DSA have today confirmed that testing using an automatic truck, to gain a manual licence, has been put back till further notice - this was on the day most people would have started it -
Good old DSA - I only hope not too many trainers have already made the switch.
john
Was this info via an email from DSA ?
ROG:
Was this info via an email from DSA ?
Yes Rog - recieved today
John
Did they say why or whether the manual B will still upgrade auto C … thinking of the fire service who pass in auto Cs ?
This is an extract from the DSA e-mail that I received today:
“We hope to introduce the following changes, which were originally due to start in January, within the next couple of months.
We’ll let you know the date as soon as possible.
The changes will:
remove the need for 8-forward gear ratios for large test vehicles (category C)
allow people who take a lorry or bus test (category C and D) in an automatic vehicle to get a manual entitlement for those vehicles, if they already have a manual entitlement for cars, lorries or buses, with or without trailers (category B, B+E, C, C+E, C1, C1+E, D, D+E, D1+E)
If you’re an existing driver with an automatic lorry or bus licence you’ll also be able to get this manual entitlement when you exchange or upgrade your licence if you already have a manual entitlement in the above categories.”
No explanation for the delay is given, but I wondered if it was something to do with the need to change domestic legislation, to deal with the B+E manual/auto issue that has been troubling Rog.
MajorRoad:
This is an extract from the DSA e-mail that I received today:“We hope to introduce the following changes, which were originally due to start in January, within the next couple of months.
We’ll let you know the date as soon as possible.
The changes will:
remove the need for 8-forward gear ratios for large test vehicles (category C)
allow people who take a lorry or bus test (category C and D) in an automatic vehicle to get a manual entitlement for those vehicles, if they already have a manual entitlement for cars, lorries or buses, with or without trailers (category B, B+E, C, C+E, C1, C1+E, D, D+E, D1+E)
If you’re an existing driver with an automatic lorry or bus licence you’ll also be able to get this manual entitlement when you exchange or upgrade your licence if you already have a manual entitlement in the above categories.”No explanation for the delay is given, but I wondered if it was something to do with the need to change domestic legislation, to deal with the B+E manual/auto issue that has been troubling Rog.
As they are allowing current auto with manual B to upgrade then it cannot be a legal issue IMO
Had my suspicions about this as the DSA never gave a exact start date.
Hi Rog,
This taken directly from DSA website:
Changes made to reflect that the legislation is not yet in place for candidates taking a test in an automatic vehicle to be given manual entitlement. The legislation will come into effect sometime in February.
3 January 2014 11:19am
MajorRoad:
Hi Rog,
This taken directly from DSA website:Changes made to reflect that the legislation is not yet in place for candidates taking a test in an automatic vehicle to be given manual entitlement. The legislation will come into effect sometime in February.
3 January 2014 11:19am
Ah - its one part of the legal changes required … got it … ta
They still not allowing b+e in auto without restriction though which is madness.
Noworries:
They still not allowing b+e in auto without restriction though which is madness.
Correct if B manual then B+E auto but incorrect if you mean B manual then C+E auto giving B+E manual
Give it 20 years and they might just have sorted their act out, by then all vehicles will be auto anyway 
Had many phone conversations with Colin Maddock today and to put it simply …
The whole of this directive is postponed and is likely to start in April
That means anyone who has manual B and other Cs or Ds in auto will not get them upgraded until it is implemented (April?)
If LGV training schools have already changed their fleet from manual to auto then those taking the test will only get that category in auto but will be able to exchange it for manual when the changes are implemented
FOOTNOTE:- re B+E - once changes are implemented…
B+E will be a manual B+E if passed B manual and any +E auto in the C or D categories
If passed B manual then B+E auto the B+E will be auto not manual - that is likely to change if/when the legislators get around to looking at the UK law on this - the DSA have said that for B+E to remain auto in this situation is not logical when others upgrades give manual especially as NI already gives manual for B+E when taken in auto where the driver already holds a B manual
I have a letter from the DSA with the info as listed above for the B+E issue
All this confusion and delay is staggering. Even Sir Humphrey couldn’t make it up.
Poor Peter Smythe and any other training schools with autos on order must be furious.
There is bound to be a date in the directive by which this must be implemented by or a large fine for the UK will apply
Rog
Have sent you pm
Steve
Yes, it’s annoying. But it’s worth keeping in context. The DSA were never more specific than “January”. My information, from a very senior source within the DSA, is that it will happen in the next few weeks - certainly got the impression that March would be late and that it would likely be in February. And if that’s the case, the delay is only a week or two.
The delay with implementation is due to a shortage of government lawyers (unbelievable!) who need to tidy up the legislation ready for the Minister.
It hasn’t affected me; we have a new auto on order which will be will us in April. The delay with implementation is due to a shortage of government lawyers (unbelievable!) who need to tidy up the legislation ready for the Minister.
After the delays with the loaded vehicles, all trainers should have got the idea that things don’t always happen strictly on time. Nothing we can do about it so it’s a waste of time moaning.
Pete 