The mad teacher here who’s looking at getting into driving
I’ve now had my medical and passed that with no problems, though I was surprised when the doctor told me he’d seen two teachers a month on average this year for their driving medical. Perhaps I’m not so unusual. Anyway, I sent away for my provisional in Cat C and Cat D as I wasn’t sure what to do and I’m now studying for my theory tests. Today I visited Scania in Worksop for a free assessment drive in a rigid truck and got on really well. The gears took a bit of getting used to with the low and high ratios so when I was told to put it in 5th, I tended to end up in either 3rd or 7th! Still, by the end of the assessment those mistakes were rare so it’s clearly just a matter of getting my mind into truck mode instead of car mode. The width of the truck bothered me less than I thought it would and when we got back to the centre he asked me to reverse it into quite a tight space marked out with cones and stop as close to the barrier as I thought I could. I reversed in first time and stopped 2 feet from the barrier That probably sounds like nothing to experienced drivers but I was pleased with it for a first attempt. All in all I absolutely loved the experience.
I asked the instructor about Cat C or D and he felt that with coaches it was often full-time hours but only part-time days unless you were in an established, large company. He also said that the good money was with C + E, especially if I was happy to work weekends. All this would suggest that I’d be better off in trucks and in a way that’s handy as my wife works for the Co-op and the transport manager there said that as soon as I’d passed, he’d put me on a zero hours contract to use me at weekends and in school holidays. It seems to me that this might be a good way to get some valuable experience while still earning from teaching and I can put the extra money I earn towards paying off the mortgage, then in 2 years time I can see if I want to pack in teaching altogether or continue doing the driving part-time.
Next step is the theory test, which I should have done before Xmas but sadly, lessons over Xmas are impractical so my practical lessons may have to wait until the February half term unless I ‘throw a sicky’.
Have you looked at Peter Smythe LGV training as I think they are in your area?
If your teaching contract allows you to do another job then you could keep that mon to fri teaching job and do one day every other weekend driving under EU regs and more in school holls
I took my theory and hazard perception tests on Tuesday and passed with flying colours. 86% on the hazard perception test and 98% on the theory test. Despite having already taken an assessment drive with Scania in Worksop, I decided to go with a more local company (SDS Training, Lincoln) for my lessons. This was partly due to convenience, partly due to cost and partly due to it just feeling ‘right’ when I talked to the instructor there called Angie. She was always very honest and supportive and I just got the very strong feeling that we’d get on well. She even offered to take me out on New Year’s Day for a lesson, which I thought was above and beyond the call of duty. Angie also text me the night before my theory test to wish me luck, which was nice of her to remember as I hadn’t contacted her for two weeks at that point. Yesterday I went out for another assessment drive with her dad as I thought it might be useful if she had a bit of a heads up on what I was like. Unfortunately Angie was delivering a load on Saturday so I couldn’t go out with her but she phoned to ask how I’d got on. The truck was similar to the Scania but the gear shift had a lot more travel in it so when I moved into 8th, my hand ended up a long way behind me. Not too comfortable to be sure but I suppose I’ll adapt. The gears didn’t cause me quite as many problems this time but I certainly do need practice coming out of minor roads as I seemed to always want to turn in too early. Typical, coming from a car I suppose. My first proper lesson of six hours is on the 28th, at the ludicrously early start of 6.45am!! I then also have lessons on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th with my test on the 4th too so I’m really looking forward to the New Year.
If they deliver loads as well as do training is there a chance on a day off and after some training that you will be able to go out and share the driving doing a ‘real job’ before going for test ?
The test will be in Grimsby and as for their trucks; Angie told me that for C+E training they use a DAF XF 480 and according to the website, the one I must have been out in yesterday was a Volvo FM7.
I think that the delivery Angie was doing was for a separate company but I’ll certainly ask if there’s any chance of such an experience. I’m also keeping the Transport Manager at my wife’s work up to speed with my progress as at the moment, he seems to be a very good prospect for weekend and holiday work.
FM7 is a popular training vehicle. It’s driver friendly and that’s important. XF480 is a real beast and I’ve never heard of one being used on training. But it’s a fine truck and, from the trainee’s point of view, very good unless your’e easily intimidated. My accountant would have heart failure at the thought!!
Grimsby is ok; downside is the time spent travelling to/from test route area.
Had my first lesson yesterday and it has to be about the hardest 6 hours I’ve ever done. My head was aching at the end of it due to the concentration I’d been giving it and the constant movement of my head in checking both mirrors. In a way I’m rather ■■■■■■ off at my lack of success as I would certainly have failed a test as I hit the kerb twice and a couple of times traffic had to slow down for me. It’s tough getting used to the size of the vehicle and the lack of acceleration, though by the end of the lesson the gears weren’t causing me any real problems. Having said that, it was only the first day so I have three to go before my test so perhaps I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, it’s just that driving has always come very easily to me. The next lesson will be on the 2nd, with another on the 3rd and a final lesson plus test on the 4th. Here’s hoping it come together more next time.
Dont beat yourself up about not progressing as you thought , you are learning and sounds like you did ok , have a few days off now enjoy the new year (not too much ) then get back on the horse and give yourself a brill new year by passing on the 4th , very best to you and heres to a a fantastic start to 2013
Angie at sds is a great woman and a bloody good instructor she knows her stuff and she is clear and very helpful when teaching she spends most of her time in and around grimsby
It’s been a long week and I’m knackered but today I took my Cat C test and passed with only three minors Angie was indeed fantastic and very supportive so when the time comes for Cat C+E I’m sure I’ll be going back to her.
My respect for truck drivers has gone up hugely since starting this training. Now I need to contact the transport manager at the Co-op Distribution Centre where my wife works to see if his promise of some weekend and holiday work will actually transpire. On the off-chance that it doesn’t, or he doesn’t have many hours for me, could someone please let me know some agencies I might try for weekend and holiday work in the Lincoln/Grimsby/Hull area?
I’m also going to start getting some CPC courses done so that I’m ready for September next year and spread the cost a little. If I can afford it, I’d like to get my Cat C+E before September this year too.
Oh yes, I am very aware of that and I’m still teaching. For now, I just want driving work at weekends and holidays and that way I can start to accumulate the experience everyone seems to want while still earning good money. I may well make the switch to full time driving in a few years time. For now, I need ideas on where I may be able to get weekend and holiday work in the Lincoln/Grimsby/Hull/Doncaster area. Any suggestions or any ideas on agencies that might use me?
Seems ages since I’ve been around here so thought I’d give another update into my attempts to get some driving work.
Having passed my Cat C I contacted a load of companies about weekend and holiday work but most simply ignored me. Two companies were interested but only ran articulated trucks so asked me to contact them again as soon as I’d done C+E. After much pushing I did make headway with the Co-op who have agreed to use me like an agency driver on a self-employed basis. I’m not sure yet exactly what hours I’ll be able to get from them but I’m hoping that the longer it goes on, the more they’ll trust me and the more hours I get. I assume that the more experience I get there, the easier it will be to get work elsewhere. Anyway, I saw an accountant tonight who is setting me up as a partnership business with my wife so that I can pay her something for doing the admin. I’ve also already taken my first CPC course (incredibly boring) and have two more booked over the coming months.
Although I still haven’t done any actual driving work yet, the contract with the Co-op should be signed within a week so I hope to get some hours over the Easter holidays. Overall I’m quite pleased with the way things have gone as I have at least got something despite being a newly qualified driver. Next step is to get my Cat C+E and I aim to do that in the summer.
