Seems like both trainees were happy with how it went so fair play to the instructor who did exactly what I did when doing 2 to 1 with 2 trainees at different levels
th2013:
ROG:
During the training dip did you ‘forget how to drive’ ?Kind of. I started making silly mistakes that didn’t make sense
That’s what I meant
That usually happens on day 3 but forget it now cos its out the way
th2013:
Graft:
Good read mate! what time is your test on Friday?Test at 10am. Won’t get a drive on Friday before my test as the other trainee has 8:30am test. The good thing is that schools are off so traffic might be calmer - or am I clutching at straws?!
Depends on the area? just don’t rush! are you doing your test in an automatic now then or did I read your other post wrong?
Graft:
Depends on the area? just don’t rush! are you doing your test in an automatic now then or did I read your other post wrong?
Schools are out here, no doubt as my 3 daughters are cluttering up the house!
Nope I am in the 4 beside 4 manual still. Which I have to say is my favourite gearbox.
My other post was just mentioning that an auto artic would have really help the other bloke, and they are talking about getting one. They do have an older Merc with an up/down paddle and dip clutch to get gear affair, but apparently this is the last resort truck as it confuses a lot of trainees that you choose the gear before de-clutching. I think they got it with best intentions and it didn’t quite work out as anticipated.
The Merc box isn’t the easiest to learn on. Like you, I like the slapover box as well as the conventional 4 over 4 (switch type).
Your trainer’s comment about the auto is correct. I’ve just put our auto artic into service and it’s brill. Takes so much stress out of the process. I’m convinced it will be a real winner.
All the best for your test, Pete 
Thanks Pete!
Out of interest, for my future knowledge, how easy is it to drive at controlled slow speeds in your auto artic? E.g. there is one tight turn I do in 2nd gear, is it easy to stop an auto running away with you?
Dead easy to control. There are 2 settings for forward and 2 for reverse. The first setting is for normal driving, the second is “snail”.
Many of the problems reported about autos are down to poor driving style eg rushing up to hazards, braking hard and expecting the gearbox to keep up! The thing most folks don’t realise is that the truck isn’t automatic. It’s a manual gearbox with a box of tricks fitted to it to make it change gear without the drivers’ intervention. They are known as AMT - Automated Manual Transmission. Because of this, there is a clutch (but not operated by the driver) and it needs time to operate.
This is in extreme laymans terms but just trying to give an idea of what’s going on under the floor.
Hope this helps, Pete
Good luck for today!! 
PASSED!!! 8 minors.
Did two reverses then a quick warm up drive, then went to test center. As early test was cancelled examiner was ready and waiting even though it was 15 minutes before time. So, two show me / tell me questions (windscreen condition and coolant) then straight into reverse exercise. This had been my biggest concern all week, and I took it slowly, one stage at a time and the thing flew into the garage! Then did drop and catch. Drop was fine. Then when I went to park in front of the trailer I was miles too far in front, so told examiner that I couldn’t safely check the levels and needed to back up a bit! He laughed and said no worries. Rest of that went ok.
Then the road part. For first bit of that was very nervous and picked up about 4 silly minors in the first 2 minutes (was told afterwards). Then settled in and it all went pretty well. Tight right turn sailed in and got complimented on it afterwards. Narrowest part is where a bus decides to stop, opposite a very small gap with poles on the pavement. Had to weave in and out and the pole missed the bulk head but about 1 cm, but I was ready for it and afterwards got complimented on that too.
Then we hit the motorway and everything relaxed, had a chat about fishing, Ireland, river levels, other random stuff! Just before we left the motorway examiner said “it is ALL still to play for, concentrate and relax”.
So it all goes fine then 500 yards from the test center I manage to get my first ever false neutral (between ranges and in neither). One more minor there. Then pulled in and got the “Congratulations, you have passed”. Yay! Thanks to all at System Training and especially Mick the instructor who did a great job.
Congratulations! well done! Isn’t that just the BEST feeling!?
Enjoy it and give yourself a big pat on the back, you deserve it 
Congratulations. I’ve enjoyed reading your diary and was pleased to read it went well for you. 
Brill result. Well done. Pete
Thanks all! Tim
Well done! hope I pass in a couple of weeks. What are your plans now?
Graft:
Well done! hope I pass in a couple of weeks. What are your plans now?
Yeah - best wishes for your training!
Plans? Well I already have a job and driving is only an occasional task for me so no huge change. We were down to only one bloke with class 1 so it will be handy to be able to drive more of the vehicles.
Congrats mate, very interesting read of your blog enjoyed it.
th2013:
Graft:
Well done! hope I pass in a couple of weeks. What are your plans now?Yeah - best wishes for your training!
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Thanks, I hope mine goes as well as yours.