John's truck page

For a long time, I wanted to learn to drive trucks, initially because of my fascination with large complex mechanical things, and also to improve my driving; then a friend, when she heard that I was interested in doing this, pointed out that it would then be possible to take part in relief convoys, and that added enough impetus for me to apply for the provisional licence etc...

Well, I failed my first test on an artic, mostly for not slowing down enough in anticipation at junctions. Then, a few years later, I took the rigid truck test, and after several attempts, passed it, and did some temporary work as an agency trucker while on a career break from computing.

How it improved my driving in general

Observation

Use of mirrors

There are two situations in which you should always use your mirrors:

1. When about to change speed or direction
2. When not about to change speed or direction

Anticipation

Pull out early

when passing a kerbside obstacle such as a parked car; if you have to stop to let oncoming traffic pass, stop well back from the obstacle

Slow down early

Don't leave it to the last moment and slam the brakes on! Apart from urban driving, you should be able to control your speed almost entirely with the engine (but remember that your brake lights may be important to the driver behind).

General

Keep a steady speed

unless there is specific reason not to

Check the vehicle

Before driving a vehicle (unless you have just driven it) walk round it and check that all the tyres appear to be intact, wheel nuts are all present, lights and number plates all intact.

Reversing with a trailer

The general idea is that steering a two-part vehicle in reverse is a "second-order effect", or as one of my instructors put it:

what you hold in your hands is not the steering wheel of the vehicle; it is the steering wheel of the steering wheel of the vehicle

Truck-specific stuff

Artic uncoupling procedure

• Select firm level legal ground.
• Stop as usual, with unit and trailer in straight line with each other, use parking brake, stop engine.
• Get out of cab.
• Apply trailer parking brake.
• Wind legs down to about 1.5" above ground, using support such as railway sleeper if ground is not very firm.
• Stow trailer brake winding handle.
• Turn off air taps if fitted.
• Disconnect trailer electrics and suzies, stowing in stowing positions on unit.
• Remove dog clip if fitted; pull fifth wheel handle forward then out to side.
• Remove trailer number plate and put in cab.
• Start engine and drive unit slowly straight forward, watching trailer lower to ground.

Artic coupling procedure

• Reverse unit to just in front of trailer, in straight line with it, stop and apply parking brake, [stop engine?]
• Get out of cab.
• Check trailer parking brake is fully applied.
• Check trailer height relative to fifth wheel, adjust using handle and stowing after use if necessary.
• Check fifth wheel handle is out and forward.
• Drive unit slowly and firmly under trailer, observing trailer rise; continue until click is heard from fifth wheel or you can not push back further. Attempt to draw forward in a low gear against the trailer parking brake to check that coupling is firm. Stop and apply parking brake, stop engine.
• Check fifth wheel handle is secure, apply dog clip if fitted.
• Connect trailer electrics and suzies, check that connection is firm, turn on air taps if fitted.
• Wind trailer legs up, stowing handle.
• Check roadworthiness of trailer.
• Fit number plate.
• Check trailer lights.
• check load, check mirrors.
• Release trailer parking brake.
• Start engine, check air pressure, check ABS indicators if fitted.
• Drive off, checking brakes immediately after starting.

John C. G. Sturdy

Last modified: Sun Jun 10 21:39:56 GMT Daylight Time 2007