Class C - Day 3

Another good day. Got some good hill starts today (up & down) in and around the Yorkshire twisties ! Coping better with roundabouts today, much less hesitancy ! Really feeling at home with the gearbox now. Changing gear, selecting appropriate gear depending on situation without actually thinking about it. Getting the speed sorted out early on the approach to hazards so that there's always an opportunity for a rolling start if possible.

Getting plenty mirror checks in; just hoping that I'll do it enough on the day. Also got some reversing practice today. Nice and steady, easy does it. No problems ! It was a long time ago but my PCV reverse was exactly the same.

The reality of test day is now starting to become very real ! We have one more full trg day with another reverse and a controlled stop and then it will be test day (Fri) ! Eeekkk !

I believe one of us is on test at 10am on Fri and the other at 1230pm. At this stage neither of us has dared ask who is up first ! Perhaps we'll not bother and just find out on Fri.

Class C - Day 2

Another great day. Sampled the delights of Steeton, Keighly and Skipton. Much narrower roads, streets and far too many mini rounabouts !!! Driving the vehicle has become much more natural today. Not thinking about the gearbox anymore; just doing it ! Now trying to work on the smoothness of the drive and more importantnly get all the mirror checks in. Gary (instructor) tells us you can have 15 minors but only 3 in each area. So 4th mirror check missed and away it goes ! Mirrors before pulling away, mirrors before accellerating, mirrors before decelerating, mirrors before stopping. Its feasible that in stop/start traffic you could throw it all away in the space of about 50 yards ! Eek !

Junctions and roundabouts I'm now much happier with, but mini roundabouts in busy traffic I'm being a little hesitant. Hopefully sort that over the next 2 days.

Class C - Day 1

What a fantastic day ! My instructor (Gary) and 2nd driver are really nice guys. Gary has one of those real laid back natures that you warm to very quickly, but at the same time is very sharp and perceptive ! As you would expect from your instructor ! The truck is marvellous. Its a 3 year old MAN, 18 ton with a 4 over 4 splitter. The damn thing even has cruise control, air con and a LCD screen with reversing camera ! Its also got an intelligent gearbox such that if you attempt a crazy downward gearchange; the management system will actually decide which gear you are going to get !

Had a great drive out from Burnley toward Blackburn, Preston, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Blackpool and back to Burnley. Bob (other trainee) and I both had a great day. Didnt clip any kerbs (yet !), lamposts, pedestrians etc

Was struggling with the gearbox on the first run, but quickly got the hang of it. Getting in the switch change straight away after getting rolling makes such a differrence. One less thing when you come to change up ! Mirrors are awesome ! Really amazed at how easy it is to drive to be honest. When you lose the initial anxiety over the size its actually nicer to drive than my car !!!

Didnt get any pics of the truck (do that tomorrow) but got one of the ferry laying on its side on Blackpool beach.

Lead Up

Just to set the scene, been driving approx 26 years. Passed car test in 1985, motorcycle in 1987 and PCV in 1991. At the time of getting the medical for the PCV I asked for LGV entitlement as well. Then when returning my licence for addittion of PCV (17 years ago !) requested C & C+E prov to be added.

About 4 weeks ago decided that I was going to use my forces resettlement package to gain LGV licensing. Booked a theory test in Ullapool (I live in Moray!) for the following week. Did really well on the theory (60/60) but almost fluffed the Haz Perception (2 lost clips) but managed 56/75. So that was that, then booked a 6 week trg package with Nightfreight in Burnley.

Week 1 - Class C - Passed 4 Apr !!!
Week 2 - Work Experience
Week 3 - Forklift
Week 4 - Drivers Essential Knowledge
Week 5 - 2 Days HiAb trg, 3 days Work Experience
Week 6 - Class C+E