biggriffin:
Use the extra pedal.
My first thought was genuinely joy at my left foot having something to do.
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Peter Smythe:
95% chance it’ll be a straight 6 speed. Although they will pull away in 2nd quite comfortably, ask your assessor for advice. Some manufacturers recommend pulling away in 1st only and the assessor may be looking for this.Don’t change gear more than you have to. Block change, especially coming down in the gears. Don’t rush the gear change. My normal expression is “make love to it - don’t ■■■■ it”. A tad crude but it makes the point.
Allow for any extra length of the vehicle. Give yourself plenty of room particularly on left turns.
And enjoy!
Pete [emoji38] [emoji38]
Thanks Pete appreciate that. I’m sure I’ve been told to give myself plenty of room when turning left before. Can’t think where though…
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Wouldn’t have a clue hahaha
Pete 
IronEddie:
Peter Smythe:
Any idea what the vehicle is? Make, weight? Could then have an educated guess rather than you get a head full of irrelevant information which could be confusing.How many axles?
Pete [emoji38] [emoji38]
18 or 26t but think it’ll be the 18 from what i was told today. personally noticed a mix of makes mostly dafs or mercs. Not sure what I’ll be thrown in. Maybe someone who’s worked there could give me a better idea.
If it’s quiet at work tomorrow I’m going to sneak off for a word with our regular driver n get some personal inside info I think. Big if though, Christmas rush is in full swing. It’s busy busy busy.
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Have driven 3 manual 18 tonners, one DAF and two Mercs.
all three had straight six boxes, so pretty much like your car.
Main tip, don’t leave it in 5th or 6th on the approach to a fairly sharp bend on a road you don’t know that well like I did (I think I was having an “it’s great this trucking lark moment”, rather than properly concentrating on the job in hand) as you may be needing spare underwear.
adam277:
Almost the same. 1St and 2nd are usually crawler gears for uphill so you can usually start in 3Rd. If it’s a splitter which it probably will be go through the gears as normal once you hit 5th/6th clutch in hit the splitter button and start going through the gears again 1St is usually 7th etc…
The trick is just as in a car don’t worry about what gear your in just listen to your engine.
Also I may be wrong but I think brakes 18ton lorries are straight 6 gearbox.
A lot of manual trucks have manufactures stickers in that state that you must use 1st gear to pull away, so if on an assessment drive mind be worth bearing in mind.
You are honestly worrying about nothing . 5 minutes in any vehicle and you will know what’s where etc ,
One of my first shifts with agency was with a split box and no top on the lever just a ball of duct tape 
Miketyres:
You are honestly worrying about nothing . 5 minutes in any vehicle and you will know what’s where etc ,
One of my first shifts with agency was with a split box and no top on the lever just a ball of duct tape
Yeah fear of the unknown. The replies to my post have been reassuring.
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Assessor at a place I drove at told me to pull away in second on both 18 & 26 tonne mercs.
I found the 18 tonne straight six preferred first gear when fully loaded.
Yes.
After about half an hour of using it, you’ll feel like twice the man of those auto-using poofters.
Jimmy McNulty:
Assessor at a place I drove at told me to pull away in second on both 18 & 26 tonne mercs.I found the 18 tonne straight six preferred first gear when fully loaded.
Tbh its whatever you prefer.
adam277:
Jimmy McNulty:
Assessor at a place I drove at told me to pull away in second on both 18 & 26 tonne mercs.I found the 18 tonne straight six preferred first gear when fully loaded.
Tbh its whatever you prefer.
On an assessment drive isn’t it what the assessor prefets?
And after that isn’t it what doesn’t damage the vehicle?
Pulling away in a high gear may seem easier but will eventually burn the clutch. If you were paying for the maintenance would you do it then?
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