albion1971:
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.
Spot on as an artic driver for 20 years and W&D for 10. When turning left give yourself more room reversing should be easier just go sliw
Think the thing you’ll really need to concentrate on is the reversing. Generally when there have been threads on here about driving assessments it always seems to be making a dog’s breakfast of reversing on to a bay that seemed to come between them and getting the gig.
Own Account Driver:
Think the thing you’ll really need to concentrate on is the reversing. Generally when there have been threads on here about driving assessments it always seems to be making a dog’s breakfast of reversing on to a bay that seemed to come between them and getting the gig.
Id whole heartedly agree with that
was a shock for me after being on a wag n drag for the past few years to getting back in an artic last october, my reversing was shocking ,mind you i’ll hapilly admit even now i can still make a mess of reversing sometimes
Own Account Driver:
Think the thing you’ll really need to concentrate on is the reversing. Generally when there have been threads on here about driving assessments it always seems to be making a dog’s breakfast of reversing on to a bay that seemed to come between them and getting the gig.
Id whole heartedly agree with that
was a shock for me after being on a wag n drag for the past few years to getting back in an artic last october, my reversing was shocking ,mind you i’ll hapilly admit even now i can still make a mess of reversing sometimes
We all do mate, especially when you’ve got shed loads of room, tight gaps are usually done 1st time
tip watch the trailer wheels not the trailer itself, try and guide your wheel next to the guide bars or to the white line on the bay etc… Nice and slow as others have said, more time to correct.
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 .
took my test on a dragon and wag and after a couple of years on artics spent the next ten years on em,reversing an artic is very strange now
I passed my test in wagon & drag & went straight onto artic with no problems ,& , with no practice runs or extra training before hand. The main thing is take it easy Use common sense, they do handle differently , be aware of extra room you may need on turns , roundabouts & watch for your trailer cutting in, straddle lane where you need to, it’s better to go a bit slow than to ‘mess up’ ,
Coupling up , check your at the right hight with your fifth wheel for your tailer, don’t forget your parking brake!! Good luck with your assessment
Pat Hasler:
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.
It’s the EU style licence nowadays and has been since the early 1990’s. There’s just C for rigids and CE for rigids towing a trailer so there’s no distinction between artics and wagon and drags
I did my test in a wagon and drag. he used them because it meant he only had to have 1 vehicle. he also said that because trainees had got used to the truck as a rigid it would be easier to learn with a trailer on. he was right to be fair, but it doesn’t help in the real world though. I passed my tests then drove rigids for three years. when I had an assessment drive for a job it was the very first time I had ever driven an artic or indeed any truck with anything other than a 4 over 4 gearbox. I was so lucky the guy cut me some slack because I ■■■■■■ the whole drive up! I got caught out on my blindside reverse, it was only a 45 degree bend but I had to take two shunts! I ballsed the twelve speed gear changes for the whole drive.
I would advise keeping wider on turns and watching out for the front of the trailer as mentioned and also the rear of the trailer as the back end of a wagon and drag will not swing out on a tight turn half as much as a regular 40 ft artic trailer will.
I’ve driven a wagon n drag full time for nearly a year now on bricks and blocks and we get all the tight sites as we are simply much more manouverable in tight spots.
an artic has got a beautifully tight turning circle though. I do miss that!
Thanks for all of the advice guys your instructor never.tells you these things! I nowhave 2 assesments on the same day so if I ■■■■.the first one up maybe the 2nd will go a bit smoother!
Cheers guys but I royally ■■■■■■ that one up! The assesor wasnt even.allowed to help me.out in any way. Completly different to a drawbar! Some.extra training is definitly.needed!
I went to the tesco one and that kind of destroyed my confidence so i went.to.see the manager at the other place and said id get some training before I go back!
hgvhgv:
Cheers guys but I royally [zb] that one up! The assesor wasnt even.allowed to help me.out in any way. Completly different to a drawbar! Some.extra training is definitly.needed!
I’m afraid that’s the point of it mate, they are there to ASSESS you they all sit there and tick boxes just like on your test. think maybe you should of gone for the second one tho. at the end of the day you get another nice long practice since most assessments ive been on have been between 1-2 hours, all for nothing. its all down to experience and confidence I know but it will cost you an absolute fortune going for refreshers
Sorry it didn’t go well for you , you need to have faith in your own ability , thats half the battle . May I ask, was it just that your confidence seemed to abandon you under the pressure of the assessor? But. … Would you still have messed up if the scenario had been different ? For example if it was just you heading out on a trip with the artic under no pressure & by yourself ?
Thanks folks. I think i would have still.messed up on my own.to be honest. Having never coupled uncoupled or driven an artic and being assesed on it was probably a bad idea. Im holding out for the 2nd one as they said they would be willing to train.me.and put me with another driver.for a couple of weeks which I think is just what I need. Not too many employers are willing to give us n00bs a chance these days!
it’s good that the second place are willing to train you on artics, some employers prefer to do that so they know you’ll be doing things ’ their way,’ instead of someone else coming in with ‘bad habits’ or a’ know it all attitude’ , show yourself keen to learn & listen! , I hope all goes well for you, good luck
,mind you i’ll hapilly admit even now i can still make a mess of reversing sometimes 
I got caught out on my blindside reverse, it was only a 45 degree bend but I had to take two shunts! I ballsed the twelve speed gear changes for the whole drive. 
, you need to have faith in your own ability , thats half the battle . May I ask, was it just that your confidence seemed to abandon you under the pressure of the assessor? But. … Would you still have messed up if the scenario had been different ? For example if it was just you heading out on a trip with the artic under no pressure & by yourself ?