elmet training:
shep532:
It won’t be long and a manual HGV will be a rarity - almost the case now.
.Almost the case now■■? Not really
Paul
Our mob just had 8 new Scanias in, two are semi’s while the rest are manuals.
Radar19:
elmet training:
shep532:
It won’t be long and a manual HGV will be a rarity - almost the case now.
.Almost the case now■■? Not really
Paul
Our mob just had 8 new Scanias in, two are semi’s while the rest are manuals.
Is that due to driver preference? Or something else?
I agree manual boxes are getting less and less, but still plenty of manuals in use at the moment!
Maybe it’s time to accept there is no right or wrong. Simply a matter of customer preference.
Pete 
Evil8Beezle:
Radar19:
elmet training:
shep532:
It won’t be long and a manual HGV will be a rarity - almost the case now.
.Almost the case now■■? Not really
Paul
Our mob just had 8 new Scanias in, two are semi’s while the rest are manuals.
Is that due to driver preference? Or something else?
I’ve been told thats all they could get. They’re all billy bob basic inside as well as out.
I’ve not been on here for ages but as i’ve had a few customers through my door having found us via this forum i thought I best show my face/keystrokes! I took a very nice lady out on our Volvo Globetrotter FH on saturday, it has an automatic i-shift gearbox - frankly the truck is utterly fabulous, mechanics say that Volvo’s are over engineered but you can’t argue with how it goes down the road.
She did however express some concern with handling a manual gearbox after the test, however I explained we have another Volvo FH Globetrotter with a manual gearbox used for HIAB training in the yard, its a 2006 plate so getting on a bit now but with less than 300,000km on the clock it still gives a good drive for drivers to find their way around the manual 3 speed plus range change and splitter - giving a total of 12 forward ratios.
elmet training:
shep532:
It won’t be long and a manual HGV will be a rarity - almost the case now.
.Almost the case now■■? Not really
Paul
I don’t mean in the training world - I meant out there in the working world. 
In my experience in general haulage I reckon the majority are automated and it will only increase because these gearboxes work excellently with the latest predictive cruise controls and adaptive systems. It’s called progress.
The only time I prefer a manual is driving/pulling off in snow or ice especially pulling off on a hill just feels like you have more control.
I recently passed my C and C+E both autos…why? Because it was 1 more variable removed possibly saving a retest, yes it’s easy to master as is a mirror check but people still miss them under pressure.
I just had an assessment drive in my first manual lorry and the assessor was non the wiser…hell I’ve driven manual cars for 20 years, flicking a switch in between changes wasn’t rocket science.
Tockwith Training:
mechanics say that Volvo’s are over engineered but you can’t argue with how it goes down the road.
We’ve got an 11 plate FM thats on 727000kms on it…
There is positive and negative sides to both manual and automatic.
As Chris said, I also prefer manual in winter condition with snow and ice, even though I have driven both types in winter. And manually changing gears in automatic gave me the same control as in manual.
If I drive in traffic jams or in big megapolises like London I 100% prefer automatic.
I also will prefer getting CE on automatic, why not avoid hassle when you can.
That FH looks like a bit of a bully in that pic.
I’ll get me coat