Afraid to drive again.

Some advice:

1. When upshifting go slow with the shifter, it don't like to be forced into gear
2. When downshifting do not over rev as this causes driveline shock
3. Turn the #### jake brake on/off on every downshift-I know all you guys keep it on but I hear your driveline damaging mistakes daily.
4. Use the lowest gear on the transmission when moving truck from a stop, your clutch will last forever.

Other than that just go slow and be patient you will get it

 

"Ups is hiring rookie drivers off the streets" lol, Yeah right!

 

He probably hasn't even applied yet he thinks since his brother works there he will get the job once ups sees he has messed up his cdl and he has an attitude and is scared of trucks they will laugh and throw his app in the trash and he will go to the bad companies section of the form to bad mouth them

 

I think that it's more about making yourself as valuable as possible to your employer. Be able to drive any truck, all endorsements, etc. I'm in an auto now but if my truck is in the shop, I'm sure not going to miss a day's pay because I can't handle one of the spare manual trucks. If you're hell bent on an auto-only company then that should be easy enough to find nowadays. There are far bigger things for you to worry about on the road than shifting though.

 

Your first statement is contradicting. You say you were really good at shifting. And then you worried about trying to focus on how to shift.
If you were really good at it, you didn’t have to think. it’s like riding a bike and you don’t forget

 

Keeps dangerous people like you off the phone and multitasking. Driver is forced to be in tune with the truck and aware of the task at hand. Automatics are creating a dangerous breed of truckers imo. Guys that can’t really drive a truck

 

not only a contradiction in statement, but the ever more growing "steering wheel holders", rather than professional drivers.

which amounts to a short job span, rather than a long time career.

as such, many "job seekers" continue to seek out low level jobs, and complain that they don't earn very much

 

Learning and being comfortable with manual isn't unnecessary. It gives you options and makes you more hire-able. Also what happens if your autoshift is in the shop and the only other truck your company has is a manual? Do you tell them sorry I am not comfortable driving that. They'll say ok, drive an auotshift somewhere else. We've got freight to move.

Now I am not saying you have to be perfect at it. But any skill you can learn/master/keep. Makes you more of an asset. I've always been of the mindset if you are done learning. You might as well lay down and die. We always can gain more knowledge/skills.