My First EVER Night Out In A Truck 

James, every single driver has been where you are at right now, Inexperienced and not wanting to mess it up. Reversing is an art in itself. And with an artic, even more so. Just take your time and try not to let the other drivers give you a hard time. As I say, Every single one of them has been where you are at right now. Not all, but some of the older experienced drivers will try giving you a hard time, but take no shit James. As i've always said, once you pass your test is when you learn the most. The tutors just train you enough to pass the test. The real learning starts from the day you step into the cab on your own. Well done, congrats and welcome to the trampers club. I love it!!

Don’t stress about not being able to park the lorry first time, they’re massive and take a lot of time to master it, any professional driver would be patient and wait and if they’re nice enough will even help you and give you advice!

Get yourself Lenor fabric softer bottle, it has a wide neck and you don't have to leave the truck to have a widdle LOL

Just a tip, try not to run your engine at night or in the morning any longer than you need to. Nothing more annoying when you're trying to sleep and people start and just leave their trucks running

don't stress just plan ahead and expect the unexpected and always remember carry extra equipment with you and you'll be fine

Congratulations on yours First night out.. i enjoyed it.. Watching from Cameroon Central/West Africa

I’ve been driving nearly a year and still struggle with reversing at times so I wouldn’t sweat it, just don’t let anyone rush you and get flustered you’ll be fine

Congratulations mate on passing your class 1, don’t worry about the reversing it will come over time. King of the road mate! 👍🏻

You do look knackered at the end James. I hope you're enjoying the trucking, even if you'll find it a bit stressful until experience helps you to relax a bit.

I feel your pain reversing James I’ve been on class 1 a couple of weeks it can be mental reverse parking I struggle but don’t worry mate take your time and shunt as much as you need to, we all got to learn and one day we will get it in first time. Keep on trucking….

Great vlog pal.. hope you enjoyed your first night out.. looking forward to future posts👍🏻👍🏻

Great video mate. Spotted you on the A38 just outside Saltash this week, the rigid looks lovely!

Brilliant video James you done a great job

Nice video James. So good for people to see what it is like over night and stopping at a truck stop.

Great video James but so glad when you got back and were able to go home to the family, look after yourself mate..👍🏻🚛

Reversing into parking spaces - Take it slow, nice slow movement with good well timed steering, use all the room available, every inch helps, look out your window as well as using mirrors. On the approach, with the space inline with your side windows, full lock the steering wheel away from the space, moving nice n slow, until you see (in the mirrors) the back end of your trailer lining up with the space. Then, straighten up the wheel, and just make small adjustments when backing in. Most importantly, take as much time as you need, even get out and check if you need to. It does get easier, the more you do it. Check out my videos for some HGV driving/reversing tips. 😎👍🚛💨

I’m no trucking expert but get urself a bar kind of like a Acroprop where both ends hook over the doors hands and u wind the centre in which keeps the doors from being pulled open

It gets easier as your confidence grows 👍🏻

congrats on your class 1 James, been watching your videos for a while and they helped me decide to get my license as I had been on the fence for a while haha. passed my car to class 1 in march and only just managed to job doing class 2 work but I'll be moved up to class 1 once there's space but I guess its not a bad thing to get my confidence back and experience under my belt! Can't wait to get in the class 1's! - hopefully we'll cross paths one day!

Nice one James cracking vlogg as they say practice makes perfect more you do reverse better you be loving watching your journey 👍

Best video Iv watched in a while thank you James.

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done. Don’t stress with the parking. It will be second nature quick enough x

24:44 Get some cardboard and cut it to the same shape as that window then you can pop it in place at night. Just make sure that you take it back out in the morning. 27:50 You will most likely find that he has started his truck as he is running a microwave through an inverter or something high draw like that and so keeping the batteries sweet.

im currently in the progress of getting my trucking driver license so this is a great insight of what it"ll be like, Thanks!

A very good Sunday evening to you all

Try not to cover the Side Door glass as it maybe part of the FORS system going into London.

This was seriously interesting. Great vlog xx

Next to the Docks, Is a Fuelling station, may save you time for a refuel for future reference. Which also has truck wash faclities. put that in your diary/phone.

