Manual vs Automatic Transmission: Which Is Easier to Learn?

"Man those guys in the mine drink a ton of milk!" Lol

 

With the 4 trailers fully loaded was 205T

 

I was taught not to use the cruise going downhill.

What about when driving on icy roads?

And what about timing your shifts when pulling a tanker?

And how are you supposed to keep an auto from rolling backwards when starting on an up grade?

FWIW, I was taught not to use CC when climbing and descending hills.

 

Agreed. That's how we were all taught. No cruise on down hill.

These new autos are designed Rio operate the opposite of what we learned. Set the cruise, and truck will downshift, apply Jakes automatically to keep truck as close to set speed as possible. Only thing I have discovered (at least the way mine is currently set up) is to set it around 15 mph below desired maximum speed on steeper grades.

 

Still not gonna address my questions that point out the shortcomings of autos, huh?

 

I'd say a driver should only be put in an auto if they know how to drive a manual. Being able to understand how a truck works, then making the conscious decision to take a more "comfortable" ride for the sake of simplifying one's job, is the only reason someone should ever get an auto truck.

Giving a rookie a truck that drives like a four wheeler is why Swift and other companies like them are the laughing stock of Twisted Truckers.

 

I ain't going to read all the manual is better crap. The autos are NOT just like driving a car. They are all able to be shifted manually and should be in certain situations. They are really harder to learn because you have to know how the one you are operating works, then learn how to use it to it's fullest capabilities. Once you do, you will be driving circles around the shifter boys, getting better mileage, and having less overall operating costs than them.

 

Your conclusion is complete nonsense. I have ridden with drivers who certainly didn't try to get good mileage. Bobtailing, started in 3rd gear (13 soeed) wound it to 1,500 or 1,600, then shifted to 4th and did the same thing in each gear. In automatic mode, an amt would obviously get better mileage, but in manual mode, a driver could drive it the exact same way, and hang it in gear while buzzing the snot out of it, like my friend did. What is the difference in mileage whether I move the stick, or I move a paddle to select the gear? Of course, if one doesn't know how to shift, that's a different story, but you're not one of the shifter boys, then, are you?

With regards to the operating costs being lower than guys who know how to shift, don't make me laugh! I have heard enough stories from guys about sensors going out and causing a tow. ECMs going out, and costing thousands of dollars, plus the tow.