HGV driving experience
Discussion
Hi,
I'm looking for recommendations for an HGV driving experience for my wife. She's always wanted to have a go at driving a lorry, and has a full driving licence, but not anything for an HGV, so I suppose that limits us to an airfield/track experience?
A few of the places I've found only offer 10-15mins in the cab, which doesn't sound like much at all! Does anyone know of somebody who might offer a bit more time to play? Ideally in the southern parts of the UK, but we don't mind travelling.
Thanks!
I'm looking for recommendations for an HGV driving experience for my wife. She's always wanted to have a go at driving a lorry, and has a full driving licence, but not anything for an HGV, so I suppose that limits us to an airfield/track experience?
A few of the places I've found only offer 10-15mins in the cab, which doesn't sound like much at all! Does anyone know of somebody who might offer a bit more time to play? Ideally in the southern parts of the UK, but we don't mind travelling.
Thanks!
berlintaxi said:
For just over 4x that price you can get the licence with Scania!berlintaxi said:
I did this recently, was out for well over an hour, instructor actually said if that had been my test I would of passed. GC8 said:
Yeah, you wouldn’t.
It is (definitely was when I did mine) a breeze to pass the 'C' and 'C+E' tests. Once the medical and the theory sections were passed I had 4 days of 'C' training, split down the middle with another trainee sharing the cab. Test on Friday, straight into the '+E' part on the following Monday. 5 minors on the 'C' test, 3 on the 'C+E' test.Then, trying to get myself a "full house" I wheedled my way into getting onto a cat 'D' course (MOD, all done in-house). The bus training went well, but sadly I got a bit too confident come test day. Part of the blame goes to my instructor too, though. The fail came for failing to stop at a "Stop" sign/line on the first turn out of a junction onto the main public road. Foliage obscured the sign, and armoured vehicles turning out of the junction had scrubbed off the white paint marking the junction. If the instructor had made a point of going through the "complete halt" process at this junction (which we used about 6 times per day, ffs) I reckon I'd have easily passed. I had very positive comments from the examiner on the "meat" of the drive, with only one further minor fault recorded, but the "fail" was already marked on the sheet. The bus we'd trained in was on loan, and had been sent back to the central pool, and subsequent changes in my circumstances (I was warned off for posting to another unit) meant I wasn't given the opportunity to re-test when another loan period was booked for driver training.
I lost my entitlement to cats 'C' and 'C+E' later for medical reasons. I could probably get them back now, if I had the medical again, but I don't know if I'd have to re-take the practical test, and don't fancy paying for a driving licence. I've not had to shell out for any of mine so far, and as I say, I was only 'D' and 'D+E' short of a full house at that time.
I am fully aware of the requirements and also of how much easier it is to pass with an in-house examiner.
I don’t accept for a moment that he had an hour, or two, in an HGV and was then able to pass the test; thereby bettering well over half of the candidates whom have benefited from a weeks professional training.
I was told by an accountant that I’d be a millionaire and by a racing instructor that I could go a long way. I am worldly enough to realise that they thought that I showed promise and were being encouraging and positive. I appreciated that, but I didn’t take it too seriously.
I don’t accept for a moment that he had an hour, or two, in an HGV and was then able to pass the test; thereby bettering well over half of the candidates whom have benefited from a weeks professional training.
I was told by an accountant that I’d be a millionaire and by a racing instructor that I could go a long way. I am worldly enough to realise that they thought that I showed promise and were being encouraging and positive. I appreciated that, but I didn’t take it too seriously.
GC8 said:
I don’t accept for a moment that he had an hour, or two, in an HGV and was then able to pass the test
1. Didn't say I passed - The Scania experience instructor merely said at the end very well done if this had of been your test you would of passed, I'm not good in test situations so would probably do a lot worse during a test situation, despite passing my car test 1st time. 2. I mentioned I had been on the Scania Experience for 1 hour, Doesn't mean I have no non-road experience of driving tractor units, Rigid's etc.
A lot of conclusions jumped to there my friend.
GC8 said:
Don’t be so naive.
In fairness the class C isn't hard. If you can drive a large van confidently then you shouldn't have much trouble with an 18 tonner. But the other guy above that claims the artic test is "a breeze" is talking rubbish, however it appears that he did his through the MOD so that would explain a lot. You can always tell the ex forces drivers in civvie world because they haven't got a clue what to do when they don't have their babysitter sat alongside barking orders at them telling them which way to turn the wheel. 
GC8 said:
In-house testing. 
Half of all professionally trained Class C candidates fail too, so the channces of someone having a ride-along and then passing a test are unbelievably unlikely. Believing it when told and then arguing about it: very, very silly.
I tend to agree with you but it's not beyond the realms of possibilities. Half of all professionally trained Class C candidates fail too, so the channces of someone having a ride-along and then passing a test are unbelievably unlikely. Believing it when told and then arguing about it: very, very silly.
john2443 said:
You even get a free puddle of piss from where the driver has just had a slash up against the tyre! Edited by Lemming Train on Sunday 7th October 14:42
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