so i passed my test on the 7th of jan '15 in an automatic W+D…spent my first week tramping in a 62 plate scania 440 automatic without any issues until my final maneuver of the week when attempting to reverse into a pitch black compound coupled with my trailer which i then proceeded to back into another trailer ripped a curtain and broke the light cluster on my unit … quiet disappointed considering the tests i endured all week without a hitch spent the weekend a bit disheartened by it all but this week been in a 06 plate daf 85 cf manual 4 over 4 and have well and truly sussed it out no problems whatsoever , would like to hear other peoples experinces with starting out in the industry and how you got on there after
Welcome. Congratulations on your pass.
Welcome to the forum. Good to read about your new job experiences. I just passed my CE on the 12th of February in a wagon and drag. I had a call last Wednesday from Fergusons of Spean Bridge saying there could be a trainee position for me and could I come in for an interview. “I’ll be down right away,” says I. Unfortunately the TM is on holiday all week so I’ll have to wait until Monday the 9th. Aaarrrggghh. I’m so excited I just want to get on with it. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I believe the OP experience to be not too unusual. Many newbies will encounter a “misfortune” early on. It’s a very hard way of learning but is not unusual. This is one of the reasons employers can be biased against new drivers. (It’s also a certain fact that, despite years of experience, other drivers get it wrong as well - - which levels the playing field somewhat).
Good to hear that the 4 over 4 was sorted painlessly. The argument rages on about training in auto and then what happens when faced with a range change. For a driver blessed with a modicum of intelligence the answer is “nothing”. No-one ever taught me to use a range change, a splitter, twin splitter - - the list goes on. But I am reasonably intelligent and not incapable of sorting these things out.
Remember that the rule for training with 8 forward gears only came in 10 years ago. Prior to that, 99.9% of drivers were trained on a straight 5 or 6 speed box. And with a totally empty vehicle. And the problems?? None.
So, unless we’re saying that the current newbies are all mentally deficient, I think there’s a lot of fuss over nothing and the OP has proved the point.
Pete 
Richienic:
Welcome to the forum. Good to read about your new job experiences. I just passed my CE on the 12th of February in a wagon and drag. I’m so excited I just want to get on with it. I’ll let you know how it goes.
yea good luck rich keep me posted
Last week Scania, this week given a Daf CF.
That’s a bit harsh doing that to you. Taking away you Scania and giving you a CF just for a minor mishap 
. I’d expect that for far worse crimes 