22:00 - “I’m good with the left kerb” (Immediately hits left kerb) 😂👌 Sorry Ashley haha, I’d never be brave enough to get behind the wheel of a truck so really going to enjoy this series, hopefully pick up on some things I didn’t know to apply to my own driving too 👍 btw would you mind if I use that little snippet for a video I’m working on about perfectly timed moments?
@@dataterminal I said the same a while ago. He said he already has his MC licence but may consider filming some sort of MC lesson for another perspective.
Depends what box it has some will not engage the gear until you accelerate other will slip the clutch like an automatic car. Volvo are known to ride the gears if left in so its a strain on the clutch with handbrake applied. The newer volvo push button boxes dont do it .
@@raithrover1976 Most HGVs and buses are automatic now because advancements in technology have made them more fuel efficent than manuals. There might be some things on building sites like cement trucks and JCBs etc that are manual though.
Because you have a commanding view of the road ahead you can be tempted to drive close, but that doesn't take into account drivers braking for no apparent reason like to suddenly change lane or turn.
Well done Ashley, I'm impressed with what your doing. I've been driving a HGV class one since 1991 and I think this is a fantastic learning curve for all viewers of your channel. Keep up the good work 👍
I'm loving this. It's giving a totally different insight into what HGV drivers have to do. I've always given them plenty of room because I know it's harder for them but watching this is just reinforcing that. Great stuff, can't wait for the next episode!
5:11 The pedestrian on the crossing wasn't continually looking whilst they were crossing, you need to really watch out for hidden electric scooters nowadays.
@@Keithbarber If you can drive a car well then you can learn to drive a Lorry as long as you have some common sense especially now that they are more advanced than ever.
@@gravemind6536 in the beginning a truck is a quantum leap compared to a car, as can be a bus Even coming up from a car to a 3.5t van is scary 👻 for some people And with 18 years of truck/bus driving in my life, I know the score But with some practice and training what you said becomes possible
@@Keithbarber Should someone learn to drive a van before they drive a HGV or is it okay in your opinion to go straight from a car to learning to drive a HGV?
Ah mate you handled this brilliantly. Lots of learning points! It didn't even cross my mind that those massive mirrors are also a blind spot... Christ, I'd be terrified to drive such a machine
Failure of Local Authorities to either trim back trees in a timely and appropriate fashion, or order landowners to do the same, often costs PCV Operators a fortune...despite the installation of nearside bars on double-deckers to deflect the worst of the foliage and avoid window damage/injury.
Glad youre getting to do this, Itll be nice to see future videos from either a Truck or your car with a greater understanding of HGVs and what exactley we deal with on a daily basis. You will encounter on a few occasions the atitude of "i must get in front at all cost" drivers just expect the unexpected , after a while the unexpected becomes the norm...
My reasoning for wanting to get ahead of a truck/hgv is to be able to see the road ahead clearer. I don’t overtake or pass until i know it’s alright to do so.
@@neildyer128 in Macclesfield where I’m based there are small country roads that are constantly winding and at night people will try and get in front of you just because your going slower round the corners. Only for them to be stuck at the lights but just the car ahead. Makes no sense.
@@laurencewhittingham6688 What about those who pass a lorry 50 yards before the junction doing 80mph at the motorway and then try to turn at the last 10 yards before the barrier?
If I am on the motorway I will hang back behind the lorry that is in lane 1 till I can see that lane 2 is clear I try to be in the blind spot for as short a time as possible
When I was at secondary school at age 15 we had career ideas I wanted to be a HGV driver .... She said we have no way to help you with that ! ( Tory government inspiration ) my next option was a chef but no to that to as also not on the gsce options .... 1996 what a great year 😂😜
Apart from the “Kerb”….. 😜 you really took to this Ashley, nice and steady, it’s a big leap going from a car to a HGV…..I did 23 years on 32 tonne ridged tippers and big hook skip loaders, clocked up over 2 million kilometres , but gave it up to become a car Detailer /Valeter at 45yrs old…..loved driving, got sick and tired of the traffic and idiots on the road, which started to made every day a chore , mainly avoiding idiotic road behaviour, look forward to following you’re journey 👍🇮🇲
If that was your first time on a truck, I can't imagine how you can fail. I've seen many drivers (even my shelf) that jump from one truck to another and need much more time to feel so confident and drive as you did.
