So in my first 3-ish weeks driving I have found myself saying “They don’t teach you this in training” as a bit of tongue in cheek for new experiences I gain from driving. Obviously training cannot cover everything you need to know for the big bad world of driving trucks but its all for fun!
Such as today, I was rattling along in Manchester city centre today (an experience itself!) having to get in some extremely tight places like the Thistle Hotel and the Arndale Centre , 3 point turns , parking on the other side of the road to get loads off. I just thought that this type of stuff is just not taught in training
Asking a Post Man for directions only for his answer to be over ruled by some exotic pill practitioner. Both may I add where wrong.
So! Those new to the road and those who have reversed further than I have driven forward please add your own examples
sinclair89:
So in my first 3-ish weeks driving I have found myself saying “They don’t teach you this in training” as a bit of tongue in cheek for new experiences I gain from driving. Obviously training cannot cover everything you need to know for the big bad world of driving trucks but its all for fun!
Such as today, I was rattling along in Manchester city centre today (an experience itself!) having to get in some extremely tight places like the Thistle Hotel and the Arndale Centre , 3 point turns , parking on the other side of the road to get loads off. I just thought that this type of stuff is just not taught in training
Asking a Post Man for directions only for his answer to be over ruled by some exotic pill practitioner. Both may I add where wrong.
So! Those new to the road and those who have reversed further than I have driven forward please add your own examples
Been there got the T shirt now a trainer, I can so relate to your post. Now the job learning starts. Enjoy!!!
Asking locals for directions and they say “You won’t get that down there”.
But the customers says he gets the bin and milk lorry down that tight lane everyday.
Any delivery notes with a contact number,watch out.
When getting the green light to pull off a bay when empty,pull forward half a foot to check that the internal straps have not been tied to the door on the goods in depot.
Never believe anyone that said your load is secure.It is not their licence and a meeting with Beverly and Sarah Bell for tea and biscuits.
Thistle is a doddle. Reverse in if you’re in something that won’t go through the tunnel towards the Malmaison. Hardest thing about tipping at the Thistle is trying to get someone to sign your sodding paperwork.
you cant miss it m8,ooooh yes you can when you dont now what your looking for,you will find out when you get some miles under your belt you will enjoy tight places and something to set a challenge,one good tip is never go in carparks during the day
I remember trying to do a 3 point turn to try and deliver to Revolution Deansgate. Made a right old balls of it. But I knew I’d done it before. So I kept on trying and kept on sweating. Just as I was about to nail it and hope for the best, I remembered I’d been asked to nip out with a delivery in a van one day when I was on the yard. I’d have smashed it to bits
Never take a truck to a farm at night.
Reasons ;Hidden machinery in the grass or verge where you need to turn to get out.
Loose dogs that come at you like an Exocet missile.
Farmers get lonely.You are the first face they see for a few days.
Prepare to hear tales of woe and extreme poverty.
He may have to sell the new Range Rover Vogues with his and hers private number plates.
And take Victoria and Harlequin out of private school.
If you artic is parked in a boggy overflow car park after 2 days of solid rain - make sure you are the FIRST truck out of there, and certainly not the last…
And having got busy with spade, chucked gravel around, got stuck 3 times, and friend says “do you have diff locks”, don’t steer too much with them in… took 10 minutes to get them off again (Crawler gear did it in the end)
But hey - learning is fun…afterwards!
Check you have a pallet truck and make sure it works before driving to away up to Dundee with no way of tipping your load.
Check the tail lift works and that the wander lead works.
When in the back of the trailer, keep a eye out for anyone blocking you in, if the park in front of you then disappear your screwed, where as asking them nicely to move before they run away, is better.
Check the ground your on before starting to tip, I hate starting to tip and the cages are rolling down to meet you, then you have to go back to the unit and adjust the suspension.
When delivering, consider the amount of cages and pallets to be delivered into the stock/stores area, and how/where you place them, don’t want to fill the area up and still have 10 cages or 4 pallets to fit in.
I always lock the cab doors and carry my phone on me when making a delivery, stops my stuff getting stole when I’m working up a stink in the trailer and if you have a accident eg fall off the tail lift, have a heavy cage fall on you you could call for help… or what happened to my mate he got locked out his cab, where he had left his phone lol or what happened to another of my work mates, he went in the back of the trailer to ensure the warehouse secured his load properly, and some b45tard pulled the door down on him… had to phone the office to get let out LMFAO… wasn’t me lol
Best of all, I always ASK, I’m new to this, I DON’T know everything/everywhere!!!
seth 70:
you cant miss it m8,ooooh yes you can when you dont now what your looking for,you will find out when you get some miles under your belt you will enjoy tight places and something to set a challenge,one good tip is never go in carparks during the day
Lol the car parks in the day bit couldn’t agree more some of our shops have to tip in car parks, warminster is one of em have to drive "in the out " against the traffic on a saturday afternoon then drive out with the traffic coming towards you.its only a small car park empty lol happy days
