King of the road.

[muddyjames]

I am taking my first steps to join all you chaps and chappesses in driving HGV's.  :dance:

After a very helpful tip of from my "wanted, doctors in Banbury area" thread, I am going to Towcester medical centre where it is only £47  :dance: Had to book a day off work for it though. Grrr

All I have to do now is 95% of the rest of the gubbins!

Now, do I gamble and that I will pass the medical and get my license back in time and book my theory test now instead of waiting 4 weeks after I get my license back?

I feel another day will be booked off for that as well.  :roll:

[BK]

Ive got my Hgv 1 and psv,I passed my hgv1 second time its very hard,the reversing is anyway,just takes loads of practice but you would have to be seriously stoopid to fail the theory and the medical is easy as long as your eyesight is good and your not a cripple :D

[muddyjames]

Ive got my Hgv 1 and psv,I passed my hgv1 second time its very hard,the reversing is anyway,just takes loads of practice

I have been reversing a toy caravan from the age of about 4 and tow loads of stuf so hopefully a hgv1 shouldn't be massively different.

but you would have to be seriously stoopid to fail the theory and the medical is easy as long as your eyesight is good and your not a cripple :D

Hmm well. I think my eyesight is just on the legal border. the theory test for my car and minibus tests have both just passed with minimum marks.  :roll:

[LiftedDisco]

As long as you are fit to drive, you should be OK for the HGV medical... they really only want to check that you aren't going to peg out whilst at the wheel!

I think that you can download the medical form - you should be able to highlight any obvious issues and decide from there.

By way of training (unless work are doing the honours...) try IDT in Northampton as they always used to be one of the few companies who train on boxes rather than flats.  Whilst a flatbed is easier to learn on, you will never get one after you pass the test, so train for real life situations...

They are on Scoot - always used to be based from the Super Sausage by Grafton Street - it might be worth asking their opinion as they are really helpful people.

All the best

Rob
 :clap:

[muddyjames]

Cheers for the info mate.  :clap: :dance:

I did my trailer test with a flat bed trailer as it is easier to see the cones for the reversing etc. I look in the mirrors of the lorry at work all the time when *coughs* reversing. Would probably be useful to do it in  abox shape lorry as it would be more like a dustbin lorry.

Yeah, I am paying for itmyself as the council are being numpties and not helping me in any way, not even givingme extra time off to get the license. :twisted:

[Frankie-Boy]

Hi James,

I don't think IDT is about anymore, they certainly aren't at the cafe now anyway but here's a contact for you, they are part of the company I work for and have all sorts of different vehicles to choose from.

Call (01604) 601868 and ask for Christopher, tell him I sent you.

[muddyjames]

Cool cheers mate.  :clap: :dance:

[LiftedDisco]

No more IDT... ooops, showing my age now! :oops:

[Frankie-Boy]

I'm not saying they've gone completely, just not based at the Super Sausage last time I called in for a bacon butty.  :) ;)

[BK]

Trust me,a 40ft artic is totally different to a 4 legger,when you go 4 the training(usually a week)forget everything you have learnt driving a rigid and listen to what your instructor tells you and youll be fine,dont go in like a bull in a gate thinkin cos youve driven a rigid you are a good driver cos your instructor will tell you to shut up,an artic is MUCH different to drive and "fun"to reverse especially on your blind side.An dont worry about the"medical" :lol: :lol:it takes about 10 minutesik

[Guardian.]

good luck with your lorry tests mate!

[Garin]

but you would have to be seriously stoopid to fail the theory and the medical is easy as long as your eyesight is good and your not a cripple :D

Hmm well. I think my eyesight is just on the legal border. the theory test for my car and minibus tests have both just passed with minimum marks.  :roll:

Renewed my licence a few weeks back, it took 10 mins I passed the eye test without my glasses, check heart, blood pressure and blood sugar level, answer a couple of questions, do you smoke how much do you drink, pay £60 and come back in 5 years

[Terranger]

Good Luck on your tests mate.
I've been driving HGV/PCV's for the past 20 years and still can't quite get the hang of reversing.
I still get nervous, especially in tight areas, and believe you me, some of the delivery places are still layed out for a horse and cart.
It's not so bad in the new industrial areas though, so GO FOR IT and happy trucking!!

[BK]

Yeah,youll be like a dog with 2 tails..............good luck mate I hope you pass and then once you start to drive youll REALLY start to learn.........ha-ha id love to see your face when you have to reverse round a corner on your blind side on to a bay....youll pap your sen :lol:but weve all done it!!!! :lol:

[muddymart]

some companies are offering a starter package, with medical, 2 hour assesment and provisional application for a nice tidy fee..


i passed my theory test for hgv/pcv last friday,it was easy !!


i do have the theory book if your interested,


i dont know if its the same at your company, but if "they" pay for it, we have to stay 3 years, im paying my own way, then i can choose wether to stay or not....


good luck...

[muddyjames]

Yeah,youll be like a dog with 2 tails..............good luck mate I hope you pass and then once you start to drive youll REALLY start to learn.........ha-ha id love to see your face when you have to reverse round a corner on your blind side on to a bay....youll pap your sen :lol:but weve all done it!!!! :lol:

I have found a sneeky trick to reversing trailers into places on the near side when I reverse my voluntary works transit and box trailer. You tweek the leccy mirror to help line your self up as you start to go round :lol:

I hope I will love it and not pap myself and be too scared! I just want a go to see what it would be like!

[BK]

Dont worry mate,its actually a bit easier to reverse the longer the trailer cos it doesnt come round as quick.......youll be fine.........the first time i had to drive a 7.5 tonner i papped myself,now i can throw an artic around like a good un,its all about practice

[muddyjames]

I have sat in a hgv before. I totaly forgot until my Mum showed me this today!



 :lol: :lol: :lol:

That was when I used to buy trucking international magazine with my pocket money and we went to brands hatch for truck racing. I spent alot of the time driving my dads isuzu trooper around pulling people out the mud in the camp site. he hooked them up, I drove round. I was only 14 I think :lol: I did get asked if I had a driving license to which I replied "yeah a lego land one" :lol: (a Denmark one too!!)

Sad I know!

[BK]

Thats an iveco in the pic,I used to drive one of those!!!that takes me back,damn uncomfortable bunk,and a noisy night heater,it used to whirr in the middle of the night and wake me up :lol:.........it had a 4 over 4 knocker box with a splitter.........dont worry they are mostly autos and semi autos now with air-con and cruise control......easy peasy :lol:

[muddyjames]

Just got back from the doctors in Towcester and I passed the medical with flying colours. :dance:

eye sight is 6/6 6/9 (I thought it would be worse than that  :shock: and blood preassure is 110 over 61 which apparently is very good. No idea what it means but who cares!!! Dvla do :lol:

So now to send me forms off and get the theory done.  :-k :?

[stuvy]

good luck with this mate, i used to drive an old scania at a mates farm it was soooo much fun getting the back out and drifting it on the gravel tracks

we will be attending the NIR at Brafield for there truck racing check the site for dates!! www.incarace.co.uk

[BK]

Rock n roll  :lol: told you it would be a piece of p**s, next ones theory.....easyyyyy!!!!!!!...........and then tuition......easy peasy just watch them cones on your reversing! and slow down and keep your eyes on the mirrors...................ahhhh it takes me back