Automatics..for newbies..really???

A good learning experience? I dunno. It was what it was. It didn't put the fear of god into me or anything like that if that's what you mean. They were hills, they could be slippery and they weren't always very wide. That's about all I remember of it. No real memories of needing the transmission to do something I wasn't able to get it to do if that's what you mean. Maybe I'm missing something?

 

I'm saying that your first month out of school every minute should've been a good learning experience. I just think people who drive trucks should know how to properly shift a truck, maybe I'm asking too much....

I never said to turn down a "Good" job because of the transmission that is in their company trucks either, though I did say if you cant shift worth a darn you aren't passing a road test for a good job.

 

I am a rookie and I bought a truck 1 day after I got my air brakes endorsement. I taught myself how to drive this AUTOSHIFT no driving school. Now I'm starting a new job that uses what I consider a real truck...manual. AM I HANDICAPPED BY THIS HELL YA!!!!!!!!!!! Now I bought the truck because the dealership could not get rid of it because it was an auto. I paid almost nothing for it. I drove it for 178,000 or so miles. I love my truck it worked for me great. I will not sell either. BUT I DO WISH I WOULD HAVE FOUND A MANUAL. Now I have never driver one but when I go for my road test I WILL PASS. I have a friend stopping by tomorrow who will get me comfortable with the manual.
YES YES YES I needed to know it but now but I don't. Monday I will! I have already learned this business is about adaptability and not listening to all the BS just drive the freaking truck, get the load there, shut your ##### up and go get another load. I not scared. AND WHEN ON O/O POSITION COMES OPEN OR I BUY A TRAILER AND MOVE ON IM ROLLING AUTO. But grateful I will get to learn. But what a waste, I agree most places I've taken my auto I loved it. Once ot twice in the mountains when I was tired and didn't get in that gear when I should of sure I had to hit em hard and hope they didn't fade!

 

I hate autos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Nonsense. The last slushbox I drove had 5 forward gears with a locking torque converter. You can buy a Hyundai with an 8-speed slushbox next year.

I don't know if driving a manual straight out of school is important or not, but I will say this: knowing what engine speed means in relation to traction and power is super important. I might not drive a truck, but I still pay attention to this.

That reminds me of an amusing anecdote: my sister drives a Prius. They have traction control software and what not -- you don't so much drive them as much as you tell them your wishes and they'll decide whether to obey or not. Anyway, she was driving away from home one day and stopped on a hill. It was a bit slick that morning when she tried to pull away. When she floored it and didn't get very far very fast she was surprised. Naturally the Prius did everything it could to muster every ounce of traction it could -- which included completely ignoring her request for more power. She was convinced her car was broken because she didn't leave the hill like a bat out of hell. I tried to explain that if her car didn't hold her back, she would have just sat there and spun, but she didn't understand. Thankfully she doesn't drive for a living.

Anyway, to sum up I guess I'll say this: do I (in my completely worthless non-truck driving opinion) think a person must drive a manual out of the gate? No. But it is an excellent teacher of all the other Newtonian things that a person must pay attention to, regardless of transmission choice.

 

You taught yourself in an automatic. Of course that's a bad idea, I never said it wasn't. Go to school, learn in a manual and get your license in a manual. You didn't do any of that.

What I'm saying is once you learn in a manual and get your license in one, drive whatever someone is willing to pay you to drive. That's all. Nothing more nothing less.

 

Why do you hate them?

 

Go to school......right. Let me go blow $5000. I will learn how to shift this weekend and start the new job soon. Easy now haus I was agreeing with you. You misunderstood. I wish I had started in a manual then starting this new job would be easier. But as it is I did not and I will have to hope I can learn in a weekend. I bet ya I will be starting with than new company on time. Do I think it will take a YEAR TO LEARN hahahahahahaha nope.
And I think Harvey is the Guy who hates everything. Right Harvey? Didn't you have to mow a yard for a year to get to stay on the forum. Just joking man I'm. Sure you just misunderstood

 

Actually I think you're the one who misunderstood. When I said go to school and learn on a manual, I meant that in terms of advice for new drivers who want to get into driving. It would be stupid for you to go to school at this point and I wasn't suggesting that at all.

That being said, IF going to a school was the only available option for someone like yourself who has a license and experience but no manual shifting experience, I doubt it would cost anywhere near $5k for some instruction on just manual shifting. I could be wrong but that just seems high. Again, I'm not say YOU should do it that way, I'm just saying someone who might be in the same boat as you.

 

I just hate them. Autoshifts and automatics both. You dont have as much control. I hate everything about them.