Would the cab be similar to this 12 speed auto rigid MAN TGX 26.360 that I drove for a week or so recently?
I would say so. Bigger engine. Ours is 480 chipped to 500+. No prob with transmission lag. Not noticed a huge problem with the mirrors though, inevitably, big mirrors will produce a blind spot to some degree.
I am the last to “belittle” anyone running small trucks. Didn’t I mention that we have them too? It’s simply a matter of responding to our customers who are wanting to learn on a full size artic.
Well done on figuring out how to post pictures Pete.
Not got a clue! Someone else has posted the picture - not me.
Pete 
Peter Smythe:
Would the cab be similar to this 12 speed auto rigid MAN TGX 26.360 that I drove for a week or so recently?
I would say so. Bigger engine. Ours is 480 chipped to 500+. No prob with transmission lag. Not noticed a huge problem with the mirrors though, inevitably, big mirrors will produce a blind spot to some degree.
I am the last to “belittle” anyone running small trucks. Didn’t I mention that we have them too? It’s simply a matter of responding to our customers who are wanting to learn on a full size artic.
Well done on figuring out how to post pictures Pete.
Not got a clue! Someone else has posted the picture - not me.
Pete
Yes you mentioned that you did have run of the mill trucks, be interesting to see the pass rate on it, like I say if it works then all well and good! I’m sure if it’s working out you will let us know lol
OldHector:
Hi Pete,
I guess that would impress an examiner though…]
With respect it’s the driving bit that one should be impressing the examiners with, the standard of trucks are irrelevant as long it’s meets the DVSA requirements. 
Paul
Examiners are sufficiently “impressed”. No need to try anything else in that department. Not sure how many times I have to repeat that this vehicle was purchased simply in response to customer demand. With us, choice is key. And that’s the way it’ll stay until customers tell us differently.
I anticipate no problems whatsoever with training folks on this truck, quite the opposite.
Pete
Its an MAN, every single one of them have huge blindspots created by those massive mirrors.
LATEST FLEET ADDITION AT ELMET LOL!
Our new artic and rigid
I always thought a huge flaw in the system was it relied upon passing a test that is not for purpose. A test that actually gets in the way. A test dreamed up by the government. Pass this then released to the lions.
The gap is in what airlines call “line training”. Training as it says “on the line”. Doing the job for real, past the test.
Whilst the test is not fit for purpose, I’m all for getting the test in lorries out of the way on the smallest (easiest?) lorry/route possible then ideally a training provider would offer a week post test of line training in a full size artic. This, without the jeopardy of fail would be the ideal training environment to actually learn how to really drive a full size artic. Students would flourish without the spectre of failure breathing down their necks. Practicing proper reversing on bays, nav techniques, practicing what to do when deliberately placed in a variety of situations; making a decision after a wrong turn with some weight limits facing you, turning the thing around on the road etc.
I like the paint colours of the rigid truck, but that rear overhang looks massive and with no mirrors i’ll never be able to complete turns safely, but atleast those mirror blindspots won’t be a problem!
Freight Dog, totally understand but its never going to happen until regulated by government or implemented by an employers in house training for their own drivers - which would also need to be pushed for by government (CPC was supposed to do this).
It all boils down to money, which as any haulage driver knows, companies are not eager to lavish profits on driver training. I remember my first driving job working for Keedwell, just passed my test with no experience, given a few pointers and then the keys to a 44ton articulated truck with a load to Liverpool. If you make it with no problems then you got to keep the job, otherwise it was bye bye, thats haulage for you, you either love the ‘cowboy’ industry with a live or die attitude or its not for you.
However some employers work differently, maybe supermarkets or international parcel firms but its not the norm.
I should say I’m not new to the job. I recently came back into driving for 6 months temporarily after years away in a different field and have noted how from the employers perspective they are very far from the “cowboy” industry they used to be. It’s been a night and day shock compared to when I was tramping out in a scrappy 143 on boxes.
Well, the exact similar thing you mentioned happened to me years ago. Passed test on a draw bar at a school run by the agency, then first job thrown keys to an ERF artic at salvesen with a twin splitter. Luckily my agency sent me along with an ex MOD trainer for a couple of days which was the equivalent of “line training” and quite far sighted of the agency at the time. I later went onto tramping, flats, containers, general. All largely self taught and by asking along the way. I enjoyed being away from the test environment and finding out the real way. But that’s me, I’m adaptive and used to being thrown in. Others not so.
I was talking about what would be useful to people and not by regulation. Of course, trainees don’t have the funds in their pockets to do this post training if offered by a school, despite it being the most useful aspect. With this in mind, given the test is not fit for purpose and is easy to fail perhaps passing in the easiest manner is the best option.
m_attt:
Radar19:
htmldude:
rearaxle:
Here you go 0
That thing looks bloody huge, but is it all that much bigger? Or is it just because it’s being compared to a 12 tonner?
I remember my second day working and looking at the 18t terrorbeast in front of me and thinking “[zb] I’ve got to drive this thing.”
And then “[zb] it’s a manual.”
Just wait till you get given a 26 tonner.
wheres the obligatory picture of the side of your juggernaut?
Best I can do http://www.mvcommercial.com/images/D/DSCF2076%20[640x480].jpg The truck was de-hired ages ago. For a MAN. And now a Scania (which I still don’t like very much).
![http://www.mvcommercial.com/images/D/DSCF2076%20[640x480].jpg](http://www.mvcommercial.com/images/D/DSCF2076%20%5B640x480%5D.jpg){kind=link}