Newbie:
Oh my God, after reading this little lot and looking at these pics I now know i’m in the wrong job. I did about as much reversing as I had to, to get me through my test and in 2 and a half years I still havn’t improved any. I know how to do it in my head but behind the wheel it all goes to pot Oh yes and you old hands are always there to watch too. People say it will come to you just like that ! but i think it missed me out.
Been there too mate. In fairness to a lot of ‘old hands’ they could usually see I was new to the game (only 23 y/o) and several times one of them has come across and walked back alongside the cab giving help/instructions as I reversed. Fair play to 'em.
I must admit that the old hands have been very helpful on many occasions. The secret is (I think) don’t be afraid to ask. I do not know of any other job where the other people have been as helpful. Cheers all, Neil
I agree the old hands have always been helpful. The first time I had to back on to a loading bay one walked along side and put me right, even offered to back it in for me, I politely said no gotta do it myself. The embarrasing bit is when you pass your test at 54 a lot of the old hands are younger than you
Stil I am improving and look foward to it instead of dreading it . I get a real buzz out of getting it right.
knight, it really does not matter as any one will tell you one day it s so easy reverseing onto a point and the next day or even week it goes all to pot
and the learning curve will never ever end as school time is forever and
not just for takeing the test, and no one is ever perfect, so just take it easy
and enjoy your self without getting stressed out,
Newbie:
Oh my God, after reading this little lot and looking at these pics I now know i’m in the wrong job. I did about as much reversing as I had to, to get me through my test and in 2 and a half years I still havn’t improved any. I know how to do it in my head but behind the wheel it all goes to pot Oh yes and you old hands are always there to watch too. People say it will come to you just like that ! but i think it missed me out.
Newbie,- that’s where it goes wrong for me too - when I start using my head ! If I think too much about it I can be sure to mess it right up. In fact I’ve never got my head around how it works the way they explained it to me on the driving school. What I do, is that I think of the lorry and trailer as a horse. I used to do dressage on competition level so it makes sense to me. If I want the horse to move it’s back end to the right I put pressure on it’s left flanks. Using left leg = using left hand. Sounds crazy but it works for me.
I got my license last June and didn’t have any experience in any form of truck before I was put straight in the deep end having to load in and out of Corus in Trostre. The bays have a few inches to spare on each side and are like black holes in the day time. Needless to say my hands went a bit clammy ! The first couple of times our yard men watched me in, but it was much easier when they just left me to do it in my own time. I’ve never been affraid of banging trailers and perhaps that have given me the confidense not to do it. I take it serious but not too serious, if you make mistakes it’s no big deal. You can always have a right good laugh about it afterwards.
I come to places where I think: OMG how am I gonna hack this one ? And then I’ve done it before I know it. Think I’m a flipping good driver…ha ! Then there are weeks…just like last week. Where every time I have to reverse into a bay it just goes wrong. I can have 3 empty bays in a row and do you think I can get it in one of them within the lines ? It is so embarrassing to have to do shunt after shunt after shunt with a load of bored truckers watching you in amusement. Being a female you know they’re thinking : awww…it’s a girl !
It’s also the week where I’ll take a curb in a roundabout and back up so close to the truck behind me at a services that I actually push his truck slightly…can it get any worse ? Thank God no damage was done, but the embarrassment alone is worse.
Don’t despair but learn to laugh at the silly things we do.
