Deeply concerned about automatic transmissions.

IMO you weren't ready to drive that equipment in those circumstances if you were having those issues.

Thats a company trying to get by without paying a seasoned hand to do the job. Instead they put a rookie in a dangerous situation to save a few bucks.

 

I have been sarcastic too. Actually COMDATA has made life much easier for most everybody. Yes I know there are other cards out there. Yes most of Todays tractors are nice and for the most part comfortable to drive and sleep in. APUs and inverters have allowed microwaves and refrigerators. GPS has revolutionized navigation. Qualcomm has brought you the driver better contact information with company. I used to have a 3 in 1 printer and when I needed a permit my company would scan it to a PDF and email it to me. Cell phones have helped keep drivers more aware of things going on at home, plus have helped get you to places to load and unload. I do admit Todays drivers don't have to put up with a lot of the stuff that culled the wannabes out. Automatic transmissions are here to stay the old hands might as well get used to it. However for all you drivers that don't have any experience driving a manual. I just hope you are not thrown into a situation where this becomes a problem. Because for the foreseeable future there's going to be manual's out there. There are still a lot of driving jobs out there in manuals. I hope nobody reading this never loses a good job prospect because you fail a driving test in one.

 

I cannot figure out why these discussions always start out with "automatics are for bad drivers" when the "bad" part is when the driver is new and trying to figure out how to shift? I think everyone should be trained and competent on a manual but I am putting the driver's welfare first. BUT, the industry and lots of fleets are going to the autos because they are safer for everyone and GREATLY safer for new drivers. I cannot figure out why some drivers feel threatened by automatics.

 

Autos aren't safer. Autos are simpler, and the quality of drivers keeps dropping. So really companies are switching to autos because their having trouble finding quality drivers.

 

I guess it's all in how one wishes to spin it... I kind of got the impression from him that having the Auto Trans helped him navigate a difficult situation but if you read it differently I guess that's ok too.

 

I think you have stated a very good point there... Things change with Time and Tech... The rig with Auto Trans and Power Steering is just the tool to be used...

People are not bad drivers because of the tools that they use. They are bad drivers because they are bad drivers. Good drivers are good drivers no matter the tools used.

Although the "weeding out" aspect is a good point, one must wonder if manuals then also weeded out the good drivers that just don't like, or don't posses the skills, to drive manuals.

 

Can't autos be both simpler and at least just as safe? I know for myself that I would rather drive an auto and focus on other aspects of driving... Thus safer, for me.

Finding enough drivers is only one aspect of autos and yes, it does allow for a wider variety of driver but to paint all new drivers as low quality is using a might broad brush stroke there... I guess all us newbies need to start harping about all those grumpy grouchy old time drivers, etc...

Pepsi/Coke, Chevy/Ford, Kenworth/Volvo, Manual/Automatic... Boy do we have big ### problems in this world... LOL

 

That statement makes no sense whatsoever. The quality of drivers keeps dropping is an opinion and as it relates to that opinion... How does an automatic transmission lower skills or behaviors in all areas? I don't see that happening as it relates to the transmission of choice. IF however the carriers are stuck with lowered standards of drivers, automatics would make even more sense.

 

I've always thought that most people can drive a truck. It don't require a degree in rocket science to be a good driver. The thing that gets to me are the drivers that lose appreciation of what they are driving. If you lose respect for the size and weight of a rig, you are increasing the likelihood of either an accident or incident. One of the things I remember hearing from drivers was complaints about the stupid stuff 4 wheelers did. Problem is that same mindset is in the trucks. Things like slowing down on interstate ramps. I've lost count of how many tandems I've seen dancing on the I-285 west ramp to I-85 north in Atlanta. Several times a week you can depend on somewhere in the Atlanta metro area, a rig is on it's side. This is one reason I have no concern about a greenhorn driving an automatic. The automatic don't make them a bad driver! Attitude and skills determine this. Always has always will.

 

It's simple logic really for the old hands autos = unsafe under trained steering wheel holders and manuals = super trucker extrodinaire. I can drive both so it doesn't matter I have a few 18 speeds and have even driven a truck with 2 full sticks but you all seem to like those air actuated lockers are ok