Madbaz's Training Blog

In this blog I'll try and give any wannabee/newbie drivers an insight of my experiences of breaking into the world of Truckers.

The first thing is you have really got to want to be a truck driver, for me I think it's almost in my blood. I got bored pushing buttons in factories, so after redundancy I had a quick spell at my own business but I decided at the age of 35 I wanted to do something I'll enjoy (read mid-life crisis). I took a part time job doing van multidrops and quite liked it, (especially the unique waves I got from car drivers, you know, the one with one finger) so I thought the next step is obviously a truck.

I did a little research (google) and I found that there is a shortage of truck drivers in the uk, with new entrants to the industry potetially earning 35k pa. I thought this is good and emailed Qualitas Training for some bumf. That duly arrived, but I started to smell a rat, on none of their letters was a registered company number, but the glossy mag was for Qualitas Limited, did a little more digging and found Qualitas Training LTD is a dissolved company, it's also known as Sterling Training, and I also found thier cat C + CPC get C+E free offer a little strange, as there is no requirement for a driver to do the Operator CPC, unless they're starting up on thier own. Anyhow I remembered my old man did his PSV with Hargreaves in Leeds, and opted to go with them. £906 for '5' days 2-1 training inc test fee. OH and by the way, the truck driver shortage is nothing more than a marketing ploy, as someone put it, "if there was a shortage of drivers then supermarket shelves would be empty!"

I convinced the girlfriend I wanted to do this, and I duly applied HERE for the D2 and D4, They promptly arrived and I booked a medical with my GP, you don't have to use your own GP, there are mobile driver medical services available that are considerably cheaper than the £98 I paid. I did find out though my blood pressure is borderline so I'm taking more exercise and watching my diet as instructed (only 2 rashers in my butty, not 3 nowadays). Sent off the D2 & D4 and the license promptly landed on the doormat a week later.

I then ordered I then ordered The Official DSA Guide to Driving Goods Vehicles from The Stationary Office HERE this is the basis of the upcoming DRIVER CPC (not to be confused with the Operator CPC) which all LGV drivers will have to grudgingly partake. In my opinion a very good read, with quite a few things I didn't know.

I then booked my theory test (60 questions, there is now 100 questions + 20 HPT clips), I had the pleasure of asking my gaffer for the morning off and telling him what is was for, he's a little miffed at me using the company as "a stepping stone."
I did no practise for the theory, other than whats in the aforementioned book, result 60/60 for the multi choice and 59/75 for the HPT, I will emphasise the onus is on LGV relevant questions, I was a little unhappy at the hazard perception, and expected to do better, but that test is exactly the same as what new car drivers get, so I believe I was clicking earlier than the scoring frame and getting scored on the third click for that paticular hazard. I'll explain, cyclist coming up to a car transporter on LH side, I click upon seeing the cyclist, I then click when the cyclist looks behind (this is the clue for this developing hazard) I then give a third click as I'm about to change speed/direction to avoid the cyclist.
I might've understood it wrong but a pass is a pass.

Time to deprive The Halifax of my savings :( I booked with Hargreaves Training in Leeds for my Cat C.
In the couple of weeks leading up to my training I found http://www.trucknetuk.com/ and there is a huge amount of advice, tips and anecdotes on the forums from all sorts of drivers and they are willing to offer an opinion/answers on anything you want to throw at them, pre test or post test, finding the site is akin to Dorothy finding the Wizard of Oz.

I also got rid of the rear veiw mirror in the car and van and started practising my DSA routines as suggested by Rog on the forum, I couldn't believe how many bad habits I had!
There is also advice on choosing your training provider and the questions to ask them before committing, such as;
Is the training 1:1 or 2:1?
How many hours will I get behind the wheel?
What will it cost for a retest?
There are a few more and some peeps recommendations, pro's and cons.

