dar1976:
Noworries:
have they still got that doggy old wagon ?They have a new Artic according to their site. But nothing about any new rigids
55 plate on website, only the livery new, oh and its probably done 500,000 + so far from new
(probably ex wrefords daf )
Noworries:
have they still got that doggy old wagon ?
Im in a 54 plate DAF 65.250
Its spot on, pulls well and is ■■■■ easy to drive so cant complain
The Pariah:
Who’s your instructor? They were all pretty good blokes there. Are you in the DAF or the Blue Scania?Just remember mirrors for pretty much everything you go past, pedestrians, vans and so on. Also don’t be afraid to take the extra room you need, like at the roundabout opposite Matalan. Kept forgetting the first couple of days and mounting the kerb -.-.
I had John for first day but he took ill so had Ian today. That Matalan r.about is a tricky one, i just put it over the line so no cars can sneek through and it went through no problems. Oh and still in the 54 plate DAF, get on well with this and it goes well too 
54 plate, it annoys me that driving schools are using motors so old, did you do your car test in a 7 year old car ■■?
Today was another good day if im honest, went through all the tight places in/around Daventry, had a cheeky clip of a kurb because i was rushing the truck through as had cars coming towards me (should have let it go wide a bit more then pull it back in but panicked)
had a few runs through Northampton town, didnt crush a single person/car/kurb so was pretty pleased, did a few hill starts that went well, reverse in the yard in the dark went smooth so all in all another good one! Oh and had the compulsory cup of coffee (suspiciously close taste to gravy) at the Super Sausage cafe 
Noworries:
54 plate, it annoys me that driving schools are using motors so old, did you do your car test in a 7 year old car ■■?
A well know training provider in this area uses a “P” reg MAN but works well kept well maintained "If it not broke dont fix it " passes MOT fine so why change 
Noworries:
54 plate, it annoys me that driving schools are using motors so old, did you do your car test in a 7 year old car ■■?
Id say for a training vehicle its about the right year, i have see far older trucks being used as training vehicles. If it drove like a shed i wouldnt have booked with them but it drives fine, it is what it is mate.
how do you know that it drove like it should have done, your learning in it what experience do you have to know it should drive like that, 
Well its your money, but i would have gone to see pete in mansfield and drove his new truck probably for the same money
Noworries:
how do you know that it drove like it should have done, your learning in it what experience do you have to know it should drive like that,
Well its your money, but i would have gone to see pete in mansfield and drove his new truck probably for the same money
How do i know? I have been in trucks all my life, i have plenty of experience driving and working on HGV and last but not least i have common sense.
I couldnt care if Pete (like i know who he is) has a new truck or he has a 1990 Scania
Thats fine as long as your happy, its your money, just did not want you getting ripped off, as learning in a new motor is easier thus helping, every little helps as they say
Noworries:
Thats fine as long as your happy, its your money, just did not want you getting ripped off, as learning in a new motor is easier thus helping, every little helps as they say
Not necessarily I lernt in a newish truck but have driven old 1’s for real as well as new ( brand new with a digi card less than 1k on the clock ) dont matter what you learn in as long as it can do the job
As I said a well know very good training provider uses an old P reg for Cat CE yep I did do an assessment with them but have not yet decided where I am going there is also 1 that has a year old lorry for CE dont mean they are any better both have good reputations & price bout the same tbh
Although for me 1 happens to be a lot closer than the other but will see when I go to book CE & yep I have spoke to Peter Synth about this & yep he has give his input to it thanks
Hey mate.
Best advise has already been given, just listen to the instructor take everything on board. I had a few things that I could practice in the car, like turning the rear view mirror so I would only look through wing mirrors and also more often, also to use lane markings on roundabouts when driving home etc…
The week can be hard but its also enjoyable, I wish you good luck
Just want to take the opportunity to clear up the “new lorry” thing. I’d like to give my reasons for running new trucks:
I am not a mechanic - I sleep better with new trucks on the yard
Image - clean and smart
Pleasant learning environment for candidate
Pleasant working environment for instructor (good qualified instructors are not 2 a penny - so we look after them)
Local Iveco dealership open 24/7
Repairs carried out overnight so no disruption to training programme
Maximum utilitisation of vehicles due to above
Fuel economy
Ease of driving - no fishing for gears etc
Uniformity between vehicles - any unlikely swap of vehicle is not traumatic
Predictable operating costs
Companies are happy that their staff will be happy when allocated a new vehicle
Examiners are impressed by a clean, smart vehicle
Protects reputation
We have visitors all the time who have failed tests elsewhere. When they drive these vehicles they normally pass the comment “I wish I’d come here to start with”. This is often followed by “XYZ trainer was £100 cheaper which is why I went to them”. It’s clear that some vehicles used for training are unfit and unsuitable. They have been “to the moon and back” and the gear selectors are the originals! Thus the problems selecting gears. A trainer told me recently that he, himself, struggled to change gear with his truck but - at the end of the day - he made more money from retests. Shame on him! I mention gears as that’s a very common one - but there’s plenty of other topics.
