Good morning everyone, I passed my class 1 last week, yippee and today I was out and about in one with someone

[stangirDen]

Good morning everyone, I passed my class 1 last week, yippee and today I was out and about in one with someone experienced with me. All good driving but the problems occurred when reversing between trailers, onto a loading bay and into yards, really struggled and to be honest felt embarrassed and disappointed, is there any tips or advice out there or is just a case of practice and more practice.

[JoeyCooey]

Drive in head first

[MaguiLex]

take your time, try to get as straight as you can with the gap/ bay and f**k everyone else

[tobyrutton67]

Just takes time and practice mate don't feel embarrassed everyone has been there

[stangirDen]

Just takes time and practice mate don't feel embarrassed everyone has been there

thanks mate

[ChrisVivid]

You will probably find you are not as bad as you think once you are on your own nothing worse than someone watching your every move

[woodus088]

No one can make you great at football but you can become great! Put yourself in positions that take you out of your comfort zone and just take as long as you need to get in that space we’ve all been there!!

[liamDiam]

take it slow mate, give yourself as much space as possible, it takes experience to get the feel, any driver who says they get it right first time every time is lying!
always use G.O.A.L (get out and look), reassess your position when necessary, don't take risks and take it slow and steady
my advice if you're pulling a 6 wheeled trailer is look at the middle axle as a point of reference to guide it in - good luck

[stangirDen]

take it slow mate, give yourself as much space as possible, it takes experience to get the feel, any driver who says they get it right first time every time is lying!
always use G.O.A.L (get out and look), reassess your position when necessary, don't take risks and take it slow and steady
my advice if you're pulling a 6 wheeled trailer is look at the middle axle as a point of reference to guide it in - good luck

thanks mate sounds good advice

[liamDiam]

take it slow mate, give yourself as much space as possible, it takes experience to get the feel, any driver who says they get it right first time every time is lying!
always use G.O.A.L (get out and look), reassess your position when necessary, don't take risks and take it slow and steady
my advice if you're pulling a 6 wheeled trailer is look at the middle axle as a point of reference to guide it in - good luck

thanks mate sounds good advice

o bad advice pal

[KirbyMan]

We've all been there mate just take your time and don't be too greedy with the turns of the steering wheel.

[stangirDen]

We've all been there mate just take your time and don't be too greedy with the turns of the steering wheel.

couldn't keep the steering still just felt like I had to turn it all the time!

[KirbyMan]

We've all been there mate just take your time and don't be too greedy with the turns of the steering wheel.

couldn't keep the steering still just felt like I had to turn it all the time!

I was exactly the same, it used to take me 10 minutes to get on a bay, it was awful. It will come with practice, just go slow and don't do massive turns you'll get there

[howUpdate]

Take as many shunts as ya need. Try and straighten the cab and trailer on ya shunts so you aint fighting it right away. Long as you get it where it needs to be without hitting anything its job successful. Im 5 weeks in and still forget which way to turn

[DavidGett]

I was on your shoes a few months ago
The only thing that helps is doing it . And all the above advice
One day it will just happen and yes it’s still not perfect but it’s getting there

[ogillpugg51]

You’ll learn it takes time and patience you will get their pal we all had to learn coz some drivers have short memory’s.

[JoSubject]

Just take your time. It’ll come as you gain experience. Even now I can screw up a perfectly good reverse!!

[stangirDen]

Just take your time. It’ll come as you gain experience. Even now I can screw up a perfectly good reverse!!

good to hear that people still screw up!

[hayyken11]

Just take your time. It’ll come as you gain experience. Even now I can screw up a perfectly good reverse!!

good to hear that people still screw up!

i did a reverse last week that I've done 1000 times before and it took 3 go's. sh*t happens.

[CatterBe]

Don't feel embarrassed. Everyone has to start somewhere you'll get it in no time! Just remember....don't be a c*nt, take a shunt

[bradJean]

Time practice and patience. I still screw up and even those who have been on class one(ce) for 200 years still mess up. Will have good days where can do in one and bad days where need 2000000000 shunts

[DavidGett]

Time practice and patience. I still screw up and even those who have been on class one(ce) for 200 years still mess up. Will have good days where can do in one and bad days where need 2000000000 shunts

only 200 years
Or is that hours worked works out to a normal persons 200 years at work

[NickChee]

Shouldn't the "someone experienced with me" be helping and advising you with the reversing. Sort of defeats the reason of them being there if not.

