hi i’ve just decided to go for my lgv.could someone please advise me on what company to use.i want to drive artics and know i have to pass the rigid test first.i have lots of questions to ask,but first off i need to know what course to book and who with.I live in coventry so i’m pretty well placed for some companies.i would like as much feed back from people who have booked courses and give me some advice.
many thanks
derek d[/b]
Welcome derek d.
If you have the name of a particular training school in mind, have a shot at using it in the search facility to see if anything has been said about them in the past.
Rog will be along soon and his signature has a wealth of information links. 
macplaxton:
Rog will be along soon and his signature has a wealth of information links.
You called 
If you click the link in my signature it will lead you to an index where you can access a lot of info which may be of use to you
GENERAL DRIVING TIPS BEFORE STARTING LGV C TRAINING
A number of LGV instructors, myself included, are finding that the general driving standard of many trainees coming to do their LGV ‘C’ course is not at a very high standard.
I have had a number who ‘THINK’ they are good but find myself having to go ‘BACK TO BASICS’ before they can really start learning how to handle a truck.
For the trainee this means wasted time on the course and that means that the trainee is paying good money to be taught how to drive again
There are a number of things that a driver can do before starting their first LGV training course to improve their general driving.
The obvious ones are to practise the DSA procedures, which could mean losing the rear view mirror, and then, every time to set off, doing the mirror, mirror, blind spot routine. Checking BOTH side mirrors before moving within the lane you are in, signalling or before the increasing & decreasing of your speed.
The less obvious is to practise forward planning — the THINKING bit.
A good way of doing this is to use your brakes a lot less than what you do at present — sounds daft but think about it — to use the brakes less then you will have to ease off earlier — to ease off earlier you will have to plan ahead more.
I don’t mean by changing down through the gearbox either as that will waste fuel.
A good example would be when approaching a queue of standing traffic, which is waiting for traffic lights to change or waiting to enter a roundabout.
The moment you see the queue, check mirrors and ease off in the gear you are in. let the vehicle slow down on it’s own, dipping the clutch as necessary to control any possible stalling. If the vehicle gets to the lowest gear speed (usually first gear) then engage that gear.
If, whilst easing off, you anticipate that the traffic is going to proceed, then engage the gear that will take you with them without rushing up to the rear of the queue.
You will be leaving a large area of tarmac in front of your vehicle when you ease off early. If another vehicle goes into the gap then re-adjust to accommodate it. If you curse at the vehicle that went into your forward space then decide if a few feet of tarmac is worth getting stressed over!!
When following other traffic, do you touch your brakes when they touch theirs? — If yes, then you are too close. Back off so that you can ease off without the use of brakes. Again, this requires a good deal of forward planning, which will be very useful when you drive a truck.
The general idea is to never stop but to keep moving forward even if at a very slow pace.
If you have to use the brakes then plan to use them gradually. Start by taking up the play of the pedal then resting the weight of your foot & leg on the pedal. That is then followed by squeezing down onto the pedal and squeeze down to a depth that will do the job during the middle of your braking so that you can ease off the pedal well before you actually need to come to a stop.
derek d:
… i need to know what course to book and who with.I live in Coventry so i’m pretty well placed for some companies.i would like as much feed back from people who have booked courses and give me some advice.
You could try www.roadrunnertraining.co.uk 02476 700 300 who are based in Cov but test in Gloucester
JC Coates are also based in Cov and I think they test out of either Garretts Green, Leicester or Weedon
A little further away but not that far are various LGV Training schools in West Mids, Leics and Northants.
The site search facility at the top of the page may bear some useful results if you wish to use it 
hi and well come i got class 2 with j coates in cov 
i know off roadrunners in cov 
surprised Rog recommend them
Buyin:
hi and well come
Although I have PERSONAL issues with them that does not take away the fact that, IMO, the trainees get good tuition. I would ask for instructor Tony though.
thanks to everybody who has answered my first question about training.it’s good to know that there are people who are will to take time to help others.thanks again everyone.
next question.if i was to drive 2hrs then take a 45min break would i be able to then drive 4.5hrs before my next break?
derek d:
thanks to everybody who has answered my first question about training.it’s good to know that there are people who are will to take time to help others.thanks again everyone.
next question.if i was to drive 2hrs then take a 45min break would i be able to then drive 4.5hrs before my next break?
yes you would. once you have taken your 45 mins it basically resets your driving time to allow a further 4.5 hours but bare in mind your daily driving limits 9 or 10 hours (if you have them left to use that week)