I plan to go to our truck driving school in our local community college in Dec, and I'm waiting to get pre-approved for employment with U.S. Xpress.......They have automatic transmissions in all their trucks, and that is a draw for me.....It seems to me that it would be a nice luxury to have in big city traffic.....But whether it's automtic or manual, I'm looking forward to driving a big truck.

Does anyone know of any other companies that have automatics in their trucks?

Also, I would like to hear from drivers from U.S. Xpress that drive their automatics, and how they like them.

PAM Transport and all its subsidiaries (Decker Transport, McNeil Express, PAM Dedicated Services [PDS], and Allen Freight Services [AFS]) have automatics. I started my career with this company and had a good experience with them. You will find others on this forum who didn't have the same type of experience as I did, though.

My step dad drove for US Xpress for a short while last year. As I recall, he didn't have too good of luck with them. I remember several times he was given over 24 hrs to run 300-400 miles repeatedly. They also had some problems getting him home and he lives in southeastern IL just a few miles east of I-57 at exit 54.

Personally, I would not recommend US Xpress to anyone.

Also, I wouldn't recommend anyone start off driving an automatic, even though I did. Because I started out in one, when I left PAM and went to another company with manual transmissions I had a very difficult time even passing that company's road test. I had two years experience at that time, but looked worse than a rookie. The company actually gave me two road tests to see if I was going to be able to make it without tearing up their equipment and being safe.

Still to this day I wish I would've had someone other than my trucking school instructors teach me shifting techniques in a one on one setting. I still find myself scratching gears, although I don't "get lost" in my shifting as much as I used to. I used to panic worrying if I was going to get the truck in the right gear or not. Had there been someone in the truck with me during those times, I wouldn't have been as panicky.

Just some food for thought.

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Keep that diesel burnin' and those tires turnin', but get there safe to keep on earnin'!!

It's too bad that we all (myself included) can't remember our own short comings at the exact moment a fellow man or woman is having one of their own.

I have considered the problem that I might have starting out with an automaitc, as you indicated you had, but it has to be a much more pleasant experience when you're driving in big city traffic.....I had 4 vehicles with manual transmissions, and after several years I got really tired of all the shifting......I want to be a truck driver, but I would prefer to drive an automaitc if the opportunity is there.........As far as following an automatic with a manual, I'll just have to deal with that when the time comes.

Doesn't using an automatic tend to make you a safer driver? If you're not doing all that shifting, doesn't that allow you to just drive and focus on everything that's going on around you?

As for U.S. Xpress, I've been reading a litle more about them on this website, and I'm beginning to get a little nervous about them.......Also, I will check out those other companies you named......I appreciate the info.

I don't think there's any difference in safety. Perhaps as a newbie, but once you master shifting it's really no different. I don't take my eyes off the road to shift gears. As to driving in city traffic, yeah it's nicer to not have to shift, but I always felt like less of a truck driver before I got into a manual. It's a part of being a trucker to me. After all, they called drivers "gear jammers" for years. I find it much more fulfilling to get thru the gears than I did just mashing the gas and letting a computer do the shifting for me. I really think you should reconsider wanting to start off in an automatic. Just speaking as the voice of experience here.

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Keep that diesel burnin' and those tires turnin', but get there safe to keep on earnin'!!

It's too bad that we all (myself included) can't remember our own short comings at the exact moment a fellow man or woman is having one of their own.

Thanks Scarecrow03, I will give it some serious thought about starting out with manual shifting.

Most of the larger companies are trying to at least supplement there fleet with some auto's. I would just call around, but if its REALLY important to you, make sure they can guarantee you one. That being said, I would HIGHLY recommend your first year be under a basic 9 or 10 speed manual. Just because these trucks are auto does not make them an auto. Its really a computer tricking the transmission. If you get a year under your belt in a manual, you will have enough skill under your belt to not restrict your career later. But even more important then that, you will understand how gears really effect the safe operation of the vehicle. You will get a far better understanding of grades, traffic, and fuel economy. Another thing to consider is there is different types. Some don't even have a clutch which makes backing smoothly much harder. I also hear a complaint that sometimes the ones without clutches tend to roll back a little before engaging into first or whatever gear you pull from a stop. Thats not good at a light with a tailgater. I am not knocking them. I like them in traffic and stuff, but I would not start in anything BUT a manual. Its the safe, smart, and skill building thing to do.

Thanks for the info and advice.

Well said and I totally agree with everything you said except I dont like autos.... One thing you forgot to mention is that being able to shift gears certainly helps to keep one awake.......

Seriously though it can get pretty boring out there sometimes and just having something to do like changing gears can keep it interesting. IMHO

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~ Live life to the fullest - enjoy every minute and everything it has to offer - Have No Regrets !!~

Real truck drivers shift.


Give me a handshaker any day. Autos don't give a guy enough control over his gear selection.

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other automatic companies are maverick(flatbed), averitt, interstate distributor