I joined this forum awhile ago …did,nt post much …just researched lots of stuff …researched driving schools within my area …i start this afternoon with paul brown transport …they have been listed as good on this forum …i went for my assessment over a month ago and this was the earliest i could get in as they are so busy ( in my mind thats a good thing if there busy) …there training offices/centre looked impressive (not a porta cabin in some yard) …kept me upto speed with emails and letters…
I went in with about 6/7 questions i wanted answering before i handed over half the test fee…
Ie: if i fail total cost of next re-test inc V.A.T …how long before I can take retest…whats included on that day…
…is it 1 to 1 training …same instructor for the whole thing …etc etc …YOU GOT TO ASK
My assessment went ok i thought …the instructor did give me a confidence boost when we got back…
In his words “every now and then a candidate comes along and takes to it like a duck to water…that shane was a very good drive …well done”…2 things i have to sort out …but I have that in my head now …so hope not to do it again…
All i can say is RESERCH RESERCH AND RESERCH…i just got everything crossed…pass or fail i will give it my best shot …and on that note iam off for my first 4 hours now …GOOD LUCK MATE
Ps i did think about the automatic…but if i got a job and had to go out with a driver or transport manager and drive a manual i would,nt know what to do…i rather drive the biggest and hardest …as everything else SHOULD be easyier…just IMO
All I can say is expect the worse it’s not as easy as it looks good luck mate 
Can I just point out that, although we’ve purchased 4 autos this year, this isn’t to the exclusion of manuals. We still have a fair number of manuals and will continue to do so for some years yet. It’s perfectly possible that new ones will be joining us next year.
Unlike Tockwith, I’m not telling anyone what to do. I’m offering choice. And surely that’s a good thing.
Pete 
tachograph:
@ Tockwith Training
I accept that many learners will want to take the easiest route to a pass certificate and I’ve said before that I don’t blame them, perhaps some people will but personally I don’t blame them at-all, however common-sense suggests that in the hands of a good trainer a well maintained but older vehicle will have far less impact on the trainees chances of passing the test than a new automatic vehicle in the hands of a poor trainer would.
You deride any training company or any training vehicle that does not meet the same specifications as yours, you say of companies that don’t have new automatic vehicles “They don’t deserve your business”, you deride potential trainees as being crazy to want to learn in a manual or crazy not to learn in an automatic, frankly you appear to have quite a contemptuous attitude towards training companies who don’t use new automatic vehicles and potential trainees who want to learn in a manual vehicle.
I’d like to ask you a question if I may.
Given that you seem to deride any trainee who chooses not to go down the automatic vehicle route to a pass and any trainer who chooses to rely on giving good quality training rather than relying on using new automatic vehicles to boost their pass rates, which incidentally I imagine would be most new training companies as well as plenty of more established training companies who choose to keep their prices down, and given that you yourself have said that about 22% of your passes would fail if it wasn’t for you having an automatic vehicle, do you think this reflects on the quality of your training in any way ?
Well put. Couldn’t have worded it better myself.
Going back tomorrow to do the test I’ve been in the automatic it is also a newer lorry it feels lovely to drive I’m really enjoying it. I hope I pass tomorrow I’ve been training today and I’ve been ok. Coming into roundabouts is so much easier no clutch just go I have more time to spot hazards and prepare glad im in the auto just wished I had done it in that first.
Test at 12:30 fingers crossed. They wanted me to do it at 8:25 busy time for test many hazards abouts just after lunch I should be ok.
Good luck for tomorrow I passed my C class last wednesday in an auto .
@ Digit369
Good luck, I hope it goes well for you 
That is does seem to a heck of amount of money that they are charging you.
Currently doing my class 2 this week in a manual. The first I found it hard with gear changes but this was down to me trying to drive it like a car which you can’t. Take it slow and in two movements.
Shame that you’ve learnt the hard way with going with a broker.
tachograph:
@ Tockwith Training
I accept that many learners will want to take the easiest route to a pass certificate and I’ve said before that I don’t blame them, perhaps some people will but personally I don’t blame them at-all, however common-sense suggests that in the hands of a good trainer a well maintained but older vehicle will have far less impact on the trainees chances of passing the test than a new automatic vehicle in the hands of a poor trainer would.
You deride any training company or any training vehicle that does not meet the same specifications as yours, you say of companies that don’t have new automatic vehicles “They don’t deserve your business”, you deride potential trainees as being crazy to want to learn in a manual or crazy not to learn in an automatic, frankly you appear to have quite a contemptuous attitude towards training companies who don’t use new automatic vehicles and potential trainees who want to learn in a manual vehicle.
I’d like to ask you a question if I may.
Given that you seem to deride any trainee who chooses not to go down the automatic vehicle route to a pass and any trainer who chooses to rely on giving good quality training rather than relying on using new automatic vehicles to boost their pass rates, which incidentally I imagine would be most new training companies as well as plenty of more established training companies who choose to keep their prices down, and given that you yourself have said that about 22% of your passes would fail if it wasn’t for you having an automatic vehicle, do you think this reflects on the quality of your training in any way ?
Tockwith Training, I have 2 questions for you:-
-
What makes you so confident that the DVSA will stick to the rule that passing in an auto permits you to drive a manual. In July 2007 a new rule came into force stating that tests could only be taken with a vehicle having a minimum of 8 forward gears. Every trainer in England had to change their tried and trusted 6 speed manuals for 8 speed gearbox trucks. A huge investment. 7 years later they backtrack on the 8 speed rule and you can now choose any gearbox. They might backtrack on the auto rule one day.
