’d be nice for a change ROG :wink:
p.s.I’m up you’re way tomorrow-got to collect me wagon, so watch out :smiley:

Please let me know where and when so I can keep at least 20 miles away from you :wink: :unamused: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

if you really want to know I’ll be at T.H.S in bardon around lunch time-if you’re buying :laughing:
Simon :smiley:

thegeordie:
if you really want to know I’ll be at T.H.S in bardon around lunch time-if you’re buying :laughing:
Simon :smiley:

Thats OK cos I’m at the LRI hospital at about the same time - phew, safe :unamused: :wink: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Paging Dr Scania,Hiabectomy in cubicle 3 :open_mouth: