Block gear changing and truck test

somefeen

Hi
Does anyone know if you are allowed to block change gears on the Cat. C test?

I have my test soon and I'm doing OK really it just the gears I keep getting picked up on. I've found myself I drive better if I block change rather than going through every gear.
For instance pulling away at the lights taking a tight right turn the instructor wants me to go, 3rd-start turning the wheel, 4th while turning the wheel and be exiting the junction in 5th.
Just doesn't feel right to me since I want to rush the 3-4 change because I want my hands free to turn the wheel. I don't feel totally in control trying to take a tight turn with one hand and make a nice slow gear change with the other.

It feels more natural to stay in 3rd through the maneuver and then go straight up into 5th when my hands are free again.
Considering getting the instructor to show me how he would do it but if anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it.

Have a similar problem coming down but I think that's just down to not giving myself enough time to engage every gear.

redline2015

somefeen wrote: »

Hi
Does anyone know if you are allowed to block change gears on the Cat. C test?

I have my test soon and I'm doing OK really it just the gears I keep getting picked up on. I've found myself I drive better if I block change rather than going through every gear.
For instance pulling away at the lights taking a tight right turn the instructor wants me to go, 3rd-start turning the wheel, 4th while turning the wheel and be exiting the junction in 5th.
Just doesn't feel right to me since I want to rush the 3-4 change because I want my hands free to turn the wheel. I don't feel totally in control trying to take a tight turn with one hand and make a nice slow gear change with the other.

It feels more natural to stay in 3rd through the maneuver and then go straight up into 5th when my hands are free again.
Considering getting the instructor to show me how he would do it but if anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it.

Have a similar problem coming down but I think that's just down to not giving myself enough time to engage every gear.

Absolutely no problem block changing for the driving test infact it recommended,
Your more likely going to block change coming down rather than up,

I've been told testers in tallaght don't like seeing ...UP ...block changing but I reckon that's just because it's not always demonstrated properly,
I personally can't see a problem going from say 3rd into 5th when moving off on a downhill stretch.
But if your going from 3rd to 5th when turning you will be either leaving it to long in 3rd or going Into 5th to early.

If your having problems on your lessons with your gear changes Especially going from low to high box or high to low take ever opertunity to practice in difficult situations IE turning and roundabouts even if you would have got away with leaving it....just explain to your instructor what you doing..

neris

when I was getting bus and truck lessons the instructor told me not to be changing gear when steering around a corner or roundabout but block changing changing down on the truck when coming to a stop was ok.

somefeen

Thanks for the advice guys.

I have no idea so really.
It feels safer to stay in third until I'm finished turning, especially on smaller roundabouts because I want both hands to steer and indicate. But the instructor keeps saying I'm leaving it in third for to long. The only way I can seem to comfortably steer and change into 4th is by using the heel of my hand to turn the wheel which is probably not OK or safe. I guess I could try getting into 4th before I start steering?

Even in the car, if I'm pulling away at a mini-roundabout I leave it in first for longer than usual so I have both hands free. Wasting a bit of diesel and making slightly more noise seems less important than not being in full control of the wheel.

neris

Just out of curiosity where are you doing the test out of or what area? Where i was there were a few mini roundabouts on the test route and one particularly tight n tough mini roundabout where instructor had me going down to gear 2 on the bus and gear 3 on the truck and artic and was just letting the vehicle go through without accelerating or changing geear

Donal55

somefeen wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys.

I have no idea so really.
It feels safer to stay in third until I'm finished turning, especially on smaller roundabouts because I want both hands to steer and indicate. But the instructor keeps saying I'm leaving it in third for to long. The only way I can seem to comfortably steer and change into 4th is by using the heel of my hand to turn the wheel which is probably not OK or safe. I guess I could try getting into 4th before I start steering?

Even in the car, if I'm pulling away at a mini-roundabout I leave it in first for longer than usual so I have both hands free. Wasting a bit of diesel and making slightly more noise seems less important than not being in full control of the wheel.

On no account turn the wheel with the heel of your hand, especially in the test.

Faith+1

I blocked changed when I did my Rigid test back in 2010. Didn't get marked once for gears.

Wishbone Ash

Donal55 wrote: »

On no account turn the wheel with the heel of your hand, especially in the test.

Unless things have changed since I did the rigid and artic tests, it was acceptable to steer with one hand while changing gear.

somefeen

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Unless things have changed since I did the rigid and artic tests, it was acceptable to steer with one hand while changing gear.

Did you use the heel of your hand to a a full revolution of the steering wheel?


They really make this more complicated than it needs to be

Wishbone Ash

somefeen wrote: »

Did you use the heel of your hand to a a full revolution of the steering wheel?....

I can't really recall whether I used the heel of my hand but I presume I did as it would be natural to do so if using one hand. I recalled being surprised when the instructor said one hand was acceptable in trucks because it wasn't in buses.