Had 2 assessment drives this week, one used and iveco lorry with a standard 6 speed gear box, other company used a scania with a 4 over 4 8 speed box.
I found the 8 speed split er box easier.
Just thought I’d share!!
I agree that the 4/4 are easier as you only have to find 4 gears in one range then 4 in another where as the 6 speed can be tricky if the gears are close together…
Auto would be easier still 
ROG:
Auto would be easier still
It certainly is,I honestly can’t remeber the last time I drive a manual!
ckm1981:
ROG:
Auto would be easier stillIt certainly is,I honestly can’t remeber the last time I drive a manual!
Just over a week ago when I went to work
Just moved to my permanent truck today, after driving the relief truck last week, and it’s a scania 62 plate. Took a while to get back into 4/4 but once there not too bad. Only thing I hate about scania is the on off clutch. Couple times I tried setting off as I would in a normal clutch looking for a bite point but it sat there as if in 8th. Till I realised just dump clutch and go!
Can’t wait to get brand new one they promised I’m getting .
But yes I prefer 4/4
An auto may well be easier rog, till I turn up to my first job and end up in a manual, have a panic I can’t work gears, but not wanting to lose face take it out anyway coz, you know, I can learn on the job, and cut someone up, or worse, have a serious accident while trying to drive an 18+ton truck I’m wholey under qualified to drive!
Wouldn’t want that now would we!!
An auto may well be easier rog, till I turn up to my first job and end up in a manual, have a panic I can’t work gears, but not wanting to lose face take it out anyway coz, you know, I can learn on the job, and cut someone up, or worse, have a serious accident while trying to drive an 18+ton truck I’m wholey under qualified to drive!
That simply isn’t the case though. Until 2005, 99.9% of folks trained on a straight 5 or 6 speed box. To my knowledge, no-one got killed by a driver getting into an 8 speed afterwards. No-one taught me to use an 8 speed, a splitter or several other variations. And that was before the days of utube and Google.
There’s nonsense talked about learning on a manual - but you will only learn on one manual. What about all the others you may or may not encounter?
Even before the change in rules, it was perfectly acceptable to use a 6 speed splitter box but not use the splitter. In other words, a straight 6 speed box.
We’re going down the dangerous path of assuming that everyone is incapable of rational thought and would not be able to master a range change box without major hassle.
But we continue to offer the choice and I believe that’s important until auto training becomes the accepted norm.
To each their own, but don’t assume that someone trained on auto cant drive a manual.
Pete 
damo84:
…but not wanting to lose face take it out anyway …
And that’s the crux of the matter! If your not happy - ask and tell them so !
It’s the losing face mentality and taking it out when you know your not prepared that causes the issue , not the truck .
They know everyone’s had to begin somewhere so ask them. So what if they rib you a bit, at end of day they WILL help you rather than see you crash and burn in a job
Peter Smythe:
An auto may well be easier rog, till I turn up to my first job and end up in a manual, have a panic I can’t work gears, but not wanting to lose face take it out anyway coz, you know, I can learn on the job, and cut someone up, or worse, have a serious accident while trying to drive an 18+ton truck I’m wholey under qualified to drive!
That simply isn’t the case though. Until 2005, 99.9% of folks trained on a straight 5 or 6 speed box. To my knowledge, no-one got killed by a driver getting into an 8 speed afterwards. No-one taught me to use an 8 speed, a splitter or several other variations. And that was before the days of utube and Google.
There’s nonsense talked about learning on a manual - but you will only learn on one manual. What about all the others you may or may not encounter?
Even before the change in rules, it was perfectly acceptable to use a 6 speed splitter box but not use the splitter. In other words, a straight 6 speed box.
We’re going down the dangerous path of assuming that everyone is incapable of rational thought and would not be able to master a range change box without major hassle.
But we continue to offer the choice and I believe that’s important until auto training becomes the accepted norm.
To each their own, but don’t assume that someone trained on auto cant drive a manual.