I struggled to get my head round the drivers hours regs and the working time directive, I know the basics but it is easy to upset VOSA so I've ordered a Drivers Hour Guard from Techno-Solutions HERE, it's basically a glorified stopwatch that'll help stop you from infringing that all important rest. I haven't tested this yet but I'm sure I'll let you know what I think, Davey (the inventor) is an approachable guy and will answer any queries.

Day One Thursday

Well the big day arrived and I set the alarm, didn't need it, didn't get much sleep, and set off from Huddersfield to Leeds along the M62 (not pleasant).
I arrived at the Training depot and I was beaming, but that soon changed to thoughts of what the hell have I done! The depot looks a little 'worn,' as did the wagons parked outside, inside I got a cold welcome "go sit in the canteen and you will be called" not what I expected for nearly a grand of hard earned!

Opinion soon changed after I was "called" by my instructor, he was amiable and a bit of a laugh, and after the bit of paperwork he introduced me to my co-trainee, a 24 year old well presented woman, She ran me through the daily checks on a 51 plate, well used or should that be abused, Iveco 9.7m 18 tonner with a slapover box.

She started the day, driving out to Keighley and I was impressed at her standard of driving, with only four 'minors' on her stint, after a coffee, toasted currant teacake and a ciggy, it was my turn on the nursery route, and I was worried and had good reason to be, I had a good view but the blind spots were HUGE, the steering wheel was HUGE, the brakes were a law unto themselves and I struggled to hear/feel the biting point on the clutch, but after half an hour I had them under reasonable control and had a feel for the trucks characteristics, including a resilient fourth gear and an eighth that jumps out like a kangaroo on a land mine, well only when let go of, before clutch is lifted. The drive went well with compliments flowing freely from my passengers, and a not so hair raising ride for them. I was warned about moving out to the right on left hand turns (massacaring kerbs), speed of approach and just generally thinking a little more and planning that bit further ahead. I went home happy at a good days work and beaming from ear to ear, the best part was using the exhaust brake, what a fantastic noise, gotta get one for my car!!!
Some may ask why I put up with an old banger with a dodgy gearbox, but I reason it's more like what is in the real world.
After reflection I think the day was a bit of a blur and I hardly remember much of the driving.

Day Two Friday

I didn't get much sleep again, couldn't get the noise of that secondary brake out of my head, and I'm pretty sure I'd been changing gear during the little sleep I did get.
My co-trainee started off in the drivers seat for a bit, then I jumped in, easy peasy M62, on the limiter, passing and being passed by big rigs and playing with main beam and hazards, I felt like a proper trucker, heading towards a little training area at Selby. Nailed the revering exercise in one and did it again for good luck, co-trainee nailed it in style. I headed towards Skipton's surrounding areas and it all went to s**t, couldn't get the right gear, speed on approach, scaring pedestrians and truckers alike, positioning, everything. My head hurt, I think information overload was the problem, all them signs, trying to look everywhere at once and not noticing anywhere/anything even the decent brew at Grove cafe, Steeton, couldn't bring me round, I was glad to be in the co-pilots seat, the day was wasted.

The girlfriend, kids and dog kept out of grumpy-arses way for the rest of the night, probably with good reason.

Sat & SunSpent wondering if I've chose the right path, grumpy-arse came round and found a new resolve and a positive attitude, with a lot of help from the missus and kids, the dog kept a wary eye on my boots though.

Day Three, Monday

It's the Co-pilots test today, I head over to Keighley area, much better today with the obsevation and control being more natural, some of the learned stuff, like the gears I'm doing
without thinking, still the odd mistake but occasionaly now, not continuously, let the co-pilot take over for a bit before heading for the test centre, had a look around and familerised ourselves with the procedures and layout at Steeton, before I moseyed in to the Grove Cafe for a lengthy lunch. Our guru was very nervous, even more so than my co-pilot and after a hour and half we started to get a little worried. No reason to be though, she'd been held at the rail crossing at Cononley and as we looked on at her in the cab whilst the examiner was going over the test, a HUGE grin broke over her face followed by a thumbs up, passed first time, our instructor was really made up, as she was, I drove for the rest of the shift with occasional propmting and generally thought I had a good day, and was learning from the errors made.

