J Coates is only up the road from my mums (pop in mums for breakfast after) so I get to there site 10 minutes early as it's on an industrial estate but couldn't find there office . Then two trucks pull up and park next to a very small sign with the Company logo on it !.
I walked up to the driver and introduced myself .
The drive in a 14ton Mercedes early this morning in darkness and fog was hard but fun ,it was harder than I thought if I'm honest due to the size and air brakes and real lack of any feel from the truck .
I thought it was me at fault as I drive a lot by feel just like the way you do on a bike .
The air seat didn't help either as it made me feel sea sick .
The instructor was a nice chap but I felt his directions late and lacking planning so every junction was rushed !.
Having nothing to compare his tuition or the truck to I walked away feeling a little overwhelmed and not looking forward to the next one after lunch .
I got to the next one half hour early just to see how they go about there Business (looked much better and professional lots of trucks and buses and a dedicated manoeuvre area.
I went into the office met the receptionist (young man !) he pointed me to the free vend coffee machine
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The Instructor comes in introducing himself to me and we went outside to look around the Iveco Truck was much cleaner .
Anyway got in and went for a drive wow what a difference this Truck is much better than the Mercedes and great to drive .
Nice smooth seat action and nice smooth air brakes ,steering felt positive and everything felt connected .
The instruction came in early and fantastic drive and experience
Got one more assessment drive next Wednesday at data in Leicestershire driving a DAF and see how it goes .
It just go to show that shopping around and trying before you spend close to 2k really does pay because is no way I would pay to go back to the first place again no way.
Better to pay £30+ on tester drives than waste 2k on a crap school
Real excited now :-)