Harry it was the same at Pickfords you had blokes who were driving the big out fits push and pull only qualified for a class 2A as they were semi automatic gearbox on the contractors and constructors,
I was on a Scammell highwayman 4x2 tractor for most of the qualifying period so I had to take the test for artics which I took before it was necessary as it gave me the opportunity to have another go if I ballsed it up but I did it first time though.
We had 15 drivers at Sheffield depot but only 5 artics at the time so most of the tractor drivers took the HGV1 test bar the 2 big tractor drivers who were in their 60s and did not want to take it.and one driver failed it first time and he had done a load 140feet long load on twin bogies on the morning of his test from Newton Chambers Chapeltown to the freightliner goods yard
cheers Johnnie