Automatic transmission

How long did it take you while in school to learn how to drive an automatic trans semi?

 

It will take at least a week to learn how to drive an automatic, especially if it's an Eaton Ultrashift. Most of that time will be spent waiting for it to go into reverse.

 

I learned on manual transmission, with automatic you have less to deal with as new driver. I would say learning to drive in city traffic and handling the truck will be more to learn. The automatic transmission will do all the gear shifting for you.

 

Driving an automatic downhill is a little different then manual transmission. Backing up with automatic and hooking up to trailer with automatic is not as good in my opinion, because you don't have as much control to keep going slow. The manual transmission and clutch you can slip the clutch a little and control speed more when you only want to move 5 feet or need a little power to hook to trailer.

 

Is driving an automatic easier to learn then a manual?

 

Yes, but easier isn't always better. To drive a manual you have to learn the whole truck. Engine power band, rear end gearing, rpm drop, ect...with an auto you just have to learn when the trans shifts and what gear it likes to start out in

 

The issue with people learning to drive trucks with manual transmissions is that they are unlike anything most of them have ever driven and they are now in a 70 foot long articulating 40 ton vehicle and ALL of the muscle memory and experience they have and revert to is with vehicles a LOT smaller.. when they are learning to drive a truck, their focus (especially when they miss a gear) is the area immediately around the shifter.. their entire focus is that lost gear, not the turn not the car right beside them, not the red light ahead etc etc etc. They will instantly mentally revert to driving their cars. Its especially true at night. The Automatics are INSTANTLY safer for anyone regardless of the super trucker opinion... any time any driver can keep their hands on the wheel and their attention outside the truck (where the vast majority of the real world threats are) the better the outcome for everyone

 

In your opinion is it Easier to drive a auto or a manual? Thanks for your comment

 

it should not be a concern how long to learn an automatic, it should be a HUGE concern when you get the restriction on your CDL for automatics only...

then when you quit or get fired, you may have issues finding work, cuz you never learnt on a stick, and DID NOT GET that restriction on your CDL.

cuz then, you'll have to go back to school, learn on a stick, pay MORE MONEY, cuz they ain't gonna teach you for free, then take another road test....

that's what you should be concerned about...being RESTRICTED, and possibly NO JOB......

 

Plenty of work for people with the auto restrictions. So totally incorrect.