Firstly, good luck to everyone who’s training or thinking about starting.
I really must put a matter to rest. I’ve been training HGV (call it LGV if you must) for nearly 40 years. Until 1997 when there was a major change in the licencing rules I trained on artics on a daily basis - 23 years of it. Then, because of the requirement to pass Class 2 (CAT C) before Class 1 (CE) we started using drawbar combinations purely for ease of use and for economy of operation. But, because I believed that someone trained on a drawbar would be incapable of driving a “proper artic” I kept one artic with a 40’ box to continue training once the test had been passed.
Did this for about a year during which time I took over 100 people out on the artic. All but one, had no serious problem with it. Yes, some corners were taken a bit wide and some opportunities to go were missed. But nothing remotely dangerous.
The other difference is the coupling. The proceedure is identical so far as the order of events goes. Clearly there is a different type of coupling to deal with - - so what? Learn on an artic and you will still find differences in the couplings. That comes with experience. And no-one can sell that.
So my point is this. For all the talk about learning on “industry compatable vehicles” and being able to drive “real trucks” there is one quite significant point deliberately overlooked. The first thing to do before anyone can drive anything is to pass a test for that category of vehicle. Why, oh why, make it difficult? By all means learn on an artic with a 40+’ trailer - - good luck. And yes, if you pass a test you will be more comfortable when you eventually get to drive one. But remember, the test has to be passed first or none of this matters.
Given that the cost of training is directly related to training time required, why opt for a longer option with more training involved heading towards a test that will be more difficult to pass because of the type of vehicle? Another small matter is that there is also an ever increasing possibility that a candidate can put himself through the joys and delights of training on an artic and then being asked to drive a drawbar combination. Had a call from someone just this week who trained elsewhere on the insistence that he wanted to learn on an artic but has secured a job driving a drawbar. So he’s coming to find out how to drive one. You see, it works both ways - - but that’s often pushed to one side.
Add to that the number of candidates who come to us having failed whatever number of times on an artic. These folk then end up spending money to get stuff put right and, to a man, say they wish they’d done it this way to start with.
BTW the reverse is unbelievably easy. There is no question, no debate, it’s fact.
Before you start shouting, bear in mind that I speak from extensive experience.
Anyone thinking about going from C to CE should have an assessment on an artic and also a drawbar. Please post the outcome on here once you’ve done it and maybe the endless debate will cease.
Once again, good luck all 
Pete
The trendy expression is “no brainer”.
Is it just me?
