I have been driving a Sprinter LWB for quite a few years now doing 20 to 40 drops a day. My boss now wants me to drive a 7.5 tonne doing about 10 to 20 drops. I have the licence under grandad rules and I have now got a digicard.
I’ve got the following questions and would appreciate any advice going.
Does the screen on the digital tacho default when you are driving to show how many hours you have been driving and then warn you after 4.5 hours?
Are the brakes and gears on a 7.5 tonne air operated? How different to driving a sprinter will a 7.5 tonne be in terms of gears and handbrake.
I realise that I won’t be able to go on routes with a max of 3.5 tonne or 5 tonne etc but in general terms how much more of a restriction is it going to be in a 7.5 tonne rather than a LWB van . Should I get a lorry SatNav ?
NogginTheNog:
I have been driving a Sprinter LWB for quite a few years now doing 20 to 40 drops a day. My boss now wants me to drive a 7.5 tonne doing about 10 to 20 drops. I have the licence under grandad rules and I have now got a digicard.
I’ve got the following questions and would appreciate any advice going.
Does the screen on the digital tacho default when you are driving to show how many hours you have been driving and then warn you after 4.5 hours?
Are the brakes and gears on a 7.5 tonne air operated? How different to driving a sprinter will a 7.5 tonne be in terms of gears and handbrake.
I realise that I won’t be able to go on routes with a max of 3.5 tonne or 5 tonne etc but in general terms how much more of a restriction is it going to be in a 7.5 tonne rather than a LWB van . Should I get a lorry SatNav ?
Any advice greatfully received.
Does the screen on the digital tacho default when you are driving to show how many hours you have been driving and then warn you after 4.5 hours? - In any lorry I’ve driven, it will remind you when you have reached 4 hours and 15 minutes driving time, and then I think it reminds you again at 4 hours 25, you CANNOT go over the 4h 30 mark or there are very very serious penalties if caught.
Are the brakes and gears on a 7.5 tonne air operated? How different to driving a sprinter will a 7.5 tonne be in terms of gears and handbrake. - I’m not sure about air operated, hydraulic maybe. It will most likely be a 4 over 4 gearbox, 1-4 is normal and then when you reach 4 you flick a switch, move the gear stick into neutral and a ‘clunk’ noise will happen, this is the lorry selecting the higher range box and then 1st becomes 5th, 2nd-6th etc etc. The brakes are air operated yes, as is the handbrake. All you need to do to engage the handbrake is pull a lever. youtube.com/watch?v=xqZwWK4X2Xg - 18 seconds into this video, you can hear me engaging the handbrake. However on a 7.5t no where near as much air would be released. ps, excuse the state of me, i was having a very bad day!
I realise that I won’t be able to go on routes with a max of 3.5 tonne or 5 tonne etc but in general terms how much more of a restriction is it going to be in a 7.5 tonne rather than a LWB van . Should I get a lorry SatNav ? - I think that’s probably a bit excessive for a 7.5tonner as lorry satnavs are certainly not cheap by any means. It would be worth getting a truckers atlas though that will show you bridge heights, width, length and weight restrictions etc. You must always remember these.
Just a couple of bits to add: the gears will NOT be a range change - so dont panic! It will be either auto or 6 speed. Maybe 5 speed but not on a newish truck normally. If it’s a manual it will have either a hydraulically assisted clutch or air.
You will find the brakes feel different. Sometimes very sharp, sometimes the feeling of “nothing then everything” sometimes just very nice. Trucks vary.
I would recommend a minimum of a truckers atlas but the vehicle may well be as big as many CAT C’s so consider a truck sat nav.
Peter Smythe:
Just a couple of bits to add: the gears will NOT be a range change - so dont panic! It will be either auto or 6 speed. Maybe 5 speed but not on a newish truck normally. If it’s a manual it will have either a hydraulically assisted clutch or air.
You will find the brakes feel different. Sometimes very sharp, sometimes the feeling of “nothing then everything” sometimes just very nice. Trucks vary.
I would recommend a minimum of a truckers atlas but the vehicle may well be as big as many CAT C’s so consider a truck sat nav.
Hope this helps, Pete
Oh yeah I guess because it’s a 7.5t it won’t be a range change.
I got one of these off ebay and works really well, put in vehicle dimensions and away you go. dont need to worry as it wont send you down narrow roads etc.
All I would add is just be weary of the fact that 7.5tonners are very “bouncy” to handle, especially when empty (and even more so if you’re gonna be on a curtainsided vehicle).
They tend to deviate off-track really easily when u hit a bump in the road, or when gusts of wind hit them, so make sure u have a good grip on the steering wheel at all times. The wheel will be a little bit bigger than the one on a sprinter van btw.
Thanks guys for taking the time to respond. Some very very useful information.
Nice to know that it won’t be a range chage on the gearbox…phew!
All the posts have helped me a great deal and it doesn’t seem quite such a drame to switch from a van to 7.5 t after all.
Thanks again.
You can fling a 7.5 round corners and not break it.
If it’s a DAF it will have a weird feeling gear stick but you’ll get used to it in seconds.
In a Merc, again a little easier to drive.
The handbrakes will be air, nothing to them. Gears are just like in your car except most will have a 6th gear.
Your digi, a warning at 4.15 and one at 4.30. You can go over very slightly and if you do, print out and write on the rear the reason why - Keep this with you for 30 days.
Oh and if your tacho says “Overspeed 30” - Don’t freak. Just press ok and ignore it.
NogginTheNog:
I have the licence under grandad rules and I have now got a digicard.
Are you getting in your Driver cpc hours? - You need 35 hours of periodic dcpc before 09/09/2014 to be allowed to drive LGV C1s commercially after that date.
franklin:
Be careful if you have a 101 restriction code against C1, as this is “not for hire or reward”.
The 101 restriction is never on the C1 but is on the D1 for pre 1997 categories
You can fling a 7.5 round corners and not break it.
If it’s a DAF it will have a weird feeling gear stick but you’ll get used to it in seconds.
In a Merc, again a little easier to drive.
The handbrakes will be air, nothing to them. Gears are just like in your car except most will have a 6th gear.
Your digi, a warning at 4.15 and one at 4.30. You can go over very slightly and if you do, print out and write on the rear the reason why - Keep this with you for 30 days.
Oh and if your tacho says “Overspeed 30” - Don’t freak. Just press ok and ignore it.
Just do not get into that habit especially in a 7.5 tonner as you’re highly unlikely to be able to offer the excuse “I was looking for somewhere to park” due to its’ smaller size. If you go 1 minute over it’s an infringement.