Long time viewer, first time commenter. Brilliant! Love all your videos but this had me transfixed from start to finish. It looked a lot scarier from the camera angle than it must have from the driver's seat, but even so, not sure I'd have the guts to do this. My appreciation of HGV drivers, and HGV learners especially, has just hugely increased. Thank you Ashley.
A really good video, and helpful for car drivers like me who will never end up driving a truck. It is really useful to be given a share of the truck driver's perspective. Keep 'em coming!
I passed my Class 2 HGV 2 years ago with North West HGV based in Widnes who are Brilliant 🤩, I normally drive a LWB 7:5t for work and haven’t driven a 18t for a year or so but last week I had to do a refresher for work with our own driver advanced coach and had no problems at all so what I would say Ashley is never doubt your own ability as you never lose the skill when learnt but can always improve it , good video and well done on your lesson 👏
I don't agree with the way they teach you how to driver lorries. Am 20, being driving my dads trucks since I was 7! Yes 7 years old is when I first drove a 16 speed ZF gearbox DAF XF95 probably most of you don't remember them, but we still own 1 of the 6 95s we had. My dad thought me much more that the instructors did. Just drive the way you feel like. I mean obviously follow all rules etc, but they present this as if its something super hard. Which is NOT!
One or two possible faults that I noted which were discussed..... I'm beginning to wonder if that is a "trick question" here Ash..... Seriously... what bit did I not get? I have not looked at other posts - only just viewed as availability to widescreen tv previously not an option and too much detail can be missed on a mobile phone. I'm going to feel like a Muppet if the obvious was overlooked 🤔
I've just had my second lesson in driving a category C lorry. I had never driven such a large vehicle and the first lesson was big eye opener. I'm driving a manual, 4 over 4, and managing all the new stuff (height, width, length, weird gear box, weird brake feel, etc) was quite intense. This second lesson was far more relaxed, the gear box is no longer a massive part of driving, it now flows just like a normal car, the size is more manageable and got used to the brakes. From what I see in these videos, the auto gear box really shaves off quite a lot of the initial load on the driver..
I clipped near side rear wheel on the kerb on my C+E test and got away with it. I was squeezed down by a fire engine on blues and 2s. I told the examiner that I was going to have to ride the kerb to make space. He accepted it as I was watching what was happening and in control. I also kissed a curb later in the test, but I think he missed it. LOL
Excellent video, but the sound quality is atrocious. It was a pain - please try to remove the background noise as I struggled hearing and understanding most of the dialogue
Hi Ashley, hope you are enjoying your LGV C training. I am also a driving instructor ADI car etc. It’s good to see other ADI’s getting their LGV as I feel it improves our teaching having those skills. Before I was an ADI I did my LGV and PSV training when I was a vehicle mechanic about 20 years ago I use those skills in teaching and developed my training into teaching BE car and trailer and advanced car and motorbike training and some LGV and PSV good luck with your training and I am enjoying your LGV videos 😄👍🏻🚛 Kind regards Jason JSM
I personally don't think you should be allowed to learn in an automatic as a big part of learning to drive a HGV is the difference in gears compared to a car. I learned in a truck with low and high range that you change between using a switch on the gearstick so what would be 1st gear then becomes 5th after flicking the switch and took a bit of thinking to get used to gear selection. Also drove a tipper where it needed knocking across to get into the high range and a splitter for each gear aswell as this. It's such a large part of the learning curve that if you were never taught in one it could be an issue if you came across one.
Passed my Class 2 last month in an auto. I've now been for 2 driver assessments and both were in Manuals, one a straight forward 6 speed and the second with the switch on the gearstick. Took about 5 minutes to get used to the one with high/low gears. I don't think most would find to be an issue if they have learnt to drive in a manual car. By the time you get to HGV, you already know how to drive and balance the pedals. The HGV learning is all about finding out how to handle the different characteristics of the vehicle.
