Companies running automatic transmissions?

No Redd, I don't think so.
Actually I was shifting two gear shifts (one for high/low and one for gears) hauling logs off the mountain North of Coeur d'Alene in 1977/78. Lets see, your what 35? So you were what 2? Now I have done a few things since and not been in trucking, and you do have the edge on miles, and skill but I doubt that any but maybe one person in this thread has had to reach through the wheel, with your left arm, latch onto the left shift and shift the right with your right hand, all the while hoping the road doesn't give way and revving the RPMs up and down. LOL
Now no disrespect intended here and I bow to all of your various prowess, but your rigs are light years ahead of what I drove on the mountain. It's what high school kids did. Dumb enough to do it, no license required. If auto's work both from a driver and company standpoint, they will be here to stay.
Max

 

Yes, my closet Though they be a bit small for me they might fit you.
Max

 

No thanks...I haven't worn those since the mid 70's! I won't even buy a Levi's product anymore because of the companys position on gun laws in this country!

I'll stick with my Dickies work jeans.

 

Arn't your such a ######. You think I was posting rules and ettiquitte? No, I was telling you how to not come off as an ###. If you wanna come off that way, its on you. Save your attatude for someone you might impress with it. Take care, and drive safe, I am going back to questions I can either help with, or learn from. ^.^

 

I'm with ya on that. I even stopped drinking Pepsi a few years ago because they (and Hechingers) sp? supported Brady.
Max

 

I have not been driving long, and an automatic may be easier on the day to day trips. But at the end of the day, I know how to shift up and down a mountain, and in heavy traffic, and heavy rain. That is worth it to me. When you are in an industry that revolves around shifting gears, and has been since the early 1900's, it's probably a good idea to know how to do so in every situation.

 

Don't you have to have a manual to road test for CDL? Anyway you have to know a manual anyway. You might be working for an auto company and break down and get a loaner manual for a trip. Never know. Or a bull hauler shut down at the scale might make it worthwhile to drive his truck to the truckstop. Never know what is going to happen. Other than that it makes no difference. Autos are kind of nice in city traffic or stop and goes. The trick is to not be stopping.

 

In California, if you test in an automatic, you will have a manual transmission restriction on your Class A license. Same with air brakes. Basically anything short of a real truck, there will be a restriction.

 

this is true of many states. test on an automatic, get restricted. now comes the REAL FUN PART......taking the driving test all over again to get that restriction taken off......!!!

 

can i see a show of hands please.........experience with the following:

• quadraplex trans?
• triplex?
• 5x2
• 6x4 d/o
• 6 speed / 2 stick
• 4x4 manual shift
• 4x4 airshift
• 13 with under drive and 13 with OD. ( 9/5 & 12 / 5 /13 )
• 15's and 18's with airshift deep reduction

To drive a truck ... at a minimum you need to be able to recognize these guys on sight.

The masters can not only recognise these guys but....operate them and the PHD's can split a 5x4 with 2 hands simotaniously....and not leave his lane.