2022 Newbies

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
21

My class 2 training started today, brought forward from Monday (long story) supposed to be 2 of us but the other guy was late and meant he didn’t get started until late morning so that meant I got most of the morning solo.

Truck was auto so made it a bit easier for me, took a bit of getting used when cornering, roundabouts etc but had a good few hours driving then back to yard for reversing. Traffic around Glasgow was chaos due to an artic lorry crashing through the central reservation on the M8 today so roads were at a standstill, (hopefully no one on here or no injuries)

After a good few shots of the reversing instructor asked if I wanted to get the test (module 3A) out of the way, so done it late this afternoon and thankfully passed. Glad I did as I’d been worried about the reversing bit.

Back on Monday for another 3 days including test and module 4 to do but my instructor was good and talks through everything so hopefully all goes well.

22

James Richards:
With tramping you have no commuting costs and no wear and tear on your car, and a sleep on without loosing out on sleep for a commute.
Dedicated vehicle is a thorny issue and can be a long wait or dead man’s shoes until getting your own truck, if the truck is a day runner , it could be literally running for 24 hours with a day shift and a night shift .
If the night driver is late back or broken down, you get the old yard beast that nobody wants to drive and check for two year old discarded sandwiches and encrusted Y fronts or boxers .
If you do a 15 hours shift and legally can take 9 hours off and your commute is an hour each way, by the time you get to bed it is about a few hours sleep that is if you actually sleep.

You seem to be a bit lost, which way did you come in?

23

I too don’t get on here very often and I am sort of documenting my journey here.
At the height of the fuel shortage I saw an opportunity to try something else (yolo) and decided to semi retire and go for it. I’ve done the medical, theory, hazard perception and now tentatively looking for training. I don’t plan to leave my current job until April so its a slow paced evolution for me. If/when I pass, ill be happy to take a C+E pass but looking at the C class with hiab work.

Good luck to everyone giving it a go!

24

How do your licence classes work?
Ours are:
C. Car and motor cycle up to 50cc/max speed 50kph.
LR. Light rigid up to 8 tonne GVM.
MR. Medium rigid over 8 tonne on two axles.
HR. Heavy rigid, all other rigid bodied trucks.
HC. Heavy Combination, prime mover and 1 trailer.
MC. Multi Combination, b-double and road train up to four trailers.
Each class includes the previous class.
R. Any motorcycle.
R (e). Restricted motorcycle up to 250cc.

A learner’s permit can be applied for on your 16th birthday. I think there are some written tests to pass before it is granted. A learner must be accompanied by a fully licenced driver who has held that class of open licence for 12 months. A learner has to maintain a log book, verified by the supervising driver, showing a minimum of 100 hours, including 10 hours night driving. L plates must be displayed.
A provisional licence can be applied for at 17 years old providing the previous conditions have been met. More written exams must be passed before booking a practical test. Successful completion of the practical test gets to a provisional licence (P1) and red P plates have to be displayed. There are a number of conditions attached to a P1, including carrying passengers, other than immediate family, after dark and not being allowed to drive high performance, V8 or turbocharged petrol cars. Exemptions can be applied for. A P1 licence lasts for 12 months.
Next step is P2, it remains valid until the driver is 25 years old. The passenger restrictions are lifted on this class of licence. A green P plate has to be displayed.
Both classes of provisional licence have only 4 points per year and a zero alcohol limit.
To upgrade a licence you have to have held the previous class for 12 months, with the exception that you can go from C directly to HR with 24 months experience on C.

25

Star down under.:
How do your licence classes work?
Ours are:
C. Car and motor cycle up to 50cc/max speed 50kph.
LR. Light rigid up to 8 tonne GVM.
MR. Medium rigid over 8 tonne on two axles.
HR. Heavy rigid, all other rigid bodied trucks.
HC. Heavy Combination, prime mover and 1 trailer.
MC. Multi Combination, b-double and road train up to four trailers.
Each class includes the previous class.
R. Any motorcycle.
R (e). Restricted motorcycle up to 250cc.

