What's with all these training schools training with auto transmissions?

I drive an Auto for PAM. About 70-75% of the time I like it just fine.

It is a problem in stop and go on hills and backing.

And all things being equal I'd rather be shifting.

 

Lets face it, probably 30% or better (guessing) of the drivers out there with manual trucks have no clue on how to truly drive one. Just notice how often your sitting next to a truck at a red light and you hear him/her chunk it in gear and then you hear them giving it fuel when they take off. Or they take off in such a high gear that the whole truck is shaking sounding like its about to give up the ghost. There are a lot of drivers out there that NEED to be in an auto. They'll just never get it in a manual.

 

I don't grind and chunk it into gear. I have once and what that's from is not pushing the clutch all the way in. Not hard to over come. If you push to far where it won't go just slightly release until you feel that "gate" open and goes right in without all the grinding and nose. I've seen a many of those PAM driver's though at a customer trying to back up and I'm not sure what the hell it is they are doing but as soon as they start the whole #### truck shake's so hard you would swear it's fixing to flip over on it's side. The one I drove stalled in the middle of a intersection and the start's from a dead stop were rough/violent.

 

Do you get a restriction on your CDL if you don't test in a manual?

 

Been noticing a lot of drivers "popping wheelies" taking off from red lights, etc.
I may be wrong (usually am) but I have always thought If someone couldn't shift, they shouldn't be in a big truck, kinda the acid test.
About 5 years ago The boss got new Mack Granite dump trucks, I got one with an Allision 6 speed hvy duty auto trans. First 6 months, hated it, wanted my 8LL back. Now I'm spoiled rotten with the auto. Two bad things about it though, Can't park it in gear with the motor off, and it has no jake brake in reverse.

 

no jake in reverse???

I may start a poll to see how many truckers ever use the jake in reverse.

I hope you do not back that fast that you need the jake

 

Backing down a gravel or dirt road on the side of a mountain to a asphalt spreader or to the bottom, it's kinda nice to be in low low reverse riding the jake.

 

ok, I can see that,

 

lol, first thing to come to mind was "WTF!?"

 

lol I thought that might raise some eyebrows!
Lets don't hijack the thread though.......Auto trans in school, BAD!