Manual vs Automatic Transmissions

Assume what you want. Of course, ideally, shifting into manual mode before cresting the hill would've been the way to go. However, considering the steepness of the grade & the situation at the time, slowing down & allowing the auto to down shift seemed to be all that was needed. And LIKE I SAID, it most likely was all that was needed. I just moved to manual for my own comfort level.

 

I am about to start my first job since getting my CDL just last week. I had it narrowed down to Maverick Reefer div, Averitt, and a small company called Gregory Logistics in Poplar Bluff, MO. the first two run autos and Gregory is manual. Considering I'm 55 years old, just starting in this biz and wasn't the greatest at shifting during my schooling... it would be easy to cop out and just run-home-to-momma and take one of the jobs with the auto trannys.

But I looked at it this way...if I'm going to make my decision as to what company I'm going to drive for based on what type of transmission their trucks have, I could've just got my Type B and drove a delivery truck around town. I'm going to get good at shifting if it kills me...if I have to. Honestly, I'm leaning towards the smaller company in Bluff. So I'll do what I went to school for and drive the dang truck REGARDLESS of the tranny type.

Frankly when I started out on this career change, I didn't even KNOW there were auto tranny's in trucks! and I didn't care.

 

How are your knee's TruckerPig? Wish ya the best of luck.

 

2012 Volvo with 12 speed automatic. Bought it brand new 2 years ago. Best investment Ive made in alot of years. Im usually through Chicago on a weekly basis. My knees have never felt better. The 8+ mpg I get with the truck doesn't hurt either. If I had to go back to a company with manual transmissions I'd likely fail the test as my rythm and timing with the gears would likely be off. Enjoy the automatic if you get to drive one. Got nothing to do with being a "real trucker". Egos out of control is what that is.

 

I'm in excellent health. Rode a bike (and I mean a bicycle) in marathons when I was younger and have had no probs with my knees. I mean sure, my leg muscles were a little achy by the end of a day of driving when I first started, but like I said...I didn't go into this expecting it to be similar to flower arranging for crap sake!

And who knows...maybe six months into this with a manual I may find myself saying...MY KNEES ARE KILLING ME... and may have to move over to a company with autos. But I'll cross that bridge when or IF I come to it.

 

When I was in truck school a recruiter came with an automatic to show off. That's when I decided that's what I wanted to drive. That being said, I'm about to start driving again, will be a manual 10speed and I'm lucky that it's a close friend of mine I'll be driving for. I'll be riding/driving with him till I get the hang of it again. BUT I do have a bad left knee, torn acl etc. I'll be askin him to make his 5th truck purchase and automatic for me to drive, possible buy from him in the future. I won't know how my knee will hold up till I get out there. I'm lucky though, I'll be on a dedicated route, driving the same 360miles for pickup and 360 miles to drop every day so my need for shifting will be limited.

What it comes down to for me is this. There are just as many, possible more, bad drivers out there in manuals as automatics. Shifting is one small aspect of this job. If you suck at backing or driving in truck stops, you're going to damage someone's truck, and they wont care what transmission you have.

 

I never thought about it like that. I like and appreciate your view and opinion! I'm honestly not worried about it, just thought I'd throw it out there and ask the question to get others' opinions. I know my question wasn't necessarily worded that way, but I was sort of hinting at it I like to think.

Best of luck to ya!

 

You better also find a company that runs East coast and West coast paper logs. Running Elogs your not going to make money.

 

How so? I don't know much about logs, seeming how I am not in school or a driver yet; I will be here shortly!

 

The quick answer is with elogs you have to run LEGAL. Get the picture?