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

Some of the European cabovers ride pretty good. Mercedes, Volvo, Scania are lot better then the old ones I drove in the 70-80s. Got to drive some in Iraq and Afghanistan. They Iraqi ones were nice. The ones that found their way to Afghanistan were all long ago worn out.

 

I may be a wannabe, but rowing through the gears is part of the truck driving experience. I wanna learn how the old school truckers did it, just by reading road signs and maps before I buy a gps. Rather learn the hard way then take the easy way out. Merry christmas to all truckers and their families.

 

Really want a taste a little of the old school experience? Find someone that will give you a chance to try out a truck with twin sticks.

 

That would be extremely confusing as hell for me, being ive only driven manual cars and only have experience working on trucks, but never being allowed to drive them. But I would be up for the challenge.

 

Keep in mind that a non-synchronized truck transmission and a car transmission are completely different animals. As for the twin sticks, just like anything else, there's a learning curve and I'm not saying that everyone should learn them, just that you might find it to be a cool experience if you're wanting to experiment real old-school. Just something to try, if you get a chance. Also, if you have the opportunity, you might try to find someone willing to give you some instruction on shifting a non-synchronized transmission. It will help you when/if you decide to go to school. Your approach of learning the pre-technology way of doing things is a good one.

 

Yea the whole non-synchro trans is definetely old school. I definitely know driving a matchbox car is way different then truck. I know I cant shift like a car and kinda practice the double clutch when I drive every now again. Idk if its my thought process and how I wanna learn the old ways as much as possible before buy a gps. Dont get me wrong. I will use google maps to help me how I should approach shipper/receivers from time to time, but I wanna do how they did it in the old days. I dont mind paying my dues and doing stuff the hard way. Cause if trucking was easy, everyone would do it. The twin stick is just a cool experience I would like to attempt. I leave for trucking school on January 1st to get my career started. I feel like alot of the new ppl coming into the industry want everything handed to them. Wanting all these demands as rookie driver and want all the hometime in the world. I feel if your coming into the industry for quick easy money, not gonna happen. Maybe its the way I was raised.

 

Twin boxes are hard to get handle on. 1st job I ever got they threw me in AutoCar with 5x4. Had no idea what to do. Had only driven 5 speed bobtail with 2 spd read end. But it was hauling cow/sheep schidt for composting place. Guess I passed test. I could shift up great but knew nothing of double clutching or how to down shift. After a few months and shaving about 30lbs off the gearbox it finally came to me. And an older driver started giving me tips. If you get the chance by all means try and drive the older ones and all the newer ones you can. It's all experience that makes you better then the other guy trying to get the job. Just go easy and don't tear stuff up bad.

 

Thanks az379. Ive learned to always be humble, respectful, and always give 100%. Cause at the end of the day, you know you did your best and gave it your all.

 

I would love to drive it all. Get all the experience I can. The more the merrier. I'm just a ##### for knowledge and learning.

 

Another way to experience the fun of the old days is ditch the satellite radio, leave the cell phone at home and have an AM/FM/cassette radio installed in your cabover. Use a notebook, pen and make all your calls (dispatch, customers, home) from a payphone. If you want to get fancy, for finding your way around bigger cities, dig up a couple Thomas Guides, especially since some joker will likely have ripped the city maps out of the phone book at the pay phone. Carry cash for your fuel or call for a ComChek whenever you need fuel. I'm joking, of course, but that's the way we used to do it. And I only go as far back as the late 80s.

Oh, and don't forget to adjust your brakes. All you need for that is a 9/16" box-end wrench.