m_attt:
And thats the problem. If you cant pass in a manual , then do in an auto are you really safe to be out on your own or even driving if cant cope with the basics.
Have to disagree with you, I had my lessons in a manual and failed the test as I missed a gear while pulling off causing traffic behind to stop. Now the choice was do I spend another £250 on a retest in a manual or take that potential problem out by doing it in an auto. I went for the auto mainly on a financial basis as driving the manual wasn’t a big issue apart from that missed gear, unsafe I think not.
m_attt:
And thats the problem. If you cant pass in a manual , then do in an auto are you really safe to be out on your own or even driving if cant cope with the basics.
Have to disagree with you, I had my lessons in a manual and failed the test as I missed a gear while pulling off causing traffic behind to stop. Now the choice was do I spend another £250 on a retest in a manual or take that potential problem out by doing it in an auto. I went for the auto mainly on a financial basis as driving the manual wasn’t a big issue apart from that missed gear, unsafe I think not.
m_attt:
And thats the problem. If you cant pass in a manual , then do in an auto are you really safe to be out on your own or even driving if cant cope with the basics.
Have to disagree with you, I had my lessons in a manual and failed the test as I missed a gear while pulling off causing traffic behind to stop. Now the choice was do I spend another £250 on a retest in a manual or take that potential problem out by doing it in an auto. I went for the auto mainly on a financial basis as driving the manual wasn’t a big issue apart from that missed gear, unsafe I think not.
So your saying a retest was cheaper in an auto??
No try reading my explanation, did I want to risk missing a gear again and fork out for another test or play a bit safer by doing it in an auto.
So there for my point still stands. You didnt want a manual test as you werent confident enough with the vehicle or your ability and thaught you could potentially make a serious mistake. Backing up what i said that cant pass in a geared vehicle so do in an auto are you really ready to be on your own. Loaded with stress of finding delivery points as well as looking at everything happening an being in control of the truck.
Not a dig at you personally, just from reading some of the failed in manual or scared of manual so auto only posts on here.
m_attt:
So there for my point still stands. You didnt want a manual test as you werent confident enough with the vehicle or your ability and thaught you could potentially make a serious mistake. Backing up what i said that cant pass in a geared vehicle so do in an auto are you really ready to be on your own. Loaded with stress of finding delivery points as well as looking at everything happening an being in control of the truck.
Not a dig at you personally, just from reading some of the failed in manual or scared of manual so auto only posts on here.
I’m not scared of a manual at all in fact I got on very well with it but the fact is one little ■■■■ up cost me another £250 so I decided to take that out of the equation. The switchable box was nice and easy to use but sometimes ■■■■ happens, are you seriously saying that your own driving is 100% perfect. I’ve been driving for over 30 years without an accident so does that make me perfect or fortunate, personally I think I’m a great driver but then don’t we all. I’ve passed my test with experience of both gearboxes so not really a bad thing and strangely enough I’ve had manual and auto cars without a problem. No harm in optimising your chances to achieve your goals.
m_attt:
And thats the problem. If you cant pass in a manual , then do in an auto are you really safe to be out on your own or even driving if cant cope with the basics.
I can drive a manual with no issues actually and I’m perfectly safe.
Driving on your test, nerves, someone watching your every move and then added pressure of a 4 over 4 gearbox which is very new to me wasn’t a good combination.
The auto box just made the test easier. I prefer a manual box but as far as tests go it would be auto every time! Why make it any harder for myself?
Do your training in manual, you don’t want to pass on auto and then face employer with manual truck fleet only or manual trucks for newbies only
If you fail your exam you can take it again in auto. Or do as Evil suggested, get licence on auto and then they manual lessons. What ever you decide make sure you get some training in manual, because next time its not gonna be a L lorry and instructor next to you.
Be versatile, knowing how to drive manual will boost your confidence and may be better employment opportunities.
m_attt:
And thats the problem. If you cant pass in a manual , then do in an auto are you really safe to be out on your own or even driving if cant cope with the basics.
As some one who regularly interviews drivers if you guys were to attend an interview with me and told me you’d failed previous tests because you couldn’t get the gears on a manual right then I can assure you that you would not be successful. The reason would be purely on safety grounds.
I’ve no doubt it is easier, in fact far easier in my opinion to pass in an auto but I take you on, give you an artic fully loaded with 44 ton and you’re not confident enough to find the gears or because you’ve passed on an auto it’s a bit too much to think about as a newbie can you imagine the consequences ■■!
It’s shouldn’t be about what is easier it should always be about safety of everyone on the road.
In my opinion if you’ve failed on manuals and then had to swap to an auto to pass because the gears have confused you or in some of your words " it’s less to think about’ then I would seriously question if your safe to be driving around a 44 ton killing machine!!
