Manual vs Automatic Transmissions

How would that possibly ruin your chances at future employment???? You can drive or you can't. You think driving some RoadRanger 9,10, even 13 or 18 is some great accomplishment??? Anyone who doesn't have the upshifting down in couple hours and downshifting in couple of days shouldn't be driving a little red wagon. 3x5 4x5 others you will never see were different. Did take a lot of grinding and learning. You "know" a lot for a wanna be. Quit listening to the BS and start learning how to do whatever needs to be done. Floating or double clutching are neither any great skill that can only be learned by super men/women. And driving an auto is the same. Just like the guy who took off down mountain in auto mode. Did he ever take the time to read the manual?? Did his company tell him make #### sure you are in a gear in manual mode low enough to slow down you this baby will run away with you??? They can all make you money or kill you. Learn what you are sitting on and how to control it properly and quit worrying about ruining your future because you drove one of many transmissions out there.

 

Automatics are the coming of the future. Have you tried finding a manual transmission diesel pickup? I was lucky enough to this year and it was tough to get one set up how I wanted it tracked down WITH a 6 speed manual. I've heard rumors from salesmen, read in magazines, etc about how automatics are the thing of the future for class 8 applications. Well, that's great for them. I guess I'll just hang on to my old stuff when that time comes. There's something to be said about putting a truck in gear, and knowing it's going to stay there, aside from catastrophic mechanical failure, and that no hydraulic valve, electrical solenoid, computer etc little glitch can screw things up. There's places that I go where an un-anticipated accidental upshift can really put a guy into a bad, bad spot heading down a grade...

 

thanks for that, man. You do have a good view on it, and I agree completely: drive whatever is given to you! You've been a big help, thanks!!

 

I'm not entirely sure how to take this, so I'll try and take it in a positive manner: what you say makes sense. I appreciate your analogy. I have never tried to drive a truck yet, which is the only reason I ask. I did not literally mean "ruin my career:" I just don't want to start out in an automatic truck, where I canNOT fully grasp or become semi-decent at driving manual. I guess that would mean choosing a company that doesn't run automatics, but it's hard. I'm looking heavily into Melton, who doesn't run many automatics. The only thing that I don't understand is where you got the inclination of me "knowing" a lot. I don't see where I have every mentioned or hinted at that. I know nothing about the industry, which is why I ask questions, and am apart of this site. That's not the point you were trying to make, so I will end it there; I'm just curious what lead you to that. Anyways, thanks.

 

auto is for noobs, those noobs can shift 10th gear. Lose more money on auto than what u spend on manual.

 

You are ignorant.

 

super trucker ego rhetoric.reads as if you have that syndrome,questioning your self worth,sadly so often referred to as "am i not a real trucker because I love,need,and must have an automatic therefore i post of their virtues on trucker forums?".

you did not convince me otherwise.have you convinced yourself whether or not you fit the mold? your post indicates that you are in denial.

just put it in "D" and carry on autoshifter-

 

First off, there is nothing saying you couldn't stary with auto's throgh out your whole career. Auto's are becoming more and more popular. I think you should "lnow how" to drive a manual, but you don't need tons of practice. The new cascadia evolution can be specked with a Detroit motor and a Detroit auto trans. The same truck and motor coupled with a 9, 10, 13 or 18 will not get as high mpg with the best drivers. They have tested this. The auto out shifts them all. Old autos did suck, but the new ones are so presice and shift so quick they are just better than a human. They also can't be abused as easily by the driver. Since you can control what gear your in on a hill they literally have just as much control as a manual. I know old school drivers will disagree with me, but technology has and will continue to change the trucking industry. Auto trans that can out shift a driver is just progress. My point is, do to upgrades in tech, autos are becoming more and more popular. As the older drivers retire there wont be many reasons to keep manuals in the fleets.

That being said, in most driver test they dont care about shifting. In all the experienced driver test i took they didn't care if i grndied, dropped out of gear etc. The reason is that every truck is different and gear pastern is different. I tested on a 10 speed once and im used to a 13. Totally different pattern. They could not expect me to be used to it although with a lot of time driving the truck i would be.

If you are concerned about manual experience, I recommend TMC. Maverick and them are very similar but TMC drive manual trans.

 

every transmission that I personally have shifted always has the same pattern-that of an H.it may be an expanded H or a split H,but it is an H.

7,8,9,10,13,18 speed all have the basic H pattern.

oddly enough,i can jump into a 13 speed from a 9 and not grind the gears and then an 18 speed back to a 13.never a grind.

anyone can drive a truck w/an automatic transmission in it while not everyone can drive a truck with a manual transmission in it.

you either can or can not drive a manual.why be relegated to an automatic thus limiting your ability of being hired? I fail to see the argument whether pro or con.

autos are going to be the thing for mega-fleets simply because of what is being churned out of those trucking schools.it is easily ascertained by reading the posts just who has attended a driving "academy".

my only advice is to be sure and wear those fingerless gloves when putting it in D-

 

Uh, just to clarify --- since you felt the need to jump to all sorts of unfounded conclusions --- One, I did not just go running down the mountainside. I approached it at an appropriate speed, even allowed the auto to downshift before heading down. Two, as a matter if fact I had read the manual. Three, my terminal manager, as well as another driver, had both talked with me in detail about the auto, its workings, mannerisms, etc. So, it wasn't like I suddenly found myself flying down a hillside, looked down, saw some buttons, & decided to start pressing to see what they'd do. Nor did I remotely imply anything close. I said I felt the auto was letting the truck go --- i.e., staying in a higher gear --- thn was to "my liking". It may have very well still been a safe speed, but I wasn't comfortable with it, so I switched to manual & shifted myself.
And that's more explaining I've done to clear up one'a misperceptions of me or something I've said in quite some time. lol