Maverick seems like a good company to start with and I'd like to run reefer when I'm done with school. But seeing they have an automatic transmission fleet kind of scares me because I think my first driving job should be on trucks with standards/manuals. I'm thinking it wouldn't be so good to have to be retrained in a few years on a standard if I were to switch companies. Oh well, since I won't be starting school until springtime I have some time yet to research trucking companies and try to find the best fit.
I kind of(still) feel the same way... But the way I see it, in a matter of hours I was driving the 10 speed in school... And with the very minimal time I actually drove in school, I had it down pretty well by the time I tested out. I feel like when/if the time comes to have to drive a manual.....by the end of the first day I'd have it down again.. Not to difficult. It'll just take some refining.
That was my exact thinking. A lot of guys in my class completely wrote Maverick off as a first job because of the transmission thing. They even tried to talk me out of applying, saying that I'd need at least a year on a manual in order to not forget it. I always told myself that if I can go from never driving a manual transmission in ANY vehicle to smoothly going up and down a 10-speed in such a short amount of time, then I shouldn't have too much of a problem figuring it out again.
I see your point and like you said if you learned it once in a short amount of time you can do it again. I wonder if a company will be willing to retrain(refresh) a rookie on driving a manual after starting out on an automatic though. Have you hired on with Maverick after your schooling is done?
Not yet, but I've applied and been in touch with the recruiters. I'm waiting to hear back from a few local places I have applications in with before I make any final decisions. Truth be told, I won't mind if the local guys turn me down. From the outside looking in, Maverick seems like a place I could happy at for a good long while.
I believe the reefers are out usually 2 weeks or more and the flatbeds do usually get home every weekend provided they have a load going that way.
Shifting a truck is not rocket science: if it were here would be a lt less drivers out here. Your first job should be with the company that meets your needs the most : best of luck in your search:there are more companies to stay away from.the. really good ones!
Im an old schooler who resisted autos but after driving them Im a definite supporter now. I still prefer manuals but I have at times wished I had an auto like rush hour traffic.
