Is this the end of the manual gearbox?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
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FH Hammy:

ezydriver:

alamcculloch:
I think that manuals will be phased out in the next 5 years.If they cost about the same then why choose old technology?

Because some drivers with a manual are more economic than other drivers with autos.

It isn’t cost effective to run a fleet of manuals when 1 out of 10 of your drivers is [zb] hot with a manual getting 10mpg, and the rest are struggling to get over 5mpg.

Correct, it wouldn’t work in a general fleet, but if you’re an owner driver, perhaps with an extra lorry or two, you can choose good, experienced, and conscientious drivers who understand how to drive a manual correctly. So this links in with alamcculloch’s question about why one would choose manuals over autos.

Personally I hate the idea of manuals disappearing completely.

42

rogerreno:
I’m one of these people you speak of, having driven 8 wheel tippers since 2003 I finally got round to doing my Class 1 so I could move up to the artics.
Now the guy who I did my test and lessons with had got on top of this new legislation and traded his old Scania 4 series in for a MAN Auto wagon and drag, telling me that it was coming in at end of January so not to worry about it, you’ll pass in my auto and gain a full manual licence.
All good I thought, till the morning of test and the 1st thing the examiner told me was that if I pass in an auto i’d be restricted to an auto until the new regs came in (as there’d been a delay in it being passed)

So I passed my test and got my licence, yes thankfully I drive a MAN TGA 26 430 auto unit, so driving his made it more familiar for me but I felt cheated that I came away with a restricted licence…especially after passing my Class 2 in 2003 I went straight onto an ERF EC14 with an Eaton twin splitter (that I’m proud to say I mastered, a lovely box that i’d go back to tomorrow if I had the choice) so driving a manual wouldn’t have been an issue for me.

My only question now is how do I go about getting the restriction lifted? Is it going to cost me and if so how much??

I’ve been in my MAN (ooo eerr Mrs!!) since mid February, it just about goes where I want it to in reverse now and i’m enjoying being in the 'big boys club…wouldn’t go back to a rigid now!!

Here is the process: (adapted from Route One PCV Operators magazine), so for Cat. D read Cat. C or C+E as applicable.

Note it says DO NOT send current licence back.

Existing Drivers with Cat. D Automatic Restriction Code 78

The drivers with this restriction code on their Cat. D licence can get it removed by following the procedure below, as from 10th April 2014.

“Vocational drivers can request the upgrade by writing to us at:
VOC DCS Casework,D6, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1ZZ,
giving their full driver number, full name and address.

“We recommend that drivers should not send in their driving licence if they need it in the near future (for example, for driver training or employment purposes) and they should not include it with their letter.

“When drivers receive their new licence, they must then send their old licence (both parts) to:
DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1ZW.”

It is important to note, that as with all DVLA correspondence, the appropriate postcode must be used, as this determines which department the mail is delivered to. Each department has its own postcode, and using the wrong one will result in delays.

In order for the Restriction Code 78 to be removed the driver must have passed a manual car driving test as a minimum (Cat. B).

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^^^^^ P.S. No mention in the article of submitting a fee - so can only presume this service is free of charge■■?

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I did class 2 in manual, then class 1 auto, same story, the rules will have changed by your test, but they hadn’t, so copped for 78 auto restriction, sent a request for upgrade 10th April, to dvla, not had anything back yet, dvla advised it’s being processed when I emailed them, maybe they are snowed under with bus driver requests ,
Anybody got any idea how long this might take ! Or is it a piece of string job.
Thanks guys.

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If you want to do your test in a Manual can you

46

irish lorries:
If you want to do your test in a Manual can you

Yes. Any gearbox is now accepted.

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Got licence back from dvla after vocational manual upgrade to c and e. It took 6 weeks to the day to arrive, just in case anyone wants to know.

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Hello everyone ive passed my class 2 in a auto ive sent a letter to voc but not go my new licence back yet and its been 6 weeks dose anyone no voc phone number or a number I can call to check they got my letter many thanks

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As a trainer, I went up the wall when they talked about bringing in auto for a full licence. Then, thinking about it, I trained hundreds of folks on a little 19 ton Bedford TK with a 28’ single axle trailer. And that had a syncro 5 speed box. The same people went on to drive whatever you want to name.