[mageeUpfor]

Watch your trailer wheels it gives you a good idea of the line the trailers taking when reversing and go slow

[LeeNumero]

Best tip I can give is don’t be embarrassed, you’ve learned to pass your test now your learning how to do the job, you will be giving that advice to others in the future

[craInformer]

Take your time. It will come

[PriceNan]

I always tell the new passers - take you time - don't worry about anyone other than yourself - do all the hard work going forward, by that I mean get in the right position so you only have to guide it into the gap rather than fight to get it in. Don't oversteer - GOAL - don't be a c**t take a shunt - imagine the trailer is much longer than it is - watch the rear end of the trailer - it pivots on the wheels - nothing to it

[SteSerene]

Practice makes perfect

[dayecon11]

Mate I’ve woke up bare ass naked asleep in my mum n dads wheelie bin after a big p*ss up because I can’t handle my ale and I wasn’t embarrassed at that…point being. Don’t worry about what others think, take your time and with experience you’ll get there. Practice Practice practice we’ve all been at that point. If In doubt, get out and look or start again. good luck

[robedpan03]

Mate I’ve woke up bare ass naked asleep in my mum n dads wheelie bin after a big p*ss up because I can’t handle my ale and I wasn’t embarrassed at that…point being. Don’t worry about what others think, take your time and with experience you’ll get there. Practice Practice practice we’ve all been at that point. If In doubt, get out and look or start again. good luck

Thats exactly right

[bevanHero]

It'll come in time,,We all had to learn ,Every day you will improve , A few month from now you'll look back and realize just how far you've come

[MarkBandit]

It will come with time don't be too hard on yourself

[whercode74]

Finding the pivot point is key lock on lock off between pivot point try not steer so much let trailer do turning with that in mind u will learn fast

[SteveMans]

First off don't feel bad about it mate. I have been doing class 1 for about 6 months and I can tell you it gets easier, still have the odd off day but on the whole it's not as scary as the first day. As for the reverse
get a straight line down the unit and trailer if possible before starting reverse
Lean out of window where possible
Move slow and small turns on the steering wheel
As many shunts as you need
And get out and look (more than once if needed)
Enjoy your new journey and stay safe

[LeakRida]

First off don't feel bad about it mate. I have been doing class 1 for about 6 months and I can tell you it gets easier, still have the odd off day but on the whole it's not as scary as the first day. As for the reverse
get a straight line down the unit and trailer if possible before starting reverse
Lean out of window where possible
Move slow and small turns on the steering wheel
As many shunts as you need
And get out and look (more than once if needed)
Enjoy your new journey and stay safe

I’ve been driving class1 for 32 years and still have the odd reversing nightmare… Sh*t happens to us all..

[mahoMarc]

Gets easier, but there will always be days where it just keeps going wrong. I can go to a store one day, blindside it round a corner of a wall onto a scissor lift and get it right first time. Go again the next day and it can take about 5 shunts and 1 restart to get it on Just take your time and don't be put off by people watching

[kearBurke]

Once you have your trailer pointing roughly where you want it get your cab wheels straight the trailer will continue in that arch then you can adjust your steering a little at a time use the centre of your rear 2 wheels for reversing. And like the rest are saying take your time if you can find somewhere to practice do as many times as possible it'll all be good in the not too distant future

[AlexCalyx]

We was all like that so don't worry about itnowt to be embarrassed about.....

[grangShun]

Congratulations on passing your test! Not much advice to add to the other comments but try not to feel too disheartened when you're struggling this early on. I'm 4 years in and still have a problem with over steering lol so you will improve with time and practice I promise just go slowly and I know it's hard not to worry about embarrassment or people watching you but that will also pass!

[Aitkencess]

No revs . . . and ditch big brother!!

[down2tman]

Go easy on the steering input, you'll be amazed at how little steering is needed to get the trailer moving, also remember the more you put in the more you need to take off to get back straight, less is more sometimes

[NickRay]

Just go slow. Still have good and bad days reversing.

[FuncNate]

Don't be embarrassed. Don't give a shit about other people watching. Just do your thing mate. In your own time. But when you do get better, don't forget where you were today and be prepared to help and understand other'newbys' no one's perfect. And even the good ones have bad days mate

[FuncNate]

And just remember. It pivot's on the axle. Not the corner. Take note of your axle position and reverse it on them.

[helRocket]

join a group set up over a year ago by a couple of my friends may help you out New HGV drivers Class 1 and 2 (under 2 years)

[shaneCist]

Don’t feel bad the more reversing you do the better you’ll get, eventually it will come naturally

[robedpan03]

Just take your time if you're not sure about the space you have get out and have a look nobody will laugh at you I've had a class one 35 years and still tied my self in knots you just laugh it off some days you'll get straight where you want to be other days it takes a bit of shunting about

[ivessDrives]

just take your time it will get better

[LeeBrainy]

Go back to your previous job...as there just might be a driver in his cab snoozing when your reversing.....couldn't live with myself if i injured a driver and more if it prevented him from earning a living....