On a separate note I heard a story the other day where a driver passed his class one not only in an auto but when doing the reverse procedure on test had a reversing camera in the cab!!!
When will drivers get that it’ shouldn’t be about what’s easier it should be about what is safe for everybody.
Further more in an industry where we now have to completed cpc courses and other awareness courses such as the bike courses etc how can it be right that drivers are failing in manuals because the gears are confusing them but it’s then ok to jump into an auto to make it easier to pass the test and are then given a full licence to drive the very same vehicle they have failed on because it confused them when they completed their test!!! It seems pure madness to me and totally contradicts all the new legislation that’s supposed to be making the industry safer!
Coolrider:
In my opinion if you’ve failed on manuals and then had to swap to an auto to pass because the gears have confused you or in some of your words " it’s less to think about’ then I would seriously question if your safe to be driving around a 44 ton killing machine!!
On a separate note I heard a story the other day where a driver passed his class one not only in an auto but when doing the reverse procedure on test had a reversing camera in the cab!!!
When will drivers get that it’ shouldn’t be about what’s easier it should be about what is safe for everybody.
I see a lot of older/more experienced guys say stuff like this.
Someone where I work who passed his test in the 80s ( I’m guessing ) cost him £400 and apparently back then you only need to take one test for Cat C and C+E. I think he said it cost about 2 weeks wages.
My Cat C and CPC cost about £2000 when I take my C+E it will cost about £3500 altogether assuming I fail once and pass on the 2nd.
I have no problem with the tests being harder. Heck might as well make the licence expire every 5 years and get us to retake it again. See how many of the experienced guys give up once they are several hundred pound out of pocked because they aren’t driving the way the examiner would like them to drive.
Tests should be harder, I agree. The problem is they cost too much money.
If I had the money I would happily be taught in a W+D and artic and every manual available but I don’t. So I am going to go for the option that gives me the highest chance of success.
Coolrider:
As some one who regularly interviews drivers if you guys were to attend an interview with me and told me you’d failed previous tests because you couldn’t get the gears on a manual right then I can assure you that you would not be successful. The reason would be purely on safety grounds.
No problem with the gears just sods law I happened to miss one at the wrong time, the examiner even said if there wasn’t traffic behind me I would have passed.
I’ve no doubt it is easier, in fact far easier in my opinion to pass in an auto but I take you on, give you an artic fully loaded with 44 ton and you’re not confident enough to find the gears or because you’ve passed on an auto it’s a bit too much to think about as a newbie can you imagine the consequences ■■!
It’s shouldn’t be about what is easier it should always be about safety of everyone on the road.
In my opinion if you’ve failed on manuals and then had to swap to an auto to pass because the gears have confused you or in some of your words " it’s less to think about’ then I would seriously question if your safe to be driving around a 44 ton killing machine!!
So if the instructor only has auto C+E trucks you deem them inadequate & to refer to a truck as a 44 ton killing machine is strange to say the least, personally in over 30 years of driving I am accident free & fully intend to stay that way!
On a separate note I heard a story the other day where a driver passed his class one not only in an auto but when doing the reverse procedure on test had a reversing camera in the cab!!!
Again don’t get your issue with auto if thats what the driving instructor supplies & you go on about safety but then dismiss a camera that can enhance it
When will drivers get that it’ shouldn’t be about what’s easier it should be about what is safe for everybody.
If something is made easier it should also be safer!
Further more in an industry where we now have to completed cpc courses and other awareness courses such as the bike courses etc how can it be right that drivers are failing in manuals because the gears are confusing them but it’s then ok to jump into an auto to make it easier to pass the test and are then given a full licence to drive the very same vehicle they have failed on because it confused them when they completed their test!!! It seems pure madness to me and totally contradicts all the new legislation that’s supposed to be making the industry safer!
Finances do come into it so why not make things easier for yourself & you seem to contradict youself on several points. We all have different opinions but rest assured most people do not take this lightly, it is after all a big investment & a big change considering I’ve been with my present employer for 17 years. Believe me this is no whim!
Coolrider:
In my opinion if you’ve failed on manuals and then had to swap to an auto to pass because the gears have confused you or in some of your words " it’s less to think about’ then I would seriously question if your safe to be driving around a 44 ton killing machine!!
On a separate note I heard a story the other day where a driver passed his class one not only in an auto but when doing the reverse procedure on test had a reversing camera in the cab!!!
When will drivers get that it’ shouldn’t be about what’s easier it should be about what is safe for everybody.
I see a lot of older/more experienced guys say stuff like this.
