Considering trucking - but ony want to drive automatic.

Nope, you cannot expect a automatic heaven.

I think once the rust breaks off you from your 20's you will be ok. Being able to learn and drive a manual will be a increasingly important asset in a society that appears unable to drive the manuals in trucking. That is what a school is, they will teach you.

Now you both consider your age, fitness and ability to thrive on crazy hours that flip your body clock every other day from night ops to day ops and back again. Can you do it? If you are getting worn out, stay home.

(I have been....)

 

Even Swift will put you in a manual in school, but afterwards they have auto trainers and autos in the fleet, and getting put in one is easy.

 

Your gas nissan will be different than a big truck.

Take a look at you tube videos of shifting. You will find that you start off in low gear until the engine reaches a certain speed, then shift up. Simple as that. Throw in 10 gears with a selector between high and low complicates it a little bit.

When you down shift, you have to slow the engine to below torque speed, then rev as you shift into next lower gear. Here is the big gotcha...

Trucks are non syncronized transmissions. Your car is sync, meaning it's no good to you for practicing double clutching. You can SHIFT WITHOUT A clutch just so in a big truck, but you are not going to learn this in school it's a no no. A bit of a showboat that. and a really useful skill should your clutch go out.

Now we talk about 13 speed, 18 speed this cat, that cummings, and detroit over there with double this double that split axles etc etc etc etc let go of all that. These are special things that give joy or pain to drivers.

 

Alot of fleets have autos, but anyone putting you through a refresher will probably have you in a manual for the school portion.

There are people on this forum that could give you a list of companies in your area with autos. Just wait, they will show up.

 

To clarify further. The three main engines have personalities that are so distinct. You will enjoy the three. And hate at least one.

Cars today are all common engines built in a mega honda type situation for half the world to use. None of them are anything special unless you use a air breathing carburated classic car or truck.

 

If you are serious about coming into this business, there is a lot of research you need to do! It has been suggested many times here, that you go to a truck stop cafe. Strike up some conversations with a few drivers. Really, to start with, you can talk about pretty much anything, just to get a feel for whether a particular driver is a reasonably intelligent human being. (A lot of drivers are total BSers, and some are truly idiots.
If you can find an old hand, (aka driver,) who is experienced, and willing to take time to talk to you, buy him a dinner and pick his brain about the industry! Keep in mind that we're all individuals, with our own set of likes and dislikes.
It's my opinion, that you need to make yourself as valuable to the industry as possible. One valuable thing is to be as versatile as possible. This means being willing and able to drive what ever equipment the company assigns to you. It also means being willing, able, and have the endorsements on your CDL to haul whatever loads you are assigned. And be willing to go wherever the company needs you to.
After you have a few years, and a few hundred thousand miles on, then you will be in a better position to pick and choose. But don't take that to mean that you need to jump on the first outfit that offers you a job. Take some time to research any company before you even apply.
There are some outfits, and they range in size from a mega-carrier, to very small operations, that not only aren't worth your time, but can get you into career ending trouble! This is a cut throat industry, and nobody but you is gonna be watching out for you.
I know this is much more information than you asked for...