Have a interview and driving assessment with Tesco later this week , anyone know what the driving assessment involves?
Richardf1fan:
Have a interview and driving assessment with Tesco later this week , anyone know what the driving assessment involves?
I do not know how Tesco do theirs but maybe this wil give you some idea of what it might include…
There are a number of possible areas to an assessment, such as:
1 - Knowledge of basic Tacho & WTD rules.
2 - Knowledge of Highway Code
3 - Theory of safe & economic driving
4 - Pre drive vehicle safety check
5 - Drive on the public highway
6 - Manoeuvring
7 - Un/coupling
Examples : -
Possible questions-
How many hours can you drive without taking a break?
How long can you work for without taking a break?
You see a bridge weight sign that says 10 tonnes, your vehicle is empty & weighs 8 tonnes - can you go over that bridge?
You anticipate that you will arrive at a merge point at the same time as another vehicle - what is your safest course of action?You are cruising on a long flat road with very few hazards - for fuel economy, where should the rev counter reading be?
Vehicle safety check - Assessor observes to see if the driver checks for -
Height indicator
Wheel nut security
Tax disc, in-date? & correct vehicle registration?
The road drive-
Over-revving?
Smooth gear changes?
Confident driving?
Considerate driving?
Keeping within speed limits?
Plenty of observations.?
Economical driving?
Manoeuvring -
Is the driver safe and proficient?
Un/coupling -
Is a good procedure used to ensure it is done safely?
The road drive is the part most drivers have reservations about.
Smee:
I said to the guy - Do you want me to drive as per the book or as a professional driver and yes there is a difference…
There are various styles of driving -
The LGV training & test style
The way you drive in your everyday job
The advanced method
None of these styles are either the right or wrong way, they are just different.
The style you choose makes no difference. The assessor should be looking for a SAFE drive, incorporating as much as possible of what has been mentioned above.
Did mine at Livingston for Monarch and it was the easiest one I have did so far.
Did mine at 16.00 and the guy was dying to get home by the time I turned a wheel at 18.00 so it was round 2 roundabouts back to yard a normal and then blind side reverse with tons of room for both, it was almost straight back into parking bay.
As ROG says a little general tacho and highway code test and a walk round the depot and then its what start times do you want.
The fellow was brand new which is more than I can say for the crabbit old git at Morrison’s Bellshill. 
If its Monarch just watch because I did a shift, signed in at security, signed in at transport, signed in again at new start bit in transport, signed into isotrak, signed paperwork. downloaded card, signed out at transport then again at security and they phoned Monday night to ask why I never turned up.
Said they couldn`t give me another shift till I proved I was there and down right refused to phone Tesco to check any of the above.
Sent a printout in and they said I didn`t so after they again refused to check with Transport I sent another, it took me four weeks to get paid during which time I was refused any shifts. 
Go in now and again but with different agency who will sort out a mistake like that in two minutes.
Rant over.
If your only half way decent you will skoosh it with a bit of flannel at interview.
thanks for the replys guys , guess its just making sure your safe… The only thing im sh**ing myself about is blind side reveseing as im crap! only passed my test 16 mths ago and even with all the agency driving ive do still crap …any advice? and by the way it is for monarch so ill bear in mind what you say.
Richardf1fan:
thanks for the replys guys , guess its just making sure your safe… The only thing im sh**ing myself about is blind side reveseing as im crap! only passed my test 16 mths ago and even with all the agency driving ive do still crap …any advice? and by the way it is for monarch so ill bear in mind what you say.
Bear in mind I did mine at Livingston so you might not get a blind side reverse but if you do its done with plenty of room and the way you are positioned means there is no panic of losing sight of any obstacle on your nearside with your mirrors.
Seriously, just take your time its Tesco and you will be fine.
Couple of hours showing you procedures in Transport, fueling, weighbridge and the usual H&S stuff, a wee relaxing drive around followed by a couple of simple reversing exercises and of course some drivers hours questions.
The only tip you need is if you feel that you cant see get out and look.
Hopefully someone who has did it at Peterborough will be able to give you more detail about the place and knows the assessor who is no doubt just a driver who does it when he is required.
The guy will know if your nervous and should relax you as your not the first to hate someone sitting watching you.
I am sure Monarch are fine and my experience was a one off, sometimes these things happen and I am maybe to quick to tell people to stick it.
watch your speed in the yard 10mph i have heard this has been many peoples downfall
when i done my assessment at ASDA the test vehicle was coupled up tell your assessor you are going to do a walk round to check its coupled light s working etc and ask him/her “is it loaded” and offer to check the oil also say to them “ok its 14 foot high” or whatever the height says on the front of your trailer its all health and safety show them you are on the ball
IF IN DOUBT ASK OR GET OUT AND LOOK!!
take your time and good luck we are all behind you
I had a driving assesment for Stobart the other night, only one minor, which given the crap weather @ the time, I was quite chuffed about!
well had my interview (if you can call it that) didnt even make the driving assessment all because you needed 2 years driving experince and trackable record , (advert said 1 year) so what a waste of time well p***ed off , but every cloud has a silver lineing…got a phone call on the way home , and i now have a interview tomorrow afternoon with a local company …so fingers crossed !!!
ROG:
There are a number of possible areas to an assessment, such as:
1 - Knowledge of basic Tacho & WTD rules.
2 - Knowledge of Highway Code
3 - Theory of safe & economic driving
4 - Pre drive vehicle safety check
5 - Drive on the public highway
6 - Manoeuvring
7 - Un/coupling
Am I missing something here? all the above would have been undertaken when one’s test was undertaken. Do Morrisons, Tesco’s etc feel that a driving test (and all it requires) is below their standards? Let’s face it, driving a shopping basket really is bog standard basic newbie stuff, the sort of job you would never learn anything new if you did it for 50 years. Just my humble opinion of course, but why do thes companies feel the need to waste peoples time with this sort of crap. Is it for their insurer’s? I could see the sense in getting them to tilt the cab and do something pretty basic life bleeding the fuel system or changing an injector pipe or some other ‘get you home’ mechanics, but as for the other crap NO
I did say POSSIBLE - Not sure if stobbies touch on some of these…
Fastrantiger:
ROG:
There are a number of possible areas to an assessment, such as:
1 - Knowledge of basic Tacho & WTD rules.
2 - Knowledge of Highway Code
3 - Theory of safe & economic driving
4 - Pre drive vehicle safety check
5 - Drive on the public highway
6 - Manoeuvring
7 - Un/couplingAm I missing something here? all the above would have been undertaken when one’s test was undertaken. Do Morrisons, Tesco’s etc feel that a driving test (and all it requires) is below their standards? Let’s face it, driving a shopping basket really is bog standard basic newbie stuff, the sort of job you would never learn anything new if you did it for 50 years. Just my humble opinion of course, but why do thes companies feel the need to waste peoples time with this sort of crap. Is it for their insurer’s? I could see the sense in getting them to tilt the cab and do something pretty basic life bleeding the fuel system or changing an injector pipe or some other ‘get you home’ mechanics, but as for the other crap NO
In the current economic climate, employers know they can be very ‘monkey’ with people. They expect to get top notch drivers for low pay wages, it was the same back in the early 1990’s.
They expect to get top notch drivers
If only.
Richardf1fan:
well had my interview (if you can call it that) didnt even make the driving assessment all because you needed 2 years driving experince and trackable record , (advert said 1 year) so what a waste of time well p***ed off , but every cloud has a silver lineing…got a phone call on the way home , and i now have a interview tomorrow afternoon with a local company …so fingers crossed !!!
Seems Monarch really are a shower of ars…les right enough then.