Archives May 2022

At least once in our lives we will experience a punctured tyre. If you drive for a living, you’ve got more chance than any of puncturing or blowing a tyre – here’s what to do to keep safe.

Puncture or blow out? Your tyres could be damaged two very different ways. A puncture equates to a slow release of air from one of your tyres; you may quickly or even over time notice your tyre pressure fading, which equates to a puncture. Depending on the severity of the puncture, your tyre can easily be repaired or replaced.

A tyre blow out can be more dangerous. The air is lost immediately from the tyres, due to the tyre losing its integrity – effectively bursting under the pressure of impact or another fault. Aside from the bang, you may notice your vehicle begins to shudder or steer involuntarily left or right.

When a blow out occurs, stay calm! If your vehicle swerves, adjust your steering to follow the direction of the swerve. And no sudden braking! Keep the weight off your front tyres and maintain speed, before changing down your gears, pulling safely to the side of the road and coming to a gradual stop.

Punctures can happen at any time, and often it’s out of our control, so it’s vital you’re prepared to take the correct action when it happens.

For more information about our CPC courses, contact WeTrainCPC on 01582 383033 or rue@wetraincpc.co.uk.

Long distance lorry driving is a rewarding career with excellent benefits. It can also be fast paced and busy, and learning how to manage large vehicles over long distances is key to a long and successful driving career. Here’s our top tips.

You’re bigger than everyone else! Spatial awareness if key when driving large vehicles – give other vehicles lots of space in front of you as heavy vehicles will take a longer time and distance to break effectively. When changing lanes, be aware of your many blind spots, diligently use your indicators and try to change lanes as little as possible – only when it’s necessary!

Look after yourself. Make sure you take your regular breaks every time, and make sure you are able to get enough sleep between trips. If you’re feeling too tired to drive, never risk it – stop the vehicle in a safe place and where possible aim to take a 15-20 minute power nap.

Maintain your vehicle. It’s important to have a basic understanding of vehicle maintenance just in case. Check your vehicle thoroughly before you start any long journey.

What are your top tips for long distance lorry driving?

For more information about our CPC courses, contact WeTrainCPC on 01582 383033 or rue@wetraincpc.co.uk.