Whats holding you back?

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

Recently, that’s a question I’ve been asking myself. I’ve had over 15 years of experience on rigids, I can do pretty much anything I want with one, I can practically drive one with my eyes closed.

So what’s holding me back from doing artic work? I passed class 1 in January 2016, and haven’t used it since (except a recent refresher session with pstt). I now have the magical experience, well, I’ve held the license for nearly 2 years and that’s all agencies seem bothered about, not that you have actually been driving them for the 2 years.

Why haven’t I used my license for two years? Short answer, it was revoked a couple of weeks after I passed :frowning: I have a condition called fibromyalgia and I take opiate painkillers. They prescribed me methadone (not for addiction, they also use it for long term pain relief) I have to declare any medication changes to the dvla, and this resulted in my license being revoked. So I got a job as a fork lift driver. Then a couple of months back, the doctor changed my script to oxycodone, I reported to the dvla as I have to do and to my surprise, my new license with all entitlements dropped through my letterbox :slight_smile:

So now I have a dilemma, I’m limping for the next 3 weeks as a yard Marshall for my local quarry, which gives me some thinking time as for what I want to do next. I have always wanted night trunking, seems to me to be the easiest of the artic work and I am just not built for days lol. Night shift suits me perfectly and the one hit trunking work seems like the best option for a novice. If anyone has any experience of trunking work I would love to hear about it. I’ve spoken to the agency, and they have said “no problem, after this contract we will give you trunking work”

So now, and for the next three weeks, the fear is kicking in! I know I can drive an artic forward, it’s just like a big rigid. Allow a bit more room and take your time. I have the basic idea of reversing, grab the wheel at the bottom and take it to the mirror you want the trailer to go into, when reversing in a straight line, turn the wheel to the mirror that’s filling up, hold it about a second and take the steering off. I am a little worried about reversing, so any tips would be gratefully received, but I think I will be ok with that, there will be a lot of getting out and looking :slight_smile:

I think the thing that has me most flustered is coupling and uncoupling. I remember black, or if you’re picking up kcalb and DONT FORGET THE NUMBER PLATE!!!

I have the typical newbie worries, what if I miss a turn and can’t turn around? What if I get stuck somewhere? What if I have to go down a tight street with cars parked either side (I know it’s the same width as a rigid, but what if I have to go down one of those streets to my drop?) I’ve gone to drops in a rigid that I wouldn’t dream of in an artic, but they still send them there!

I want trunking to dc’s but the job they have in mind for me also includes store deliveries and some of them can be a wee bit tight. Maybe I might try a different agency after my 3 weeks in my present job has finished, see if I can find something a bit more simple, lol

Have any of you done trunking work? I would be interested in hearing about the job, what was involved, hours etc. I’m looking for something around the 12 hour per shift mark, I don’t really want 15 hour nights.

2

I want to do my class 1 as I’ve had my 2 for 16 years but due to a work colleague buggering off for a month they can’t spare me the time to do it yet and I can’t afford to pay for it my self

3

I am glad I did it, was on a real high when I passed first time. Soon came back to earth with a bump when they took it off me before I had chance to use it :frowning: my instructor was a bit of a knob head and didn’t exactly fill me with confidence, I wish I had done it with pete.

I suppose it’s only natural to be nervous, it’s a big jump from a rigid. Got to take the plunge sometime though.

I’ve done trunking in rigids and loved it, it’s so easy. I would love to hear people’s experience of class 1 trunking. I’m chomping at the bit! The next 3 weeks is going to feel like forever :frowning:

Good luck with your training and test (whenever that may be) from the sounds of your post, are the company you work for picking up the tab? If so, well done, jump at the chance :slight_smile:

4

jbaz73:
I am glad I did it, was on a real high when I passed first time. Soon came back to earth with a bump when they took it off me before I had chance to use it :frowning: my instructor was a bit of a knob head and didn’t exactly fill me with confidence, I wish I had done it with pete.

I suppose it’s only natural to be nervous, it’s a big jump from a rigid. Got to take the plunge sometime though.

I’ve done trunking in rigids and loved it, it’s so easy. I would love to hear people’s experience of class 1 trunking. I’m chomping at the bit! The next 3 weeks is going to feel like forever :frowning:

Good luck with your training and test (whenever that may be) from the sounds of your post, are the company you work for picking up the tab? If so, well done, jump at the chance :slight_smile:

Yep they are , as its better for them as I know the job already just a step up in size

5

Kudos to you my friend, if you can get them to pay do it. At least you know that you already know the job and the whole experience thing is not an issue to you.

6

Ok, so to refresh my memory, when picking up a trailer. First reverse square on to the trailer stopping a couple of feet short. Get out and check the height, using this opportunity to put the number plate on. Reverse back until the fifth wheel engages, pull forward a couple of times. Get your torch and fit the clip. Connect the suzies (unless doing a split couple). Wind up the legs, push the trailer brake to release.

When dropping off a trailer: pull on the trailer brake, wind down the legs, disconnect and stow the suzies, disconnect the dog clip and pull the release handle right and forwards. Pull forward gently and lower the suspension.

Have I missed anything? At my age memory is the first casualty :slight_smile:

7

Yep, I forgot to take the number plate off. Not a massive problem unless I dropped the trailer on a bay :imp:

8

jbaz73:
Reverse back until the fifth wheel engages, pull forward a couple of times.

At this point try and make sure the legs are an inch or two off the ground because (1) it means you can’t miss the pin and (2) you won’t bend the legs :wink:

9

So, as you back under, lift it a bit?

10

jbaz73:
So, as you back under, lift it a bit?

Yes - back under the rubbing plate, raise the suspension to lift the legs off the ground, then back under all the way until it clicks in. Then do your tug test.

11

Nice one, thanks for the tip :slight_smile:

12

jbaz73:
push the trailer brake to release.

As we are doing tips when pushing the trailer brake in just stand there for a couple of seconds before walking off with your back turned just in case of that very rare chance the unit brake is off and you’re on a slight incline, yes it happened to me once :blush: but i quickly pulled the red knob back out again as quick as a flash.

jbaz73:
disconnect the dog clip and pull the release handle right and forwards. Pull forward gently and lower the suspension.

before getting back in the cab after pulling the pin take a glance just to double check (1) the legs have been lowered and (2) all the lines have been disconnected this takes about one second, again several years ago now i left abs lead connected but took the other four off after being distracted resulting in damaged abs lead :blush:

13

Just remember if it fails the tug test and your legs are off the ground, you could damage the legs on a fully loaded trailer. 26T legs landing on ground gives a large bang.

Do make sure the clip is in - don’t move if it wont go in…just don’t. It looks useless but it isn’t, speaking from experience.

Double check everything then check again. If interrupted, go back and do it all again.

Befriend shortarses at any RDC as they are the ones who can get under the trailer to retrieve the numberplate. Done it many times. :slight_smile:

Edit - reminded by Bald Bloke, one tip to test if the units brake is on is to put the yellow line on first. If you don’t feel pressure on that, go back check the handbrake. Can also help with getting the red line on.

14

trevHCS:
Just remember if it fails the tug test and your legs are off the ground, you could damage the legs on a fully loaded trailer. 26T legs landing on ground gives a large bang.

True but how often does a tug test fail not only that you can generally tell by the sound when the pin hasn’t engaged properly.