Manual vs. Auto and future employment

In the near future it won't make a differance, all companies will be going to autos. But for now, it allows you more options when you are looking for new ermployment.

You'll always have to "re-qualify". Road test are given with every job offer.

As long as you have the basics under control, you should be okay. I've watched seasoned drivers completely hose a shift pattern during a road test.

That said, you don't want to tear a gear box out while testing LOL...not good.

 

to be honest i like the idea of auto allows me to think more on whats head of me then what gear im in.
I learned on a manaul 13 speed only used 8 gears out of the 13 tho.
ether one not that bad. but if i was doing alot of city bumper to bumper driving i would want the auto.
but Ive heard people say the manuals get mpg than the auto.
but thats really only going to affect the owner ops
the other thing ive heard is that some people say they could made many shifts while the auto makes one.

I suppose one nice thing about manuals is helps keep drivers off there cell
phones but i do see them try to shift and talk.

 

Nope..those of us who can afford it use bluetooth.

Shifting becomes reflex after you've done it forever. Proving it is possible to chew gum and walk at the same time.

 

them bluetooth things are nice but when people are out in public they look like there talking to themsleves. but it is a wonderful thing in the cab. I got somthing that came with my cellphone"razor" that plugs into the charger port and i can use it.
I try use it more when im driving.
back to ahifting. If they where going to put me in somthing like KW W900L with the 13 speed and a cummins engine It would work out great for me but those 10 speeds and lower power engines im not such a big fan of. but also take into condsidtion i think the KW i drove on my CDL was way better maintained then the freightshaker century

 

Watching some of these people drive around, it sure looks like they have'nt mastered that yet.........hahahahahaha

 

All companies will be using automatic trannys? Where did you hear this? Why would all companies want to start using autos - they are more expensive and don't get as good fuel mileage as standard. Just curious, really, cause' I HATE auto trannys in trucks.
I agree - shifting becomes more than reflex - I call my right arm and hand an auto tranny in itself!

 

I hate an auto tranny too. But for differant reasons I'm sure.

Actually, all companies won't be using autos. Heavy haulers and off roaders will continue using manual. Although the heaviest of off road vehicles use auto only, and have done so for years.

Where the auto comments come from. The industry itself. Trucking is changing, and the industry is being forced to meet the needs of drivers with lesser experience and ability. Auto shifts are becoming more reliable every day.

Autoshifts are being developed to handle every aspect of the industry. While most companies use a 10 speed auto. 13, 15, and 18 speeds are on the road now. Volvo has one of the best autos on the market now. I've spoke with die hards I thought would never make the change. They can't say enough good things about the Volvo tranny.

Auto shifts get better fuel economy in the "wrong" hands. I've seen drivers come out of a manual shift truck, that could only get 6 miles per gallon. Then the next driver get 6.8 per gallon in the same truck.

Poor shifting is one less "habit" to break in your overall driving habits, if your truck is an auto.

Of course, more experienced drivers will get better fuel economy from a manual. That's to be expected. But it's about our habits, ability, and overall fleet fuel economy. And the new guys take time to come up to speed.

There was a time, that autos were "optional equipment" in a car or light duty pick-up. Now, you have to order a manual if you want one. The trucking industry will trend this way also. A simple read of industry magazines will show this. I'm not referring to the ones on display at the truck stops, those are complete rags for the most part.

I fully expect to see acceleration controls implemented somewhere in the near future. As a means to control the worse driving habit among truckers today. Driving like its a drag race from light to light.

 

I don't really do much reading about the industry in magazines and such - so besides a J.B. Hunt manager telling me about 4 years ago that the industry is headed towards gasoline engines (wonder if that's true), I don't concern myself with it too much. I've been shifting gears most of my adult life and don't really much care for the idea of a piece of machinery doing it for me.

 

I just started with Southern Tank and drove a automatic 10spd for the first time. I LOVE IT!!! My truck sitting in my yard killing grass is a 15spd, I love it also and it gets better fuel milage than the auto. But I don't pay for fuel in the auto, SO I LOVE IT!!