Someone where I work who passed his test in the 80s ( I’m guessing ) cost him £400 and apparently back then you only need to take one test for Cat C and C+E. I think he said it cost about 2 weeks wages.
My Cat C and CPC cost about £2000 when I take my C+E it will cost about £3500 altogether assuming I fail once and pass on the 2nd.
I have no problem with the tests being harder. Heck might as well make the licence expire every 5 years and get us to retake it again. See how many of the experienced guys give up once they are several hundred pound out of pocked because they aren’t driving the way the examiner would like them to drive.
Tests should be harder, I agree. The problem is they cost too much money.
If I had the money I would happily be taught in a W+D and artic and every manual available but I don’t. So I am going to go for the option that gives me the highest chance of success.
The point I’m making is if you have failed in a manual vehicle and then choose to go for an auto because it’s easier Then that tells me that you’re not confident and suitably skilled enough to be driving a truck.
It shouldn’t be about the easy way to pass it should be about the safest.
Don’t forget your wife, children, mum or dad could be in front of the driver who failed in a manual but because he now has a full licence is now driving a fully loaded 44 ton killing machine that he failed a test in only a few weeks earlier!!! How would you feel if, God forbid something was to happen to one of them and then you found that out!!
Coolrider:
As some one who regularly interviews drivers if you guys were to attend an interview with me and told me you’d failed previous tests because you couldn’t get the gears on a manual right then I can assure you that you would not be successful. The reason would be purely on safety grounds.
No problem with the gears just sods law I happened to miss one at the wrong time, the examiner even said if there wasn’t traffic behind me I would have passed.
I’ve no doubt it is easier, in fact far easier in my opinion to pass in an auto but I take you on, give you an artic fully loaded with 44 ton and you’re not confident enough to find the gears or because you’ve passed on an auto it’s a bit too much to think about as a newbie can you imagine the consequences ■■!
It’s shouldn’t be about what is easier it should always be about safety of everyone on the road.
In my opinion if you’ve failed on manuals and then had to swap to an auto to pass because the gears have confused you or in some of your words " it’s less to think about’ then I would seriously question if your safe to be driving around a 44 ton killing machine!!
So if the instructor only has auto C+E trucks you deem them inadequate & to refer to a truck as a 44 ton killing machine is strange to say the least, personally in over 30 years of driving I am accident free & fully intend to stay that way!
On a separate note I heard a story the other day where a driver passed his class one not only in an auto but when doing the reverse procedure on test had a reversing camera in the cab!!!
Again don’t get your issue with auto if thats what the driving instructor supplies & you go on about safety but then dismiss a camera that can enhance it
When will drivers get that it’ shouldn’t be about what’s easier it should be about what is safe for everybody.
If something is made easier it should also be safer!
Further more in an industry where we now have to completed cpc courses and other awareness courses such as the bike courses etc how can it be right that drivers are failing in manuals because the gears are confusing them but it’s then ok to jump into an auto to make it easier to pass the test and are then given a full licence to drive the very same vehicle they have failed on because it confused them when they completed their test!!! It seems pure madness to me and totally contradicts all the new legislation that’s supposed to be making the industry safer!
Finances do come into it so why not make things easier for yourself & you seem to contradict youself on several points. We all have different opinions but rest assured most people do not take this lightly, it is after all a big investment & a big change considering I’ve been with my present employer for 17 years. Believe me this is no whim!
Just because it’s easier in no way makes it safer.
So you pass in an auto and turn up for an interview with me and we don’t have any autos for you to drive. I ask you what experience you have in a manual and you tell me I failed my first test in a manual so I decided I’d do it in an auto because it was easier.
I then ask you what your like at reversing and you tell me that your good and looked through the rear camera on your lessons and test. Trouble is none of my trucks have rear cameras! I think the look on my face would tell you all you need to know!
[/quote]
Just because it’s easier in no way makes it safer.
So you pass in an auto and turn up for an interview with me and we don’t have any autos for you to drive. I ask you what experience you have in a manual and you tell me I failed my first test in a manual so I decided I’d do it in an auto because it was easier.
I then ask you what your like at reversing and you tell me that your good and looked through the rear camera on your lessons and test. Trouble is none of my trucks have rear cameras! I think the look on my face would tell you all you need to know!
[/quote]
So as far as I’m aware PSTT only have auto artics, does that make them unsuitable as trainers? I’m not saying I require a camera but that it can only add to safety. I decided to do my retest in an auto just in case I missed a gear again, my pockets are not bottomless! I 30 odd years experience in a manual by the way. I think if i had an interview with you you would tell by the look on my face that I wouldn’t work for you anyway!!
If you were to buy a truck would you go to the dealer & ask for one of them 44 ton killing machines or a truck? Personally I want to drive a truck not one of your strange killing machines!!