If you feel you need some serious reversing practise I could possibly arrange a few weeks for you doing local work out of Trostre. (mean giggle)
It seems that i’m not the only one to struggle with the reversing then, thats good at least. I’m not as worried as i used to be and don’t mind going on to bays and between trailers etc, sometimes I even take it out and put it back again just for the practice. What i find really hard is putting it between other trucks at services and lorry parks (Hartshead Services, Leeds and Truck World at Thurrock) I have tried and failed miserably at these places and usually bugger off and park else where, I never get the angle quite right but then I will go and do a real hard reverse somewhere else and think I’ve cracked it…
Newbie:
It seems that i’m not the only one to struggle with the reversing then, thats good at least. I’m not as worried as i used to be and don’t mind going on to bays and between trailers etc, sometimes I even take it out and put it back again just for the practice. What i find really hard is putting it between other trucks at services and lorry parks (Hartshead Services, Leeds and Truck World at Thurrock) I have tried and failed miserably at these places and usually [zb] off and park else where, I never get the angle quite right but then I will go and do a real hard reverse somewhere else and think I’ve cracked it…
Hartshead Moor on the westbound side is a challenging reverse for anyone in all honesty. I see loads of drivers struggle there and much horn-blasting from the truckers at either side when their mirrors are about to be taken off. I’ve done quite a bit of trailer shunting in my current and previous jobs so they’re not a problem for me usually, but of course we all have different levels of experience. Go in there when it’s quiet and have a practice. That’s the best way. Practice makes perfect as the saying goes.
Air Canada depot in Winnipeg, reverse into a building, which looks like dropping the trailer into blackness most times of the day… I took 10 shunts at it, and the regular driver took over… He took another 12 to get it on the bay…
rob said “cant be done legally”… then it cant done fullstop.
been to East Leake with stuff from France i didnt believe them when they told me the bays were too narrow for new trailers so i got the tape measure out
and then went off to wait patiently for the wide bay to become free…i assume after 3 years they now have full width across all the loading areas…
light into dark …why dont they have laser light so at least you can see something to aim at…
yellow lines…why dont they paint them so you end up on the bay not half off it
Every single company has a regular “knightmare drop/collection” ours is Woodfit at Whittle Le Woods near Chorley with 45 footers… Just take your time, there’s no rush…
One bad place to reverse into used to be old rdc Sainsbury’s in Hackbridge (near Croydon) .Step drop down into double bays ,just room for 2 unit’s,with trailer door’s just missing off side wall (same sort of bay’s as Rob k picture)
Newbie:
Hartshead Moor on the westbound side is a challenging reverse for anyone in all honesty. I see loads of drivers struggle there and much horn-blasting from the truckers at either side when their mirrors are about to be taken off.
im glad you say that cos ive struggled at hartshead and it dosent help when the cars go through there as well trying to sneak round and then the pressure is on cos everybody is watching.
how do get on reversing the cf rob loads of drivers i know reckon its hard work.
i dont know if its the little steering wheel or the steering lock.
First time I went into Truckworld I hardly got any sleep cos of all the noise and almost managed to bang someones mirrors off trying to get out of my bay.
Second time I went in there I thought, right I’m gonna put my nose up against the back fencing. But was told all those bays are reserved. So I got so ****** off that I ****** right out of there and found my self a nice and quiet ind est with my own cafe van next door. Surely that’s where I will return to in the future, at least you get a bit of privacy there. I’m certainly not gonna waste my company’s money sleeping in places I don’t even feel comfortable.
Jo,
Be careful where you park in the area you describe (Ind. Est. near TruckWorld, Thurrock.)
I remember reading in a mag. last year about those nasty wheelclamper people infesting the neighbourhood !
Hi Owens Girl, How about directions for this ind est at Grays. I reckon Truckworld is a real dump anyway and would stay else where if I could. Does anyone know if there is another truck park just to the left of the last roundabout heading towards Truckworld. I think its near a DAF garage ■■?
I’ve heard too that there should be a roadside cafe there. When coming from Truckworld direction, passing Proctor and Gamble, there should be a cafe if you go right at that first little roundabout with the truck dealer.
Trying to remember directions for the Grays ind est. Think it’s the next exit off at the A13 east when we come out from Thurrock. Follow signs towards Tilbury Docks and Grays. When going down through Grays you pass a few small roundabouts and there’s a sign at one roundabout saying ind est to the right. Follow sign and on left side the road goes in to the ind est. and then you’ll see a sign for the cafe too. Just a small burger van a corner in there but you can park on the roads along there.
. ( They do chickens and turkeys for Tesco’s ).
