Ultimate Cat C Training Truck

Just ordered another New Volvo Auto training truck this week, same spec as the rest blah, blah, blah.

But what would be the ultimate driving school vehicle, not in a bling sort of way but making use of all the options and technologies available to make it easier to pass the driving test.

My spec would be;

Auto gearbox - Volvo dual clutch (no gaps between gear changes)
Hill start assist - we have this already - makes it a breeze
Auto hand brake - got this too on our artic, its great
Volvo dynamic steering (near perfect control) - can only dream, its wonderful
minimum 8 metres in length - ours are 9 metres, 8 looks a bit weird
rear steer tag axle - what about that tail sweep?
reverse camera - got this already, very handy
parking sensors front and rear, must get round to getting them fitted
speedometer in miles not kms - only our artic has this, useful
air suspended seats - nice and comfy, we spec this always
air con - do any trucks not have air con nowadays?
front air suspension - never had this, price puts me off.

I would have to buy a Volvo FH not an FE to get these options, would add an extra £40,000 or so but its an interesting concept if money was no option. Given the fact that such a high spec truck would put up the cost of training I wonder if anyone would pay more to train on the ‘perfect’ truck?

As nice as it sounds, its going to be such a shock when the newbies get into work and are given some beaten up Axor. Still, impressive truck. About those gadgets though, are you allowed to use them on test? Surely the examiners would need to see how you can handle a truck from rolling back without the assistance of some electronic gizmo. Oh and front air suspension would make life a lot more pleasent in the cab if the roads are in poor conditition in your area. My truck has those steel springs that have been around since the horse and cart and boy those potholes hurt even on an air seat.

Not being funny with you, but why all the gadgets. what are the drivers actually learning if they’ve got reversing sensors and camera’s. Most of the gadgets you are talking about aren’t available in mainstream driving.
you really need to go back to basics and teach your students the way it was before gadgets and they will learn how the job really is.

  • corner cameras - while driving left corner camera can be set on main screen as on all time and helps with blindspot check - sometimes mirror can fail but camera screen will show some object there.

For example I found some Renault blindspot mirrors are so bad that setting corner camera all time on on main screen helps with blindspot, cyclists, monkeys etc much better.

  • reversing camera that have similar on screen markers like for car reversing cameras - green, yellow, red
    For example have driven with markers and without as fleet have both types, and with markers seems to be easier.

  • maybe reversing camera from the top of box - like for sprinter courier vans is better than the one under tailgate - if camera would be shooting from top to bottom trainee could see barrier better where as if camera mounted under tailgate it usually don’t show barrier when it gets too close but depends on setup

As for - will they pay more - depends on how much and where, for example if difference will be 500 then maybe some will have second thought as retest cost the same, but if 300 than maybe.

As for your company - I think you could get more clients if you would start to run small B&B as 2nd business - you could earn money from that as well no only training if price would be right.

As for comment on this BS that new drivers must know how to drive any shait and pass on old clunkers to prove they are as good as old ferrets - BS Currently rules on passing are so ridicilous that only way to fight with office idiots is to cheat them with easy trucks and cameras sensors etc. If old ferret will volunteer for switchlogic TV show to sit next to him and slap him every time he don’t look over his shoulder upon stop or don’t check all mirrors every 10sec or dont look with each eye on different mirror while on roundabouth TV show would end up being criminal drama…

As for sensors - they need to be not only fitted but well fitted as some of them have sensitivity regulator and if Romanian fits them they just take them out of box and push into bumper - that causes constant and/or misleading beeping. If fitted and adjusted properly they are very handy, also that little light thing that goes from green to orange red depending on distance from sensor can be handy of mentall…examinator decides to change route to some new dead end where turning is tight… of if hiab - delivery have parked on road and ■■■■■■■■■■■…

The same for cameras, not only fitted but properly fitted - so there is no sun blinding it on sunny day and no fog in lence in foggy rainy days as well as for reversing since winter is coming tipper style lights-lamps under tailgate are quite cheap but can be quite handy in dark time tests…

Not so much air ride comforts for big bucks as small things - full set of small gadgets will be fraction of air ride costs…

As for comment on “real trucks - no gadgets” tippers are not allowd in central London if they don’t have these gadgets anymore, think the same for nonkiller trucks as well.

What could be worth paying more for training could be taking it to next level and equip Artic - Trailer with all these features :smiley: seen many trainers doing Class 2 with gadgets - newer seen that on Artic - Trailer… :smiley: