I’m glad it’s going well, stick to the centre line as much as you can when there’s cycle lanes you’ll soon find in coming traffic will think sod that and move over a bit for you lol. Watch your distances pulling up behind cars at lights and junctions though, there’s a set off lights 1/4 off a mile before my test centre I was on my way back there it was the last set off lights before I got back and I went and pulled right up the arse off the car infront off me, as soon as I done it my heart sank I thought here we go automatic failure after all that. When I got back the examiner said to me nice drive thanks for a pleasant trip, no probs I said then he said there was one pretty major thing though, here we go I thought he asked what it was and I pointed out my mistake and he asked if I’d ever do that again I off course said never and he handed me my pass certificate, I was bloody lucky but you may not be so watch that lol.
how did your test go mate?
Failed 
I did everything fine. Picked up a few minors for undue hesitation. I fumbled the gears a bit and picked up 3 minors, this is because the gearbox was a lot different to the other trucks i had my lessons in, the resistance was further over to the right and the gears just didn’t seem inline at all. I’d go for 6 and end up putting it into 8th 
. I was a bit annoyed at that to be honest, if i’d had a decent gearbox like in my lessons i’m convinced i wouldn’t of had a problem.
But my fail came because of progress speed. I picked up 4 minors because the instructor thought i was going to slow and so he marked it as a serious 
. At one point he said i was going about 10mph which enraged me! 
There was no way i was driving down an open road at 10mph! he also said i was going down hill at the time he told me to pick my speed up, which i wasn’t! i was at the top of the hill about to pick up speed going down! apart from that the drive was fine, i got my corners, mirrors, approach speed all fine. I’m just gutted that i failed on something i never really thought i would fail on, something i never really thought you could fail on. Now i know i have to go through all of that again and spend another 300 pounds and it really has knocked my interest of gaining my licence, i really don’t want to go through that again to maybe fail again! I’ve got a couple days off work now to clear my head and decide what to do though.
Sorry to hear re the fail - like you say take a couple of days to clear your head - you know you can do it if you really want to - failed my first C test similar issues re speed - smashed it second time 1 minor.
the gearbox was a lot different to the other trucks i had my lessons in
Sorry to hear it didn’t work out for you this time. Why the change of vehicle?
Pete 
unlucky mate, hope you decide to stick at it. how come you had different instructors and a different vehicle throughout your training? doesn’t seem like the easiest way to do things to be honest!
Seems like change of vehicle has completely thrown your test for you.
Obviously if its mechanical problems that can’t be helped then there is nothing that can be done. But if there was a way you could have had the original vehicle for your test then I’d be looking for reimbursement of test fee or free retest.
Hope it goes better second time. Maybe, if you aren’t happy, look at another school for an hours familiarisation and test.
Gutted for ya mate but there’s no point giving up now after you’ve done all that, makes absolute no sense though the way your driving school has done things, different lorry every day different instructor how can an instructor one day know what your weaknesses were the day before and help you work on them and as for giving you a truck you haven’t been driving for your test just makes no sense. I took my tests in the lorry I trained in with the same instructor every morning. Keep your chin up though and nail the next one good luck!
I think it’s just the way the school operates. I thought it was strange myself the way i would have a different instructor and vehicle each morning . All of the trucks are the same DAF CF’s, the one i did my test in was a bit dodgy gearbox wise though. The gears just didn’t seem in line whatsoever, instead of going from 5th straight down into 6th i more or less had to go down and to the left a touch to get it into 6th otherwise i’d end up in 8th! i remember going from 5th to 8th going up a hill which probably gave me a minor for gears and one for progress speed!
My instructor said it had just come back from being serviced before we took it out. I got used to it on the way to the test centre but it still wasn’t the same . I was too angry to drive back to the school 
so i let my instructor drive it back and she even had problems getting the gear in!
So i agree, i reckon the truck failed the test for me! i remember the reg plate however so i’m refusing to do my retest in that truck! 
That would be a wise move doing it in another are you taking your retest quickly so everything stays fresh? I wouldn’t beat yourself up over it though just take it as experience they say the best drivers past second time round I passed first time and I’m crap so there’s hope lol
So sorry to hear you failed , it would be a shame if you wasted all the money you have invested so far in your training , many people dont pass first time , its up to you but have a think over the next few days once you have got your head around being angry with yourself for failing you might feel different , took me 3 attempts for my class 1 , felt as if I would never get it , my nemesis being my reverse , I promise you now I do reverses just to do them even if I dont really need to, coz I can 
, makes me chuffed every time I get it in first time , becoming more and more frequent now too 
Zer0:
I was too angry to drive back to the school so i let my instructor drive it back
Are you saying that they usually let the trainee drive it back whether pass or fail ?
If yes then that is deffo not good practice because if failed the trainee is too gutted and if passed they are too elated so in either case the concentration is not likely to be as it should
Not an option with bike instructing that I do, pass or fail the pupil has to ride back, cos I can’t ride 2 bikes at once!
Seems like a very unusual training set-up
Different vehicle daily
Different instructor daily
Truck that wont engage gears correctly (even for an instructor)
Different truck for test
Trainee driving post-test
Website that doesn’t work
But I expect the price is right.
Buyer beware.
Pete
Sorry to hear that things didnt go well for you! The whole experience sounds bad to be honest from start to finish, I think the best bet for you is to look else where, explain the situation you’ve been through have an assessment drive and see what they could do for you. I think you confidence has took a battering with that experience which is sad really as its something your supposed to enjoy
Peter Smythe:
Seems like a very unusual training set-upDifferent vehicle daily
Different instructor daily
Truck that wont engage gears correctly (even for an instructor)
Different truck for test
Trainee driving post-test
Website that doesn’t workBut I expect the price is right.
Buyer beware.
Pete
Totally agree with you doesn’t seem right does it, I had the same instructor for my first 5 lessons and same truck when I did my next class I asked for Dave my instructor and i had him again same truck same instructor no wonder the poor bloke failed I reckon I would off done if I had that carry on for a week!
You only get what you pay for, and cheapest is rarely the best
I would have liked some comments from the training school but perhaps they are not site members
Hi Zer0,
You did have a tough time with the vehicle and instructor changes 
Glad you are going to carry on, be a shame to give up now.
Have a quick read, viewtopic.php?f=5&t=76729&p=1009986#p1009986
You will see my first attempt 11 minors and 2 serious 
Second attempt pass with 1 minor
Relax and enjoy the drive, well that’s what worked for me.
Ratty
ratty_hmvf:
Hi Zer0,You did have a tough time with the vehicle and instructor changes
Glad you are going to carry on, be a shame to give up now.Have a quick read, viewtopic.php?f=5&t=76729&p=1009986#p1009986
You will see my first attempt 11 minors and 2 serious
Second attempt pass with 1 minor
Relax and enjoy the drive, well that’s what worked for me.
Ratty
I read thorough you’re diary and couldn’t believe how similar your problems were too mine! i had trouble with everything you mentioned! I’m rebooking my test next week. How did you find it getting back in the truck again after 3 weeks out? I’m worried i’ll be a bit rusty again!