Juddian:
I requested a manual, no longer an option apparently.However the new generation of auto gearboxes have been much improved, i’m yet to try the latest ZF autobox but those i speak to rate it highly.
Glad for you that you have a boss who tries to please and retain his staff (wise man that), another small haulier whose drivers i speak to regularly also tries his best to get manuals if the driver due a new lorry requests one, some makes this is no longer possible of course.
The new TRAXTON does seem to be a good box ,the internals are basically the same as it predecessor ,they just seemed to have done wonders with the software ,and I remember it isn’t air operated ,And in DAF it is a push rather than a pull clutch which should help along with prolonging the life of the release bearing