Now the really important bit. There are very good trainers out there using trucks of assorted ages. Provided their trucks are well maintained and kept clean, our trucks are probably no better.
It’s all part of the package: good truck, good instructor, good admin, good pass rate, fair fees.
So although I thank those who have spoken out in favour of our trucks, let’s keep it fair and in perspective. It’s the whole package that counts.
(Finally, though, I’m still extremely proud of my fleet!!)
Pete
Glad your getting on ok something i did when training for cat c was drive my car like a lorry ie taking the wide turns keeping to left on rbts etc block changing as much as poss slow approaches to junc etc , probably drove people behind me mad but they wernt forking out all that money on training so i didnt care lol ,
it helped me keep in training mode for the week 
jen x
Jennie:
Glad your getting on ok something i did when training for cat c was drive my car like a lorry ie taking the wide turns keeping to left on rbts etc block changing as much as poss slow approaches to junc etc , probably drove people behind me mad but they wernt forking out all that money on training so i didnt care lol ,
it helped me keep in training mode for the weekjen x
Due to driving a van a lot of the time I dont have rear view mirror & with the LWB sprinter you take things a bit wider in any case but that is 1 advantage I did have also if you watch /follow Cat C driver for a while & see there road position it can help & take the same line as they are
Jennie:
Glad your getting on ok something i did when training for cat c was drive my car like a lorry ie taking the wide turns keeping to left on rbts etc block changing as much as poss slow approaches to junc etc , probably drove people behind me mad but they wernt forking out all that money on training so i didnt care lol ,
it helped me keep in training mode for the weekjen x
Thanks for the reply, i have took my rearview out the car and its very odd, nearly knocked a couple over at Tesco but other than that its helping
And i agree with the holding people up, its only putting a few seconds on their journey so they will survive!
Gazza7682:
Hey mate.Best advise has already been given, just listen to the instructor take everything on board. I had a few things that I could practice in the car, like turning the rear view mirror so I would only look through wing mirrors and also more often, also to use lane markings on roundabouts when driving home etc…
The week can be hard but its also enjoyable, I wish you good luck
Hi mate, thanks for the advice, the lane markings have caught me out once this week and i wasnt gonna let them do it again so have been leaving plenty of room in the car and looking for the markings, worked really well and did so in the truck today
Last one of the week and it went great again, started with the reverse and went nice and smooth.
Found that i was checking the mirrors without having to remind myself so that was good. Had a few runs in town, grazed a kurb on a roundabout, really ■■■■■■ me off but did the same place a couple more times and by slowing down and giving myself enough time/room it went through a treat
The other issue i had was with idiots staying next to me when i was in the bus lane, going along at 30mph and it gets a little tight and they wont fall back or go past they just sit there so i edge over a little as getting close to the kurb and they dont respond…they just match my speed even when i drop 5-10 mph off? Crazy. I think i should put my offside wheel OVER the white line as to block the road off (as you do when going in to tightish roundabout) but i know it will more than likely get me a minor or even major so not gonna.
last day Monday then test Tuesday 9:45, another lad has his before so we need to be there early.
I think it will go ok but you never know!!
Thanks everyone for the advice/responses
All coming together. Well Done. Sounds like you will have no problems on Tuesday.
I don’t really know the roads around there but if the bus lanes are made wide enough for buses then there should be plenty of room for a lorry too (I would have thought)
Peter Smythe:
Just want to take the opportunity to clear up the “new lorry” thing. I’d like to give my reasons for running new trucks:I am not a mechanic - I sleep better with new trucks on the yard
Image - clean and smart
Pleasant learning environment for candidate
Pleasant working environment for instructor (good qualified instructors are not 2 a penny - so we look after them)
Local Iveco dealership open 24/7
Repairs carried out overnight so no disruption to training programme
Maximum utilitisation of vehicles due to above
Fuel economy
Ease of driving - no fishing for gears etc
Uniformity between vehicles - any unlikely swap of vehicle is not traumatic
Predictable operating costs
Companies are happy that their staff will be happy when allocated a new vehicle
Examiners are impressed by a clean, smart vehicle
Protects reputation…
I passed my B+E before I started my class C training. I did my B+E training with a different company to the one I did my C and C+E with. The trailer I was using was so old and knackered that it had me genuinely concerned during my entire test. It had insulation tape wrapped around it and all sorts. apparently “You have to twist it and wiggle it like this somtimes” It was a genuine pain in the arse to try and get the trailer lights to work. It was hell. How much does a new trailer cost? Infact screw that thought, how much does a new trailer plug and lead cost? It was madness. This is the reason why I made sure when I eventually got around to doing my class C and C+E training it was with a different driving school.