I am now very firmly on the fence (could be nasty!). As a result we offer the choice of man or auto rigid and w+d as well as full size auto artic. It really is up to the customer to decide which route he wants to take. (Personally, I favour man rigid followed by auto artic). Some will choose to learn on auto and then have an hour on manual without the pressure of a test.

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

50

I have been looking at buying a new towcar this weekend… and the relevance to this post is??

Every model I looked at, the auto version did less mpg, created higher emissions and was in a higher road tax bands. With that in mind and this big industry ethos on fuel conservation, if a manual box can produce better mpg than an auto box, then why aren’t lorries sticking to manual boxes?

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LIBERTY_GUY:
I have been looking at buying a new towcar this weekend… and the relevance to this post is??

Every model I looked at, the auto version did less mpg, created higher emissions and was in a higher road tax bands. With that in mind and this big industry ethos on fuel conservation, if a manual box can produce better mpg than an auto box, then why aren’t lorries sticking to manual boxes?

were they torque converter automatics?
that what most traditional autos in cars are or at least were.
the auto gearbox in a modern truck is a,standard box they’ve just removed the nut at the end of the stick.
of course I’m sure a good driver can get better fuel consumption than an auto box, but when you’re talking about big fleets you have to work on averages, so you’ll have driver above and below average, although 90% will believe they’re above. A few,above above average driver aren’t going to save you what the rest are losing.

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Fuel considerations aside, arn’t fleets specifying autos mainly to stop the dross abusing clutches.

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Juddian:
Fuel considerations aside, arn’t fleets specifying autos mainly to stop the dross abusing clutches.

I think that it costs more to specify a manual or day cab these days as run of the line vehicles are auto and sleepers - could be wrong but I do not think so

54

ROG:

Juddian:
Fuel considerations aside, arn’t fleets specifying autos mainly to stop the dross abusing clutches.

I think that it costs more to specify a manual or day cab these days as run of the line vehicles are auto and sleepers - could be wrong but I do not think so

Yes i think you’re right Rog, but i suspect clutch abuse was just as much a consideration as any debatable fuel savings in the changeover years, now auto clutch is the default choice, and manual the optional extra.

I wonder if someone with the buying/leasing power of say Stobart decided to return to manual, meaning the production line at Scania could run whole batches of manuals at a time, then i expect a no cost deal would be offered, if not no doubt one of the other makers would gladly oblige.

55

Told that from now on our g-cabs will all be autos :frowning: ,a.f.a.i.a they were previously all manuals,but due too 1 depot driving them like they stole them,doing clutch after clutch they’ve now decided to go auto only.
Not drove 1 of these g-410 auto,so will reserve judgement until I do.

56

Much talk about the ‘skill’ of driving manual boxes, but many drivers in my experience do not seem to grasp how to get the best out of an auto. Really basic stuff like using low setting for maneuvering, or more ‘advanced’ things like easing off on the throttle to encourage an upchange. Not to mention how to use the manual override to make the exhaust brake work properly.

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Santa:
Much talk about the ‘skill’ of driving manual boxes, but many drivers in my experience do not seem to grasp how to get the best out of an auto. Really basic stuff like using low setting for maneuvering, or more ‘advanced’ things like easing off on the throttle to encourage an upchange. Not to mention how to use the manual override to make the exhaust brake work properly.

Thanks - that is what I was trying to say earlier but you put it better than me :smiley:

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I noticed that on a '63 plate Daf CF I drove the other day it wouldn’t even let me select manual when in 8th or above. I presume the newer ones are all like this now. :unamused:

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oakeedokee:
I noticed that on a '63 plate Daf CF I drove the other day it wouldn’t even let me select manual when in 8th or above. I presume the newer ones are all like this now. :unamused:

All our new ones won’t let you override the auto box once your speed is above 15 mph. There is no kickdown on the throttle either. It’s a real pain because if you are coming to a hill the older trucks will let you change in advance to either keep momentum to help you up or change down to keep the revs up for the exhaust brake. I find them really fustrating to drive.

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Santa:
Much talk about the ‘skill’ of driving manual boxes, but many drivers in my experience do not seem to grasp how to get the best out of an auto. Really basic stuff like using low setting for maneuvering, or more ‘advanced’ things like easing off on the throttle to encourage an upchange. Not to mention how to use the manual override to make the exhaust brake work properly.

This.