Now to many experienced drivers blame who new drivers can t do properly and quikly reversing in the bay and anywhere.if you ready drive 10-20 years,how you reversing was at the first day or first month.?after how many day ,week or month you was sure who you can reversing to any corners.,corectly ,quikly and safety.??do you had some amusing situations with reversing
I give up…
What’s this message about somebody?
My first ever reverse after my test was putting a fridge onto a bay at Christian Salvesen at Easton. Having done a week and a test on a flatbed, I had no concept of blind side and spent what seemed like 20 minutes getting between 2 trailers and onto the dock. I just admitted to the by now fascinated audience that it was my very first day and was told that ‘we all start somewhere’.
Later on in my career, I was given a driving assessment which for reasons of pure evil, included a difficult blind reverse. I just kept getting out and checking, it’s better to take your time and be sure.
The secret to safe truck driving is to try and avoid being pressured. It’s much better to take shunts than clip something.
I cheated …
I spent 1 year as night yard shunter reversing all sorts of rigids and artics before getting my very first driving licence
It’s not difficult - he’s asking if experienced drivers can remember how their reversing was when they first passed their test and started driving professionally. And how long it took before they got the confidence that they could reverse anywhere.
Personally, the confidence kind of crept up on me. At the start, getting it right seemed to be far more luck than judgement, and I thought I would never get to grips with it. If I’ve got an audience, I still reverse like I haven’t got a clue! 
I spent 5 yrs as a mechanic and on shunting duties before I was old enough to take a test.
I have not long driving expirience.between when i pass for class 2 and class 1,i was not driving nothing.but when i registered with one agency in Nottingham.come to work in some company .i was sure who they give me drive rigid lorry.but after small induction they said you tractor unit this.you trailers number this.i was little bit in shock,but decide try.taked truck,make trailers coupling and go do delivery to some small shop.first one hours was very hot.after normal.reversing was not very good ,but done with 10 minut.what my perfomance now-medium.not excelent,but not bad.some time i do steering wheels lock of to later.but dont have accident with reversing and with 1 or 2-4 shunt i do reversing.my learn more and more
Quite a nice story I have.I had a blind side onto a bay, but luckily found a turning area behind the factory.This was in Spain I think. Anyway,after turning round, I was starting to reverse in my RHD, all the drivers already on the bays came to offer assistance.Until they realised 
Good lads.
firstly we are still learning, whether you been driving for 30 years or 30 miutes, anyone who thinks they know it all is a ■■■■■■■ i have 15 years of learning behind me, 3 of which have now been in artics, can i remember my first reverse, yes like it was yesterday, blind side into the pellet bay at RHM Finedon.
I never laugh or take the ■■■■ out of new drivers, its the experienced drivers i laugh at, cos they know it all,
i was given a tip when i first started, and it is a tip i gladly share, “dont look a ■■■■■ take a shunt”
that tip has served me well.
I had a bit of a head start, was allowed to mess about in an old seddon unit in my grandads yard from the age of 10.
But whenever i used to see a new newbie getting into a spot of bother, i always gave them time, offered advice, not like some drivers who are impatient and like to take over, and then expect a " you’ve saved the day speech " !
14 years old Cardiff docks got it in one.
Ziffy:
firstly we are still learning, whether you been driving for 30 years or 30 miutes, anyone who thinks they know it all is a [zb], i have 15 years of learning behind me, 3 of which have now been in artics, can i remember my first reverse, yes like it was yesterday, blind side into the pellet bay at RHM Finedon.
I never laugh or take the ■■■■ out of new drivers, its the experienced drivers i laugh at, cos they know it all,
i was given a tip when i first started, and it is a tip i gladly share, “dont look a [zb], take a shunt”
that tip has served me well.
Exactly right my man.Its just a pity most think they have nothing to learn.
I’ve been reversing car & trailers for years, so had some concept of how to reverse, but the first times in an artic really showed me the differences!
Now I’ve been on artics for a few months, and full-time for a few weeks, I’m a lot more comfortable with them - I still have days where I’ve only got to select reverse gear and the trailer is sideways on before I’ve even taken the brake off! I find that if I’ve got some sort of visual cue, ideally lines marking the bay, or wheel guides, I don’t have many problems. The place I go to regularly, PSL at Maldon, however, doesn’t have any real cues - no lines, guides, or even much in the way of lighting when it’s dark. I usually find there that I can get into the area, but often need a wriggle shunt to get lined up properly with the leveller, as I’m usually a few inches to the left or right. The only real aiming point is the rubber buffers on the bay, and if you’re not properly square on, even this will change perspective as you get nearer.
I found also that the unit makes a difference - while I had my old MAN, I got quite comfortable with it. When I changed to the Actros, things were subtly different, not sure whether it was mirror perspectives, or just slightly different geometry, but I had to slightly alter my thinking.
I asked my Dad recently how long it took before he felt fully comfortable reversing - he told me that he never really did, and every time was different. I’d never have guessed though, as he got into some really tight areas without breaking a sweat, at least on the outside!
Gary
claretmatt:
I give up…What’s this message about somebody?
another literate person who can write good understandable english pmsl
Unfortunately my first 3 artic tractors had no power steering, necessity was you had to sharpen up your reversing PDQ, two or three shunts with a fully loaded motor bracing your foot on the dash whilst heaving on the bloody great (MAN current size) ships wheel like you were pulling an anchor in was exhausting.
I work for a recovery company who luckily for me put me though my classes 1&2 ,when I had passed class1 I used to spend quiet day’s reversing around the yard just practicing.i will always get out if can’t see and there is no shame in shunting.must admit onlookers can be off putting but they may be new drivers just watching and learning.
I did an excellent blindside at Whitwood the other day 
, made all the better cos I had an audience, usually I have an audience when I [zb] up a good side reverse and no spectators when I do a good blindside. After 5 months on artics I only have a couple of bad uns in a week whereas when I first started I used to have only a couple of good uns.
i made a couple of balls ups. then the penny dropped, if it’s going way out of line, don’t try to correct it, pull forward and start again. it was about 6 months before i could confidently look at a bay, a building site, an entrance, etc, and know exactly where i’ll be putting it.
i was very lucky though. i was well and truly thrown in at the deep end. after exactly 7 days from passing my class 1, i was pulling 65’ (20 metre) trailers for the next month, then it was wide loads, then flats (ropeing and sheeting), then normal curtainsider work. it was the best way for me.
i still make ■■■■ ups, and like it’s been said i’m still learning.
what i don’t like is experienced drivers sniggering at newbies making ■■■■ ups. we’ve all been there.
r627higg:
onlookers can be off putting but they may be new drivers just watching and learning.
That’s true, I often find myself watching artics reversing to take note of certain things.
I haven’t drove an artic for quite some time now because the job I’m in is a rigid. I wasn’t exactly hugely experience on artics anyway but because i’ve been out of it for so long the thought of getting in and reversing is a bit scary lol
ROG:
I cheated …I spent 1 year as night yard shunter reversing all sorts of rigids and artics before getting my very first driving licence
I didn’t do it before I got my Class 1 but one of my very first jobs was as a night shunter in a yard so tight you couldn’t fit a ■■■ paper between trailers. Best thing I ever did. Never struggled with reversing after that and could blind side like you wouldn’t believe.
For anyone struggling with reversing even a couple of weeks working as a shunter will improve you massively. You’ll do more reversing in that fortnight than you’re likely to do in a year normal driving.