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Page 59
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Dylan Gray
Trucks have always been one of my fascinations. I can still remember losing my dummy on a bridge crossing the M3 while gawping and waving at the passing trucks; before anyone makes any smart comments, I'm talking about when I was very young.
Having joined CM almost a year ago I was chuffed when, at a press event, Wincanton offered to put me through its driver training. After giving it less than a millisecond of thought I accepted.
The first step was to take my theory test, which I was a lot more nervous about than I should have been. I practised extensively on my theory test practice DVD and my hazard perception DVD. The day before my test I felt confident; that didn't last long. I discovered I was in fact practising from an unofficial hazard perception DVD. Fortunately a colleague had an official one, which I used extensively the night before the test.
I passed the test part with 60 correct answers from 60 questions and scored 65 out of 75 on the hazard perception part.
Leading up to the theory I had enough complications getting the correct provisional licence-category Cl turned up. This would have let me drive up to 7.5 tonnes; I don't want that, It took a good couple of months before the correct licence came through.
But now I have the correct licence and a theory test pass certificate let the driving begin. My designated driver trainer Alan Cracknell has already warned me that the week will be very tough as I can expect to be out on the road from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon.
One of the aspects I'm particularly looking forward to is the fact that I'll be learning at a working depot. This means I will not only learn about the truck itself, but its working environment. So as well as having to follow proper safety procedures, I'll also be trained on the correct use of tachographs.
Can't wait.