C1 lorry test......how long did it take you??

georgiegirl

georgiegirl

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Things are going in the right direction. Medical is done, provisional licence is back and I have booked the theory test and have been practising the questions like mad :)

The centre close to me tends to do their learning in days that run from 8.30 til 4 in a 5ton iveco (big minibus type thing - not too much smaller than mine which is 6.5t) so you do get quite a lot of driving so its up to you how many 'days' practice you choose to do and then do your test at the end of it.

They recommend three days although my friend did her course in two days and then the test at the end to keep costs down and passed so Im wondering how many to try and go for? and how many days others have done it in?

Ive had quite a lot of experience towing so Im guessing this must stand me in good stead for being used to something a bit longer/road awareness etc.....????

Plus I do have a friend who has done the c1 so planning to get out in the lorry later on in the week to do some practice on the L plates. eeeek exciting!

Any hints or tips gratefully received!
 
haaaaa i had 6 days :o

to be fair, the guy said that my driving was much better on the actual training course than on my assessment :D

Does the centre not tell you how many days they think you need?
 
blood_magik said:
haaaaa i had 6 days :o

to be fair, the guy said that my driving was much better on the actual training course than on my assessment :D

Does the centre not tell you how many days they think you need?
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That ust be nerves though surely! I remember learning to drive a car and being fine on lessons but when it actually came to the test I was pooing myself - god knows why!

The website recommend three days but I know my friend did it in two as she couldnt afford the three days!
 
If you are considering doing 1 to 1 training from 830 to 4 then think again - the human brain cannot take that sort of intensive training when learning to drive unless you are going to be spending a lot of time in cafes

Opt for 2 to 1 all day or 1 to 1 half days over a 5 day period with test on day 5 - that is the average for a LGV course

you could do it in less time if you are already used to van driving, as you are doing yours in a large van, and are already ok with the DSA driving procedures
 
georgiegirl said:
That ust be nerves though surely! I remember learning to drive a car and being fine on lessons but when it actually came to the test I was pooing myself - god knows why!

The website recommend three days but I know my friend did it in two as she couldnt afford the three days!
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I could have phrased that better - I went for an assessment so my instructor could see how many days training I would need before my test :)

I passed first time even though I was a bit nervous :o
 
I had 5 days - 3.5 originally with test in the afternoon which I failed, so had another half day with another test in the afternoon which I passed :)

Are you only doing up to 7.5T? I did mine with Tockwith Training in a lorry over 7.5T - I don't think there's much of a difference in price between the tests :)
 
to be honest I dont see the point in me doing the full cat c - Im NEVER going to need to drive over 7.5t so regardless of cost I dont see the point in over complicating things and doing the test in something huge if I dont have too.

How did you find tockwith training? any good?
 
to be honest, driving a 40ft lorry is the same as driving a 20ft lorry - you're still constantly watching your mirrors.

I did my cat C so I have an excuse to persuade dad to fill an HGV with horses :D
 
Tockwith were pretty good yep, my friend passed first time with them. Whilst I never imagine I will drive a HGV, its useful knowing I can, say if I need to drive a friends wagon, or if I ever need to moonlight as a trucker ;)
 
georgiegirl said:
Not sure how other companies work the training schedules?? but the 830 til 4 seems to be the norm for the place im going to use. They come highly recommended from friends and have an extremely good pass rate by all accounts? http://www.tockwithtraining.co.uk/
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They ARE highly recommended.

I was not aware they did 1 to 1 all day training so could you confirm that please as it seems odd when I am pretty sure they said on the www.trucknetuk.com newbies forum that they did not condone it
I could be mistaken .....
 
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hannahc said:
I went for an assessment first. Then I did 3 full days and test on the 4th day, oh and took cat C even though I only needed C1 as there was little difference in price and no difference in the tests.
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how many actual behind the wheel driving hours did you do prior to test?
 
