Should A New Driver

Learn to shift correctly IMO. When you learn and are successful at it it will be no big deal. Like riding a bike, you'll never forget. Be careful out there my friend!

 

The industry is moving toward auto's without a doubt. It's coming.

You will cripple your prospects for future placement, if you don't know how to shift. But in reality, it's a judgement call that you will have to make for yourself. And it may amount to nothing if you like the company you go to work for and stay.

 

I had a hell of a time learning to shift with anything resembling smoothness. I took a two week Basic CDL course since I didin't want to go into debt more that I had to. Believe me, I didn't shift well enough to even have a chance of passing the test until the middle of the second week.
Trust me, it will get better. I still have a ways to go until it's always nice and silent, but I'm told that repetition is the ONLY way you will do it.

Don't cripple yourself by avoiding learning how to double clutch and down shift. You'll regret it eventually.


Just my two centavos.

Good luck! :smt021

 

Some of the industry is moving in that direction! I drive a freight truck hauling doubles and triples, and none of our trucks have auto shift. None of the freight trucks I know of have auto shifts with any company. Keep this in mind as you might not always want to run OTR. I run short line, only one day layover and then home and its great.

 

If your new to the drivers seat, it wont surprise any company that u had auto shift, I was with New Century for about 1 yr. There minium requirment is 3 yrs otr. And very strict on the amount of job hopping, think it was no more then 3 in 5yrs. They put me in a trk had 121 miles on it, and was automatic.. And after a few thousand miles i went to ch fuel levels, 20 minutes later looking for trans fluid, I was told they dont run on trans fluid, yep felt like a dope! This is a learn as you go! Good luck!

 

I understand what you're saying here. And would have mentioned the same but chose not to in order to avoid further confusion to the original poster . Reality is we will be going to autos in the future, with exceptions of course.

Heavy Haulers will always use direct/manual trannies. No way in **** would I get under the wheel of anything pulling 100K or more with an auto on steep grades.