A learner’s permit can be applied for on your 16th birthday. I think there are some written tests to pass before it is granted. A learner must be accompanied by a fully licenced driver who has held that class of open licence for 12 months. A learner has to maintain a log book, verified by the supervising driver, showing a minimum of 100 hours, including 10 hours night driving. L plates must be displayed.
A provisional licence can be applied for at 17 years old providing the previous conditions have been met. More written exams must be passed before booking a practical test. Successful completion of the practical test gets to a provisional licence (P1) and red P plates have to be displayed. There are a number of conditions attached to a P1, including carrying passengers, other than immediate family, after dark and not being allowed to drive high performance, V8 or turbocharged petrol cars. Exemptions can be applied for. A P1 licence lasts for 12 months.
Next step is P2, it remains valid until the driver is 25 years old. The passenger restrictions are lifted on this class of licence. A green P plate has to be displayed.
Both classes of provisional licence have only 4 points per year and a zero alcohol limit.
To upgrade a licence you have to have held the previous class for 12 months, with the exception that you can go from C directly to HR with 24 months experience on C.

Did you mean to send this to us?!

26

driveress:

Star down under.:
How do your licence classes work?
Ours are:
C. Car and motor cycle up to 50cc/max speed 50kph.
LR. Light rigid up to 8 tonne GVM.
MR. Medium rigid over 8 tonne on two axles.
HR. Heavy rigid, all other rigid bodied trucks.
HC. Heavy Combination, prime mover and 1 trailer.
MC. Multi Combination, b-double and road train up to four trailers.
Each class includes the previous class.
R. Any motorcycle.
R (e). Restricted motorcycle up to 250cc.

A learner’s permit can be applied for on your 16th birthday. I think there are some written tests to pass before it is granted. A learner must be accompanied by a fully licenced driver who has held that class of open licence for 12 months. A learner has to maintain a log book, verified by the supervising driver, showing a minimum of 100 hours, including 10 hours night driving. L plates must be displayed.
A provisional licence can be applied for at 17 years old providing the previous conditions have been met. More written exams must be passed before booking a practical test. Successful completion of the practical test gets to a provisional licence (P1) and red P plates have to be displayed. There are a number of conditions attached to a P1, including carrying passengers, other than immediate family, after dark and not being allowed to drive high performance, V8 or turbocharged petrol cars. Exemptions can be applied for. A P1 licence lasts for 12 months.
Next step is P2, it remains valid until the driver is 25 years old. The passenger restrictions are lifted on this class of licence. A green P plate has to be displayed.
Both classes of provisional licence have only 4 points per year and a zero alcohol limit.
To upgrade a licence you have to have held the previous class for 12 months, with the exception that you can go from C directly to HR with 24 months experience on C.

Did you mean to send this to us?!

Well I thought you’d all know, so yes. :slight_smile:

27

jimmea - good to hear you passed your reversing on day 1 :slight_smile: Is your test on Wednesday this week? Good luck

TruckerGuy - when do you start training? I’m also going to do C first then C+E. There seems to be a fair few since the first lockdown who have decided on radical career changes. Such a good feeling to stop doing something you don’t like doing and have a new start.

Hey Twincle - when do you hope to start your training?

Hope everyone has a good week.

28

I’m a long time lurker myself, for a good four years, which is how long I’ve contemplated this career. I ultimately chose a different path, which I’ll go into in this post, and why ultimately, I’ve come back to HGV driving. Anyway…

What stage are you at and how are you getting on?

Medical back in September, passed module 1 and 2 in October. And then waited for the rule change so I could train straight into class 1. I have my first driving assessment tommorow 25/01/22

Where are you located and where are you doing your training? (If you want to say)

In the Midlands, live in Tamworth so in between every major city really Birmingham/Hinckley/Leicester/Nottingham/Derby/Coventry so plenty of Opportunities.

Just module 3 and 4 to do now. Have an assessment drive tommorow with J Coates in Solihull.

Why do you want to be an HGV driver?

Well 5 years ago it was a toss up becoming an HGV driver or ADI. I was an instructor up until March 2020 lockdown. In the meantime I got a job delivering for Ocado as driving lessons were banned. I ultimately let my ADI badge lapse and have now chosen the HGV route. I’m hoping my experience teaching people to drive and in the vans the last 18 months will help me out during my HGV training.

What kind of work do you want

I’m easy really, may see if Ocado have opportunities, as I already am employed by them. Otherwise, living so close to the A5, theirs hundreds of local job opportunities.

29

Welcome to the thread Papaya :slight_smile: Hope you have a good drive tomorrow. You clearly have a great advantage having experience of both sides! All I want to know is did you get 100% in module 1 & 2? :laughing: It’s daunting coming out of hiding but the best thing about no longer lurking is being able to use the search. There’s a wealth of information and a fair few laughs on here.

30

Just passed my CPC part 1 last night.

I sat in a truck for the first time ever last week and I can’t wait for my training to come round. I’m really looking forward to it.

How’s everyone else getting on?

