I'm no driver!

I think the problem with folks who have driven manuals in cars and then try to learn how to drive a big truck is simply the matter of gear synchronization. Folks who drive 4-wheelers are so used to having the engine and drive sides always synchronized for them and not having to worry about doing it themselves that the whole idea is foreign. When I went to driving school (and I know I'm gonna catch some flack for admitting this) with Swift in Richmond, the trainer we had did a great job explaining this, so everyone that was with her (there were 4 of us, plus her) picked it up within an hour each. 2 of us had previously driven sticks, the other 2 hadn't. Now I grew up on a farm, driving tractors with all sorts of wagons/trailers, so heavy machinery wasn't that big of a deal for me, but it still took me a little to get used to it. The other guy who had driven a manual took a little longer, and the 2 folks who both had never driven manual picked it up somewhere between us 2. But I still think the reason everyone picked it up within an hour was simply due to her explanation. That extra 15 minutes she took I bet shaved a few hours grinding. Once you get the concept down it's not hard learning a new shift pattern, you just have to learn the shift points themselves, and get used to the feel of the clutch in your new truck too of course.

 

Companies that I can think of with automatics - FFE, Howard, TransAm

Hope this helps

 

USXpress? i think they have nothing but automatics, same with TransAm i believe

 

I worked at USX and all their new trucks are sticks. They started getting rid of them, but also heard they were getting them again...not sure on that one.

 

Yes and no. It depends on how you were taught to drive a stick in a car.

For example, my brother, who I've been teaching to drive stick (travels a lot, limited time to work with him), will not have that problem. I have drilled it in his head that he only depresses the clutch far enough to pull the transmission in and out of gear, and he double-clutches every shift, period.

And, you might ask, why teach someone to double-clutch in a world of syncrhonizers who has no intention of ever driving a big truck? The off chance he ever needed to drive something with an unsynchronized transmission, he will have an easier time of getting. Better to know and never need it, than need it and never know it.

But, by, the same token, I have seen people who do have the floor-the-clutch habit have a harder time of shifting a big truck.

It all depends on how you were taught and how steep your learning curve is.

Up until the clutch brake goes up in smoke.

 

We were told at u.s.xpress orientation that they were getting rid of all automatics.bit that was 3monthsa ago.they could hav changed there minds again by now.hope not tho..shifting is Nothing once u got the hang of it.mainly cus u dont use the clutch..just the r.p.m.

 

Its a bad idea to go with a company just because you aren't comfortable with shifting. Its very rare that you will end up staying employed with them and then you will be S.O.L. trying to shift that manual truck during your next job interview!

If you are having that much trouble go get a job a walmart, you are not a trucker!

 

I went back and forth on what company to drive for after completing school. I finally decided on CT. They run automatics in their MACK trucks. I decided on this due to the home time and the situation was best suited for me. I spoke with my instructors quite a bit about this and the fact that if I every left I will need a refresher on shifting the big truck; but understanding the double clutching and with a couple of days behind the wheel it will all come back.

As for the clutch for those that have driven manual four wheelers and those that have not. We had a guy that had never drove a manual in his life in our class and he picked up on it quickly. I have driven almost all manuals my entire life (I am a young 40), so getting accustom to the double clutching took some time, but it came together with concentration and several stop and goes.

Good luck with your new company.

Micah

 

It isn't that he wasn't comfortable shifting, he wasn't taught how to shift. He learned on an automatic. He'll need additional training with another company, all he has to do is tell them he has no experience in a standard shift.

 

What my guess they'll do is if your shifting is that bad where you can't keep semi under control is want you to attend school.A road test for a student is to make sure your turning, shifting is well enough to go out with a trainer.Companies don't ecspect you to be perfect but they do ecspect you to be able to handle the semi.If the instructor has you pull over during the road test then you better plan on going home.But if you can make it all the way back to the terminal then you'll probably go out with a trainer..This is why trainees should learn the manual transmission not automatics.