I’m a hgv driver myself based in Essex. I agree and feel your pain about all the roads 😂

Thanks James nice catching up with early days on your class 1 bud, Will

Wow! When did you start playing with the big boys?!….welcome to the big league 😊

Congratulations on passing your class 1 and welcome to the club. I've been driving 2 years as a class 1 driver and enjoy most parts of it, as for tramping my best advice is kit yourself up as if it's your second home. Last couple of bits of advice is plan ahead and always have a plan b and c. That goes for hot water facilities, coffee machine, kettle and cooker. Enjoy the experience and take your time.

Loved the vid as usual! Keep up the good work 😊

Fantastic sunrise up the A38 this morning can't wait for next vlog

great video mate! awesome job!

Well done James, 1st night away :-) don't be worried about what others think - shame you can't put a P plate on the back :-) Steve

Really enjoyed that, felt like a proper insight into trials and tribulations of HGV driving.

Argh the m25 😂😂 never get enough

Love video

You're doing alright mate, just make sure you do your checks as I've seen drivers hook up in 3 minutes flat. From locking in to driving off out of the gate. I'm anal about checks before i drive and I've been doing this for twenty years. Your reversing is brilliant mate considering you've just passed your test!!! I had a blow out last week on the M6 at Jc 19. First time in twenty years. Keep trucking mate stay safe!!!👍

im learning to do my c1 I couldn't imagine driving a big truck id love to tho fair play to you pal it isn't easy everyone was new at some point you can also buy a lil tv for your cab or DVD player for them nights :)

Seen it and been on it! Hated it every time...... EVERY TIME😂

I did the M25 for the first time ever when I went to Canterbury then to Lincoln for the truckshow. From Cornwall. It wasn’t the best but there was traffic so it bought me a little bit more thinking time for my next step. First time doing the major roads and I quite enjoyed it. Definitely a trucker in the making 😀

Get yourself a comfort softener bottle off your lass. Perfect size for your helmet ⛑️... saves you getting out the truck during the night for a piss. I would also recommend putting a third strap on the tube pulling the opposite way. It's one of the worst things you will move 👌

Well done mate solid couple of days overall

Good video and congrats on your first class 1 drive on your own. Reversing will get easier with time. Don't be scared to shunt it a few times I have days where I park trailers in bays perfect but then somewhere down the line I take 3 shunts to get it in 😅. Welcome to class 1 world. You'll not want to go back. 🚛💨

Congrats on the Class A. You’ll do very well

Congratulations on passing your class 1 James

Bet you miss 5th wheel vlog for driving info and chats .Well done James.a.okx

Did you enjoy the night 🌃 out in the Volvo FM 500 James and thanks again for your road 🛣️ videos 😊

I passed my coach test in January this year now thinking of doing my hgv but it’s the reversing that scares me with a coach it’s all in one, with Hgv it’s not 😮 You seen so happy now well done Another issue is when going for a hgv job most companies want 1 years experience. If u have just passed your test how u ment yo get ur first hgv job Jacko

Hi well done mate nice truck I drive a Renault more space in a volvo I do tramping still not got the right stuff yet

Ref reversing you want to let the vehicle do the work ie should only need half a turn on the steering wheel ? full turn max, Donot keep winding the wheel when you are not moving you will get yourself in a pickel and F/U Also try to stop going forward with the cab in the right position for your reverse movement, then follow it in with very little steering movement, ( ie Vehicle doing the work ) you will then find its piss easy to do lol

I passed my class 1 last month I’ve been out now for 3 days in my new job on containers. I’m still struggling with the reversing sometimes I’m perfect mostly I’m way off and need lots of shunts. I’ve already had someone pull out on me and I barely stopped luckily I was unladen I’ve also had another trucker trying to cut me up from the left to get in my lane and nearly take my wing near side mirror off 😂 it’s all an experience every day I’m in at 4 tomorrow going to Birmingham can’t wait 😜

Great video James- no one is interested in seeing miles of motorways whizzing past- we want to see what you have to go through as a trucker to make us all feel better about our lives... the services...the food you eat...the tramping....how you brush your teeth..... I couldn't do it!