@@christelford5812 That is a reasonable statement in a truck with standard gears - even with a range change but once you get into the realms of class 1 manual trucks with twin split gearboxes (1 range change switch and 1 individual gear split switch) Learning how to drive them with a full load on busy roads and with no supervision from an experienced driver is a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, manual trucks are less popular these days and are often limited to specialist vehicles (STGO etc) but some do still exist on fleets and many a driver with no experience of manuals have been thrown in them by transport managers eager to keep the wheels turning. Modern trucks are a piece of cake to drive compared with older manuals with crash gearboxes and it pays to be conversant with how they work.
@@neilbriggs5292 fair point Neil, as you'll have gathered I've only just passed Class 2 and haven't even started a job at this point. Got a couple of offers and in particular on the assessment with the high low range was told that not everyone can pick it up. I suppose until I'm faced with the challenges you describe, I won't know how out of my depth I might be.
I recall my class 2 test, i actually clipped the corner so softly the examiner didn't even see or feel it. I was in the wrong lane (filter left,2 lanes right) at one point turning right (the arrow changed after the road narrowed) i stupidly said 'crap' as i reaslised and after the turn i pulled into the left, didn't fail me for it as it was corrected safely. I got 1 minor for not slowing down for a set of traffic lights going up a steep hill, not going to argue with that - overall she was impressed. Calm - Safe - Granny mode driving and you will pass.
I remember training in one of these, the first time i got in it was like i hadn't driven a day in my life, everything felt completely alien. Unfortunatly my driving school were terrible, zero patience, always raising their voices, was a horrible experience and then came the test and i failed because i was half a meter too far over a tiny mini roundabout even though i did attempt to go round it, i asked what else i did wrong and the examiner said nothing, even the driving instructors said i should appeal. I think they were sticking to quotas.
Ashley am I alright to ask why you are learning to drive a truck. Is it because you want to or because there is a reason for it’s use in a job etc. love the videos keep em coming
thanks ashley starting my hgv journey this year as the daughter and sister of hgv drivers i am so looking forward to joining them and showing them im my fathers daughter lol
just learning class 1 myself and didn't think i was being told enough information . After seeing this video im glad not with this instructor , god he don't shut up.
Ash, just wanna say thank you for all the amazing vids on driving. I recently passed my C class 2 driving test near Wigan and hopefully one day I'll be driving an ambulance 🚑
When you nudged the kerb and asked your instructor if that would be a fail on the test and he said "Lets not do it" lol That brought me back to when I did my motorcycle test and I asked my instructor if putting a foot down during the U-turn is an instant fail and he said just don't lol On the day of a test you don't want to give the examiner any (or many) decisions to have to make.
@@Fazer_600 Is it? I'm moving up to a 600+ from 125 as well soon (full A IBT), and I'm lowkey terrified of the low speed stuff (U turn mainly) and manually moving the bike :(
@@Fazer_600 I started off on an sv650 and went straight for the full A licence, I am 28 years old. I have ridden smaller cc bikes and tbh I found that the slow speed stuff is easier on a smaller cc bike. Depends on the bike I suppose as they are all different though. U turns especially are just a skill that need practice and they were no bother on the sv in the end.
U gonna do artic trucks as well? No car driver relises the huge blind spot on the mirror, when u come out of roundabouts or t junctions they can hide 1 or 2 cars if close together
Your muscle memory got you a few times and you went for the handbrake where it is on a car. It's so weird the positioning of the handbrake but also the way you have to put it on and off.
It's even worse if you're driving on Fleet of mixed vehicles. The outfit I drive red trucks for has mostly DAF trucks, the rigids have the park brake to the left of the drivers seat, but on the tractor unit it's on the dash, and in different positions depending on the age of the vehicle.
When it comes to making sure you have enough space my instructor used to say dominate without being domineering. You have to be able to read the road far enough ahead and the movement of cars far enough behind to be able to claim the space early enough so you aren't being pushy. You still get people who are either so dumb or so up their own backside they force their way through the tiniest of gaps and swear at you for being a bad driver but you can only do your best. Have fun
Most HGVs and many buses too do not have hill start assist. They can and will rollback on hills if you do not take good care. HGVs are great at crawling and with good forward planning you won't to fully stop most of the time but if you do on a hill use the handbrake, some buses will rollback too without the handbrake with Scanias being the worst culprits in the bus world. End of the day if you're on a hill use the handbrake and set a little bit of throttle before releasing, in an HGV its also possible for a short period of time to hold the vehicle on the hill with the throttle the same way you would a manual car with good clutch control.
