In this video I talk about my experiences so far when driving a class 1 (C+E) truck compared to a rigid (class 2 - category C). Check out Kuda Automotive below: www.kudauk.ltd.uk
Ain't no short cut to experience. Don't beat yourself up as each reverse is a new adventure ( never thought I'd echo my fathers words ). Your attitude to getting an older truck as you didn't expect a new one being new to the job role shows why they replaced the seat and are looking after you.
I don’t know why you seem to doubt yourself , it seems to me as an impartial non -truck driving , observer you’re bloody brilliant. I could watch your videos for hours , great content. Good on yer.
As a class 1 driver I agree with you, also after a year or 2, if she gets into a ridged that will proper mess with her head as everything will fell wrong and you really have to thing before you start going backwards lol
@@24hellish The thing that amuses my Mrs and the kids is watching me reverse the car on to the drive after a week away as I've generally still got my artic head on
I totally know what your saying about brain power, its mentally exhausting, so much to think about especially cornering and reversing, I am a new C+E driver myself and I assume it gets better the more experience you get. Thanks for the uploads, its good to know a new drivers experience from your perspective.
I am waiting on my test date and I am almost done with my training to get my CDL A test. Watching as much videos as I can on RU-vid to learn from skilled drivers experience, docking & their frustration on their first week. Thanks for the video!
You're managing that reversing like you were born to it. It's great to see what a fine job your doing. Have a great day and keep giving inspiration. Well done.
Never panic Haley if it take 10 shunts so be it if your not sure get out and have a look your doing fine never let anyone knock your driving every days a learning day stay safe 👍
Always have admiration for Lady truckers for having the balls to do it. Thanks for bringing us along for the ride. You doing well for what it means from me.
When dropping off trailers always pull the parking brake on the trailer and then WIND DOWN THE LEGS. Never disconnect the airlines and suzies first! Always remember BLACK : - Brake - Legs - Airlines - Clip (safety clip on the fifth wheel) - Kingpin (pull the handle to disengage the kingpin latch)
I'm impressed Haley, i think you've done really well so don't be too hard on yourself and everything will fall into place in no time at all ......well done that girl.
I remember my first day in class 1 and they told me to put it on this bay, confidently said no worries, then sat there for 10 minutes trying to figure out how to get it on the bay. 🤣 now it's just second nature. Remembering how you was at first in a class 2 then you just became a natural. The same will happen again. 😃
Can The 10 wasters that gave this video the Thumbs Down Identify Themselves....? And Explain To Us Why.. Well Done Hayley, Ignore The Negativity... It's Just A Sign That You Are Getting Popular :)
You are really doing well so far . Time will make you better and Experience of different roads and sites will come xx So keep smiling Hayley we are all Proud of you x
Hi Hayley, really enjoying your videos and I think you are doing a grand job there. Just remember Rome wasn't built in a day, and slow and steady wins the race yeah, you can never be to safe and don't let people who have done this job for years flannel you with "Nah that'll be ok just take it out". As it's your licence that's at risk, you've worked so hard to get it ok. Anyway keep up the good work and stay safe Hun xx
Favourite line; all the buttons work… I don’t know what they all do but they all work! (just amused me/ don’t worry, you know what works more than me!) 👌
Haley when you are turning They will be what you call a pivet point This will be one of the wheels on 1 of the axles what you are better doing is practice some where quite and line up the turn looking at where abouts 1st axle is when you make turn 😉
Your aim every day is to deliver goods without causing damage to yourself your truck other road users members of the public property or the load if you manage that you've had a good day never feel the need to rush and if you are unsure never be afraid to ask for guidance. You can be doing this job for 30 years and have a day where you can't put the trailer where it needs to be. So don't beat yourself up about it. You're doing good young miss welcome to the weirdest frustrating most brilliant job on earth
Back in the 70s I was sent to a farm to pick up 20t of grain in my Leyland Marathon bulker. Boss said I should get in thru the gates. Yeah right, when I got there narrow gate way, small country road, steep wet ditches all around equals truck n trailer in the ditch. No damage, fitter came and pulled me out in WW2 gun carrier lol.. and next day sent back in my Guy 6 wheeler to pick up said load. They were the days, you'd get a chicken or 1/2 Cwt of spuds as a tip. Keep up the good work, safety is paramount in road haulage.
