If your getting to junctions, etc and feel rushed your not braking soon enough or otherwise not slowing enough. About three truck lengths from the junction Brake to a 1000 rpm and get yourself in the gear you want and run slowly up to the junction trying to anticipate your gap, if it appears just pull gently away, unless its a stop sign that is
CM - It was actually when I was accellerating away after the turn. I was so concerned watching my behind, I didn’t go from 4th (then pull ■■■■■■ up) and into 5th quickly . The instructor said “get a move on, can’t hold traffic up” sheesh…
A new gearbox AND that extra length behind… Still, as I said, I enjoyed it.
I suppose the DAF was old then with this ■■■■■■ that you have to pull up and down. It wasn’t even a switch.
aposhark
Must have been a DAF 75 then as the 85 has a split on the gearbox by twisting the ■■■■■■. They eventually changed that system to switches, personally I preferred the ■■■■■■, but then I also like twinsplitters.
If your getting to junctions, etc and feel rushed your not braking soon enough or otherwise not slowing enough. About three truck lengths from the junction Brake to a 1000 rpm and get yourself in the gear you want and run slowly up to the junction trying to anticipate your gap, if it appears just pull gently away, unless its a stop sign that is
CM - It was actually when I was accellerating away after the turn. I was so concerned watching my behind, I didn’t go from 4th (then pull ■■■■■■ up) and into 5th quickly . The instructor said “get a move on, can’t hold traffic up” sheesh…
A new gearbox AND that extra length behind… Still, as I said, I enjoyed it.
I suppose the DAF was old then with this ■■■■■■ that you have to pull up and down. It wasn’t even a switch.
aposhark
If your instructor said get a move on…sheesh! my advice to you is, get a new instructor, if it was your first run in an artic on an assessment and he has that attitude the man’s a prat!. If your ready to accelerate away after a manouvour it should be complete so I anticipate you were in a straight-ish line after your turn was complete, as long as you are sure there is no one on your inside or trying to squeeze up the outside then those behind will just have to wait, its not an F1 car your driving, safety is your first, last and only priority and if that means steadying up till your sure, so be it! The only time its unreasonable to hold up traffic is when road and traffic conditions allow you to run up at the road or vehicle speed limit, safely.
CM:
If your instructor said get a move on…sheesh! my advice to you is, get a new instructor,
I’m inclined to give similar advice, but from a different standpoint.
Employers accept that trainees do not learn in ‘state of the art’ vehicles, but they do expect them to have experience of vehicles that are in common usage. Not something from a bygone era.
The more realistic the training vehicle is to the current operating environment, the more knowledge the trainee will acquire in relation to realistic working practises.
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Thanks for the input.
I will be phoning another training outfit tomorrow. You have confirmed my initial thoughts. I actually wanted to tell the instructor “hey, hang on a minute” when he tried to rush me.
I want to be a safe driver right from the offset, and rushing at the wrong moment could cause an incident.
Thanks again for the advice
I find this forum invaluable - advice from the experienced drivers is great.
The article about trailer brake was enlightening. It is useful that experienced drivers can let us newbies know about some of the pitfalls and potential hazards. I noticed so many odd things when I started with a haulage company, things that I too will pass on soon. It is mentally draining doing 60 - 70 hours a week and then trying to collect your thoughts at the end.
I didn’t realise how difficult and pressurising multi-drop could be. The phone going all the time from the traffic office, and the difficulty of some drops.
I see from other threads that everyone is going through good and bad times and it is so reassuring that everyone helps each other with kind words from time to time.
When all is said and done, personally I do enjoy driving and the camraderie from the majority of drivers on the roads is first class.
Roll On Down The Road…
aposhark
Best advice…Keep at it…it will come…even the best drivers crunch gears…and if they say they don’t then there pulling your chain. You will have days when you can back it up on the dock first time…then other days you’ll be having a hell of a time getting it right…its part of the job and you will have to deal with it. Its not easy starting out driving a big truck…but it will get better…you will spend the rest of your life learning and perfecting an art that many would only dream of…like I said keep at it and become a professional truck driver and in years to come you will be able to pass on your knowledge to a dying breed.
I just read this thread over and over again and man do I feel old…When I started driving trucks it was all crash boxes…then I moved onto sync boxes (heaven) then moved over to the USA and back to crash boxes again…it cracks me up when I read posts from newbies in the UK that are having a hard time with a 4 over 4 sync box etc…its simple…over in the uk my daughter was backing onto docks and shifting like a good en at 8 years old…if she can do it then anyone can given the heart and motivation.
aposhark:
CM - It was actually when I was accellerating away after the turn. I was so concerned watching my behind, I didn’t go from 4th (then pull ■■■■■■ up) and into 5th quickly . The instructor said “get a move on, can’t hold traffic up” sheesh…
A new gearbox AND that extra length behind… Still, as I said, I enjoyed it.
I suppose the DAF was old then with this ■■■■■■ that you have to pull up and down. It wasn’t even a switch.
aposhark
the thing is this, although you’ll take the test with an empty wagon the examiner wants to see you drive as if you’ve got some good weight on i.e slowing it down in plenty of time for junctions and roundabouts, not braking halfway round a bend etc but this is where a 4 over 4 artic is easier test wise than a rigid because you’ve alot more power which means less gear changes, if you roll up to a roundabout say and it’s clear, if it’s a good size island you have the grunt to take it in 5th and the motor will pull you round smoothly rather than a jerky acceleration and a rushed gear change.
as for the motor i’d go for the local school who’s got the newest kit, why make it harder than it already is?
it cracks me up when I read posts from newbies in the UK that are having a hard time with a 4 over 4 sync box etc…its simple…over in the uk my daughter was backing onto docks and shifting like a good en at 8 years old…if she can do it then anyone can given the heart and motivation.
Bully, I did not find your comments helpful. We all have to start somewhere when we change careers in our lives
I still thank the other replies though
I drove a Volvo FL6 for my Class 2…gearbox was straight 6 speed.
For my Class 1 i drove a Volvo FH12 with a 4 over 4 gearbox. I find these the easiest gearboxes to use…in some ways better then 6 speed. After your 2nd day you’ll be very good at it…i find them really easy to use…but at first found them very scary to use! haha trust me u have nothing to worry aout its a piece of cake! Good luck with it.
If your ready to accelerate away after a manouvour it should be complete so I anticipate you were in a straight-ish line after your turn was complete, as long as you are sure there is no one on your inside or trying to squeeze up the outside then those behind will just have to wait, its not an F1 car your driving, safety is your first, last and only priority and if that means steadying up till your sure, so be it! The only time its unreasonable to hold up traffic is when road and traffic conditions allow you to run up at the road or vehicle speed limit, safely.
We all have to start somewhere when we change careers in our lives 