Digit369:
sounds to good to be true
It probably is
£64,000
30 plus tests
OMG 
Are there any automatic truck training centres in the north west?
Had my driving test yesterday and failed because got panicing after selecting wrong gear.
Just be aware still vast amount of manuals out there, esp on Cat C more so than CE I bet.
I’ve just done a night of shunting Cat C and they had a fleet of 20 that needed loaded and parked up for ️morning staff.
Out of those 20 only 1 was automatic.
Now these were 2013-14s and a mix of DAF, Iveco, Renaults, Volvos and Mercs.
Different sizes so was fun. Point is chances are you will get a manual more than likely before you get an auto.
Yes by all means get help passing test but you will still have stress and panic of manual gears. Autos are not the saviours in the real world. Keep it in mind
Look to have rocked the apple cart here…
I can only apologise if some trainers feel upset by us using the best vehicles we could buy for helping our customers pass their test, but it seems to me the only people complaining about it are other trainers on here. The benefits of automatic trucks will be accepted by all LGV trainers in time and the market will be led by what the customer demands, so we shall see what happens. We still have one Manual Volvo Globetrotter in our fleet, so if you want to drive a manual that is still possible and if any customer would like to try it out after their test they are welcome to do so, it just doesn’t make sense to use it for your test. If people don’t want to take their test in an auto then thats fine they can use a different company but I feel the right choice for us has been to move with the times and offer what we think is the best service possible, which is what we have always done since being established in 1971.
Give it a few years and all trainers will be using automatics, is anyone thinking of buying a manual training truck at the moment? Other driving schools I have spoken to that have also bought auto trucks say that they can’t sell their manual trucks to another driving school as they don’t want them either. If any trainers are not convinced that auto trucks are a better vehicle to drive please don’t try out an old used MAN or similar, go and see Volvo in Warrick, tell Martin that Laurie sent you to have a go in a new FE and see what you think. I would advise everyone not to buy a 5 year plus auto truck as they will not perform as well as a 5 year old manual, they don’t seem to wear well, 500,000km plus and they have had it, so the major drawback for driving schools is having to buy new trucks which at £65,000 to £75,000 a pop isn’t a pleasant thought.
the only people complaining about it are other trainers on here.
The benefits of automatic trucks will be accepted by all LGV trainers in time
Give it a few years and all trainers will be using automatics
they don’t seem to wear well
Not the master of generalization then!
As for me, we continue to offer manual and auto. I dont believe it’s correct to dictate to any customer what they must learn in. It’s our job to provide the service. BTW, perfectly possible we will purchase further manuals.
Pete 
I think the way forward is to use a straight six speed manual, so just like a car gear box which probably 99% of candidates would be comfortable with.
The range change gear box is probably the hardest manual to master with the slap over a little easier.
In a perfect world my preferred set up would be a straight 6 speed C training truck and a auto for wagon and drag. Then the auto could be utilised for C training if the customer prefered not to train in a manual.
Paul 
I plan this to be my one and only post on this thread, for the simple reason that the subject has been done to death now.
I agree with the comments from most of the trainers that everyone has individual needs and therefore a choice will always be a good thing. What I don’t agree with is just because I do it a different way, gearbox for example, I run a Training Company who doesn’t deserve your business.
Most, if not all, of the trainers on here run very professional training centres and shouldn’t really need to boost their name by besmirching others.
Good luck to anyone training and testing over the next couple of weeks.
John
I don’t think this Tockwith training guy gets the point here. He keeps rattling on about automatics being the main vehicle for the future of HGV driving, but as other’s have mentioned, out there, in the world beyond HGV training, are trucks that have gears.
If you pass a test in a automatic, then get thrown into a manual, chances are, you’re going to struggle more, than if you passed in a manual and get landed with an automatic. Tockwith seems to dismiss that point, and continue to waffle on about “moving with the times” <<<< Saying that doesn’t negate the fact that people who pass in a auto are going to encounter manuals. If someone chooses to use an auto, BECAUSE they don’t like gears, then what would that person be like when they inevitably get landed with a manual truck? Would telling themselves that Tockwith training like to “move with the times” get them through their phobia of gearsticks?
Endgame:
Saying that doesn’t negate the fact that people who pass in a auto are going to encounter manuals. If someone chooses to use an auto, BECAUSE they don’t like gears, then what would that person be like when they inevitably get landed with a manual truck? Would telling themselves that Tockwith training like to “move with the times” get them through their phobia of gearsticks?
+1
In my opinion if you cant handle the gears(which isnt exactly difficult) then you shouldn’t be driving.
What happens during first shift with a manual? Oh thats right,he comes out on a roundabout with a van coming and ends up either holding the traffic up while he tries to select a gear or causes a smash.
If you pass in an auto then you should only be able to drive an auto.
I tend to agree. It does seem shortsighted to assume that, because someone holds a manual car licence, it is okay to give them a manual truck licence too even though they may have never experienced a truck manual gearbox before.
It strikes me that being familiar with a car gearbox does not easily translate into being competent or safe with a manual truck. I passed my Class 1 test in a manual slap over 8 speed and that took some getting used to. Range change boxes and split gears are even trickier I understand, and I don’t feel that my 25 years behind the wheel of a car gives me any sort of preparation for them at all. And what about double de-clutching? Is that still necessary in some trucks? If so I’m going to struggle with that too…
It is much easier to learn the various different types of gearboxes after the test than deal with them with test pressure which makes learning in an auto a lot more sensible
I disagree, ROG.