You seem to have gotten parking trailers in the yard down part, so you're getting there, it takes time and practice with reversing & turning left or right, even seasoned drivers who have done it for years get it wrong sometimes, you are doing really well ..xxx
A quick trick I learnt on releasing the king pin, if you find that the pin won’t release after you have dropped the trailer, take the handbrake of in the unit and then put it back on, also if you are finding it hard to get the legs moving when you’re trying to raise them, that usually means they are still taking most of the weight of the trailer, you should be raising the suspension in the unit when coupling, this also reduces the strain put on the legs when doing your tug test
That was really enjoyable to watch Hayley. A true insight into Class 1 driving from a newbies perspective. I think these video's will become valuable to many that just pass their test. Your going to have to start playing Sudoku with all the time you get waiting lol your be a grand master. Keep them coming, gets me out of the house haha thank you
Learning how to see the setup is where it all is, and only time in the seat can get you there. You have the head on your shoulders fore it, so no worries. :) Loving the videos by the way.
Well done Hayley your doing great girl, I remember my first days and I know the nerves and uncertainty you have probably experienced so far. Especially the reversing, but trust me it does get easier, keep up the great work
Heres a tip, blow your tanks in the evening get rid off all the moisture. Also about the legs, Auntie Up. Anti Clock Up. If you cant break the legs handle, get angry with it. You are looking lovely as ever. I am waiting fir my renewal so I can take my retake. Thank you for this consolidated report on your early times on the Class 1. All the best with it🏅😃🇬🇧 Stay safe! LOL! I'm watching this on a cold November evening.🌬️🌪️☃️☃️⛄🌧️🌨️ You have really got that job down pat. You looked so slick coupling that next trailer for the morning. I think you are very brave because first time must be daunting and its easy to see you will handle anything🤗👍
Hi Hayley! Monday was my first day out on a class 1 and I relate so much to what you are experiencing now, in terms of knowing where the lorry cuts the corners at, finding it difficult at customer yards.. I have faith we will get used to it sooner than we may think! Good luck to you and safe journeys!!
Hi Hailey. As a truck driver for over 25 years I've decided to leave the profession now due to poor pay and conditions. You have a lot of bottle which is needed in this industry. I really hope it works out for you. Love your videos and Will forever watch as long as you post. Be lucky girl x
Hayley everything is a learning curve and it will all come trust me, i am still learning and ive been driving class 1 for 9 years your doing perfect, keep it up and stop doubting yaself 🤗💯🙂
Learning is a part of life. Think that it cuts the corner and makes the day all that more exciting. Once you are warm in the game it is just routine. Take care.
Well done Hayley just want to thank you for the content you put up on your lessons for your class 1, although my test was for the class 2 category it really helped me pass. Thanks alot and keep up the gud work 👍
Hayley you will be fine. It won't belong before you are loving everybit of it. Its normal and very good to have those concerns ie small yard and reversing circle but We have all been there. It's good to see you thinking about what your going to do and that is sumthing that will help you. Keep it up.
Every day's a school day Hayley, including reversing, tyres and everything else. Still new or unexpected things happen even after more than 37 years on the road. It's how you cope with each new situation whilst delivering the load safely and looking after your wagon and all the folks you come into contact with. I'm glad you've made it this far, now the real work begins. All the best and good luck. P.S Air leaks are annoying so when you are on a break and in a quiet place try to go round to hear anything, also sometimes it can be something simple like leaving the range change the opposite way to see if that mitigates it.
a little tip for which way to wind the trailer legs : if ya picking the trailer up, look to the front of the truck to wind legs up. if ya dropping the trailer, look to the back of the truck and to wind legs down
Bloody hell girl, you got more balls than me! You are doing fantastic, well done! I keep thinking about changing career and either doing class 2 or possibly 1. See loads of videos on here, some saying it's awful, shit hours, money and conditions. Others say it's good and you hear about the shortages of drivers. I might just watch your progress, might help me make a decision. Stay safe and keep up the good work!
Great vlog, enjoyed your honesty of your experience in these early weeks. Oily steel coils are not the easiest to transport, very low values of friction require additional strapping. All the buttons work, but I don't know what they do!!!!!!. I think there's a website that if you enter the trucks VIN number, you can download a full operators manual. Well done Big Lorry Biker, and KUDA Automotive. Stay safe and thanks for sharing.
