After passing class 1 last wk in a Scania R420 with 3 pedal opticruise, I wondered how both, trainers & trainees have taken to learning/instructing in autos.
Personally I’m glad I did class one in an Auto as my class 2 was a Daf manual 4 over 4 so feel I’ve had a taster of both worlds so to speak.
Recently passed my Cat C / Class 2 in a manual & taking my C+E / Class 1 tuition in an automatic as I to feel it is correct to gain experience on both sides of the coin. Great minds…
Done mine in scania also, I also passed the class 2 in 4 over 4 and I found it beneficial on test conditions on the class 1 to not have the gearbox changes at the forefront of my mind…
Also aware that there are different types of manuals and autos but believe that (from general opinion on here) that most trucks in the future will be mainly autos anyway.
Boo9729:
After passing class 1 last wk in a Scania R420 with 3 pedal opticruise, I wondered how both, trainers & trainees have taken to learning/instructing in autos.Personally I’m glad I did class one in an Auto as my class 2 was a Daf manual 4 over 4 so feel I’ve had a taster of both worlds so to speak.
I did both C and C+E with Scania at Purfleet - R440 for the C+E test - and have to say, I’m glad I’m only really having to worry about gears now I’m working rather than under the stress of a test! My current work lorry (rigid DAF CF) is a 4 over 4 which I’m sure is on it’s last legs! 
Little heads up though - if you end up driving a rigid Scania with OptiCruise the 8 speed 'box is nowhere near as good as the 12 speed on the Artics…
Well done on the pass too!
Im doing my Cat C at the minute in a 4 over 4 manual, and the only thing holding me back is the gears to the point its scary my test is 2 days away 
I think ill do my c+e in an Auto.
It’s handy to have the possible option of swapping onto an auto after a couple of days if gears are a real problem.
Pete 
Very timely thread for me. This afternoon have a C+E driving assessment booked with Kent Metro and have asked for auto. Did my C in 1996 when you could pass test in a small flat bed with 5 speed box. Have done all my recent driving in 7.5t so figured no gears was one less thing to worry about! All our artics at work are autos anyway so shouldn’t cause a problem in the short term
Steve
This afternoon have a C+E driving assessment booked with Kent Metro
All the best with it. Enjoy.
Pete
t595:
Very timely thread for me. This afternoon have a C+E driving assessment booked with Kent Metro and have asked for auto. Did my C in 1996 when you could pass test in a small flat bed with 5 speed box. Have done all my recent driving in 7.5t so figured no gears was one less thing to worry about! All our artics at work are autos anyway so shouldn’t cause a problem in the short termSteve
That’s quite worrying if you’re unable to drive a range or splitter tbh mate? 
That’s quite worrying if you’re unable to drive a range or splitter tbh mate?
That goes back to an old discussion. Fact is that, up till 10 years ago, no-one trained on anything but a 6 speed manual. And there’s no history of major problems as a result. Even if you train on an 8 speed range change, how does that help you drive a splitter? Let alone a twin split!
The indisputable fact is that the industry is going auto - and going very quickly.
Pete
True, but what happens when an “auto only” driver gets chucked in a manual and hasn’t got a clue?
It’s better to know and not use, than be lost IF the time comes…
It’s no different to someone who passed on a 5 speed and then gets any other box.
The fact is that you learn different boxes as you go along. In the same way you learn about different loads, restraints, types of body - - the list is endless and gears is just one of the things on that list.
It’s impossible for anyone to learn it all early on, whether it be gears or anything else about the job.
The option is there for anyone to learn on an 8 speed. The option is also there to be able to spend more time on roadcraft skills using auto.
IMO, it’s down to individual choice.
Pete
Personally, I’ts auto all the way for me, then work out manual gears as I get introduced to them. Simples.
Done my C in an 8 speed range change volvo… the hardest thing about it was learning the gears - for me, it was mostly remembering the positions of the high range gears. Difficult at first when you are so used to a straight gearbox, dunno how many times I ended up in the wrong gear… or forgot that bloody switch
Then, when I done my Class D (bus), I was kinda dreading it, I’d been told countless times it was much harder than LGV, everything has to be much smoother etc etc, so the gears were worrying me a little… then when I turned up the training school had just got an auto box bus, and it was an absolute piece of ■■■■ to drive… so much easier, the only thing i had to ‘learn’ was the bus stop procedure really. Trainer thought i was test ready on day 2… still got 10 days outta it tho 
So, while I’m still a bit skeptical of the idea for someone going straight from a manual B license to doing C/D in auto and getting manual entitlement… i think if you do / already have C/D in a manual, doing C+E in an auto is probably the way forward. It’s certainly what I plan to do when I go for the artic.
Chris.
Peter Smythe:
It’s no different to someone who passed on a 5 speed and then gets any other box.
Exactly that - tens of thousands of us did it that way then learnt different types after the test
If that many of us did it that way then why are modern drivers deemed less capable 
I didn’t used to agree, but now I do! When you think how many varieties are out there, a you only do 2 tests, you simply can’t cover all of them.
My cat C was a straight 6 with splitter, C+E was slap over 8 speed. That didn’t make it impossible or dangerous to stick me in a 4 over 4, after a few miles, and looking a right idiot stuck in high range sat at a roundabout, I soon got the hang of it.
It honestly isn’t an issue. People adapt to what is in front of them.