Thread: You never know who is watching....Warning Long Story!

Today while doing some driver training in one of the Brigade trucks (heavy surrport), Something happend that I still cant get over.

Im the one going for my Heavy rigid ticket and when we got going with the Brigade driving instructor in toe. Today was my 2nd drive, last weekend was my first time and we were only out for about an hour.

Anyway for some reason the instructor (Fred) said to drive straight out to the saleyards to practice my reverse parking. Basicly there is a loading bay painted on the ground including two walls (One long,one shorter). Thats were the driving tester takes you when doing the parking prac test to gain the ticket.

I drove to the starting spot and just before starting off someone drove next to the "Loading bay", jumped out and put the witchs hats out around the bay just as if it was being used for the prac test.

Didnt think much of it as there was another truck waiting to practce the parking. Got back into the bay, parked and hit the horn to say I was happy with the possie of the truck and within the loading bay area , then the clock is stopped, you have 3 mins to do it with only one forward movement.

I got out of the truck and the guy that put the hats out was one of the truck testers in town. I thought that was great as he would tell me what he wants when I get tested etc so I can learn from it.

He asked if I was happy with that attempt, I said "I think so", I was but I was waiting for "well Im not" from the tester.......but no, just told me to "do it again" ! I thought I must have stuffed it up.....so I went again.

This time even better in much less time (1min-5sec). Once I got into the bay he told me to park the truck out of the way and "get your bum back here"!! well that was close to what he said, replace bum with a site banned word......

The tester being an ex copper (hard but fair, old school) I thought I was in for it......but no he said "you passed Shawry" !

He said "Good job" shook my hand and then walked away to help out the other driver. Still not knowing what he meant I just thought he meant when I go back for the real prac test in weeks or months down the track he would be happy to pass me if I do that on the day.

But no, fred told me that I had passed the parking part of my test.......I still wasnt sure as Fred loves playing jokes and he had to tell me 3 times before I could get it....."You passed the test, you dont need to do it again, just need to do the main driving test and book work" !

So on my second time out I passed my reverse parking for my truck ticket........But it was great because there wasent any nerves or no pressure etc, just did it.......Im as happy as a pig in poo

Hope I havent bored you, but my wife doent care to much about it so I thought as Ive had a good day I would share it

Don't worry you've got this far, you'll go the distance for sure.

After you've done all this you then have to master starting, driving and changing up all gears, then down to rest without the use of the clutch, then your a real HR driver.

Good practise if you blow a clutch or your leg out in the bush. Takes time to master, but easy when you can hear the revs and knowing when it will just slip in.