Hayley you nailed it there... the main thing about artics is setting it up before you even select reverse. With experience you'll be able to judge what your best approach to any reversing manoeuvre is going to be and this will save you a lot of leg work getting out and in having to look and check. Until then... up and down them steps, keep a cool head, don't ever rush for anyone. In the mean time try not to rely too heavily on other people helping you out, I say this because as nice as they are they're not helping you to develop that sixth sense. In time you'll notice yourself having to make less and smaller corrections and before you know it you'll be as handy with the artic as you were with the rigid
You will get there Hayley, more miles you put on the better you get, and well done for being concerned about the load as a car driver it’s reassuring there are safe and concerned drivers like you out there. As for the truck Nessa sometimes drive a DAF like yours or the old Volvo and she said she prefers it over the newer 67 plate DAF she has driven.
Thanks Hayley, really interesting blog. I passed my class 2 a couple of years ago but haven't used it in anger yet. I took it as I knew I wanted to leave my old industry but with the pandemic decided to stay put for a while. I also took my class 1 but failed it. I now realise that it was probably a tall order for a car driver ! I have a retest booked in August but maybe some class 2 experience is the right way to go first. Great to watch your progression.
have you done the brake pedal pressure test, build your air up, put pressure on the pedal, leave it on for 30 second's or more, if the pressure is fine, then the leak is not on your brake system, then we do the splitter test, when you leave your truck at night, select low gears and leave overnight, if the pressure has gone down, then do the same again in high gear the next night, if the pressure has stayed the same, then you have a air leak on the splitter, thus this will also give you a slow split from high to low and vies versa, or jam some wood on the brake pedal and walk around listening for air leak's, it could save yours's and other road user's life's, good luck out their.
You will get there .we have all been there .The more you turn the more you have turn back .always try of your drivers side if you can .you’ll get there we have all been there at the start .I was the same .now I work for a company moving heavy abnormal loads never thought at the start I would do that .keep the faith .your front trailer wheel is the pivot point.
You're doing well Hayley I've been driving 30 years and still learn new stuff all the time, one tip for you it's easier to put an extra or strap or two on your coils than pick them up off road 😁
I expect you got it all figured out now Hayley, best advice I would say is use all the space you have available, biggest circle you can. Also using your mirrors, to go straight back, if you see to much trailer in your right hand mirror, pull right hand down, on left, if too much trailer in left mirror, pull down with left hand. Easy, try it, less to think about. Good luck.
Reversing just comes with experience, it took me a long time to get used to it. I was reversing a tractor with a trailer from the age of 11, so the long trailer with less severe adjustments just through me.
Well done i Hayley remember the more you put on that wheel the more you have to take off i did my class 1 resetlement when came out raf after 12 years , i found that in a tipper as you turn back wheels come in more if you know what i mean .all the best to you your not big headed and you are honist nice to see
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned it, but it’s best to raise the trailer using the air suspension on your unit so you don’t bend the legs. You can also do this as you go under to make sure your don’t miss the pin in case someone has dropped the trailer nose high, otherwise you could smash the lenses on the back of the unit by hitting the trailer legs 😫
Fantastic! Well done….you’ll see these are easier to drive than rigids!…it’s amazing where you can get a artic!….🏴🏴👊👊👊…..remember to ask the customer if artics have been in before.
You’re doing a really great job Hayley….. I’ve been driving artics 30+ years and can still balls up a reverse 😄 But don’t worry about it, it’ll come to you with practice 👍..blindside reverse is always difficult but I’ll get out and have a look if I’m not sure (good side too if I’m not sure…lol ) If I’m turning left or right say on a busy roundabout I’ll split the lane but not leave enough room for a car to squeeze through (car drivers haven’t got a clue !). Reversing… I watch along the trailer around the axle area where it’s pivoting and always keep an eye on the overhang on the left corner of the trailer and bear in mind the unit if it’s sticking out on the rear left corner (learnt from catching the rear unit lights on something many years ago)…Take it nice and slow, see where it’s going and just make small inputs, smaller trailers whip round quicker….. I’ve made mistakes over the years but you learn from them and like others have said it’s all part of the learning curve. Keep up the good work and stay safe ! 😜
Hi,Hayley,Great vids you put on here,Im not a truck driver,But its nice being a fly on the wall,look at it all,not sure why one person has hit dislike button,,Nice one,Thank you,Chaz,