Think I learnt was don't care about others when doing parking and that and they will still end up taking shunts aswell so they carnt laugh

James you are amazing

Motorway that takes you around London, not to London. M25 is London. Britain's Busiest Car Park. Don't worry about people watching. Those Drivers have been where you are. Time and patience makes better drivers. Can't believe you was 5 Minutes away. Would of Made you some fresh Coffee etc. I live Basildon, Near Tilbury. Its not to bad in Tilbury, Stanford le Hope and Basildon. If you not got a Load, always leave the trailer open if on the side of Roads over night. But yeah its safe. Good to see what its like in the Truck stops. Thanks for a great Video. See you on the next one.

First time I've seen your post take it from me I've been a long distance tramper for years, it doesn't mean you have to live like a tramp.. Shower and clean facilities are the most important and try and get a home cooked meal at a truck stop or pub restaurant or a company canteen.. Always park in a safe place no laybys overnight try and stop with other drivers around. The most important thing is you not the load or the wagon that's what insurance is for, take it steady and no rushing around when you're a tramper.

if you have time at truck stops ask the veteran truckers for advice that helped them in thier younger starting years...never be afraid to do that.....I always ask vet truckers for advice or pointers even tho I just drive a 10 tonner...one never knows maybe their advice helps in sticky situations

What an adventure😂

Well done 😂

M25 is pretty much my daily drive in my truck, morning rush hour is the absolute worst, just count yourself lucky you went north not south, from the M3 south on the m25 you wouldve ended up stuck at the a3 junction

Remember mate if u pass jc 30 31 m25 northbound let me know mate

James... im in one of you videos reversing, you remember the evans truck in bideford... think its the giamt lego block one, u clapped for me... that was like 2 months into driving dude, but i was doing it daily for 2 months, everyday, reversing 4 to 5 times, youve literally just got in a truck mate, if you can get it into the bay even with 3 or 4 tries your doing fine bud, dont stress, its just practice and be honest, they didn't really teach you how to reverse one did they, so just watch how others do it and ask others for advice or help mate, trust me, i bloody did lol 😂 well done on getting you class 1 buddy

You make me look bad not reversed in months as big gap between my 3a and practical dew to strike action at Exeter test center

Good that you survived first time tramping, and your first journey on your own as a class one driver. Is this something you will need to do now on a regular basis? I can imagine missing your family is not something you will get used to. Your trucking diary will be full, with lots of hours and lots of mileage recorded, from now on.

Dont forget to use the sear belt to secure the Doors overnight

I passed my class 1 last week and i have a driving assessment tommorow with a firm i want to work for. Hopefully i don't balls it up!

Don’t worry pal southmims is abit of a sh**hole tbh I drove the wrong way round an had to blind reverse into a space there don’t be scared to ask for help

Hi James, or anyone that knows. sorry if you’ve answered that, but why is the curtains blurred out? Cheers

The sound is not clear,background noise coming through

Just came across your channel. I'm from Glasgow, ex Royal Mail class 1 driver so will come on your travels. Never done a night out as RM don't do that. Subbed and liked.

Well don’t on passing your class 1 mate. Quick question…I have been driving class 2 for a while now but I still can’t get a class 1 job, I have a class 1 licence also, did you do it through agency or something?

As the saying goes don’t be a c*** give it a shunt 😂 I’ve just passed been out with mates before just enjoy it bud

Good Night James. I spoke to you last year after passing my Class 2. It's took me over a year to get a Job. I'm going to be driving a 18t flat bed. Can't Wait. Also gonna be Tramping 3 nights a week. Got a few questions. What Sat-Nav do you use. Other than your Phone/Laptop/Bedding so on. Is there anything else you'd recommend to bring? - Andy

Hi James, did you stay overnight at Stanford Le Hope docs called the Gateway?

Hi James, with respect to driving hours, how does one manage that in traffic? Because of the 45mins rest which you must take after some hours of driving?

WELL ALL I CAN SAY IS WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE TO SPEND THE NIGTH IN A LAYBY BY A BUSY ROAD AND TRY AND GET SOME SLEEP . WORST JOB I HAVE EVER DONE .

does your company hire drivers internationally by the way?