Dont know if lorry driving is for me

DAFbus

Hello.

I'm not sure if lorry driving is actually for me and I'm unsure what to do.
I got my C licence but I struggled a lot with the driving aspect of it, especially in small towns and cities. I spent about 30 hours in the lorry but dont think I fully got the hang of it, especially the gear box, they're awful to not crunch. Cost me an absolute bomb too

I always felt like I was under a ton of pressure and on the edge. Managed to pass the test first try but both my instructor and tester said I need a lot more confidence and some aspects of my driving are "absolutely brutal".
I especially take note of how drivers have to unload at the side of the road and some manage to park the lorries in really tight spaces and think theres no way I could manage that!

funnily enough though I found reversing no bother at all.

Tester said that if I go for the arctic theres no way he'd pass me at my current standard.



Thing is I have no connections at all in the industry and every job seems to require a couple of years experience.
Havent even done the CPC or got hazmat training etc as I'm not even sure if its worth my time. Also considered the D licence but thats basically an even longer Rigid thats tougher to corner.


Every driver I spoke to said he got his licence in a couple of hours, and never had issues learning. Thinking of throwing in the towel tbh. Guess its not for everyone?

Any advice?

Silvera

I passed my C test in 2003 (12hrs tuition, no previous experience) and my C+E test in 2014 (12hrs tuition, no previous experience..since my C test), and I have to say, while both lessons/tests had challenging aspects, I really enjoyed the experience on both occassions.

If you dont enjoy truck driving I think it's probably safe to say thats it's not for you. There's no shame if you dont like it, you've still gained you C licence and could always decide to use, for example, you C1 licence as part of a job in the future, e.g. as a paramedic.

I also have no plans to drive a truck for a living in the forseeable future (and also dont have a CPC card), but having C1, B+E (unrestricted) etc are very useful categories to have on my licence.

(Mod, perhaps this thread would get a better response in the 'Learning To Drive' forum as many experienced drivers answer threads there).

DAFbus

Silvera wrote: »

I passed my C test in 2003 (12hrs tuition, no previous experience) and my C+E test in 2014 (12hrs tuition, no previous experience..since my C test), and I have to say, while both lessons/tests had challenging aspects, I really enjoyed the experience on both occassions.

If you dont enjoy truck driving I think it's probably safe to say thats it's not for you. There's no shame if you dont like it, you've still gained you C licence and could always decide to use, for example, you C1 licence as part of a job in the future, e.g. as a paramedic.

I also have no plans to drive a truck for a living in the forseeable future (and also dont have a CPC card), but having C1, B+E (unrestricted) etc are very useful categories to have on my licence.

(Mod, perhaps this thread would get a better response in the 'Learning To Drive' forum as many experienced drivers answer threads there).

I do enjoy it. I just found myself fairly nervous while being criticized by the instructor, couldnt relax at all and found myself progressing very slowly.

also put it here because the majority of people in the learner driver forum are prob just car drivers.

101sean

Sounds like you should try another instructor!

If you don't get any more replies here soon, I'll shift it back to the Learning to Drive forum.

jimmyw

Well I was a quick learner in I managed to pass my test with 20 lessons and three tests.....:D.

It wasn't going good along the way though and the second of the two instructors I had was even sighing most of time and I cant say that I blame him:p.

Got there in the end, so someone must have had sympathy for me!!

Getting the experience is hard though, as the OP says, most places seem to want at least 2 years experience.If I could find a jobbridge position, even with its flaws and all, I'd love to have a go, but I would LOVE to know how the present drivers got their first driving job after they got their full licence.

Its a visious circle with experience though...:(

Silvera

DAFbus wrote: »

I do enjoy it. I just found myself fairly nervous while being criticized by the instructor, couldnt relax at all and found myself progressing very slowly.

also put it here because the majority of people in the learner driver forum are prob just car drivers.

Yes, sounds like you need a new instructor.
I tried three instructors before I found the right one (see my link above). The first two instructors were just a bit 'full of their own self-importance'..if you know what I mean. For the C+E lessons and test I also found it suited me much better to learn on a 'wagon and drag' combination rather than the traditional artic set-up.

If you enjoy it keep at it!