donk1889:
I have assessment at RM next week ( agy ) any tips?I am fully expecting it to be mainly centred around H & S.
Drive steady. use cruise control and exhaust brake when suitable. Ask a few questions about the job helps stop the assessor getting bored and shows you’ve got some personality. You will be expected to get on the normally quite tight loading bays fairly quickly, be careful of the side skirts on the yellow runners.
donk1889:
I have assessment at RM next week ( agy ) any tips?I am fully expecting it to be mainly centred around H & S.
Don’t get too close to vehicles in front. The assessor doesn’t want to get chucked about in the cab from kangeroo braking.
You may escape having to do a blind side reverse test, at least if your assessment is at ME1 1AU.
Pay attention if you’ve not done double deckers before. You’re expected to take the lower double deckers around the North Circular, whereas the white-fronted ones - have to be brought into town down the M40/A40 to places like PRDC at Park Royale/Stonebridge Park.
You can never check your mirrors enough, and always remember to signal out of roundabouts. 
Thanks for the tips, they sent me an electronic version of their indunction which i will revise before the assessment.
Its actually in Normanton near Wakefield but im sure there will be pretty standard all over the country. Think they operate Daf CF’S which i have never driven but im sure ill get the hang of it.
donk1889:
Thanks for the tips, they sent me an electronic version of their indunction which i will revise before the assessment.Its actually in Normanton near Wakefield but im sure there will be pretty standard all over the country. Think they operate Daf CF’S which i have never driven but im sure ill get the hang of it.
Darren usually does the assessments at Normanton hes a sound geezer. Make sure you do a good walk around and vehicle check. Check trailer brake before you back under. Most of the checks you can just do verbally like checking radiator water etc, just make him aware you know all the checks. They usually take you on the back roads near Featherstone/Pontefract, just keep an eye out for the low bridge signs etc as that is part of the assessment, just point it out to him when you see it that you are aware of it. You instantly fail if you kerb it, so be careful on tight corners at the lights round there. When back at yard they get you to do a simple normal reverse onto the bay, as someone else mentioned, just be careful of the yellow runners.
I had an assessment there a couple of years ago and passed no probs, tho only worked there for peak Oct-Jan, after which 99% of agency were dropped like a stone!
Good luck!
Swordsy:
donk1889:
Thanks for the tips, they sent me an electronic version of their indunction which i will revise before the assessment.Its actually in Normanton near Wakefield but im sure there will be pretty standard all over the country. Think they operate Daf CF’S which i have never driven but im sure ill get the hang of it.
Darren usually does the assessments at Normanton hes a sound geezer. Make sure you do a good walk around and vehicle check. Check trailer brake before you back under. Most of the checks you can just do verbally like checking radiator water etc, just make him aware you know all the checks. They usually take you on the back roads near Featherstone/Pontefract, just keep an eye out for the low bridge signs etc as that is part of the assessment, just point it out to him when you see it that you are aware of it. You instantly fail if you kerb it, so be careful on tight corners at the lights round there. When back at yard they get you to do a simple normal reverse onto the bay, as someone else mentioned, just be careful of the yellow runners.
I had an assessment there a couple of years ago and passed no probs, tho only worked there for peak Oct-Jan, after which 99% of agency were dropped like a stone!
Good luck!
Yeh, that’s what happened to me. 
No fast-track treatment for an old hand. Flat out on Evenings, Nights, and Weekends on the run-up to the end of the year - then nothing. I’m not sure if RM prefer bods from one agency over another these days (I was subbing, not working for Pertempts or Manpower), or that they simply have more work for drivers that someone like me would turn their noses up at (Eg. Early Doors, Monday-Friday)
Winseer:
Pay attention if you’ve not done double deckers before. You’re expected to take the lower double deckers around the North Circular, whereas the white-fronted ones - have to be brought into town down the M40/A40 to places like PRDC at Park Royale/Stonebridge Park.
RM paid (or at least paid some of the cost) of planing the road under the old iron bridge near ikea so now the 16’2 trailers can now use the north circular.
Beware heading to from the M1 though as the railway bridges are still too low. You have to go further round to Brent Cross and double back on yourself to avoid them.
donk1889:
I have assessment at RM next week ( agy ) any tips?I am fully expecting it to be mainly centred around H & S.
Ignore all…
Speed limits. The regular drivers do. 
m1cks:
Winseer:
Pay attention if you’ve not done double deckers before. You’re expected to take the lower double deckers around the North Circular, whereas the white-fronted ones - have to be brought into town down the M40/A40 to places like PRDC at Park Royale/Stonebridge Park.RM paid (or at least paid some of the cost) of planing the road under the old iron bridge near ikea so now the 16’2 trailers can now use the north circular.
Beware heading to from the M1 though as the railway bridges are still too low. You have to go further round to Brent Cross and double back on yourself to avoid them.
There’s a 15’9" bridge at Brent Cross itself, and another low bridge carrying the tube line to Arnos Grove which is 15’6" I believe. Swan Neck double deckers are 14’7" if memory serves, with the high top ones 16’2". Even with the Wembley metal bridge “fixed” - you still find yourself having to drive through Hendon having come down the A1, which isn’t a barrel of laughs in the mid afternoon.
donk1889:
Its actually in Normanton near Wakefield
I know a couple of agency drivers in there and, even though the job is one of the best there is, they have signed up with other agencies as they are fed up of only getting a couple of shifts a week.