Hello guys.
I was wondering if you could help me out. I have been considering doing a cat C license for some time and drive trucks for a living as I love being on the road as I have a delivery job as it is. The thing is there two things that’s putting me off is the reversing aspect and knowing the distance behind you. I’m not the greatest reverser as it is. Is it really hard to revers? An example for my 2nd problem is for an example you parking in a bay how would you know how far away you are from the bay itself or another example you parking up a car is behind you so how can you tell the distance behind you? Sorry for the noon questions but they are my problems and I was wondering could someone give me advice. Thank you.
Some vehicles have reversing cameras on the rear end.Or ask somebody to guide you back.
On building sites,there is a banksman to assist you in reversing.
After a while you get the feel of how long the truck is.
acid2k1:
Hello guys.
I was wondering if you could help me out. I have been considering doing a cat C license for some time and drive trucks for a living as I love being on the road as I have a delivery job as it is. The thing is there two things that’s putting me off is the reversing aspect and knowing the distance behind you. I’m not the greatest reverser as it is. Is it really hard to revers? An example for my 2nd problem is for an example you parking in a bay how would you know how far away you are from the bay itself or another example you parking up a car is behind you so how can you tell the distance behind you? Sorry for the noon questions but they are my problems and I was wondering could someone give me advice. Thank you.
Ok How old are you and how long have you been driving ?
You’ll judge the distance much as you judge if you can go through that gap.
if all else fails GET OUT AND LOOK
Over all You learn like everything you’ve ever learnt since the day you popped it to this world by EXPERIANCE 
just think a pilot lands his small twin seat plane how does he know how close to the ground he is when landing ??Experience … Crack on fella get the experience
The hard truth is that reversing artics is a tricky skill to learn for some.
I’ve been driving cars for 25 years and am comfortable with reversing, 3 point turns, parallel parking etc. However, I did find C+E reversing hard and I am nowhere near mastering it. I learned enough to pass the test (with one shunt) but that’s it. I have yet to find a trucking job so I have yet to begin real learning. I’m hoping it will come over time, and that there will be helpful truckers around to guide me when I mess up.
As for length, there’s nothing to stop me getting out of the truck and having a look to be safe - or getting someone to guide me in I hope.
None of this puts me off. It scares me sometimes, but it’s just another skill to learn and master through experience. Surely the haulage firms understand this…
As already said it comes by doing the job, you thought the same thing about a car, above all if in doubt get out and look reverse to where you think and get out again its not a race if you get out twice to look its ok next time might be once till you get the feel for it.
Once you get the feel for it on your training you will have an idea whats what.
Hi
You are certainly not the first to have that concern. I was totally scared about this at the beginning of my training, and the instructor told me that by day 5 this would be the easy part of the test. Well, he was right…
First things first, let’s think about Cat C (rigid) vehicles. For the test, you get used to using mirrors (and hanging out of the window) to know when to stop. You get a week to practise where you can do no damage, worst is you hit a barrier. Most trainers show you a trick to help you know when to stop, i.e. the mud flaps line up with the line, or the spray supression lines up or something. So training will help you get through the test. Honestly, don’t worry about it.
After you have passed, in the real world, you can hang out of the window, stop, get out and look (no shame in this), or ask for guidance, and you can take your time. I always figure that I’d rather be laughed at for going slowly and double checking, leaving the cab if required, than be laughed at for hitting something.
So in short, don’t let this concern (that most of us had) put you off. The training will do it’s job.
Just get out and look, if you have to do this 4-5 times then so be it. Besides, whats more important to you? People thinking you’re a div for getting in and out of your truck all the time or people getting irate because you bashed in the load bay doors.
I have asked strangers in the street to watch me back.All of them were happy to help.It made a change to their routine.
They are happy to help somebody out.