Pete
I’m not saying if you pass on a standard 6 speed you are unsafe, I am saying if you pass in an auto you will be less safe in a manual as you have little or no knowledge of lorry gears, now while I know a standard 6 speed and an 8 speed range are different, you still have some experience with gears on a truck and the adjustment from one to the other should be minimal, where as only having experience with car gears, passing in an auto then being allowed to drive a manual lorry is somewhat irresponsible.
Just my opinion.
Just my opinion.
To which you are perfectly entitled.
The beauty of this forum is that stuff is up for discussion. There is, IMO, not too much that is black and white/right and wrong.
Pete
I had a drive in a brand new automatic Mercedes Arocs today I was not impressed at all.
Whilst waiting for a gap on a roundabout I discovered a delay when setting off from a standing start. It could consequently cause a fail if used for a test, plus the euro 6 engines sound rough.
Paul
I still dont get the whole gear stick problem, you have to have a manual car licence to pass in an auto and get the full lgv licence. If you have not figured out how to move a stick and press a peddle in a car, then you might find the added issue of flicking the range change or splitter buttons in a lgv a challenge. Maybe you then shouldn’t be driving a manual truck, but also maybe you shouldnt be driving anything (other than auto). It’s really not that hard!
I say this a little tongue in cheek as I know driving is easier for some than others and it is often the timing of when you do things rather than the physical movements. In my opinion only, this seems to be a mountain out of a mole hill. Nothing a little bit of practice wont sort out.
Regarding the behaviour of different Auto boxes, as long as the trainer knows about the characteristics of the box, ie slow pull away, then this can be explained and factored in? if your a driver, then in a brand new vehicle , maybe be extra cautious on the first few stop starts to see how it behaves? common sense sometimes can help 
We’ve got 4 autos. No hesitation or messing about with any of them.
I’ve driven quite a few for selection purposes and, whilst some are more responsive than others, I’ve never had this hesitation problem that folks speak of.
Maybe it’s just me.
Pete
Modern autos should not have a delay - if they do then send it to the garage
I am 100% in agreement with Peter on the gearbox issue
ROG:
Modern autos should not have a delay - if they do then send it to the garageI am 100% in agreement with Peter on the gearbox issue
Have you ever driven them Rog?
Paul
elmet training:
ROG:
Modern autos should not have a delay - if they do then send it to the garageI am 100% in agreement with Peter on the gearbox issue
Have you ever driven them Rog?
Paul
not since 2005 - ASDA lutterworth
You need to drive a truck with a euro 6 engine to know where I’m coming from.
Paul
Peter Smythe:
An auto may well be easier rog, till I turn up to my first job and end up in a manual, have a panic I can’t work gears, but not wanting to lose face take it out anyway coz, you know, I can learn on the job, and cut someone up, or worse, have a serious accident while trying to drive an 18+ton truck I’m wholey under qualified to drive!
That simply isn’t the case though. Until 2005, 99.9% of folks trained on a straight 5 or 6 speed box. To my knowledge, no-one got killed by a driver getting into an 8 speed afterwards. No-one taught me to use an 8 speed, a splitter or several other variations. And that was before the days of utube and Google.
There’s nonsense talked about learning on a manual - but you will only learn on one manual. What about all the others you may or may not encounter?
Even before the change in rules, it was perfectly acceptable to use a 6 speed splitter box but not use the splitter. In other words, a straight 6 speed box.
We’re going down the dangerous path of assuming that everyone is incapable of rational thought and would not be able to master a range change box without major hassle.
But we continue to offer the choice and I believe that’s important until auto training becomes the accepted norm.
To each their own, but don’t assume that someone trained on auto cant drive a manual.
Pete
+1
You need to drive a truck with a euro 6 engine to know where I’m coming from.
Driven a few and own two. No issues at all. I’ll accept they don’t sound especially nice though. But that’s no reflection on their overall performance.
Pete