Zer0's Training Diary!

[zer0]

Saturday 22nd December 2012
Medical passed and licence forms sent off. Just waiting on provisional licence to come back now

Thursday 31st January 2013
Passed theory test and hazard perception test!

Friday 1st February 2013
Assessment Drive booked in for the following Tuesday!

Hey guys,

I posted a while back about claiming my money back off a broker that went bust. I was all ready to go ahead with training when my car took a turn for the worse and i had to spend a lot of my reclaimed money on sorting it all out .

Now it’s sorted and i’ve resaved the cash needed to get my Cat C licence! I’ve gone with Enterprise LGV in Manchester as it’s a recommended school and is only a short minutes drive from my house. I’ve got my medical this Saturday and i assume will be sending off for my licence while i’m there as well.

Meanwhile i’ve tilted my car’s rearview mirror up so i can’t see out of the back and am using only my side mirrors for observations. Took me a couple of days to stop automatically glancing up at the rearview but i’ve got the habit of forgetting it’s there now and rely soley on my side mirrors. I find i’ve been using them a lot more without the rearview. I know mirrors and observations are a major thing to practice on while learning so i thought i’d give myself a headstart .

I’ve also been reading through the LGV Tips thread on this forum and have been reading up on different gearboxes and how they work. I’ve read Enterprise use DAF CF’s with a four over four gearbox so i’ve watched a couple of videos on how they work specifically and it seems simple enough.

I’m doing everything i can to get a better understanding of the whole experience of driving an LGV.

So, I’ll update this thread regularly on my training progess. All of my questions and concerns i have during my training i’ll put here too.

BTW, Is there anything else i can do to practice before i get my licence through and start my lessons?

[paul_pstt]

You’re doing pretty well so far - well done. The next major topic for you is to get the idea of slowing down for hazards, junctions etc. The comment is often passed “you’re driving it like a car”. And that’s 90% of what that means. Get the knack of using momentum. I suggest you take your car to a quiet road where you wont upset anyone, get the speed to 30mph and take your foot off the throttle. Just see how far it rolls. You will probably be surprised. The effect is greater with a truck because of it’s increased weight - so it pushes harder. When I train, I like the brakes to be used ONLY to steady the truck once it’s virtually stopped. It can be done. It’s economical, fast, labour saving and just easier - - once you know how to do it. Few trainers take it as far as me - but I’m noted for my “funny” ways!!

When you’re in the truck, take your foot off the throttle as soon as you see a hazard. Apart from being safer, it will give you more time to make decisions and almost certainly sort the speed out on it’s own.

You should NEVER find yourself taking your foot off the throttle to go straight to the brake. Take note in your car and see what’s happening. And if it’s that, have a word with yourself!!

All the very best with your training and test, Pete

[rog]

Are you managing to use your brakes a lot less than you did before without substituing them with gears?

In other words, seeing hazards earlier and just easing off when it seems everyone else is braking?

[zer0]

i forgot to mention braking. I have actually been practicing that “covering gear” technique mentioned on this forum. To be honest, it’s something i do normally anyway. I’ll notice the roundabout or traffic light ahead and take my foot off the accelerator. Then as i slow down naturally i’ll eventually put it into second, if the roundabouts clear or the traffic light changes to green i can move straight on without ever touching the brakes.

It’s something i recently learned helps a lot when stuck in traffic on the motorway. I used to, like a lot of people, drive straight up to the car in front and brake as they brake ETC. Now i hang well back and roll slowly in a low gear. The car in front will be braking every couple of seconds but because i’ve left a large gap i don’t have to brake at all and have on occaisions rolled straight through a rush hour stretch with hardly any braking.

[lgvtrainer]

You seem to be paying an unusually high attention to detail this early in the process and well done to you for it. The 1st time pass rate would be far higher if people did research more before arriving on day 1

Try to fully understand what Peter is saying about hazard approach speed. It is a perfect description of what is required. The only 1 thing I would add is keep a much longer distance back from the vehicle in front than you would in your car while keeping up with the overall speed of everyone else. This additional distance back will give you the time to do as Pete advises. When the car in front brakes come immediately off the throttle to give the hazard ahead time to clear.

Master this stuff and the vehicle controls and there’s really not too much more to passing.

You will do well you have the right attitude.