-
Would you have brought even 1 single Auto truck if the rules had not changed ? Let me answer for you, of course not. Why? because it restricted the candidate to only auto trucks. If the whole transport industry has gone into auto truck mode would this have been a problem.
The reason you are promoting your expensive auto trucks is because you are trying to convince people that passing a test in one of them is easier than in a manual. That is utter rubbish. Please release figures showing how many gearbox serious faults you average each year. Since Flair started over 5 years ago our answer to that question is NONE - ZERO. Not even 1 serious fault recorded for use of gears. I agree that some serious faults occur as a result of a secondary issue, ie mounting a kerb will be shown on the DL25 as a steering fault but can really be put down to not checking the mirror enough but I don’t believe many serious faults occur as a result of being in the wrong gear. In fact my experience of evaluating automatic trucks is that they cause more problems than they solve, particularly when pulling away from stationary at a busy roundabout.
Peter Smythe:
Can I just point out that, although we’ve purchased 4 autos this year, this isn’t to the exclusion of manuals. We still have a fair number of manuals and will continue to do so for some years yet. It’s perfectly possible that new ones will be joining us next year.Unlike Tockwith, I’m not telling anyone what to do. I’m offering choice. And surely that’s a good thing.
A sensible, well balanced comment that reflects the reality of the real world of transport where there are still thousands and thousands of manual trucks in use.
Took my class 2 back in 2008 and then did the class 1 in march last year.
Was planning to go back to the same company but went for a trail drive first with another company. It was there that they said to me about taking it in an automatic which I said no as I’d like it to be as difficult as it is. As no point passing in an auto then turning up at a firm and not having a clue what to do. Liked the drive in the lorry but wasn’t so keen on the company, so went fora trail drive with the company I passed the 2 in and alot happier. Didn’t like the lorry as much as the first trail drive but felt more at ease with the company.
Best of luck for your test tomorrow
lee
I couldn’t agree with you more , having learned in a manual class 2, I struggled every day with it and there’s no way I will do class 1 in one , it’s auto for me all day long . Worry about the gears later , if you can drive a manual it’ll all come back to you when needed some people just don’t need it on there test
Passed it 8 minors the automatic is defo the way forward trainers need to recognise that less distraction of gears more passes
Digit369:
Passed it 8 minors the automatic is defo the way forward trainers need to recognise that less distraction of gears more passes
Congratulations on the pass 
More passes doesn’t necessarily mean more people capable of driving safely, as I said to Tockwith Training, if 22% more people pass the test in an automatic it’s 22% of new drivers who were not considered safe to drive HGVs before the rules were changed.
My story is the same. I was mis sold on c+e. Payed 1100 was told I’m getting 16h training followed by test.
In reality got 8h 2 days 4h each. Trainer told me they got 700£ and that’s all the can give me.
First day 4h reversing only. Artic.
Next day big crash on m25 . J26 j27. Road got closed for all day. Surrounding areas gridlocked.
My 4h of training was in a traffic. All I learned is a biting point of a cluch. Hehe.
Ow I done my c class 2 in 97. Never driven a truck since.
Test went well. 17 minors and a whip lash to dvla guy.(He said)
Dam those agents.
Gz on pass. Well done.
Read the post lmao ADR my broker scare it relates the problem is that these schools rely I think on the business from these brokers and if you can’t get staff paid and keep,the lights insurance etc on I think they have to do what they have to do unfortunately for the school the broker tells us that they are partnered so it automatically taints there reputation the school who trained me were good guys and clean helpful I can’t really fault them as I explained in the my broker scare GOOGLE RNS IT AS PEOPLE JUST GO TO GOOGLE AND TYPE IN WHAT THEY WANT AND LIKE MAGIC ITS THERE training schools need to get into google to get there pupils directly
It sounds like you should go to citizens advice about your problem mate they will help you get your money back there free.
One last thing why don’t the schools take some of the hit of the broker like give them a percentage actually they probably already do this then whack there 30% on us on top of that.
Just shop locally is all I can say when I do your home work the uk has schools everywhere
I blame my self. Bad luck. Lack of research.
Now today I was at Wallace School of Transport in Acton London. Did a test drive in auto drawbar and booking 20h training starting some time next month.
Auto gear box makes all the difference. I don’t mind manual but on a test day it can be overwhelming.
Instructor asured me, I will get 4 days 4h 1 on 1 and test day warm up drive etc. So I’m confident this time.
Again gz on passing yer test.
When I was looking around for class 2 training I came across a broker who offered class 2 and class 1 in one block. The only reason I even entertained class 2 was a means to an end for class 1 that I wanted so I called them up. Alarm bells started ringing big time when he said they offered guaranteed jobs after a pass. How can anyone offer you guaranteed jobs? He also said they offered an insurance against failing the test. The price structure was for 3 attempts but pass on the first or second and they refund the others. So basically you pay for 3 tests in advance. He thought I would be too thick to notice although presumably some are. The real kicker for me though was he wanted £2500 paid upfront. Over the phone. Thanks but no thanks. I tell everyone who is considering using a broker to steer clear. You save little,if anything,and you can find better trainers than the ones the broker will get you. Remember,he only puts you to these schools because they give him a cut. Not because he actually recommends them. I accept there will probably be decent,trustworthy brokers out there but unfortunately they are all tarred with the same brush
If they was offering class 1 and 2 and 3 more attempts if you don’t pass then your money back then to be honest it sounds to good to be true could be George abawango his video is on you tube check it out.
Sorry mate it’s
George Agdgdgwngo on you tube check out the video