[macDouse]

I totally understand you, when I just passed my test I found it really difficult. It's hard to explain how you do it but I tell you what one day it will just come to and you will be like 'shit I'm starting to get this' but one of the things I learnt is that once you know the size of the trailer and there is like a 6th sense you will develop where you know 'hang on a minute am I getting close' if that ever happens then get out and look because 9 times out of 10 you are right.
The best advice for reversing between 2 trailers on to a bay is try to get as close to the trailer on the left if you are looking out the window and try to do that quite early on don't leave it to late and to close. You will know that trailer fits in that gap so get as close as you can by doing that you guarantee know you will clear the other side but at the same time don't leave it to late and if you have to then put more of a kink so it comes round quicker. I don't know what else to say except good and luck and if you can just keep practicing when you can really

[KinsWeb]

Ironically, don't look back on past mistakes, look forward to gaining more experience, we all make mistakes, it's all about how you handle them

[ivanneed5]

Just take it steady & get out check if need be but don't be embarrassed

[DarriBoxx]

Practice Practice give yourself as much room as possible ask for advice we were all new drivers once and you will learn every day for rest of your driving career enjoy it

[johnyXinn]

Never feel embarrassed as time goes on you’ll get better and see drivers of all ages and experience still fuck up the reverse. The time will come when you get it on first time perfect and the will be no body around to see and when you fuck it up it’s like match match

[BillPrime]

The slower you go the more control you have of were it’s pointing. Get out and look if need be. Don’t feel embarrassed or it will pull you down and make you cock up more. Oh ye if it’s a tri axle trailer look at middle axel as that’s the pivot point for it turning.

[newHonda]

Practice

[Joellant22]

Slow and steady.

[richieFizz]

Buy a toy lorry people think I joke but when your sat at home having a brew then have a go. You'll get the principles of it all then. Use your wheels as a guide when reversing not the side of the trailer.

[richieFizz]

We have a saying. " don't be a c@nt take a shunt"

[WhyWire]

Take your time and practice, if you need help ask alot of good people out there will help, I've been doing it 22 years and I still have days where I take 2 or 3 shunts, who cares mukka I don't it gets on eventually

[cbrminu33]

practice, and remember, the unit is effectively the steering wheels. You need to break the link in your head, so you can think of the unit, and trailer as separate thing's. Forget about left right etc. it's unit, and trailer. Unfortunately, experience is really the only thing that will get you going well, and even experienced driver's struggle from time to time. Remember also, if you make a bend, and unit continues in a straight line, the bend will increase, so you can start with a slight bend from a distance if it's tight, and it will eventually turn in.

[RichKrool]

If the yard is big enough, try and approach the gap with the unit and trailer lined up as straight as possible if it's mot big enough then just go steady, and try not to oversteer it will take a lot of practice .I've done 48 years of practice, and iam still learning.

[slatermi67]

Practice. Take it slow. Don’t be afraid to get out and take a look if your in doubt. It’ll come so don’t get yourself stressed and make it a bigger issue than it is. And honestly no one cares if you take a hundred shunts. no matter how many straight on the bay no shunt.1 hit wonders there are on here.

[MorriSoft]

Slow win the race when reversing. Take your time, don’t rush around and ignore any prick in yard that may be unhappy about you going slow. All it takes is practice practice and a little bit more practice.
Take as many shunts as you need to.

[laychania8]

Don't think about anyone watching we all been there some still have bad days take ya time just work Position my dad 30 years ago said boy get it in the right position works everything 30 years later I still practice that be safe enjoy and just relax all those that criticize instead of help are not worth the worry

[DarenSky]

We all been there, some days I can get on a bay in one no shunts,(though I take one to do doors and make sure I am straight). Other days I think why the fuck am I doing this and start again .
This week I’ve got to my collection point, let my anxiety take over and kept fucking up. Taking 5/6 shunts or more. Get to my drop on the same day and get it in between 2 trailers on a bay, with just 1 shunt to straighten up.
Nobody is perfect, just take it slow, watch the middle wheel/back of your trailer, and if you need someone to help just ask.

[thomGrim]

Look more, Steer less - slow an steady wins the day.....creep it in slowly, make SMALL adjustments, get out and look if you want - but you tend to find most problems come from people who want to be steering wheel twirlers or try to rush it.

[PaulFree]

Safely not quickly and there will always be someone who thinks they are better. They forget they were where you are once.

[whittPaper]

completely normal, for this to happen and feel like that, a lot to learn and take in with class 1 driving . good luck and enjoy

[McGseed]

Take your time, it aint a rush, yes you will get the sarcastic dinlows who are perfect, fuck em dont get flustered

[aaziGhazi]

Nice and steady an old boy gave me a little tip you can usually see the tyre marks follow them if you can

[WillFaith]

Many years ago I remember my husband phoning me just after he passed his class 1 saying he couldn't get it on a bay and was going to give it all up, now he can do it without hardly looking, you'll get there just be patient with yourself, good luck

[peardive94]

Don't be afraid to ask for help lots of us will be pleased to help you not everyone wants to post stuff on Facebook taking the micky you know.

[ChatChris]

None of us could when we first passed. Takes a bit of time. Just remember the slower you reverse you can correct any mistakes as you do it. Remember what you were taught “ don’t be a c£&t take a shunt.

[jimmBall]

Remember the mantra. One big heave on the wheel to start off then little adjustments and as Mick says, slow slow. It'll come good. X