My HGV Training Episode 4 - Operating a Tail Lift

[@davidjones332]

The thing he didn't mention is that if you are stood on the tail-lift as you raise it, be very careful your toes aren't overhanging the platform and under the rear of the loadbed, or you are in instant pobble mode.

[@RiverMersey]

Yes, also the same when the lift is being lowered to the ground while the operator is standing beside the truck - to be fair, though, we might expect this info was contained on the sign glued to the side of the truck

[@candygender]

some tail lifts have the buttons on the floor of the tailift so you need to press then with your foot, it keeps your feet safe too

[@misterflibble9799]

A few things he didn't mention: 1. If you switch the tail-lift over to internal operation, don't forget to switch it back before closing the door. You look a right numpty if you close (and seal) everything up, and then have to re-open it (and break the seal) because you can't stow the tail-lift. 2. ALWAYS close the doors with the handles. Never, ever, ever try to close the shutter door by putting fingers into the gaps between the slats. If you do, then the gap closes as the door comes down and crushes your fingers. People have had multiple fingers amputated because of this. For this reason, I'd consider that broken handle to be a safety issue that needs fixing urgently. 3. The tail-lift has a couple of pop-up barriers towards the rear-end. On this tail-lift, it looks like they're secured down with a piece of metal under a bolt, visible at 4:57. This might be a temporary bodge due to the release mechanism being broken, or it might be the "correct" mechanism. These barriers are intended to stop the load rolling too far (up to the top of the ramped section) and falling off the back end.

[@highpath4776]

Yes, if on a camber , its not possible to adjust most tail lifts - I had problems working welfare ambulances with very heavy people in wheelchairs getting them on, and locked safely, and turning to get them in and out of position

[@ashley_neal]

@Mister Fibble Great info! Thanks!!

[@misterflibble9799]

@Lancashirelad that, or being reversed into something (like a bollard or low wall), or getting rear-ended.

[@kenbrown2808]

that looks like quite a decent one. it's been a constant amazement how many owners will spend tons of money on a truck and then put on the cheapest lift they can find; which then bends the first time they use it, and it never works quite right after.

[@highpath4776]

is it because its a training vehicle, if you can work with a defective one the good ones should be straightforward

[@williamfence566]

As an agency driver I'm still amazed at the lack of training any new contract does when you arrive. At best I've had a very brief driver assessment at worst " here's your keys and delivery notes". Unless you ask, no one shows you anymore. Taillifts are quite straight forward and part of the defect check but it's still a potential hazard so take your time . Under slung can be more problematic. Don't forget as soon as you take that vehicle out the driver is responsible.

[@Jonc25]

I was trying to remember how many times i had gone to drive off with the tail lift still down. 😄

[@grahamnutt8958]

Its even worse when the damned thing drops whilst driving.... Been there and lucky to have got away with it, mate. Isolated TL was never a thing back in my day. Respect, buddy 👊👍

[@Jonc25]

@@grahamnutt8958 Had that happen also m8 due to faulty push buttons damn thing lowered itself. 👍

[@highpath4776]

and remember to re-instate it and shut the doors after unloading for delivery as the little blighters passing by will nick anything out of the back

[@seberous]

I was going to say those cones look like Paul getting you setup to do the S shape reverse exercise.

[@RiverMersey]

Some of these tail lifts are ***VERY*** strong! About 10 years ago I was working as part of a team of forklift drivers. 1 of the drivers steered his forklift truck too close around the rear of a tail lift - tail lift was completely undamaged but the forklift truck's roll-over cage was torn and bent so badly out of shape that it was written-off and replaced with a new cage!

[@benjaminhague2675]

How did you find the adjustment to air brakes mate? I find them to behave almost like a clutch with a biting point that engages but with depression of the pedal instead of release 😂😂 its quite an adjustment from the hydrolic breaks installed in most smaller vehicles thays for sure.

[@benjaminhague2675]

@Lancashirelad I hadn't seen that video, I'll take a look at a later time.

[@josephmarsh8235]

Great learning the tail lift Ashley 👍

[@dennisphoenix1]

Ashley did the instructor mention the 5 tonne weight in the back of the wagon ?? When I did my test there was no weight . Now it's more realistic with handling and braking .

[@eewead]

About to embark on my hgv training and things have changed. The test has been separated into 2 sections (module 3a and 3b), and you can't do 3b(normal test) until you've passed the test for 3a which is reversing. So I'm booked in to do a few hours reversing training before straight away doing the test for it. Not sure how I feel about it...

[@EpicThe112]

American and Canadian Lorry drivers S shaped reverse move is identical to what there are going to be tested offset parking for their HGV licences. I wonder why you aren't thought to do parallel parking and alley docking. Perhaps DVLA DSA should do those maneuvers

[@highpath4776]

Given so much is now covered in a HGV training, what additional is needed for the regular driver CPC, ( presumably law changes - like cabs with vision panels for cycles or similar ?). Are Electric Trucks regarded as Automatics as regards gearbox licence?

[@cheebwhackah7970]

Are you going to quit the day job and take up trucking 😆 or is it just something to cross off the list of being able to drive

[@highpath4776]

Probably wants to drive a race car transporter at weekends !

[@123MondayTuesday]

Can you drive a HGV cab without a trailer on just a class 2 licence?