Interesting stuff, I remember doing my HGV with Wallace at Wembley 20 years ago, I’ve just retired last month for a hard earned rest !! Ironically my son starts his training With Wallace tomorrow (at my expense !! ) 😆
Does neill Wallace still put in an appearance from time to time. Used to meet him and his instructors at the Yeading test centre many a time on test days . Ahh the memories :)
@@almuric1baggins337 I’m not sure, i think he ran it with his sister if I remember right, he must be getting on now though ! Yeah I passed mine at Yeading in 2000, my Son has 5 days of lessons and will be tested there on Friday, 🤞🏻that roundabout just outside on the A312 is still a nightmare to join as well 😆
@@madmuppet8039 I know that roundabout very well! Had many a driver almost fail at that one! It's because it's so big and wide with the Hayes bypass road being such a fast dual carriage way . People in cars zoom round it and when you are trying to join in a big truck it takes a lot of patience even for a 'pro' driver! I have known examiners from Yeading, to actually tell test candidates to get onto it the best way they can at certain very busy times. In other words; so long as the trainee doesn't cause a serious problem, the examiners have told them, they will turn a blind eye to pulling out on someone. Absolutely true! I don't live in Hayes any longer, but I know that place all too well! Good luck to your lad with his test. Just tell him to relax and enjoy the experience :)😀
@@almuric1baggins337 Yeah as you say, it’s a fine line between being too hesitant or pulling out in front of someone ! But i think he’ll be fine, he’s got a much cooler head than his old man !! Thanks for the good wishes and best of luck to you 👍
Ahh, the seat mounted lever on an auto gearbox. He'd have loved the heavy clutch and the non synchro 16 speed Eaton Twin Spiltter with the lever and switches, half way across the cab. But seriously, good on ya!
By the looks of it, this lorry has a 12-gear iShift gearbox. With an iShift gearbox, you don't need to manually put it in neutral. That only costs time and makes absolutely no difference in wear or tear; it has no friction going on when standing still. The drivetrain is already disconnected since this gearbox applies pressure on the clutch since this is a 'manual automatic'. Also, I wouldn't put on the parking brake every single time I'm standing still waiting for the lights to turn green. Sure: you'll have to apply some pressure on the brakes to prevent you from rolling backwards or forwards, but the pressure is light enough for you to not feel uncomfortable and the brakes on a Volvo are very sensitive. When you get to know this lorry well enough, you'll know when to give a little gas to get off without ever having to touch the parking brakes or having to put it from neutral to drive. If you really need to put the parking brakes on, just do that. Don't put it in neutral. It really makes no difference. This gearbox doesn't have a continuous grip on the drive train. That's why it tends to roll backwards when you don't hit the gas: the clutch is pressed. So that's the same as putting it in neutral, as long if you don't touch the accelerator. You can also put it in manual mode and clicking the buttons to shift up or down. Taking off in 4th, then 6, 8, 10 and 12. For my passengers' comfort, I shift 4, 9, 12. The first few are only used when fully loaded and equipped with a heavy trailer or going upwards on a steep climb (and/or when you are on a long decline and want to use engine braking). And the serious mistake? The lorry is still good to go; I didn't see any really serious mistakes, to be honest. Sure: the curb could have been avoided, but who doesn't hit one every now and then? No biggie. I was more worried about the wipers being on all the time with only light rain... 🤣
Passed my C test back in August, after being a bus driver for long enough. Done it in a manual vehicle and the hardest part was working the splitter, although it didn't take long to figure out once I tried pulling off in 5th a couple times! Enjoying the videos :)
@@Mr.M1STER Depends on the country I guess. In The Netherlands I had an automatic truck, but had to use the manual mode and shift with the lever next to the steer (DAF) for a period of time. If you don't do or pass that you can only drive an automatic.