Tockwith do do all day 1 to 1 training, which means you want to be with someone good! Although they do two stops a day at the caff in Thorp Arch Ind Estate - which is good as it means you get a welcome break, and used to driving round all the roads near the test centre which is next door to the ind estate :)
 
It says on their home page (and course prospectus) that they are one of a few companies that do the full days one on one training with just you and the instructor and no one else.

That said if all day sessions will really be detrimental to me passing my test then of course I will try and get them to jiggy the sessions around!
 
I think I prob did about 24 hours behind the wheel before my first test (8.30 - 4 on 3 days with on half day) allowing for lunch and mid -morning snap breaks :)
 
Also my test centre was over an hour away, so we drove to the area each day, did the tricky double mini-roundabouts/place where you had to wait behind the "keep clear" box because the lorry didn't fit between the traffic light line and the "keep clear" etc. Then at least most of the roads were familiar, there are only a set number of test routes and the instructors generally know all the routes.
 
I did my C+E test with the army, all paid for!!!! Am so glad I was able to do it then, I don't have a clue how to read a tacho graph!! :o :o

Good luck, it is a brilliant feeling to have an extra string to your bow
 
georgiegirl said:
It says on their home page (and course prospectus) that they are one of a few companies that do the full days one on one training with just you and the instructor and no one else.

That said if all day sessions will really be detrimental to me passing my test then of course I will try and get them to jiggy the sessions around!
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Only you know what your brain is capable of - try thinking back to when you learnt to drive a car but its not half as bad as that because you can already drive
 
The first day for me was pretty tough, and for the instructor I think - the boy racer in me just didn't think slowing down for roundabouts was important, I also merrily messed up the split gear box :D

But after that it was ok. The drivers take you on all the possible test routes, more than once, and make you go back and do things again you mess up. There's only one route you can't do in practise in the HGV as its got a weight limit on it, but they can take you there in your test - its through Spofforth if you know that at all. Other routes go round the Leeds and York ring roads, through Harewood, Collingham, Thorner (watch out for buses by the church!) and Knareborough. :)
 
well to be honest with the size of the vehicle they use for testing this ------> http://www.tockwithtraining.co.uk/iveco.html

Im not too worried at all about actually driving it - just driving it in the manner that they require for test conditions - im sure im not the only one who doesnt drive constantly as if they are on their driving test?? now that is mentally tiring work!!!!
 
georgiegirl said:
well to be honest with the size of the vehicle they use for testing this ------> http://www.tockwithtraining.co.uk/iveco.html

Im not too worried at all about actually driving it - just driving it in the manner that they require for test conditions - im sure im not the only one who doesnt drive constantly as if they are on their driving test?? now that is mentally tiring work!!!!
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You can get a jump on that by losing your rear view mirror in your car and doing the mirror, mirror, blind spot checks from now on and checking BOTH your mirrors every few seconds

Also look further ahead and try NEVER to come to a complete stop unless it is impossible not to

If 2 lanes go the same way then use the left one
 
ROG said:
You can get a jump on that by losing your rear view mirror in your car and doing the mirror, mirror, blind spot checks from now on and checking BOTH your mirrors every few seconds

Also look further ahead and try NEVER to come to a complete stop unless it is impossible not to

If 2 lanes go the same way then use the left one
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You know what Im such a geek I have been doing that in the car all week to get me into the habit ;) hehe!

side mirrors for reversing are ok as I use them anyway (comes from doing the towing and having 4x4 since learning to drive!) however im not so quick to check nearside/offside mirrors at junctions etc so have been practising getting back into the habit!
 
ps thanks for all the advice folks its been really good :)

As much as a lot of people moan about the cost etc for c1/c tests for me its worth doing as I know I will be a safer driver for it and where me and my horses are concerned that is the main priority!

Ive got my c test friend to come out practising in the new lorry on L plates with me later on in the week so as she has been though the same process Im sure she will have some pearls of wisdom for me along the way before I take the step of booking the training course even if its just a couple of runs round the block and playing with cones in the car park!
 
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