[lgvtrainer]

You beat me to it Zero

[paul_pstt]

OK. That’s that bit mastered. There’s several things you can do now but I don’t want to confuse you - or anybody else. So let’s do mirrors. When must you check mirrors? Before every signal, before and during any change of speed, before and during any change of direction. Those are the most basic checks. Always tie the mirrors together. They’re twins. Check one, check both - always.

Most people can cope with mirror before signal. But can you check BOTH before the signal? It needs to be mirror, mirror, signal. No other sequence is correct - though putting the signal on after one mirror will often scrape through a test.

Mirrors/speed. BOTH mirrors before and during ALL changes of speed. Takes some practice.

Mirrors/change of direction. BOTH mirrors before and during any change of direction. So this is anything from a small directional change to avoid a pothole to a turn into a side road, to a lane change and so on and so on.

Another one that isn’t covered in the above list - but is very important - is the check for any vehicles you are passing. They will normally be stationary, but must be checked to make sure all is well. By the same token, anything coming towards you that will be within, say, 6 foot of your offside must be checked. On these two occasions, it is a mirror check in the appropriate direction. This time, they are not twins.

Scanning is a brilliant process if you can master it. It starts with a look to the passenger window, then n/s mirrors, then slowly across the screen, into the o/s mirrors and then back throught the screen etc etc. Everyone should try to master scanning. Then on the aproach to a definite occasion, simply speed it up so that the mirrors are correctly checked. Very easy when mastered and will invariably keep you out of trouble. It’s the difference between watching a video as opposed to still photos.

On the same subject, you must check your blind spot (or shoulder check) before moving from stationary. The lack of this causes more accidents than a few and it’s the first thing that goes out of the window when people pass a car test. Many even insist they were never taught it on a car. Impossible to pass a car test without so was certainly taught. Just very quickly forgotten. A good trainer will show you WHY you need this check.

That’s enough free tuition for now!!

All the best, Pete

[rog]

Zer0:
i forgot to mention braking. I have actually been practicing that “covering gear” technique mentioned on this forum. To be honest, it’s something i do normally anyway. I’ll notice the roundabout or traffic light ahead and take my foot off the accelerator. Then as i slow down naturally i’ll eventually put it into second, if the roundabouts clear or the traffic light changes to green i can move straight on without ever touching the brakes.

It’s something i recently learned helps a lot when stuck in traffic on the motorway. I used to, like a lot of people, drive straight up to the car in front and brake as they brake ETC. Now i hang well back and roll slowly in a low gear. The car in front will be braking every couple of seconds but because i’ve left a large gap i don’t have to brake at all and have on occaisions rolled straight through a rush hour stretch with hardly any braking.

Apart from the covering gear bit you have just descibed what advanced drivers do which is not surprising because LGV and advanced driving are very close in styles to each other

Add in the mirror and blind spot observations that Peter mentioned and you are going to be a dream trainee for some instructor

What often happens is that instructors have to get the trainee back to basics in the first day or two which wastes training time

[zer0]

Thanks guys, I never expected this much advice! and from genuine instructors too This has been a massive help!

I’ll focus on the mirrors as stated and concentrate a bit more on approaching junctions as advised. At the end of the day it’s my own money that’s down the drain if i’m wasting training hours on basic driving, not the instructors. Now i’m just waiting for my licence to come back so i can get cracking with the real stuff. First thing will be the assessment drive i reckon. That’s where i plan to really get a feel for things and put everything i’m practicing on into action. Hopefully i’ll only need the 12 hour course and save myself a couple of hundred quid!

Once again guys, thanks a lot for the help. I’ll update when i can!

[rog]

RE mirrors …

One thing I have noticed is when some drivers see a traffic light which has just changed to red a little way ahead and they will be the first one to the stop line they check the mirrors once and then do not bother checking again all the way up to the stop line
I do not know why this is because they know where the stop line is but seem fixated by it … strange but true in many cases

[paul_pstt]

only need the 12 hour course

Clearly no-one can assess you without seeing you drive - but I’ve got a gut feeling that you would be fine on a shorter course. In any case, our “normal” course is 14hrs + test and I would have no worries with you on that.

Two things to look for on a short course; is it 1-1 or 2-1. IMO 2-1 is dodgy on a short course. Also, how far is the training centre from the test centre? The more time you spend on test route area, the better. And on a short course, the proportion of time spent travelling backwards and forwards to the test centre can become disproportionate.