I think we need to remember that NEW drivers are learning more than just gears on their training, and I’d SUGGEST that once a NEW driver has got to grips with the other aspects of truck driving, they are better prepared AND ABLE to get to grips with the gears of a manual truck. As said above, a NEWBIE is shelling out thousands of pounds to get their licence, and the amount of training provided for that probably isn’t enough for a lot of candidates to pass first time in a manual.
They also don’t make the rules, the DLVA do! So why shouldn’t they take advantage of this?
Yes there is a responsibility in driving a 44t “killing machine”, but do you really think the unscrupulous (and probably more dangerous) won’t take advantage of the system? Of course they will…
OK, candidates that pass in an Auto may fail assessments if they are done in a manual, but is that a big problem? As all it means to me is that they need more practice or experience in a manual…
Finally, just because someone passes in a manual, it doesn’t make them a better driver in the long term!
Just because it’s easier in no way makes it safer.
So you pass in an auto and turn up for an interview with me and we don’t have any autos for you to drive. I ask you what experience you have in a manual and you tell me I failed my first test in a manual so I decided I’d do it in an auto because it was easier.
I then ask you what your like at reversing and you tell me that your good and looked through the rear camera on your lessons and test. Trouble is none of my trucks have rear cameras! I think the look on my face would tell you all you need to know!
[/quote]
So as far as I’m aware PSTT only have auto artics, does that make them unsuitable as trainers? I’m not saying I require a camera but that it can only add to safety. I decided to do my retest in an auto just in case I missed a gear again, my pockets are not bottomless! I 30 odd years experience in a manual by the way. I think if i had an interview with you you would tell by the look on my face that I wouldn’t work for you anyway!!
If you were to buy a truck would you go to the dealer & ask for one of them 44 ton killing machines or a truck? Personally I want to drive a truck not one of your strange killing machines!!
[/quote]
If you don’t understand that a 44 ton truck in the wrong hands is not a killing machine then for everyone’s sake please do us all a favour a choose a different career path.
[/quote]
If you don’t understand that a 44 ton truck in the wrong hands is not a killing machine then for everyone’s sake please do us all a favour a choose a different career path.I
[/quote]
My car in the wrong hands can kill but I still refer to it as a car!!! you are truly unreal in your lack of understanding. I take it everything with you is black and white with no in between, I am a responsible safe driver that has passed the appropriate tests to take my chosen career path. How pretentious of you to speak for everyone, this is supposed to be a forum for new drivers to get help and advice not to be judged and put down by someone as blinkered as yourself.
Anyway I won’t let you deter me and I will continue to drive in the safe manner that I always have!
If you don’t understand that a 44 ton truck in the wrong hands is not a killing machine then for everyone’s sake please do us all a favour a choose a different career path.I
[/quote]
My car in the wrong hands can kill but I still refer to it as a car!!! you are truly unreal in your lack of understanding. I take it everything with you is black and white with no in between, I am a responsible safe driver that has passed the appropriate tests to take my chosen career path. How pretentious of you to speak for everyone, this is supposed to be a forum for new drivers to get help and advice not to be judged and put down by someone as blinkered as yourself.
Anyway I won’t let you deter me and I will continue to drive in the safe manner that I always have!
[/quote]
Well put it this way I’ve never been backward in coming forward if you understand me.
As for my lack of understanding well I’ve done ok in this game for the last 25 plus years
Any way let’s not end on a bad note. I wish you good luck with the manual lessons. Keep trying you’ll get there … Maybe
If you don’t understand that a 44 ton truck in the wrong hands is not a killing machine then for everyone’s sake please do us all a favour a choose a different career path.I
My car in the wrong hands can kill but I still refer to it as a car!!! you are truly unreal in your lack of understanding. I take it everything with you is black and white with no in between, I am a responsible safe driver that has passed the appropriate tests to take my chosen career path. How pretentious of you to speak for everyone, this is supposed to be a forum for new drivers to get help and advice not to be judged and put down by someone as blinkered as yourself.
Anyway I won’t let you deter me and I will continue to drive in the safe manner that I always have!
[/quote]
Well put it this way I’ve never been backward in coming forward if you understand me.
As for my lack of understanding well I’ve done ok in this game for the last 25 plus years
Any way let’s not end on a bad note. I wish you good luck with the manual lessons. Keep trying you’ll get there … Maybe
[/quote]
Already there
Great reading is this thread. IMO there is no right or wrong in taking your training and test in a manual or auto.
However any candidate who is fearful of taking training in a manual should seriously consider if they are taking the correct career path for themselves.
My personal view is that the C test should be conducted in a manual and CE in manual or auto.
Of course they will…
