Manual vs Automatic Transmissions

Pretty much. Good Luck finding a manuel one a car these days.




So, are you Bill or Ted?

 

Thankfully, I'm getting that now, despite the fact it's "not a semi".

 

But... but... but... how would they be able to get the grist for their "driving school" mill?? I mean, gee, they'd have to PAY them an actual living wage for a whole YEAR! Imagine the financial hardships! Those poor executives would STARVE!

 

I'll have to disagree here mattbnr.....the minimum age requirement for a class CDL is 21 ( if you are gonna travel outside of the state of issue 18 if you never leave the state of issue) If i'm not mistaken most kids are able to get a drivers license at age 16.....all of the things that you mentioned as fundamentals of driving are already ( or should be ) pretty much learned by someone driving...all of those things. Everybody driving is charged with doing them all. Learning on an auto really does more to handicap a student than anything else. Just like learning to double clutch....it should be taught and learned by anyone driving with a CDL license. Look at it this way...you go to school to learn just how to "drive" a semi....that includes going forward , backward , parking and most important of all shifting.
let's say for instance you never learn to drive a manual transmission...and spend several years doing it. All of a sudden you get the chance of a lifetime at a job that pays you very well , gives you great time at home and wonderful benefits...ins./retirement...the kind of job that you would love to retire from....only thing is they don't have any automatics...only manual transmissions... you're SOL my friend..cause they aren't gonna train you , they're gonna hire a driver that knows how to use a clutch....that is gonna be the norm in this industry for many years to come.

Or , try this one....you do get that great job with a great company...stay there for several years winging it. ( read they don't know you can't drive a stick ) don't see that happening , but for the sake of argument , let's pretend it does....you're driving along and something inside that tranny goes awry....you have to be towed to a repair shop...your dispatcher can't find someone to re-power your load , and it really has to go. The decision is made to rent a tractor , only thing is , they only have manuals , no automatics...you see where I'm going with this....It's best to learn how to drive a manual....even though you might not have to......maybe......

 

For all of us...you're never fully trained...never....you'll always be encountering different people/situations every day and every mile that you put behind you. You may gain tons and tons of experience , but you're always learning.....5 minutes or 50 years....you never learn it/or see it all.......

 

Good point.

Tho, if I were in that position needing to learn for the dream job, I'd find a way to learn it, say in a two week break between old job and new. Better that than lose the dream gig.

 

My point exactly....learn as much as possible about the profession...knowledge can't ever go out of style , or become obsolete....you never know when you'll have to draw upon it.

 

Sorry u all make it sound so hard to shift a manual tranny. It's as easy as pie.

 

Then why do all the old-time "supertruckers" have knee, shoulder, and hip problems from shifting all the time??

 

It's probably not from shifting it's probably from the old trucks and their fixed seats, spring ride cabs, no air ride, bias ply tires, ###### suspension etc.