Hi all
Having recently got back into driving I thought I would share some of my experiences going out in artics, hopefully some other newbies will find it useful
I wont go into specific days and journeys as you will probably just get bored!
But having come back into driving after a few years break, due to personal circumstances, I was rather scared to taking out artics. I got my artic licence sometime back but never had a chance to out it in use.
So did a refresher and all was fine. Until of course I had to do a ‘proper’ run 
Been absolutely loving the work I have done. Artic work is so much easier that rigids. But that could just be me getting lucky and not having to do any handball 
All has been well but I still have a very big pain in the a** - yes the REVERSE!!! That just gives me the willies! I figured out my major problem, which is that I cant get my starting position right and then try to compensate by making sharp bends and then over steering etc….
I must have lost a stone from all the sweating lol — yeh like when I am freaking out about being late, or couldn’t get king pin out, or tying straps down super fast as other drivers wait for me, trying to reverse while I have 4 wagons on each side waiting for me to move!!!
One thing I wanted to highlight in this post is the overwhelming and tremendous help I have had from fellow drivers. Fantastic is the only word. One shunter has been like a mentor, from being my banksman, giving me tips, generally helping me out he has been a life saver. And same with another shunter at a delivery site where for the life of me I couldn’t get it onto the bay, he also helped.
So to my delight there are so very friendly people out in the trucking world, maybe only a few but I have been lucky enough to meet them.
If anyone has any tips on reverse then please share…mainly starting position. Thank for reading.
