Been doing Class C work for a good few years now and have had the urge to go for my Class 1 for a while now. Got a free assessment booked for Sat morning so I can have a try then the big decision.
Question is: Wagon and Drag or Artic?
Everyone has an opinion - either way - good and bad and tbh I cannot make up my mind although the W&D is apparently the cheaper of the two - decisions decisions? 
I’ll let you know how it goes!
If you do W&D then its advisable to do half a day on artic after passing the CE test
You already drive a class 2, I’m assuming quite competently, personally I’d go down the artic route. That way you’re throwing yourself in at the deep end.
If you’d never driven an artic and were asked to at short notice, you’d be far less likely to crap yourself.
My £0.02 anyway.
You have 2 objectives. First is to pass your test. Second is to be able to drive both artic and w+d. (It’s daft to assume that w+d is just for training - there’s more and more being used by major fleet operators).
For objective1, w+d everytime. Altogether easier so chances of a 1st time pass are increased.
For objective 2, a couple of hours on an artic will give you the confidence to take pre-employment assessments etc and you wont have the pressure of a driving test to worry about.
Where are you?
Pete 
As I said everyone has a different opinion!
My gut feeling the more I think about it is W & D with some Artic training if and when I pass as thats the name of the game IMO and what I really want to achieve as an outcome to all this but as ever the cost is an important factor!
I’ve drove various Class 2’s, mainly RORO, 8 wheel tippers and lots of RCV work so plenty of reversing into tight spaces etc
I’m in the West Mid’s Pete, nr M6 J9.
Andy
Right then, assessment done!
Did about 30 mins on W & D, pretty straightforward roads with little in the way of traffic. All went well and I felt quite at ease with the trailer hooked up - bit strange but thats it really.
I’ve pretty much decided to do the W & D route to C & E for the obvious reasons, cost and ease of passing, the do a few hours extra on the Arctic with no pressure of the test to worry about.
Happy days!
Sensible choice. Who are you training with?
Pete
CTT, Foxes Lane, Wolverhampton as they are local for me.
Test at Featherstone at a guess.
Yes, Featherstone for the test as again its quite nearby.
Shame you weren’t a little closer Pete as I would have jumped at the opportunity to train with you given your excellent references I have been reading over the last few weeks - shame!
You could always travel & stay if you want to do it with Peter
I traveled to Chelmsford ( flair training with John ) from the north east stayed overnight in a Premier Inn less pressure nobody knew I was doing it less distractions as well
I did mine in a W&D but never driven 1 since only ever drove an artic ( but as I had some experience of driving 1 didnt do any extra hrs ) I found it much easier passing in the W&D as the artic ( did fail artic on reverse )
Thanks for that. Out of interest, W. Mids is firmly in my sights!! We get loads of folks from B’ham and W’hampton and have done for years. So, watch this space!
Pete