Automatic lorry! Well, automated manual without hill assist 😬 How difficult would that be for doing a hill start…..even worse, in snow or ice. Fascinating video tho. I’m assuming as with cars, if you pass the test in an automatic, you are limited to automatic by law unless you re do the test in a manual.
I learnt to drive what you'd call class 2, MR in Australia in a bus. In a lot of ways it was better and a lot of ways it was worse. Buses are longer but tend to have shorter wheelbase. You also have a massive overhang at the front you can take advantage of. They are also exactly the same length along the whole vehicle (mirrors excluded). When I started driving trucks it was a massive culture shock. I started driving them like I was driving a bus and I quickly found out that wasn't a good idea. You're much more prone to understeer in a truck and you don't have the benefit of a short wheelbase to make tight turns (although buses have a more pronounced tailswing). Buses really do drive like oversized cars where with a truck you really have to have your wits about you.
I thought you did well overall, but when I passed my C+E 22 years ago, it wasn’t required to put it in neutral at traffic lights. It seems silly to me. I don’t do it and I don’t think anybody else does it. The vehicle is automatic the handbrake is enough. Even if you gave it gas with the handbrake on the vehicle wouldn’t move.
I've been driving for about 19 years (passed at 18) but seriously considered joining the TA in order to get to drive lorries at 17 but chickened out as there was a lot of exercise involved! :( but nearly 20 years later and i'm now seriously thinking about taking an HGV test but the whole process still scares me, there's all the different tests involved and then there's no guarantee that i'll pass, then that's £2000+ wasted! So have been looking at all these youtube videos to see what it's all about etc. Been watching your channel for a month or 2 now and so glad that you're now doing it, i can see more of what's involved. Am currently a home delivery driver for a food retailer and drive a sprinter van, they're nice and easy to drive but really want to know how much more difficult an HGV is to drive (I am thinking of going for the class 1 though) Got any advice?
Good effort! Also, if you get a wheel up on the kerb, you've got to think about the movement of the top of your truck body - you could work out how far the top of a 14' vehicle will be tilted sideways if one wheel is 4" higher than the other. And when the rear wheel drops back on to the road, it may be quite sudden and on the suspension it will bounce even further back to the left, so wiping out overhanging thatched/tiled roofs or swiping street furniture especially on narrow routes through villages becomes a real possibility. (eg like someone I know did in Lacock, Wiltshire, 2004)
Every truck has slightly different controls and gears on them I learnt in a manual MAN with 4 low and 4 high gearbox which you changed ranges by slapping left or right, took some getting used to! It had a red and green light to tell you which range green for low red for high.
Worst place for the mirrors is approaching a roundabout. As you swing left it seems to perfectly time with a car coming around the roundabout. One to watch out for 👍
That was better than some qualified HGV drivers I've seen in my time as a forklift driver. Especially the one who reversed into the boss' house causing substantial damage.
Good drive there Ashley! Massive kudos to you for putting yourself out there like this. It takes an awful lot of bravery to potentially leave yourself open to criticism when you're used to being the expert. Honestly, massive respect to you! Obviously anything your instructor says takes precedence over what I'm about to say, but, as a large bus driver myself, my advice for your move off at 25:25 would be to indicate right anyway. The reason being that you have a large blind spot directly behind your truck that could easily hide a car or biker that could suddenly pop out from behind you and overtake if they think you're parked there. The indication before moving off may be enough to dissuade them from doing so, thus preventing them from potentially clashing with your moving off. Just a little bit of experience talking! 😉 Good luck with the rest of your lessons! Hope to see more!
Thanks for the video. Back in 2003, I hired a 7.5t truck to move house, I have an old licence that allows me drive them, I was given a brief overview, keys and then straight onto the motorway to go home. Scariest thing I've ever driven 🤣 your serious mistake? Was it you'd not checked if a pedestrian was in front of the truck, so you need to be checking the mirror above the windscreen?
Interested to learn how you tweak video titles - I think most RU-vidrs do this to maximise reach (and views), but how do you decide whether a title is performing or not? Is it just a bit of random editing and watching the metrics or do you have a system? Just curious!