Unless somebody is going to pay money to sit with instructors after passing the test (which isn’t really cost effective given the cost of training + test) then the only way to learn different gearboxes is behind the wheel of a truck somebody is clearly uncomfortable with - unsupervised. That’s dangerous.
The same would apply to a car driver, who has only ever driven automatics. By law, they’re not allowed to drive manuals, because they passed their test in, and only have experience with automatics. Give them a manual, and they could be a danger to themselves and other road users/pedestrians.
Handing somebody the keys to a manual truck, when they have 0 experience with a manual truck, then suggesting they learn whilst on the job would be irresponsible.
Just to add, after I first passed my class 2, I went to a couple of agencies to ask about jobs, and one of the first things they asked me was “did you learn in a manual or automatic” after I said a manual, they explained alot of their clients were uncomfortable taking on new drivers who had passed in manual, because majority of their vehicles were (class 2) manual.
Endgame:
I disagree, ROG.
Unless somebody is going to pay money to sit with instructors after passing the test (which isn’t really cost effective given the cost of training + test) then the only way to learn different gearboxes is behind the wheel of a truck somebody is clearly uncomfortable with - unsupervised. That’s dangerous.
You only ever learn one gearbox during training and there are loads of other sorts so how do you think we all learnt those after the test?
I passed both tests in manual trucks. Both 4 over 4 boxes. Both where my main weakness.
But because I passed on manuals I felt I was/am able to tackle any gear box I am presented with now. Not perfectly but I’ll figure it out because I have that basic understanding of manual gear changing.
95% of my driving since passing has been automatic and 5% manuals. If I had to do my tests again with this knowledge I would still choose manual over auto.
The correct use of gears, especially in traffic, is an integral part of driving a manual large vehicle, if you can’t show on test that you can do it safely you shouldn’t be allowed to drive manual HGVs.
It really is that simple.
tachograph:
The correct use of gears, especially in traffic, is an integral part of driving a manual large vehicle, if you can’t show on test that you can do it safely you shouldn’t be allowed to drive manual HGVs.It really is that simple.
Indeed,I agree but it is the dvsa who are laying down the rules not the driving schools and it is in their interests to get people passed…not necessarily to drive so of course they will take the easier route.
How many learners on here would prefer to pass and worry about the rest later,after all they have the option of going out in many of the trainers manual box’s if they wish to stump up the money.
Digit369:
if the broker tells you you will earn 28-36k a year they are talking #hit these people are liars
No they’re not. I can easily hit £28k for doing less than 50 hours a week. If I did 60 hours I could hit just over £36k. I do this occasionally, and more, but not every week. I aim for about 55 hours a week on average (including breaks) which leaves me with around £32.5k.
You need to chill out mate. I can understand your frustration, especially with the brokers as they’re parasitic vermin but changing gear is (or used to be) part of the job and you could be in for a big shock one day when you jump in an artic and it has a 12 speed 3 over 3 with range and half splits and 1st is where 3rd is in your car.
Loads on this site didn’t pass first time, myself included. Passed C first time with 5 minors and C+E second time with 4 minors. Got less minors on the artic pass than the rigid. It’s all down to what happens on the day.
Having been reading this thread with interest I felt it time to comment . I recently passed my class c in an auto and I know the arctic the school uses is an auto which for learning and taking a test I think is easier as you have one less thing to learn and worry about . I know I was nervous on my test and using an auto made it easier .
Now according to some comments on here I should now only drive an auto but what is the difference compared to someone who has passed in a certain type of manual box ?
Does that mean they can only drive the type of manual they passed in or can they jump into any manual even if the box is different to the one they passed in ?
Personally it didn’t bother me which I passed in but it was nice driving the auto and next friday I will be out in a Renault 18t with a 6 speed box . The big difference I picked up on my lessons was the use of mirrors and vehicle position which doesn’t affect what transmission you have .
In my 30 years of driving I’ve driven lots of cars , vans and small trucks and had different amounts of gears , column changes and autos in fact the variety of vehicles with switches and dials in different places has never stopped me but according to some comments because I passed my class c in an auto !!!
Surely all the people who’ve passed in an auto and are now out driving lorries for a living can’t be bad drivers and should only drive autos ?
It would be interesting to hear some comments from those who passed in autos and now drive manuals .
Terry T:
Digit369:
if the broker tells you you will earn 28-36k a year they are talking #hit these people are liarsNo they’re not. I can easily hit £28k for doing less than 50 hours a week. If I did 60 hours I could hit just over £36k. I do this occasionally, and more, but not every week. I aim for about 55 hours a week on average (including breaks) which leaves me with around £32.5k.
You need to chill out mate. I can understand your frustration, especially with the brokers as they’re parasitic vermin but changing gear is (or used to be) part of the job and you could be in for a big shock one day when you jump in an artic and it has a 12 speed 3 over 3 with range and half splits and 1st is where 3rd is in your car.
Loads on this site didn’t pass first time, myself included. Passed C first time with 5 minors and C+E second time with 4 minors. Got less minors on the artic pass than the rigid. It’s all down to what happens on the day.
Did you get that within your first month mate I’m chilled it’s just the miss leading miss selling activity that happens on a daily basis as I’ve said befor google high rankers get the custmers schools grab that instead of doing it there selves !!!
It’s one call trainers GOOGLE
LIKE ME I FELL INTO THE TRAP WENT TO GOOGLE TYPED IN HGV TRAINING
Let’s not go through this one more time ?