Fleets....Automatics

It’s always best to stay ahead of the game. I personally have all my endorsements even though I don’t need them all. I’m just always prepared for what ever any unexpected comes in front of me.

 

You’d really be shooting your self in the foot if you were restricted to autos unless you really suck with sticks. But you’re still going to be limited with your options going forward.

Lots of smaller outfits will never run autos

 

I got my CDL with manual 10 Speed, but was placed in my first job with PAM driving Automatics for 2 years.

I found small companies were finicky about this and turned me down due to lack of recent Manual experience. I did road test with one company who didn't like my manual shifting. Strangely, they did not try to correct me and just sat there watching me fail. I think the silly issue is the experienced guys all floated the gears while I still double clutched as I was taught. Maybe to them, that makes me look like a noob for not floating gears.

I did manage to do a refresher with a medium size company who tested me on manual. I was getting better on Downshifting or even skip shifting(my failed road tests were at least practice), but they put me in a nice newer Automatic Cascadia because I was experienced from my time at PAM.

I'm in the process of relocating and looking for work and just feel a little limited not by a License Restriction, but my limited practical experience driving manuals. I applied to Superior Carrier which pull tankers and Saia for Linehaul and both look to have Automatics.

Just my perspective on it. I'd say learning Manual shifting is still worth it if you get placed in your first job driving Manuals with a decent trainer. Otherwise, you're virtually limited like me.

At the moment though, I hope I get a Linehaul gig with Saia. Yeah it could be boring, but I'm hoping to get through the night with Audiobooks and Podcasts. ( I read about Saia's ban on CBs and even Blutooth; its not a deal breaker)

 

Fleets aren't switching to automatics.

They've already made the switch, years ago.

And yes. It puts you rookies at a very big disadvantage for future job prospects. Unless you plan on driving a garbage truck or a fire engine. And anything else that might be using auto.

According to my last company. My last FL was a special order. I told him I'd quit if I received an auto. He had to change the order to 13sp. Which put a delay in the truck arriving. I think that truck is gone now and his entire fleet is now all auto.

 

What if you get the job offer of a lifetime with high pay from a company that has a small fleet that are all manual transmission. Use your brain, stop trying to take the easy way out. Learning manual doesn't take any more time than learning automatic.

 

Manual not going away anytime soon. Always be people like me who know how to drive and also if it breaks I can take it anywhere and it won't cost as much as the auto. Just another electrical system and computer and sensors that can ruin your day. The savings are negligible if the driver is the one footing the fuel bill.

All that being said. If I was going to hire someone and I knew 100% they'd drive it for 4 or 5 years until the payment is done, I'd buy them almost whatever they want, so long as they take care of it and treat it as their own. The problem is: people that treat it like it's their own....are already owner operators.

 

Two reasons. The States put a restriction on autos only if you tested in one. Then you are limited in hire ability.

Manuals in a big truck when done right can get that truck to do things that might stick a automatic. Keeping in mind my last automatic was in 2001, and it had manual mode paddles for shifting or staying in a mountain gear somewhere going up or coming down. It was not very good backing up. Once you start moving it needs to essentially pop that trailer in the dock in one move. Otherwise you look like a driving school newbie with the whole tractor bounce house on your airride as you try to nurse the stupid clutch on the auto. It's nice to have but not that nice sometimes.

In my time fleets like FFE had a auto matic for one simple goal. Stick my wife in there and she don't have to worry about shifting much. She did good. But on the next company we ran for it was a full manual and that required some time to train her on the finer points of that manual.

Ultimately fleets have a lower quality group of drivers who cannot handle manuals and break something. So they are issued automatics push a button and go. No breaking. If you issued me a 13 double under or whatever manual, I would be more than happy. If you gave me a stupid auto that wont do certain things because someone in the fleet configured or engineered it wrong I will probably quit. Again I don't mind auto as long I have a way to have it stay in gear and see it behave without too much interference against me backing up.

 

My company has found the autoshifts not only cost more than the manuals to maintain, but their claimed "fuel savings" aren't nearly as high as advertised. We just returned about a dozen 579's off lease with autoshifts and have replaced them with 388's and 567's with manuals.

Drivers also prefer them.

 

Truck drivers use a manual transmission. All those automatic aerodynamic plastic gutless wonders are for....well you know the rest