Learning on an automatic... Worth it?

Here goes.

LEARNING TO DRIVE WITH AN AUTOMATIC IN TRUCKING SCHOOL IS A RIP OFF AND WILL HURT YOU BADLY LATER IN YOUR CAREER.

So, I just arrived at the yard last week, and the manager ask me to "test drive" this potential driver so he can come to work for us. Sure, no problem. As a driver, I have test drove several potential applicants, and I am a "very easy pass". I will pass just about everybody. If you grind a gear or two, or even run over a curb, I will bring it to your attention, but will not fail you over such things.

So the potential driver and myself are walking to my truck to give him a test drive. He asks, Is my truck truck an automatic? I am like, No. So we get in the truck and he tells me that he has driven 1.5 years with a mega flat bed carrier, the whole time with an automatic. So we get in the truck and the applicant could not even put it in gear, did not know where any gear was in a 10 speed, and could not use a clutch at all, and did not know the difference between high side and low side of the transmission. This despite the claim , that he learned how to drive a manual transmission at trucking school.

On the test drive we stalled out several times, sitting in the road for 15 seconds or longer while he searched for a gear. I put it in gear for him twice and he still could not get it going. The final straw was when we were waiting in traffic to make a left turn, and he popped it in reverse and we jerked back 3 feet. I had to take over the truck then.

NOT ONLY DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME DRIVING AN AUTOMATIC IN TRUCKING SCHOOL, TOTALLY AVOID DRIVING AUTOMATICS AFTER SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU WILL FORGET HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANNY.

Thanks to the OP for a very, very good question.

 

Sorry. .. I have not read through all the posts on this thread... jt am jumping in.. I was on Transitional Duty and worked at the terminal for a bit... anyway, there were a few new drivers who got sent home because the school they went to used automatis... one guy learned on a stick but was given the choice to test in an automatic or manual and he chose the automatic. .. which got him sent home..

Our company does have automatics, but want all drivers to be able to shift.. so they dont have to wait around for an automatic when it is time to assigned a truck... also, all trainers drive manuals..

 

I have heard some states actually issue an "auto only" specific CDL........this would certainly limit your company choices.

 

100% Agreed. I've witnessed how that turns out myself. My company has about 70% autos.

I honestly don't think you could forget how, get a little rusty, sure. But sounds like that guy most likely "tried" a manual in school, failed miserably and then continued and road tested in an auto.