what is better MANUAL VS AUTOMATIC?

I don't really think it's fair to belittle people because they work smarter instead of harder. If they no longer have to focus on their shifting, it allows them to take that time to focus on other tasks as well as keep both hands on the wheel.

 

I find fault with your logic. A manual transmission keeps you much more engaged with the operation of your truck. Automatics make it very easy to be lulled into inattention because your brain isn't continually tracking rpm's, grade etc. You just mash the fuel and poke the brake and in between you're just in a seat holding a wheel.

 

Like watching movies or writing long text messages.

 

since 1973 I have driven anything that had wheels or tracks I don't have much to prove about my manliness
and have no desire to drive anything but an auto

 

I already to much with my company 2016 volvo. won't move anywhere with auto sensors failing daily.

 

A lot of fleets are in transition and will be mostly Autos . Talking to drivers here at USA who have gone from manual to the new KW autos they all have good things to say . I don't mind the manual but a reliable auto is hard to beat. I drove 1 tons for 18 yrs and still own 1 and the Autos on those trucks are solid .

 

Two biggest things I hated about the auto was backing and stop and go traffic. That auto would come to a dead stop unless you had your foot on the go pedal. So for backing, you let off the fuel to ease into the tight spot and the unit stops. Then you feather some fuel and it doesn't do anything, give it some more then it finally catches up and started lurching backward at high speed aiming for the parked truck hood.

Stop and go traffic, yes your left leg gets to be propped up on the dash but again if you don't have your foot right there on the go pedal the truck will stop.

I like the manual-- put it in LO gear and both feet can go up on the dash for stop and go traffic.

 

Bad drivers will be bad no matter what. A good driver will still pay attention to their terrain, rpm, etc.

 

I guess my point was, let's say you drive for Swift for a year in an automatic.
Then you decide to move on to greener pastures and apply to a smaller carrier, maybe an LTL company. You want to be able to shift without losing your gear going downhill, etc. That's the disadvantage IMO to learning in an automatic, even if you've driven for a year, you're not going to be good at shifting.

Disclaimer: I have driven both manual and automatic trucks. I prefer manual transmissions in all vehicles, but I am a "car guy". Having said that, the DT12 transmission isn't bad as long as you put it in performance mode. The econ mode is worthless when you're heavy in places like Western PA.

 

Another thing I hated about the AMT was going down steep hills. If in Auto Mode, it would often upshift itself progressively and smoothly all the way up to top gear; you would never feel it or realize it til you felt something strange like 'hey we are going too fast' and see on the dash that the truck is in top 13th gear now screaming down the 6% grade. So in that sense, it is more fatiguing because you have to watch for that all the time, set it in Manual Mode and keep an eagle eye on the rpms etc. I think that is what happened to this guy--