Okay, so to be honest I’ve never asked my instructor nor have I done any research on the matter, I was just sat here pondering at my potential future and came up with this…
So I passed my cat C in an automatic truck, does this mean I can only drive auto’s?? Like it does with cars? Or am I just being a total numpty?
Cheers.
No such thing as a silly question
If you have a manual car license then you will be licensed to drive manual trucks
Many on here will talk about the pros and cons of all this, but there it is
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I passed in an auto and have been driving mainly 4 over 4 plus a 6 speed and the last couple of days an auto. Have to say there are some circumstances that I prefer the manual ie reversing but as stated above it depends on what you passed your car test in.
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At one time it made a difference what HGV you passed in, but as mentioned now its all related to your class B licence.
I passed in an auto but mostly drive manuals at work and prefer them over autos - for one thing Merc autos are a pain to get into reverse as they take time to convince that yes, you really are sure backwards is the direction you want, you dont want to reconsider and it wasnt a mistake. 
trevHCS:
At one time it made a difference what HGV you passed in, but as mentioned now its all related to your class B licence.I passed in an auto but mostly drive manuals at work and prefer them over autos - for one thing Merc autos are a pain to get into reverse as they take time to convince that yes, you really are sure backwards is the direction you want, you dont want to reconsider and it wasnt a mistake.
Try getting a manual Merc atego in reverse , your left shoulder could get dislocated trying to 
My MAN 12 sp auto don’t like you rushing switch from drive to reverse , just stays on N and beeps at you
blue estate:
trevHCS:
At one time it made a difference what HGV you passed in, but as mentioned now its all related to your class B licence.I passed in an auto but mostly drive manuals at work and prefer them over autos - for one thing Merc autos are a pain to get into reverse as they take time to convince that yes, you really are sure backwards is the direction you want, you dont want to reconsider and it wasnt a mistake.
Try getting a manual Merc atego in reverse , your left shoulder could get dislocated trying to
My MAN 12 sp auto don’t like you rushing switch from drive to reverse , just stays on N and beeps at you
My MAN used to be like that 
Remember it is not a Russian gearbox as my instructor said
These MAN gearboxes sound like they buy them from Merc, recognise the beep and no action from my limited driving of the autos.
Driving a 2007 18T Axor mostly (only 6 speed) and that can be interesting to get into reverse. Works unless its being watched…then its drama queen mode. Sounds like the Antego is even worse!
Animal - its well known that a MAN can not be rushed and will complain if you try. 
trevHCS:
Animal - its well known that a MAN can not be rushed and will complain if you try.
Just ask any married woman
So a silly question from me - are there any truck drivers who only have an automatic car licence?
wombleofwimbledon:
So a silly question from me - are there any truck drivers who only have an automatic car licence?
No doubt there will be a few.
Fact of the matter is that most modern-ish trucks (say 2010 onwards) probably around 80% of all are auto’s/semi-auto’s.
Some companies spec manual trucks others don’t, depends on the work really…someone running artic’s working in and out of forests on logging or doing rigid tipper quarry work etc may well be better suited for a manual. Whereas a parcel company or firm driving between distribution centres all the time on 95% motorway will use auto’s mostly etc.
Thanks for clearing that up for me guys.
wombleofwimbledon:
So a silly question from me -
The only silly question is the one you don’t ask as if you need to ask you don’t know the answer
blue estate:
trevHCS:
Animal - its well known that a MAN can not be rushed and will complain if you try.Just ask any married woman
Aye but I am not married so wil have to find another woman to ask
trevHCS:
At one time it made a difference what HGV you passed in, but as mentioned now its all related to your class B licence.I passed in an auto but mostly drive manuals at work and prefer them over autos - for one thing Merc autos are a pain to get into reverse as they take time to convince that yes, you really are sure backwards is the direction you want, you dont want to reconsider and it wasnt a mistake.
All depends on the truck and gearbox mate. The Volvo, Renault and Scania auto boxes are amazing and a piece of ■■■■ to drive. Merc auto boxes are pretty crappy as are man and daf. But the daf 4 over 4 with range change is one of the best gearboxes in the world. All down to experience and the quality of your truck though.
Smudge72:
trevHCS:
At one time it made a difference what HGV you passed in, but as mentioned now its all related to your class B licence.I passed in an auto but mostly drive manuals at work and prefer them over autos - for one thing Merc autos are a pain to get into reverse as they take time to convince that yes, you really are sure backwards is the direction you want, you dont want to reconsider and it wasnt a mistake.
All depends on the truck and gearbox mate. The Volvo, Renault and Scania auto boxes are amazing and a piece of ■■■■ to drive. Merc auto boxes are pretty crappy as are man and daf. But the daf 4 over 4 with range change is one of the best gearboxes in the world. All down to experience and the quality of your truck though.
I’d disagree with the Scania box. The semi auto 3 pedal is a pig. It bogs down when trying to go for a gap. Can take about 5 seconds to engage reverse.
i’d support a Daf auto gearbox, it is not that bad really. Mercs one is a trully slow.
what is a russian gearbox tho?
Priest:
i’d support a Daf auto gearbox, it is not that bad really. Mercs one is a trully slow.what is a russian gearbox tho?
Russian ? rushing ■■
But you actually like the DAF auto box? Can only imagine youre comparing it to...to... nope, imagination failure here. The box on current Mercs Ive no personal experience on, but seems to please the drivers on our company who use `em. As Smudger says the 8 or 16 speed DAF box is excellent. The clutch operation on auto DAFs is abysmal on anything except flat level ground. The auto settings on the latest boxes are worse than earlier models, and the factory set “return to auto mode” is truly horrible.
Franglais:
Priest:
i’d support a Daf auto gearbox, it is not that bad really. Mercs one is a trully slow.what is a russian gearbox tho?
Russian ? rushing ■■
But you actually like the DAF auto box? Can only imagine youre comparing it to...to... nope, imagination failure here. The box on current Mercs Ive no personal experience on, but seems to please the drivers on our company who use `em. As Smudger says the 8 or 16 speed DAF box is excellent. The clutch operation on auto DAFs is abysmal on anything except flat level ground. The auto settings on the latest boxes are worse than earlier models, and the factory set “return to auto mode” is truly horrible.
+1 on that , last year i was driving 14 plt LF 15t for Hunts foods , the delay in pressing throttle to moving of was like an ice age and fun driving around Brighton in The lanes , makes my 08 MAN look fast on pullaway
Russian gearbox as quoted by Animal above…
well, for me the longest delay is on Mercs… probably Daf rigids might be a bit different to Daf tractor units, but i don’t get negative emotions driving a daf, not much positive ones though too gearbox wise
Priest:
Russian gearbox as quoted by Animal above…well, for me the longest delay is on Mercs… probably Daf rigids might be a bit different to Daf tractor units, but i don’t get negative emotions driving a daf, not much positive ones though too gearbox wise
Our DAF rigids have 8 speed manuals and work fine IMHO. My old 16speed 480 tractor was a pleasure to drive. Current DAF 65 plate auto unit is a dog to drive. Nice cab, but an awful truck to work with. It can manage main roads but anything out of the ordinary is beyond it. Manual mode is slow, and with a warm engine/box, clunky. Clutch management awful. Dog Dog Dog. ( Sorry, but youve hit the button for my specialist subject here. I`ll shut up now.)
I also hate Auto DAF’s 
bloody crap, yet the manual ones are fine…
We have a mix of DAF’s and Renault’s in our yard, and I know which I prefer, even of the exhaust brake in a Renault is also crap!