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Is driving a manual an imperishable skill?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Zonno, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:07 AM.

  1. Nov 23, 2025 at 11:07 AM #1
    Zonno

    Zonno Medium Load Member

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    Jun 11, 2018
    South Ga
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    At my current company, I may be in line for a new truck early next year which will be automatic (they’re phasing out the manual trucks). If I drive an automatic for awhile but then change jobs and then get put in a manual truck, will the skill stay with me? I’ve been driving a 10-speed every day for the past 5 years, so it’s second nature. Now I can speak from personal experience that if the only manual driving you do is in trucking school and you don’t drive a manual again for several years, you will not know how to do it (at least I wasn’t).
     
    Zonno, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:07 AM
    Zonno, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:07 AM
    #1
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  3. Nov 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM #2
    GreenPete359

    GreenPete359 Road Train Member

    2,159
    5,111
    Oct 21, 2017
    Driving my recliner
    0
    You’ll be fine, it’s like riding a bike or having sex. You’ll never forget.
     
    GreenPete359, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM
    GreenPete359, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM
    #2
  4. Nov 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM #3
    Sons Hero

    Sons Hero Road Train Member

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    You won’t forget. Might get rusty, but it’s a lot like riding a bike. When you have the coordination, you will keep it.
     
    Sons Hero, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
    Sons Hero, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
    #3
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  5. Nov 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM #4
    supersnackbar

    supersnackbar Road Train Member

    19,692
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    Aug 19, 2007
    Your Town, USA
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    Muscle memory stays with you. I drove a manual most of my career, then went to work for a glass hauler with mDrives for 3 years. When they were merged with a unfavorable sister company, I went to work for a company who road tested me in a manual. I wasn't a mile down the road floating gears as smoothly as I always have.
     
    supersnackbar, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
    supersnackbar, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
    #4
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  7. Nov 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM #5
    Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Mar 4, 2015
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    I drove manuals for about 20 years. In 2022 I bought an auto and put 390k on it before I sold it. I took a company job with a manual and I can still get it down the road.
     
    Long FLD, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM
    Long FLD, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM
    #5
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  8. Nov 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM #6
    BrothaTrucka513

    BrothaTrucka513 Medium Load Member

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    Aug 30, 2020
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    Being in automatic for so long spoiled me.

    *engine revs*

    Me: Why are the RPMs so high?:eek:
    Also me: :rolleyes: Oh

    *clutch-shift-clutch*
     
    BrothaTrucka513, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
    BrothaTrucka513, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
    #6
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  9. Nov 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM #7
    tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

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    Somewhere out West, in my mind.
    0
    The manual skill comes back to you within minutes of using it again. By the end of the day it's like you never stopped using it, except maybe for downshifting. If you force yourself to downshift every gear until you are comfortable again, it might be a day or two and then everything is like it was.
     
    tscottme, Nov 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
    tscottme, Nov 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
    #7
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  10. Nov 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM #8
    kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,853
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    Jan 13, 2013
    SW Arkansas
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    It will come right back to you. I retired for 7 years. When I came back yo work, by the time I was though with the road test I was shifting like normal.
     
    kemosabi49, Nov 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
    kemosabi49, Nov 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
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