what is better MANUAL VS AUTOMATIC?

Recruiter = Used Car Salesman.

You can generally disregard the bulk of what comes out of their mouth.

 

When I bought my new Volvo 670 last December, my number 1 priority was that it had to have the Volvo I-Shift transmission. Shifting gears ain't all it's cracked up to be. My truck shifts like a Cadillac.

 

Compared to an auto I guess it's a lot. Something is much more than nothing.

It's not really 'a lot' of work though. It becomes second nature, like breathing. It gives you more control. A lot of drivers who swore against autos changed their tune after being 'forced' to use them though so it can't be that bad.

Being proficient with a manual is something every driver should want to master though. The day manuals are a thing of the past is a long ways off.

 

I couldn't drive an automated truck for a living. There is no driver feedback. I don't know what gear I'm in or what speed I'm going without looking at the dash. And I wouldn't trust an auto on a mountain grade with loaded Super-B trains.

But then again, I think I'm a truck driver from the 1970's reborn into body of an '80's kid. I have the desire to drive a 1980's Pete 359 with a mechanical CAT and a 6x4 duplex.

 

If you're a student, you're better off learning in a manual, that way you can go to any company. If you learn in an auto, and go to take your road test at a company with only manual transmissions....well, you know how that'll end up.

Some states are going to an "automatic transmission only" restriction on your CDL for this reason, if you take your CDL test in an auto.

 

Before I got my CDL I had never driven a manual anything. To get my CDL, I learned to shift(poorly) a 10 speed Eaton. It was intimidating but mostly because my instructor was a dick. Then I went out with a mentor who has a 13 speed Eaton in his Peterbilt.

I would rather die than go back to a 10 speed now. And for what it's worth, I'd be pissed if they gave me an automatic after learning to drive a manual.

There's not much better a sense of accomplishment for me than I feel when I shift gears and have to actually check to make sure I'm in gear because it was smooth like butter. It is well worth your time in learning and you never know when one day you will buy an old long nose Pete or Kenworth 18 speed and start doing heavy haul. It's worth learning.

 

Recruiters lie and in general don't know a thing about anything.

The industry is using automatics only because it is hard to train todays driver to drive a manual. So many potential drivers have not ever driven a manual anything.

They are not more reliable in any way.

They do not get better fuel milage. That is nothing but a sales gimmick.

 

Everyone is different. Some will pick it up quick, some will take longer.

Sounds like you're struggling with how quickly to engage the clutch. On level ground practice slowly releasing the clutch pedal until you can get moving smoothly.

 

You should be fully versed in shifting within 4 or 5 years.