[@regiondeltas]

Yes - C licence = any size, rigid, vehicle. +E just adds the trailer element - no trailer, no requirement for +E

[@pussinboots1145]

@@regiondeltas I was on the understanding you can drive a tractor unit without a C+E licence but only with the fifth wheel removed. I think that's how Chris Eubank used to drive a unit with a car licence as it weighed less than 7.5 tonne.

[@regiondeltas]

@@pussinboots1145 Can't imagine any legal precedent for that. It's like saying you can't drive a car with a tow bar!

[@pussinboots1145]

@@regiondeltas Yeah you might be right i'm not sure.

[@misterflibble9799]

@@pussinboots1145 Removing the fifth wheel is no longer relevant. It used to be a requirement many years ago (at least pre-1997, possibly even earlier) because of the way the old "Class 1", "Class 2" and "Class 3" were defined. Nowadays: 1. If you have Category C entitlement on your licence (which Ashley is learning for here), then you can drive a tractor unit of any weight (technically, Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)), without a trailer. 2. If you have a pre-1997 car licence, then you will automatically have Category C1 entitlement (Goods Vehicles up to 7.5t MAM) as grandfather rights. If you can find a tractor unit that weighs under 7.5t (with driver, fuel, etc.), then you could downplate it (change the DVSA registration to limit the legal MAM to 7.5t), and then you can legally drive it on your car licence. Of course, it would then be useless for towing trailers (even by someone with a full C+E licence), because most tractor units will weigh close to 7.5t, so adding a trailer will put it over the 7.5t limit.

[@zxbzxbzxb1]

Not sure how useful this will be with my MX-5 but it was jolly interesting all the same :)

[@cmartin_ok]

Different sort of tail lift on an MX5 ;-)

[@markm-ci6rj]

Is tail lift operation part of a test these days???? There are different types of tail lift but most trucks don't have them!

[@MageZathara]

Longer videos plz 😂😂

[@ashley_neal]

This is the last of the shorter ones!

[@realhass]

I didn’t know that opening “tail lift” can be lethal im only kidding Ash 😂

[@MrBuzzy92]

That truck is in a bit of a state.

[@Rhyd]

Whilst the truck looks a bit rough, and potentially the people working on it haven’t been that through. They are commercial vehicles that are operational most of the time, sometimes the fixes have to be quick and done on the roadside or between jobs

[@misterflibble9799]

@@Rhyd Driving schools generally buy trucks that have come to the end of their working lives as a goods carriers, because they're not worth the ongoing cost of keeping them going. At that point, they're sold off pretty cheaply. As they approach that point, the operators won't bother doing much maintenance, as what's the point? But yes, the broken door handle is a bit of a safety issue. It might encourage people to try to close the door by putting fingers in the gaps between the slats, which will give you serious injuries.

[@rrp6405]

well that is something i will never need to know. thanks

[@GRANTWILLIAMSON-l9t]

Quite a few things wrong here, never open the tail lift from standing behind, operator instructions torn and worn

[@grahamnutt8958]

Suffice to say that I've had quite a few "interesting" experiences with tail-lifts... and it has nothing to do with what my Cat does 🤔 Joking aside..... a nasty accident almost occurred from a load that was insecure - no TL cutoff..... I'm glad that it can be isolated - a far cry from the old days. Stay safe everyone 👍

[@Jonc25]

Evening Graham. Yes plenty of Tail- lift drama's lol. Most recent, had a vehicle tracker fitted day before, drove 183 miles to 1st delivery to find they had disconnected the power to the tail-lift behind the dashboard. Boss was not a happy man that day. 🤬😆

[@grahamnutt8958]

@@Jonc25 DOH!!! At least that wasn't your fault.

[@pussinboots1145]

@@Jonc25 At least he knew where you were :)

[@Jonc25]

@@grahamnutt8958 Definitely a DOH!! moment. 😆

[@pussinboots1145]

@@Jonc25 I had a tracker fitted to mine about 4 years ago but it didn't work when the head lights were on.

[@will4may175]

Tail lift training ? I never got any of that on my recent Cat C training and test, I wasn't even shown all the securing things like chain/strap tensioners, I've had to learn them from YT vids.

[@BigDavie2000]

I've had to show a few agency drivers that have turned up with a load to my store how to operate ratchet straps. I had one who cut the strap because he couldn't figure out how to release it and wasn't willing to ask for help, to make matters worse he cut the ratchet side.

[@will4may175]

@@BigDavie2000 Ouch, and it's a simple thing to learn, although tbh nothing on the trucks is hard to learn, as long as someone shows you which is what annoys me about the lack of training I got for my £1400 even though I have a certificate to say I'm good enough.

[@cw2126]

👍👍👍

[@Keithbarber]

🥇well done in beating me 👍😆

[@grahamnutt8958]

@@Keithbarber LOL..... I do enjoy this "who posts 1st" as a bit of fun.... I'm not even on the Podium 😁

[@Keithbarber]

@@grahamnutt8958 it's all a good laugh

[@Keithbarber]

2

[@jake8793]

Keith, may I ask why you pose in your underwear?

[@grahamnutt8958]

@@jake8793 Because he can? It makes for a talking point lol.

[@pussinboots1145]

@@jake8793 He's smuggling a budgie.