You should now be studying for your theory so that you’re in a position to go for theory tests asap when your licence comes back.

Very best of luck with it all.

Pete

[rog]

If the test centre is quite far away from the yard then 2 to 1 gives more time on the test routes

[tarrman]

Couple of tips from a fellow learner:

The vehicle is as wide as the mirrors! A lot of people forget this, be careful around street furniture/going past other lorries/busses etc.

The 4 over 4 gearbox. I found the theory behind this to be easy but a bit trickier when driving, knowing what gear to be in at any given speed. It was a bit unusual at first due to the short ratios and the power of the truck. I found that when the truck was moving it was very rare to need low range, more often than not I would scrub speed off and use 5th at clear roundabout etc, you can get right down to about 10mph in 5th, saves fiddling about with low range.

When you come to a stop, always secure the vehicle with the handbrake before doing anything else (selecting a moving off gear or selecting neutral for example).

Use your mirrors especially when you’ve gone past a pedestrian/side road/obstruction to make sure they are still there/in one piece/haven’t clipped them with the rear. Also check your mirrors when driving, it helps to give a good idea of distance from the kerb/lane postion.

Watch out for protruding kerbs, when turning keep an eye on whichever rear wheel is closest to the kerb (turning left watch the left, turning right the right, but be sure to check the other one aswell!).

The reverse is easy once you have your marker points.

When your in a truck you have a much much better view of the road ahead, use it to your advantage! You’ll be surprised just how much more you can see. Anticipate things and adjust your speed, brake well in advance.

Don’t comment on other idiot road users (you will see loads), just let them get on with it/give way.

Hope this helps! Got my C retest on the 4th (was a bit unfortunate with the examiner).

If I think of anything else then I’ll put more posts up. I’m doing my training with TRUK in Bolton so used the test centre in Atherton, not sure if you’ll use the same one as your pretty much the other side of Manchester. If you do use it though you’ll find it easy enough, it’s pretty new and well marked out etc.

Best of luck and keep us updated!

[paul_pstt]

Agree with all the advice above - except

When you come to a stop, always secure the vehicle with the handbrake before doing anything else (selecting a moving off gear or selecting neutral for example).

Park brake not required every time you stop. Occasions when it IS required are

Stopping at side of the road
Stopping for more than a few seconds in traffic
When pedestrians crossing in front you - - if there’s time
Uphill start

Apart from that, the park brake will just serve to slow your progress. Many, many years ago we used to train by this method - also on cars. And in both LGV and cars this changed some years ago. IMO for the better. Think what you do in your car; I doubt very much that you apply the handbrake every time you stop.

Note the name of it - PARKbrake. That gives a clue.

Applying the park brake excessively can lead to dropping the air which, in traffic, is embarassing at the very least!

Many people think you need to use the park brake between forward and reverse gear on the reverse exercise. Doesn’t matter but it’s not required.

Hope this helps, Pete

[lgvtrainer]

Completely agree with Pete about using the parking brake. We teach to never apply it when 1st at a roundabout, except for uphill. The slight delay in the brakes releasing can often lead to missing a gap in the traffic.

Another fairly common problem associated with over using the parking brake is that candidates apply it before the vehicle has fully stopped causing a very harsh experience.

Good early forward planning can very often avoid the need to stop anyway. Use the P brake only when really necessary. It’s one less thing to go wrong.

[rog]

One more point - it is not considered to be ‘good driving practice’ to keep the brake lights blazing at the driver waiting behind for more than a few seconds

Some LGV park brakes allow for a partial release whilst holding it which makes the getaway quicker

[tarrman]

That’s what I meant, when stopping for longer than a few seconds put the park brake on, although it isn’t always nessesary.

[paul_pstt]

That’s what I meant, when stopping for longer than a few seconds put the park brake on, although it isn’t always nessesary

In that case, we all agree then! Brill.

Pete

[tarrman]

[qwakers]

i saw a comment above about not commenting on idiot road users, and in whole i agree, but i would have failed if i hadn’t said “ill just wait for this joker” when a cyclist was going up my left. the examiner told me after my test that he hadnt seen him (unusual but not impossible) and was going to put me down as a serious for undue hesitation before i said it. so TELL the examiner what you’r doing and why, and you might just find doing so passes your test for you.