As I research and look for a paying job (real estate has sucked for the past two years) I have a strong desire to hit the open road. Which in my opinion matches my background of a) working independently in Civilian life and b) working independently in Military life; spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy 15 of which was in the submarine fleet as an Independent duty Hospital Corpsman (quack). Thus I am mental and being isolated is no big deal.

So hoping in a truck and getting the job done is just sounding like ummm I don't know ... NATURAL?

Anyhow now the point of this thread: In researching companies and asking questions about two that are heavy in the North Carolina area Transam and USxPress ... both being very heavy in a fleet of automatics. I have been told that the industry is headed to all automatics! Alledgedly for fuel economy. That one kind of made me scratch my head as I always thought standards were more fuel effecient.

Is it true that all fleets will be automatics??

Well I prefer a stick for the extra torque in the upper range of the gear, and I imagine most others do as well. If that's the case then automatics are much more fuel efficient. I don't think there are many good arguments in favor of the stick other than personal preference. So my guess would be that automatics will be standard.

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You can always tell a trucker, but you can't tell him MUCH!

Guide to Instant O/O and Loadboards thread:
Financial settlements: 50, 68, (80), 82, 123, 166 (cumulative), 166 all repairs/maintenance, 181, 205
Pics: 3, 9, 10, 16, 24, 29, 32, 41, 61, 63, 78, 84, 94, 96, 119, 210, 326
Vids: 47, 48, 63, 74, 77, 80, 82, 96, 172, 211
JasontheRock cost investment summary: 87

for driver mills like USX and others its not fuel economy its just easy to not have to teach them how to double clutch and actually change gears...thus more students get hired as steering wheel holders

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LandShark
American by Birth
Trucker By Choice
Southern by the grace of GOD.

"I keep on driving all night just to keep my rat in the race"

Also when you only train a driver on a automatic, where else are they gonna go and work. The majority of trucks are manuals still. Think of the maintenance cost they are saving by just running a auto compared to a manual with a new driver. I personally would not like a auto, I have tried a couple and I'm just a big fan of rowing my own gears.

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'06 379 Pete with a MXS C-15 550 with heavy haul program, 200gph FASS, high flow mufflers, fuel and boost harnesses, shimmed fuel pump, Bully Dog downloader, Spinner II bypass filter, Schaeffer's synthetics in all boxes, and a 18 speed tranny. Leased to Schneider on their Choice program.

Have you seen what passes for a truck driver these days, a lot of them can't drive let alone shift gears lol, and no I don't think I'm the greatest truck driver in the world I'm not even the best truck driver in my family (my dad can drive circles around me) but I know how to shift my own gears.

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While I disagree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it.

There in lays the problem. If there are only a few companies out there currently with automatics I would think one would be severly lmited in advancing their career or income earning ability.

If the industry as a whole were to go totally automatic how many years would it take to do so? Anyone have a source that might be available to address that question.

Sorry, but it ain't drivin if I ain't shiftin!

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Dynamite comes in small packages, Nitro comes in smaller ones, take your pick!

There is a very good article in the last issue of land line magazine
You might be able to get it on line
But in explains in depth why an automatic helps with fuel millage even with the added cost of the transmission

The last truck I drove was an automatic. It had the worst shifting specs that were the result of the company. It lacked power and could not pick speed up. It would not downshift as smoothly as I would. It also tended to coast instead of the slow down effect you get with the manual.

I couldn't agree more

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While I disagree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it.