i want to become a truck driver but not if it's manual

Actually some of the companies like US express have switched backed to manuals from what I heard. My company hires students, but they or only taught in the manual trucks. Of course this is our first batch of automatics.

You have to be crazy if you think the reason people don't want to drive a truck is because they don't want to shift gears. Its because they like having a life. You need experienced guys to train the newbies. Lord knows the schools don't do it. If you don't have a basic understanding of a manual transmission. Then driving an automatic across the country would be a little scary. Gear selection helps on your speed going down hills, and it can keep you from going over a certain speed. Just putting your foot on the gas and going can get you in all kinds of trouble. You still have a 53 foot or less trailer behind you that may be top heavy and because you don't pay attention to the gears. You can try to make a turn to quick and uhh ohhh.

I tried to test the all auto from my drive to my last stop in Santa fe Springs to the blue beacon in Los Angeles about 15 miles away. It wasn't to bad but real easy to lose sight of how fast and or slow you are going. When I needed to do what it do. I put it in Manual, and mashed on the pedal. I did do a better job hitting the dock today going on week 2 and I'm finally getting the hang of it. I tried to look at the manual to learn about the different reverse options and like the video. It didn't help at all. The automatic I drove or that drove me 7 or 8 years ago was way better then this. Only problem I had with that one is it took forever to get in reverse. When I put this truck in the shop for its 10,000 mile service. I'm going to write up. Missing clutch, and Stick shift. Other then that this K dubya is a Beast!!! C yahhh

 

A lot of truck drivers have bad backs and leg problems, but it isn't due to clutching or shifting. It is due to bad seats and suspension.

IMHO if companies want to attract drivers, forget the automatics, invest in really good seats with support that won't cut off circulation in your legs with suspension that doesn't require you to boost the seat so high you are having to reach to get that clutch all the way to the floor. Anyone tried the Bose seat?

 

The ishift is no problem sliding a 5th wheel, inching into or out of any space. It's nothing like the old autos, and its reliable and has 750k mile warranty on it. Open your minds...

 

This has to be the dumbest thing posted in this thread yet???? Really??? Wow, let me guess, you rode the short bus right???

 

I will say I have noticed my foot falling asleep lately. One thing I like about it is you can switch gears in manual mode with the cruise on and never have to push the pedal. I will say the seat is cool that when I sit in it. It airs up. When I get out of it. The air goes out. But the seat could use some extra cushion. Maybe my automatic is just not broke in well enough. I could care less about the warranty. I care that its an automatic and I have to do all the work. If I want to get to my destination in a timely manner.

 

Don't forget neck problems, I love it when my neck tightens up, then ......................CRACK

 

Top-heavy, too-fast, etc, is all driver judgement: even drivers with manuals screw that up all the time--we hear about it or read about it daily.

Don't these things have cruise control??? My bus does, and I use it all the time just to make sure I don't speed!! And I'm darned careful with it, too.

I think the oldtimers like to bish because they think they're "extra-special" just because they can muscle some gears. Big whoop: I can make a farm truck drive like a race car, big deal.

It still comes down to how well you actually drive (the really important part), and how you comport yourself to the company, your customers, and your fellow drivers (the professionalism part).

 

One good thing about autos: when the auto - start fails, and you have to get up very five minutes to defeat the auto-shutdown, you can set the brake, start it, put it in drive, and voila! Defeated auto-shutdown and fixed everything else.

 

To be fair most old timers automatically label us new drivers as steering wheel holders. So how's what he did any different ?

 

Read the entire thread: I was taking a shot at the guys who keep saying, "you ain't no truck driver if ya ain't grindin' gears"--you know, the dinosaurs. If you want to lump yourself with them, feel free.

My point still stands: oldtimers use the whole "gear-grinding" thing (along with a passel of other things) to discriminate against n00bs and such. And what SHOULD set them apart is the fact they are supposed to be PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS, no matter what else they do.