What an interesting thread, some varied views.
We ONLY use automatic trucks for driver training and I have the proof to back up that its easier to pass, we have gone from 70%ish average 1st time pass rate to 92% so it cannot be denied that auto’s give more passes. The examiners say the vehicles are great, they love how drivers on test feel more in control and how they respond well in all situations - Volvo I-shift automatics are very good, can’t fault them.
As for Digit369 feeling that 16 hours isn’t long enough, frankly he is right, without being critical of his abilities its obvious he couldn’t just jump in a truck and drive it, unlike others on here, come on folks, you might be a fast learner but not everyone is. I’ve trained 100’s of drivers in the past 15 years on manual gearboxed trucks and he sounds like a 30-40 hour customer to me. Nothing to be ashamed of, i’m sure we can all be slower than others at learning different things. We do 21 hours with customers to learn to drive our Volvo automatics, so 16 hours on a manual for a driver that needs some careful instruction falls rather short. I know others on this forum think different but as an LGV Driving Instructor with experience - the only way to pass the test is to get driving experience for each person’s own ability, don’t mark others with your own card, some drivers need a lot of help to pass and to be honest those are the ones I remember. Paul Walker - do you remember Ahmed? I still chat to him now, took him over 30 tests to pass, he took 7 with us, and rest with others all over Yorkshire, but finally he passed with us after spending £64,000 with a variety of schools.
Here is the view of inside our truck, look no gear lever! Got two of these rigid '14 plate trucks.
Obviously Brokers are are a real pain, I speak to at least one person daily that has been to a broker, lost all their money and now wants to do a test with us. The well crafted website are very good, i don’t blame them choosing a broker as they do look better than all the websites of the different providers on this forum.
I expect all driving schools will have automatic trucks in 10 years time, once all the manual trucks get scrapped. So all the reasons for using manuals will be in material as customers will have no choice, the only reason driving schools still have manuals is money and not wanting to invest in new trucks. They don’t deserve your business, why would you not buy the best product on the market, its like buying an overpriced car that is worn out rather than getting a much newer one for the same price. To me it just doesn’t make sense, I love driving our old Volvo Globetrotter with a manual box, I should sell it really but I just keep it as a toy, but i’d rather use my new Globetrotter which is an auto for test, its such a lovely truck, and £1200 for the course all in, its cheaper than a broker and the same price as those using an old manual truck, so a no brainer really.
To those like Paul that think Digit369 has more problems than he realises because four serious faults ‘highlights there is more of a problem regardless of the gearbox’ - once Digit369 gets into an automatic he would find that other issues not related to gears will be improved or even vanish. The auto will help him to improve in all areas, makes driving far easier, more time to process other tasks, less stress on him and he should pass.
thanks Laurie it’s true gears are a distraction and the training school I’m with are the only in The area who have one otherwise I would of gone elsewhere
