Starting in an automatic truck?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Snelson2011, Nov 25, 2014.

  1. Snelson2011

    Snelson2011 Bobtail Member

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    Ok I just graduated from cdl school and got my cdl. I cannot decide to go with TMC or maverick. I am approved by both I just have to decide which one I want. I talked to a TMC recruiter again today and told him I was undecided between them and maverick. He told me if I started with maverick and decided to go to another company it would be hard to get a company to take me because I had started in an automatic truck even though I Took my cdl in a manual truck and have no restrictions. Is this true?
     
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  3. w.h.o

    w.h.o Road Train Member

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    Call maverick, and they will say that if you start with TMC and decide to go another company, it would be harder because you only drove a peterbilt not a Freightliner. Recruiter will say anything...


    But hows your shifting. Can u shift without grinding? You would have to do a driving test with a different company and they might thing you don't know how to drive if you can't shift
     
  4. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Won't be hard finding another company but if the next company is manual you'll have to go thru training again to learn how to drive a stick shift.May not be as long though depending how long you stay with Maverick.
     
    bubbagumpshrimp Thanks this.
  5. freightwipper

    freightwipper Road Train Member

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    I switched jobs after 7 months of experience.
    Every company wanted to know right in the beginning of questioning if my experience was with stick shift.
    Let that be the answer for you.

    Top notch companies will NOT hire you unless your experience is with stick.
    As simple as that.

    Now if you want to stick with an auto truck at a mega fleet forever.. then don't worry about it.
    All up to you.
     
    STexan Thanks this.
  6. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    When you were a baby, you may have gotten your start walking by using one of those rolling walkers ... good thing you decided to leave the walker behind because you'd look funny trying out for the football team, still in your rolling walker. You can go back to a walker anytime, but it's very helpful to know how to walk and run without the walker.

    That's my feeling about the matter.
     
  7. teqntexas

    teqntexas Medium Load Member

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    the only thing certain is death and taxes.

    starting with an auto may not be a bad idea. autos will give ya more time to focus on what your doing with out having to focus on the shifting in the beginning. just a thought...
     
  8. D33RHUNT3R

    D33RHUNT3R Medium Load Member

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    My wife and I are going to School this spring .. So I have come up against the same thing ..I was considering USXpress till I found out their team trucks are nearly if not all automatics.

    Now as 1 stated it sure would be nice to not worry about the shifting and just worry about driving .. But in the long run if we chose to move on after a yr or 2 for some gig that was great paying we might miss out if we don't know how to drive a stick.. But if on the other hand We go with Con-way They will give us a stick just won't guarantee what model and if were not happy or find some great gig or want to go to some company with all autos I doubt the will be much of a learning curve ..and would not likely miss out because we haven't
    drove an auto..

    So our decision became easy We plan on going with a company that will get us the experience we NEED 1st .. Then we will be valuable Drivers anywhere..Long term thinking just my 2c
     
  9. negativecold13

    negativecold13 Medium Load Member

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    a decision only you can make...I missed out on a great opportunity because I went to a company with automatics and my shifting wasn't up to par and they didn't train...so now I am going with a trainer and get my shifting down...Them auto's are nice but limits your opportunities...
     
  10. Snelson2011

    Snelson2011 Bobtail Member

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    Thanks guys looks like I will probably be going with TMC to get that experience.
     
  11. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    The 13 is a sweet transmission (if they still run them). But never using a 10 much prior, you may not appreciate the 13 as much. But once you master the 13 (it won't take long), you can pretty much pick up any tranny, later but you will miss the 13.
     
    teqntexas Thanks this.
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