31

Posted this on the wrong thread -

Delighted to have passed the Mod 4 test today. I’ve now completed the theory, hazard, Mod 2 & 4 and 3A, All for class c

Just the actual driving exam now which will either be Thursday or Friday. Can’t praise my instructor enough though, great at explaining and talking you through it.

32

jimmea:
Posted this on the wrong thread -

Delighted to have passed the Mod 4 test today. I’ve now completed the theory, hazard, Mod 2 & 4 and 3A, All for class c

Just the actual driving exam now which will either be Thursday or Friday. Can’t praise my instructor enough though, great at explaining and talking you through it.

Well done :slight_smile: and good luck for the driving test

33

NikkiO:
Just passed my CPC part 1 last night.

I sat in a truck for the first time ever last week and I can’t wait for my training to come round. I’m really looking forward to it.

How’s everyone else getting on?

Well done NikkiO! One step closer to your goal

jimmea and Stu675 - Hope your week is going well. Best of luck for test day. Come and tell us all about it!

34

driveress:
jimmea and Stu675 - Hope your week is going well. Best of luck for test day. Come and tell us all about it!

Thank you, I needed it!
I was pretty confident going in - but when you catch her clicking on her iPad at all your faults it can easily go to ■■■■ :laughing:

35

Can we please ban all cars from the road?? In two days two cars managed to completely disassemble themselves by colliding with parked cars and lampposts in the middle of built-up 30 MPH zones. Just WTF are these morons doing?

As for the moron that tried to bury their car in the side of the truck today - I can’t type here what I thought of you flying around the corner and straight over the roundabout as if I wasn’t there. :angry:

Otherwise, I still can’t figure out when to look in which mirror, and missed a weight limit sign due to the sun visor obliterating the view. :blush: I didn’t drive through it though. Partly I wasn’t expecting it half way down the road. Lesson learned.

Other than that, I was much more relaxed today actually driving the truck. Doing Cat. C first was an excellent decision.

36

driveress:
Welcome to the thread Papaya :slight_smile: Hope you have a good drive tomorrow. You clearly have a great advantage having experience of both sides! All I want to know is did you get 100% in module 1 & 2? :laughing: It’s daunting coming out of hiding but the best thing about no longer lurking is being able to use the search. There’s a wealth of information and a fair few laughs on here.

Thankyou! Module 1 96/100 on the questions, 85/100 hazard perception. Module 2 I scored 44/50

So my drive was my first in a class 1 (never driven class 2, I’m coming straight from a 3.5t van).
Straight out of a truck stop on to an A road. The biggest things I noticed were the brakes are totally different, how much you rely on lifting off and the engine brake, rather than your foot brake.
I encountered alot of roundabouts and was shocked with how much of a blind spot the wing mirrors cause, it blocked a whole Range Rover coming round the roundabout.
I was also very surprised with how well the trailer followed the tractor Unit, I had no real issues with space or touching the kurbs
Did some reversing at the end. Learnt at how small wheel adjustments make huge differences in how the trailor behaves and turns. Very reactive to your input

All in all, my instructor recommended 6 days driving with a test at the end. I have my Mod 4 booked for 18th Feb and my Reversing test 2nd March.

37

Hello, another newbie here.

I have recently found myself getting increasingly fed up of staring at a computer screen all day and putting up with ever rising levels of corporate bs. I was considering what I could do to escape when the talk of driver shortages gave me a nudge in the right direction. I have previously earned a living behind the wheel, (don’t ask me how long ago or you’ll make me feel old!) mostly in vans but the occasional days of driving 7.5t were the ones I enjoyed most so I have decided to take the plunge and obtain my HGV licence.

For various reasons I can’t leave my current job for a few months so that means I can take my time with training. So far it has just been lots of reading, I have been working my way through the modules on an LGV theory website, covered all of them at least once and have scored over 90% on all the mock theory tests I have taken so far. I had a medical last week so as soon as my licence comes back from the DVLA I will be booking my theory and hazard perception tests. After that I will be completing 35 hours CPC (I’m old enough that I got C1 free with my car licence!)

I haven’t yet decided where to do the practical training, I need to make a few calls and maybe visit a couple of local training providers to see if their facilities are up to my expectations.

Once I pass I plan to work agency for a year or so to hopefully get some varied experience, then work out what to look for as a permanent role.

Good luck to everyone here in your training and early driving careers. I look forward to hearing of many test passes and new jobs in the coming months, and maybe having a cuppa in a truck stop/RDC/layby with some of you at some point in the future too!

