Are "manual transmissions only" types of drivers supertruckers?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jbrow327, Apr 29, 2022.

  1. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2010
    Messages:
    7,408
    Thanks Received:
    20,097
    0
    In general, I agree, but there are exceptions. For a while I was running US 30 across Indiana so much I had the lights timed. I knew which ones I needed to accelerate hard from in order to catch the rest green getting through town without stopping again and which ones didn't matter. I think is was Columbia that if you got stopped at the first light west bound, if you didn't get up to speed as fast as possible then you got stuck at EVERY light.

    One week my trainee made the drive from Ft Wayne to Gary and it took 4 hours. Two days later we had the same load, at the same time of day, and I elected to make the drive because our 70 was getting short and I wanted to make sure we had enough time to get home. I made the drive in 3 hours, and got better fuel economy to boot.
     
  2. LameMule

    LameMule Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2020
    Messages:
    1,147
    Thanks Received:
    7,404
    Location:
    Montana
    0
    Every onramp...
     
  3. CrappieJunkie

    CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2014
    Messages:
    3,982
    Thanks Received:
    18,763
    Location:
    In a van down by the River.
    0
    I do like the control a stick brings. It is easy to control when backing up, but not going to call anyone a sissy for not driving one. I am driving a yard truck that is auto.
     
    alds Thanks this.
  4. OldRoadRon

    OldRoadRon Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2022
    Messages:
    6
    Thanks Received:
    4
    0
    Very much prefer manual vehicles for a variety of reasons, but to these younger drivers, they never even seen a vehicle with a stick shift because they're basically no longer a thing in cars (why I miss living in the '80s and '90s). But when I drive a smoothbore tank, I find it doable to control my own vehicle with a manual transmission.
     
    Oxbow and Another Canadian driver Thank this.
  5. Wargames

    Wargames Captain Crusty

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2010
    Messages:
    3,215
    Thanks Received:
    7,388
    Location:
    WI.
    0
    I’ve been gone for a while. It’s sure nice to hear from you guys, the response you put out is freakin awesome. I’m just glad I’m old school, than, pre school. Ha ha ha
     
    rockeee Thanks this.