BLEECHH!!!

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Kittyfoot, Jan 30, 2011.

  1. Kittyfoot

    Kittyfoot Crusty Ancient

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    Sep 21, 2009
    Sorrento, Louisiana
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    Well great..... we're starting to get our new trucks in again; a mix of Pete's, Macks and Binders. But the company informs us that all the trucks from now on will be equipped with automatics.:biggrin_25512: Good Lord, of the POS ones we got last year, we have 4 currently down around the country with trans failures and all of them have had trans/electronics issues.:biggrin_25513: Somebody at corporate has a huge case of the stupids. Houston, we have a problem and it is YOU.

    As usual it will be put upon the drivers to pull their corporate idiot azzes out of their stupid decisions.:biggrin_2554:

    Anyhow, I'm told I have the option of taking one of the "newer" old trucks (mine's an 05 with 680K). I'm gonna think this one over carefully 'cause I can't afford to quit and go elsewhere to start at the bottom again.

    Wutchu all think?
     
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  3. Injun

    Injun Road Train Member

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    May 15, 2010
    West o' the Big Crick
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    Although I wouldn't go out of my way to get an autoshift and if I'm buying a truck, wouldn't even consider one, I have heard few complaints from those who have them ...as long as they are working. I also understand they can be switched to manual if you want. I've never driven one, so I don't know first-hand. I hear they're really nice when you're stuck in traffic, though.

    Wave of the future: drivers who can't figure out how to properly shift a standard, so the companies avoid all the extra maintenance by going to autos.

    How many times have you heard someone putting their truck in gear from a stop and it sounds like "R-R-R-r-r-r-CLUNK!" because the ijit driving either burned out the clutch brake or doesn't know how to use it? Seems to me day-cabs are the worst for this.
     
  4. Palazon

    Palazon Road Train Member

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    Tacoma, WA
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    From what I've heard, the newer ones are more reliable. I drive all autos on base. I kinda hate it. They work fine, but it makes me feel like a trained monkey.
     
  5. Tazz

    Tazz Road Train Member

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    Lynchburg,Tn
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    Heck I love mine. Love the space with no stick in the middle. Love no on and off clutch in traffic. Love auto-downshift when some idjit really pulls a ##### and I need both hands on wheel.

    By the way mine is in an '08 387 Pete Eaton Ultrashift.


    I will warn you though. Better practice your throttle control though. Backing into a dock will give you whip lash if you don't:biggrin_25524:
     
  6. Trckdrvr

    Trckdrvr Heavy Load Member

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    Give me a Automatic...I've driven a stick..double cluthching and floating for 10years..ive proven im a man...now gimme a auto.for Atlanta and Chicago and LA traffic.
     
  7. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Tennessee
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    I'm like you kitty. I wouldn't have one, but I wouldn't lose a job over it. Drivers with longevity should have trucks spec-ed out for them.

    Make the best of it and look at the good points of it like traffic backups. Like everything else you have to walk that mile before making final judgement.

    All my personal vehicles have been stick also. I have an automatic now and kind of like it that I'm older. Free's your hands up. You can always pretend the clutch and shifter is still there, lol.
     
  8. Kittyfoot

    Kittyfoot Crusty Ancient

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    Sep 21, 2009
    Sorrento, Louisiana
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    My take is that if you're too incompetent to shift a straight 10 spd you have absoloutely no business hauling hazmat tanker. Houston averages at least 8 rollovers and 20 "incidents" (which includes spills) every year. Our terminal has had exactly 2 rolls in the 6 years I've been there and we make more money by far than the big Houston terminal (head office).

    Now if you someday hear a disembodied scream that rocks your truck and scares little animals you'll know they gave me an automatic Mack.:biggrin_25523:
     
    Injun and rocknroll nik Thank this.
  9. Sequoia

    Sequoia Road Train Member

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    Tampa Bay, FL
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    This is very true! Light pressure on the accelerator is key. Don't want to slam the dock but on the other hand you don't want to just be sitting there revving the engine.
     
  10. Jumbo

    Jumbo Road Train Member

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    Appleton, Wisconsin
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    I have a 2010 Pete with an autoshift with clutchpedal. 15 years of driving log trucks with 18 speeds. I wasnt sure I would like it but, I love it now. I pull oversize and if I dont have to worry about shifting I can concentrate more on the traffic and my turns.
     
  11. rockee

    rockee Road Train Member

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    Pacific Northwest
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    Well, not sure how the auto and pulling a tanker will work out, my guess is it will suck because you will have less control.........but I dont know if "starting at the bottom" is worth the trade off. Even a little bit of seniority has something going for it.
     
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