Hiya folks,
So I have an assesment coming up soon in an artic and to be honest I’m very nervous. I passed my c+e in a wagg n dragg and have never driven an artic. I’m wondering what the main differences are and if any of you experinced truckers have any tips that you think might help me to get my start.
Many thanks!
I passed in WnD and then did 4 hours in an Artic.
Main difference are…
Driving forwards. you need to allow for the trailer cutting in. Keep an eye on your mirrors when turning.
Reversing requires a bit more steering to get the unit in the right position relative to the trailer.
And coupling is not quite so precise as the jaws will pull the pin into the centre. Just make sure its high enough that he pin doesn’t jump the jaws. Use truck suspension once under the trailer to run under the underside of the deck.
If you’ve never driven an artic you would be well advised to get a days brush up from a driving school IMO.
Well that is unless you happen to know an OD who would let you drive him about for a day, might be mutual benefit, he can save his driving hours without having to pay a driver and you get free practice.
During my stints on transporters i spent several years driving lorry and drags, swapping back to artics took a bit of adjustment to be honest and i had many years artic experience prior.
Basically you will have to exaggerate so much the amount of trailer drag you allow for, secondly it takes some getting used to driving as far as possible into a sharp bend and then getting used to the amazing truning circle the artic has in comparison, which it needs in order to get the trailer round, reversing especially will be daunting for a day or two.
You’ll also be way out of practice for trailer drop and pick up.
Problem is you can’t get any practice during the assessment, you’ll probably have some jobsworth box ticker so you will have to be able to show reasonable competence and confidence, he might be OK and cut you some slack or he might be an R swipe, no telling to you get there and meet him.
and do’nt forget ya number plate,unlike wagon and drag when you have the same trailer on most of the time 
When reversing…KISS…Keep It Slow Speed
I drove w&d,s A frame & caravan type,artics ,rigids. One thing I could not get used to after a lifetime of driving was skellies where you altered the wheelbase to suit the load ,in some cases many times a day. Always dinging things! : 
go to an agency and get a couple of days practice in ,tell em you’re a c+e with loads of experiance,then practice on their clients trucks.
you get paid they get a driver ,everybody’s happy 
I could be completely wrong here but if you pass your test in a wagon an drag is that all your entitled to drive, the reason I ask is we have wag an drags but my manager told me to pick a test school that used artics as you can drive both if tested on them, as I say I could be completely wrong.
Those with codes next to CE on their licence are restricted to WnD. (Grandfather CE I believe)
Taken from DVLA Site…
gov.uk/old-driving-licence-categories
HGV 2 or 3
Vehicle over 3,500kg with a trailer over 750kg (draw-bar only)
CE (with restriction code 79 or 102)
Anyone who passes nowadays on either outfit is entitled to drive any bendy combination.
Don’t worry you are fully entitled to drive an artic.The question you asked depends on the W&D you drove.I would presume it was not an A frame so the only real difference is that you will find there will be more cut in with the trailer but just take your time and you will adapt very quickly.
Reversing is much the same although it will feel different because you are used to seeing the trailer away behind you where as in an artic it is right there behind the unit.
Best policy is to be honest and just enjoy the drive.
Watch out for the front / shoulder of the trailer sticking out when turning, it only normally makes a difference on slow tight stuff like turning into a space between 2 trucks in the services, get the cab as close to the one one the far side, then as your mirror passes the back of the trailer, turn to the near one pulling the front of the trailer away from the far one, then back towards the far one to minimize trailer cut in.
No offence to anybody who passed in a W&D but why do they let people take a test in these things, knowing that the majority of the work will be on arctics?
Actrosman:
No offence to anybody who passed in a W&D but why do they let people take a test in these things, knowing that the majority of the work will be on arctics?
In theory it’s easier to pass the test.
Is there still a demand for W&D?
Not really saw any new ones on the road think I have saw one 12plate in last 2 years, plus with the new 30pallet trailers getting trialled and probably rolled out the extra space on W&D’s is now muted .
Fallmonk:
Is there still a demand for W&D?
Not really saw any new ones on the road think I have saw one 12plate in last 2 years, plus with the new 30pallet trailers getting trialled and probably rolled out the extra space on W&D’s is now muted .
I think you must not be looking there are more w&ds now than there have ever been have a proper look next time they let you out
Majority of car transporters are WnD. Norbert Dentressangle and Eddie Stobart have a few more flying around now.
BTW, No offence taken
Car transporters, Ro/Ro’s, container wagons (not majority, but certainly some), demounts etc.
Lots of wag + drags around and I’ve done lots of work on them, but I agree that the majority of C+E work is artic (unit + trailer) style rather than wag + drag style.
For going forwards, you can’t beat an a-frame wag + drag, couldn’t believe how well it followed me, even staying in lanes on roundabouts etc, but what a git to reverse - they should do the test in those 
Its hard to make wag and drags earn their keep imo, we had one for years till it was involved in a major crash and we rarely maximised its full potential volume fill wise.
Did the laws change regarding class 1 ? When I lived there I am pretty sure that holding a regular class 1 allowed you to drive a wagon and drag but if you took the test using a wagon and drag you couldn’t drive an artic ?
It’s the same rule over here.
Pat Hasler:
Did the laws change regarding class 1 ?
.
Yes