Day Four, Tuesday

No co-pilot today, I get the whole day on the right hand side, bit daunted, but I think I need it, good value for money too :)
We went everywhere today, got them hill starts to perfection, had too many brews (wish they were Special not caffeine) , and generally cleaned up on the previous days errors, I've still got some niggly problems, not enough right foot after turning, and I need to jump on that middle pedal when stopping on an uphill but for the most part it went very well. EXCEPT training for the braking exercise, instuctor told me to set off get up to 20mph and hit the brakes at the second set of lamposts, so I did, He bashed his knee when trying to stop himself going through the windscreen. OOOOOPPPSSS. I'd assumed the braking exercise was an emergency stop, instuctor apologised, I apologised and did a couple more CONTROLLED STOPS with less enthusiasm on the middle pedal!!!
I was a lot more confident today and only barely kissed one kerb, no giving them a good bangin' today, positioning is almost spot on as is the speed of approach, and the forward planning is as it should be, the grey stuff seems to have a grasp on what's happening and whats gonna happen under my nose and as far as I can see, in front, behind and down the sides, crunched the box a couple of times, but i'll have that nailed tomorrow morning, cos if theres any crunching or getting it on with the kerbs then it's all over.

Day Five TEST DAY

I didn't get much sleep again and the nerves and doubts started even before I set off for the trudge to Leeds, but I got them under control before arriving at the Depot.
I met my new co-pilot and took her round the daily checks, then jumped in the driving seat, the first stint went very well so after tea and toast, I relinquished the seat to her. She's done this before I thought and I was right, she'd done an assessment and has her own transport company. I took over again for 3/4 hour, respectfully avoiding Broughton Road at Skipton where a car with two young girls plunged into the canal the previous day, and ended up at the Grove cafe for a brew and a ciggy before the test.
I pulled on to the bay at the test centre and waited and waited, eventually the examiner came out and went thru the paperwork apologising for keeping me waiting,"could you join me at the front" he asked, then asked the show me tell me questions, oil, wheelnuts brake lights and suspension, sorted no problems.
Then came the reverse, I stopped on the yellow hatching, but short of the barrier, I had a look, but was happy and didn't want to tempt fate by nudging back a bit.
Round to the braking area, and got that sorted, I thought I started stopping a little early but didn't get marked for it, and off we went to terrorise the unwitting public.
The drive I don't remember much of except it was busy, he took me around all the places my instructor had told me to watch for, and I made some silly errors, crossing hands, applying
handbrake before coming to a complete stop, a couple of missed mirrors, and one glaringly blonde moment is when he asked for me to stop when convenient, I asked "in the layby" to
which he replied "if you wish", by that time I was passed it and clobbered some branches when I did pull up.
I really thought I'd picked up at least one serious along the test and was thinking game over, then he took me back towards the test centre along a 7.5tonne limit (he did explain the DSA has a permit) and on the last right turn (bearing in mind I'd not done this corner) I clipped the kerb, so it was defo game over and time to raid the piggy bank for a retest.
I pulled into the test centre and my instructor was looking on expectantly and I shook my head, but when the examiner said "I'm pleased to tell you that you've passed" the frown I was
wearing turned to a huge grin. I did question the examiner about some of the errors (11 minors, ouch) and he said they were silly lapses but he thought it was on the whole a smooth, safe drive and that I only "brushed" that last kerb and he realised i'd do it from a long way away, I didn't mention it further ;).

He duly signed that all important blue certificate and we made our way back to Leeds.

In summary I enjoyed the five days, and credit goes to my instructor and to Trucknetuk, I have certainly learned a lot. I still have weak areas but I'll work on them before I start an artic course, I will be going back to Hargreaves for the training and they come highly recommended.

And now the real fun begins.................what's the url for the jobcentre?............