Just looking for a bit of info please. I passed my class one in September 2014 but as yet haven’t driven an artic in the real world. I’ve been for assesments at Asda Wigan RDC, bolloxed up the blind side and also at Iceland Warrington, again, ballsed up the blind side. The guy at Iceland said I did well on the drive, it was just the blind reverse that did me.
So to get to the point, I obviously need to go back to the training company and ask for a day of reversing practice in an artic, what I’d like to know, maybe from the instructors on here, is roughly how much it should cost me for the day. Any help would be very much appreciated.
To be fair going from not driving in the real world in an artic to be asked to blindside a reverse just not funny.
Takes a good few good side reverses to get the hang of where the trailer goes before you attempt to blindside,you only have to look at the blindside posts on here to see how hard it is,yes it’s a pain in the ■■■ sometimes but has to be done,like anything else better you get the more you do.
Cheers Daytrunker & Evil, I’ve only been used to driving class 2 on multi drop up to now and I never have a problem getting them where I want to go. I’m fine doing a straight in reverse or “easy” side, but as soon as I have to go blind side, the trailer demon jumps in the seat and starts putting the bloody thing all over the shop. my biggest problem is getting my line right, just could not get it between the other wagons at Iceland
I know it’s my fault, but I wish there’d been a more realistic reverse on the test. I don’t mind paying for a days practice, because I’m damned if I’m never going to drive the one wagon I’ve always wanted
Just done one this afternoon. Passed on w+d with a Nottingham trainer who doesn’t have artic. I spend 1 hour with him on full size artic. He can now reverse blind side without undue difficulty. I believe he paid £85. But be under no illusion; it can take months before any degree of confidence is achieved.
Peter Smythe:
…But be under no illusion; it can take months before any degree of confidence is achieved.
Pete
Cheers Pete, oh I’m under no illusion I just need a little more coaching on the reversing to help me get it to click in my mind. Get’s you down when you get a great drive on assessment, then screw it up on the blind side. If I can get to a passable blind side where a company is willing to give me a chance and then maybe do a lot of trunking to get my eye in, I’ll be happy.
Micky, I was with agency for a good few months last year and just kept getting fobbed off with the “experience” line, although to be honest, if I was a haulage co., I’d want someone who knew what they were doing before I let them loose in a 100+ grand 30+ ton truck too
Rat you just have to practice like anything,have a look at where we have to go in Lancaster,pic shows how tight it is but there’s sometimes vans on the right aswell,usually it’s a 33ft but have sent a 45ft is aswell.get your line right and take our time.
Rat67:
Cheers Daytrunker & Evil, I’ve only been used to driving class 2 on multi drop up to now and I never have a problem getting them where I want to go. I’m fine doing a straight in reverse or “easy” side, but as soon as I have to go blind side, the trailer demon jumps in the seat and starts putting the bloody thing all over the shop. my biggest problem is getting my line right, just could not get it between the other wagons at Iceland
I know it’s my fault, but I wish there’d been a more realistic reverse on the test. I don’t mind paying for a days practice, because I’m damned if I’m never going to drive the one wagon I’ve always wanted
WTF is the easy side■■?
Am a newbie Class C driver and every side is a nightmare still lol
Thanks Daytrunker, that looks a LOT of fun, like you say, practice makes perfect
Lol Tommy, know what you mean, first time I did multi drop was in a (as I thought then) bloody HUGE daf CF delivering to pet shops down some of the most bloody ridiculously tight back streets and alleyways, but as Daytrunker said, I took my time (got out and looked LOADS ) and reversed VERY slowly until it went where I wanted, usually after about 6 or 7 shunts
Probably sounds odd but a lot of the time I find it easier to reverse into a tight space than a large space, it could be because I am using the surrounding obstacles as a guide or maybe because with everything in close proximity it’s easier to get the right line.
MickyB666:
Probably sounds odd but a lot of the time I find it easier to reverse into a tight space than a large space, it could be because I am using the surrounding obstacles as a guide or maybe because with everything in close proximity it’s easier to get the right line.
MickyB666:
Probably sounds odd but a lot of the time I find it easier to reverse into a tight space than a large space, it could be because I am using the surrounding obstacles as a guide or maybe because with everything in close proximity it’s easier to get the right line.
I see what you mean. It forces concentration, whereas a big space lulls you into overconfidence.
It’s like watching darts on the TV, they can hit all of the doubles, the trebles, and the bullseye, and then suddenly they miss the big number!
MickyB666:
Probably sounds odd but a lot of the time I find it easier to reverse into a tight space than a large space, it could be because I am using the surrounding obstacles as a guide or maybe because with everything in close proximity it’s easier to get the right line.
Micky your right more space you have the more you need lol,can squeeze into a tight space next day can’t hit a barn door with 50ft either side happy days tho lol all the fun of driving
Yeah he is a good chap. I did my assessment drive with him.
He told me that my blindside reverse was perfect. And that he had just done a drive with a lad from Bolton who drove ok on his roadwork, but was so poor at reversing he should have a mirror fitted on his toilet seat.
eagerbeaver:
Yeah he is a good chap. I did my assessment drive with him.
He told me that my blindside reverse was perfect. And that he had just done a drive with a lad from Bolton who drove ok on his roadwork, but was so poor at reversing he should have a mirror fitted on his toilet seat.
)
