Manual vs Automatic Transmissions

if you ain't shifting, you ain't driving.

 

That's funny, I get payed by the mile and SOMETHING is still causing those paychecks to roll in. I'm not sure about you, but I do this to pay the bills, not be some macho manly trucker man. That's what the Harley is for. I'm all for making the stuff I do to pay for it easier.

 

Thanks, man. I am highly considering Melton. It seems like a great place to work (especially for a starter company), and the equipment seems nice too! Hopefully all is going well for you, and tarping/strapping is becoming easier and faster for you!

Be safe out there.

 

Thanks! I am not certain about Boyd Bros either, but I'll look into them. Melton is still among my favorites for many of reasons. It is kind of hard to start at 21 years old, because of the insurance policies for companies, but there is enough companies out there who still hire 21 year old's anyway.

 

Agreed more than 100 %!

 

It really does get easier with experience. It took me about 5 hours to strap and tarp my first load and I can finish up a similar load now in about 2.5 just under two months later, cold or not. You pick up stuff as you go, either by trying stuff and failing or getting tips from other drivers. Melton drivers always seem ready to help me out (and I return the favor as often as I can) so I've learned a lot in the past couple of months for sure. The other drivers here are really great to work with. You'll also get to drive a big truck in some really cool places where trucks aren't supposed to go... and get pulled out of sand by back hoes like I did tonight after unloading in the middle of nowhere. Heh heh.

 

It would be wise to learn and try to get hired on with a company with manual transmissions, at least for the 1st. several years of a truck driving career. Afterwards, if a truck driver wants to switch over to automatic transmissions, then by all means, do so. In the mean time, the driver will at least have several years of manual transmission experience under his or her belt.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

Biggest reason I went with another company over Maverick the end of Jan last year when I finished CDL school was b/c Mav has all automatic trucks. I remember my CDL instructor asking me about "job offers" (i.e., invites to orientation) I'd received. Asked me if I'd decided on one over the others. Told him I'd narrowed it to two, McElroy & Maverick. Next day he asked out of curiosity how my decision was coming along. Told him, "going with McElroy, b/c I've just spent four weeks --- & only four weeks --- learning the basics of shifting one of these things, & I don't believe I'd be doing my career any favors going directly to a company that has all automatic shift trucks." That said, it's not in any way to be taken as a knock against Maverick. It was just where my reasoning at time took me.

I stayed at McElroy for six months. Can shift just fine. Went to Tidewater Transit back in August b/c I wanted to pull tanks. First truck I had with them was a 2010 Volvo, 10 spd manual. A couple months later they moved me to a 2013 Volvo, 12 spd Volvo automatic. Sometimes I miss shifting, but last week when I was on the north side of Oakland, CA, stuck in traffic b/c of an accident with an oil spill, taking over 3 hours to go 20 miles, I didn't miss shifting on bit! A good auto definitely has it's advantages. For those that say it's not "real driving" or that someone's not a "real man" or a "real driver" if one drives an automatic transmission, well, while I may be just finishing my rookie year in this industry, I am intelligent enough to know such statements are just super trucker ego rhetoric. I'm picking up & delivering loads on the same roads, in the same cities, putting up with the same ignorant & bad four-wheeler drivers, dealing with the same hassles the ones who make such ridiculous statements are. Yet I'm less of a driver b/c I don't have to clutch & manually move a stick? That's funny stuff right there!!

 

Ha ha, nah, you're all good! It was quite comical! Thanks. I'll be doing private schooling, and am trying to stay away from the mega carriers as much as possible; they are my back ups if all else fails.....but Swift and Werner do not even make it on my list!

 

Be very careful what you say!!! One of them testosterone filled maveric drivers with their 63.25 mph aero freight shaker on singles, with drive N and R might get testy and report you to a mod. They're touchy VERY touchy about their company. I don't care for them or their drivers. I've loaded behind them and in front of them last time I seen one of them was in KC Loading block bound for Omaha. Goofball got out of his truck in skater shoes baggy jeans a flat bill hat. All I could do is shake my head as he threw his fancy V boards while I was sticking mud flaps under my straps. Don't miss those days at all.

I occasionally see them running through town. Can't stand the ones I see. And god forbid we come up to a junction at more than 2 miles an hour. They occasionally load brick out of Endicott those are usually the morons I run into. Guess they get the brick loads because they're not smart enough to secure something else. Can't say for sure. Just not a big fan of them at all.

The correct term is "if its legal you ain't trucking"

Real trucks have 3 pedals 2 sticks and no spark plugs...no I don't have a real truck unfortunately they don't make a 4spd brownie that'll handle 2050 ft.lbs.tq least not that I have seen.