want to buy. auto or manual

Me and my partner want to buy a new or used truck. I am looking at an automatic because of my right arm has problems. so whats the deal with automatics, are they better on gas mileage. Repair costs, safety. are they more expensive. we are going to be driving from pa to ca cross country. what would you recommend frightliner, pete, kenworth, or volvo and which model.
also what are the load rates for cross country deleivery for team drivers.

 

we are going to pull dry van.

 

can someone please explain this to me ,"It's not wise to go beyond 8 percent grades with an automated transmission because it "would need to
be in manual mode," says Jeffrey Sprinzer, Eaton's
senior applications engineer. If the driver does not
know to lock it into a lower gear"

 

has this topic been discused before if it has can someone please link the topic.

 

i dont think the new one should have any problems. my main question is the resale value or the trade in value. meaning if i buy '08 autoshift then want to trade it in for an '09 auto will i loose alot of money. i didn't ask any dealer because they will say anything to sell.

 

?????/???????

 

yes your right i have little or close to no knoweldge of trucks. but there is no harm in asking questions. but w hat know is i can afford a 15k to 20k downpayment.