Automatic Manual Transmissions vs Manual Transmissions

These two lines sum up 90% of the people who knock AMT and automatics, they either have ZERO exp. or did so with a closed mind and weren't willing to look at the possibility.

 

I see in the picture you have the Mack.

The experience had last summer helping the driver with the sliding tandems,.. He also had a Mack. It was a Mack Vision. The company was Big Dog trucking,.. or Big G Trucking,.. White truck with I think a big G on the side.

Anyway,.. I consider myself a very competent driver. I drove for 7 years from 1987 to 1995 for a towing/transport heavy haul company. Left trucking for 15 years,.. and returned in 2011. My wife gets frustrated with me because I get down on myself when I cant not back a trailer into a hole at the truck stop or anywhere else and do it in one shot with no pull ups. I take pride in that I forced myself to perfect my skills and become the best that I can be and still to this day,.. I work on becoming better and smoother at everything.

With that said,.. That Mack Vision with the auto made me feel like a rookie kid struggling to figure it out. I am almost 50 yrs old.

It lurched,.. it shuddered,.. when I let off the pedal,.. it gave itself more fuel forcing me to stab the brakes. I felt like a complete idiot not understanding the correct operation of that truck.

I know there has to be a learning curve to making it work. Problem is,.. its not something I want to learn. Not as long as I own my own trucks,.. I will never buy an auto. I have nothing against guys who like auto's. Only a slight resentment to those who talk bad about manuals because they lack the skill and fortitude to master one.

Also,.. despite the obvious driver experience within your company. The majority of large fleets moving to autos are doing it (In My Opinion) because it dumbs down the learning process and gets drivers qualified to go out on their own faster.

They are not doing the new drivers any favors, because as they gain confidence and experience they are naturally going to look for work paying more or simply to learn something else. They will have a difficult time with many companies if they can not properly shift a manual.

Thats my whole opinion on auto's.
I have read a few posts here on the forum where experienced guys said they didnt think they would like it and ended up falling in love with it. So I dont knock them because thats what they like. Thats not where I am coming from at all.

Hurst

 

I like some things about the auto shift but maybe someday when I can buy my own truck I can assure that it will have a manual. But all the negative comments I have ever heard stem from what I would call lack of experience/training in a auto. If people who get put into one would just open their minds to something new rather than be closed minded about things they may just learn something to benefit themselves. I for one had a much harder time learning to properly drive an auto then anything else about trucking. For me it was a mindset that autos are bad or whatever. Once I figured out that my company wasn't going to buy me a different truck and once I decided to stay where I'm at, I got used to the idea of the auto. For me it was the snow and off road driving that kicked my behind. I learned to drive in a 18 speed hauling wood chips out of the mountains. Ice, mud and snow were the norm rather than the exception. And for me driving an auto in those conditions were a real challenge. Now its not a problem. I would rather keep the truck I'm in than move to an older one. That said I like the company I drive for and I like the perks, so I guess I'll drive what they have for me and make the most of it.
My two cents about new drivers, I would strongly caution anybody against putting a new driver in an auto shift. There is (to me at least) way more to think about besides what gear you're in. I guess if the truck stays on the pavement all the time then maybe it wouldn't matter much but if any snow is driven in or any type of off road driving is involved then the new driver needs the manual. The last thing a new driver needs to worry about is that computer shifting at the wrong time. That would be a recipe for disaster in a hurry.

 

I guess we should all strive to be like Striker.

I used to have preferences, now I just whine about $#%@.

When/if Ibuy a few more trucks, chances are they'll have auto trannies. Chances are I'll still be contributing to paying off Strikers cars myself.

 

Note to self: ALWAYS follow rule to keep pie hole shut.

 

Don't know how that happened. I NEVER FLAG STOPS OR ANYTHING except fuel or whatever legit reason i need to flag.

Sounds like you got there too soon. And your prepass is to blame.

 

I drive an AMT. On the newer Eaton Ultrashifts and I-shift it is absolutely no problem to slide 1 hole. Do it all the time.

 

You all can say what you want. Some of us just don't like auto's. Plain and simple as that.

I used one for one trip. AND I HATED IT. And have absolutely NO desire to learn it.

Push the gas pedal down and wait 2 seconds for the truck to move. Climb the hills at 900 rpms. Down the hills at 900 rpms. Some trucks don't have manual mode. Some companies don't allow it, what so ever.

The auto i drove, took an hour longer on the same trip. And when you consider that departure times are usually dinner time. I want that hour to sleep. Not drive.

 

I have been driving for 30 years and was a truck mechanic before driving,and I've been driving an AMT for 10 years now in various forms and I wouldn't go back to a manual.

 

I think it's inexcusable for an OTR truck to not have a manual mode. I can understand a local P and D or delivery driver not needing one but an OTR driver will find the manual mode extremely useful.