Manual vs Automatic Transmissions

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by HauntedSchizo19, Jan 29, 2014.

  1. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    Couldn't you lug it down then triple or quadruple down to the gear you needed for the corner? Lug it down to ~900, flip the spitter, shift to N, rev a little until it goes into 11th while you are turning.

    I must be missing something with all you guys because other than climbing a REAL steep hill with heavy weight and a low power engine (like my M11), where you have to skip down 4 gears at a time and change ranges also, shifting a manual should really be like driving an automatic for the full time driver. Especially with these new engines that have the flat torque curves.
     
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  2. Alrock

    Alrock Light Load Member

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    I agree with tirednaz. You need to understand why companies like Swift, USXpress etc. use only automatic- it's a student driver turnover thing. When a student driver finishes their school and/or starting his/her driving career with them if he/she doesn't like 'em he/she can't quit because he/she doesn't have many options where to go. If you are just starting your trucking career never start with the company who uses automatic. Even if you used to drive manual for a little time before- when you driving automatic you're getting a habbit to it, and if you quit and go for orientation with another company you won't feel good enough on road test and you might not make it thru orientation.
     
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  3. russtrucker

    russtrucker Road Train Member

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    Prefer manual.
     
  4. mattbnr

    mattbnr Road Train Member

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    Driven both, prefer auto.
     
  5. CrappieJunkie

    CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

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    I'm in an auto and been begging for a manual. I hate trying to back up on of these things in an auto.
     
  6. russtrucker

    russtrucker Road Train Member

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    It's more fun to play with manual than like guys sitting on a couch playing ps3 crap pressing buttons on remote.
     
  7. mattbnr

    mattbnr Road Train Member

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    How long you been in a auto? Do you drive tankers like I do? If not then you have no room to ##### about a auto. Try backing a surging tanker in a auto. You gotta about floor this #### thing to get it past the surge stop. I'm getting it mastered though. It's taken me over 6 months to do it though. Leaning curve is way higher then a manual. Maybe that's why drivers don't like autos- too difficult to learn.
     
  8. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    Nahh the autos are attractive to the newbies because it frees them up to do other things while driving like playing WOW, texting and making youtube videos.
     
  9. Big Duker

    Big Duker "Don Cheto"

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    Here is a man who speaks the gospel. Know just how he feels. Especially when I think back to the 5and4s and other twin stick monsters I have driven over the yrs. 12 spd Volvo I Drive is amazing. Just as he stated. It is way ahead of you. Not sure why our US engineers{Eaton} can't match it. Ultra shift if junk compared to it. Much prefer a manual 13/18 except in high traffic situations. No excuse for the surging/jumping starting off and backing.Volvo will take off smoother then any manual no matter if you mat it or baby it. Drove one of our few Shakers the other night. Same old Eaton 10 spd schidt. Huge gap between 9/10. I have always hated 10 spds. Rather have a 9 or 8LL. Better yet an 18. But if you ever get the chance to drive an I shift that hasn't been dogged out you will be a believer or liar.
     
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  10. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    What does that mean?