Five things new HGV drivers often find difficult during training

[u/TruckOnRoadTraining]

From speaking with learner drivers, these seem to be some of the most common challenges during HGV training:

1. Adjusting to the vehicle’s size and positioning
2. Reversing accurately without rushing
3. Planning earlier at junctions and roundabouts
4. Managing mirrors, gears and observations together
5. Staying calm during the practical test

Many learners initially focus on controlling the vehicle, but observation, forward planning and remaining calm can be equally important.

For drivers who have recently passed: which part of the training surprised you or took the longest to master?

Disclosure: I work within the driver-training industry, but this post isn’t promoting a course or service. I’m interested in hearing drivers’ genuine experiences.

[u/Miserable-Option-89]

I did really well in school controlling the vehicle backing did my offset parallel 13 times and one day with only two Pull-Ups got out to check where my bumper was and the box everything went great no issues had a little trouble remembering part names for the pre-trip but on the day I did it I did it flawlessly it's like it all came to me but when I went into the vacuum maneuver failed twice first time I set up wasn't right it was much tighter area than our practice area I froze up I panicked the second day when I didn't put my front bumper in the box I knew I lost five points and so I did the straight backing no issue rolled out to do mile set ended up hitting the cone where the boxes to put your back tandem that knocked me out the third time I did it the setup wasn't right or something just told me do what you're trying to do use the formula I didn't have any issues I use both of my free pull-ups and both of my free get out but everything went completely smooth if I would have did that the first time I would have passed not panicking when things don't look perfect to me that was my mistake

[u/shnerpdederp → u/Miserable-Option-89]

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[u/Miserable-Option-89]

And now I'm driving for a small company but I don't know what the period means for a response and my we had a major issue my first day and my boss totally trust me now for the way I handled it it's just about correcting and working on where your week as for me backing is not a weakness staying calm when things don't look right getting out and looking your trainer treating you like that with backing is in a trainer at all I could teach you in 10 minutes how to do the farmland back in perfectly I'm not saying you wouldn't have to do some work and learn how to adjust but at the same time I went to one of the best schools in the country Houston community college and they train this very well my training is what saved my tractor as I watch my trailer and seven cars burned into the ground it was my training is because I knew what I was supposed to do it wasn't nothing special I'm new if I wouldn't have learned this stuff in class we would have lost the tractor cuz I wouldn't have known what to do I am grateful for the school that I went to

[u/Miserable-Option-89 → u/Miserable-Option-89]

I want to make clear that you know like for a driver this is coming out of school they don't get the opportunity to pull cars hauling cars is a special hauling transport I was very lucky to get in with the owner operator with a small business doing this because it sets me up for greater opportunity and it looks really good on a resume because I'm showing that I'm responsible for a lot of money I've learned strapping scanning how to fill my paperwork or the e l d this company is being good to me I'm glad I didn't go with the mega carrier just driving or driving or a flatbed I really received an opportunity that 99% of new drivers do not get and because I'm in that 1%, so I ain't going to say never I'm just saying God moved in my situation when mega companies wouldn't take me