38

You can do the 35 hours cpc now (perhaps online) as you have C1
You can get your digicard now

Have you considered the forum sponsor :question:

Have you checked out the link in my signature below :question:

39

Another January Newbie here…

Firstly, I’d like to say thank you to the forum admins/contributors. A lot of information on this site which have proved very useful in my journey so far.

Background: Like many I’d had enough of the office job. Was a traffic supervisor for one of the big 3 national UK bus operators. Enjoyed my job before covid however the industry as a whole seems to have used covid as an excuse to completely destroy the terms and conditions (was not great to begin with) and the unions as usual totally powerless to do anything. Longer shifts, shorter breaks, expecting more for less and so on. The final straw for me was when we were told no pay rise until 2024 assuming passenger numbers returned to normal, previous pay rise was 2019. Expecting the cost of living to shoot up post covid I decided to find myself a pay rise elsewhere :smiley:

Early October quit my job and signed up with a couple of local agencies, wanted to get some 7.5t experience while waiting for my Class 2 test managed to find 3 weeks at a builder’s merchant and the odd day here and there.

Early November passed Class 2 on the Wednesday; agency found me Class 2 work on the Thursday. On the Friday the company offered me a permanent position delivering mushrooms to RDC’s I accepted on the basis I would not be there for long; would help with the xmas rush and would most likely leave once I’d passed my C+E test. Really liked the job/company, learnt so much in such a short time, only reason I left was the money was terrible, the job itself was a piece of cake.

Quit the Mushroom company a couple of weeks ago, the test centre near me has been cancelling a lot of tests due to examiner shortages and really didn’t want to mess the company around trying to get days of for training/tests etc. Passed my C+E last Friday! Since day 1 I’ve known which company I wanted to work for, large local company who specialise in refrigerated deliveries. The guy I needed to speak too was not in the office on Friday so sent him an email, couple of phone calls/emails later, driving assessment next Friday (to see what coaching/training is needed) start date the week after.

It’s been an interesting few months. Took a bit of a gamble in October but had enough cash saved up if I was unable to find work.

4 months and £2500 later and I start my new HGV job next week and I’m now looking at a £12,000 pay rise despite being told in Septemeber no pay rise until 2024 :smiley:

I live on the Norfolk coast and did my training with mdtnorwich.co.uk/

My only regret is not doing it sooner, life is too short to be stuck in a job you are not enjoying.

40

Jibber:
Another January Newbie here…

Firstly, I’d like to say thank you to the forum admins/contributors. A lot of information on this site which have proved very useful in my journey so far.

Background: Like many I’d had enough of the office job. Was a traffic supervisor for one of the big 3 national UK bus operators. Enjoyed my job before covid however the industry as a whole seems to have used covid as an excuse to completely destroy the terms and conditions (was not great to begin with) and the unions as usual totally powerless to do anything. Longer shifts, shorter breaks, expecting more for less and so on. The final straw for me was when we were told no pay rise until 2024 assuming passenger numbers returned to normal, previous pay rise was 2019. Expecting the cost of living to shoot up post covid I decided to find myself a pay rise elsewhere :smiley:

Early October quit my job and signed up with a couple of local agencies, wanted to get some 7.5t experience while waiting for my Class 2 test managed to find 3 weeks at a builder’s merchant and the odd day here and there.

Early November passed Class 2 on the Wednesday; agency found me Class 2 work on the Thursday. On the Friday the company offered me a permanent position delivering mushrooms to RDC’s I accepted on the basis I would not be there for long; would help with the xmas rush and would most likely leave once I’d passed my C+E test. Really liked the job/company, learnt so much in such a short time, only reason I left was the money was terrible, the job itself was a piece of cake.

Quit the Mushroom company a couple of weeks ago, the test centre near me has been cancelling a lot of tests due to examiner shortages and really didn’t want to mess the company around trying to get days of for training/tests etc. Passed my C+E last Friday! Since day 1 I’ve known which company I wanted to work for, large local company who specialise in refrigerated deliveries. The guy I needed to speak too was not in the office on Friday so sent him an email, couple of phone calls/emails later, driving assessment next Friday (to see what coaching/training is needed) start date the week after.

It’s been an interesting few months. Took a bit of a gamble in October but had enough cash saved up if I was unable to find work.

4 months and £2500 later and I start my new HGV job next week and I’m now looking at a £12,000 pay rise despite being told in Septemeber no pay rise until 2024 :smiley:

I live on the Norfolk coast and did my training with mdtnorwich.co.uk/

My only regret is not doing it sooner, life is too short to be stuck in a job you are not enjoying.

Inspirational!
Thanks, just what I needed to get back to job searching. [emoji106]