I am made up that you hit the kerb, not in a nasty way as it does show other new drivers how different it is going up to an HGV from a car, and I'm enjoying seeing you go through it going 'yep I did that too'. Even going from bus driving to the HGV I realised how much less view you have and I thought the pillars and doors of the bus restricted the view the HGV is another level, and you feel like you've taken the roof of your car when you get back in and totally relax.
Interesting video Ash, good luck with your course...have you come across any cyclists in your travels as a lorry driver, I think that would make a good film clip, showing how drivers are taught to deal with us cyclists and the difficulites of making the overtake from the drivers perspective. ?do you pass a cyclist or do you overtake? is there a difference...
Soon ill start my practice training, 24th of November, here in Sutton in Ashfield the roads are extremely narrow, i have so much anxiety and panic that i don't want to do it anymore, and its impossible to overcome the fear.
Passed my hgv class 2 last year before lockdown happened, done a agency job had a really bad experience and ain’t been back in one since got my licence to try again but lost all my confidence behind the wheel. People think they are easy to drive I say get behind the wheel before u judge hgv drivers for driving slow or slightly going out wide when turning corners then u will know why !
Such a shame you have to learn on an auto box now; what happens when the new breed of trucker comes up against an older lorry with a split or god forbid a range and split box? I guess Truck Simulator will sell even more copies now and the guys that do the proper sticks will sell more of those too.
In Germany it was required to have an HGV licence before you could become a driving instructor until a few years ago. This rule was dropped in fear of a shortage of driving instructors. The intention behind this rule probably was to raise awareness of other road users' needs. What is your opinion on that? Should the rule be reinstated?
Driving a truck definitely makes for a better car driver. I noticed you tended to drive the truck a little like a car! Going around corners is always done more precisely with a truck with more thought for what is around you. Checking the mirrors constantly for other people, vehicles and line info.
Really surprised that you are being trained Ashley with a vehicle containing an auto box. Is it the case that most hgv's are now automatic? I thought it was even more important to have complete control of the gears in such large heavy vehicles. I am not being a manual snob here - I am a total auto box convert. At least double declutching is a thing of the past.
Few of the first tips given to me when beginning hgv training. Check mirrors atleast every 6 seconds... and use your handbrake is stopped more than 4 seconds
It's interesting to think that Ash is _probably_ going to make a profit on these lessons just by recording them and putting them on youtube, even counting his editing time and assuming he never uses his HGV experience for profit.
Interesting watching the boot being on the other foot so to speak LOL... Bet the instructor can appreciate the better quality of knowledge and questions from the learner.
commenting on the mirrors - yes, they take some getting used to, but they are much better than Euro style mirrors, which sit right in the line of view for making a turn. the two rigs I've driven with them, I got in the habit of driving leaned on the center console as far over as I could just to try to get a sightline past them. they've been subsequently trashed and replaced with proper mirrors.
My step grandfather was nearly crushed in his cab by a container in 1967 at the docks, he was probably the first one on the estate with a Baird colour tv in a teak cabinet with sliding doors !
Many years ago now, in Exeter there used to be a place that you could have a go in an articulated lorry! I hd a go in that and it really taught me to give Lorries much more space as you suddenly see the blind spots! It gave me a lot of respect to HGV drivers except one I came across once!!
Your best being helpful to at least a few drivers as they can potentially return that hospitality to you further down the road, rather like a progressive conspiracy bubble of vehicles.
Another great video of driving in lorry training Ashley 👍. I thought you did very well indeed. Like the instructor said we all scrape our wheels at least once or a little. It does sound like an extremely hard long test 1 hour too for lorry driving test. Looking forward to video 3 of your HGV lessons 👍
Bus driver here planning on getting class 2 soon as possible, piece of piss since a single decker is longer, keep it up Ash, not too keen on your instructor tbh no personality to him but hey it's only temp till u get the license
11:45 Its obvious to other drivers around you not just behind you, your being thoughtful by moving forward a little, they're more likely to be thoughtful to you further ahead.
I am a Class 1(C+E) driver and I am loving these videos. You will always see me doing a little dance as I approach junctions, especially roundabouts, to look around my mirrors which can hide a car or van never mind a motor/cyclist. You're doing great. I am still learning after six years.
