Starter companies with manual transmission?

Good for you OP.

Speaking to Whoever is afraid of manuals.

One day will be a very experienced driver and have to change jobs due to whatever situation. Guess what? That company is all manual fleet and will be taken on a mandatory road test . Have 15 years experience, All fine and well till can't pass a simple road test with a manual and will laughed about for a long time. " oh who cares, that won't be me" Yeah it happens.

Not saying automatics are beneath any of us. I'm saying learn to drive anything. Never know when petty simple crap will be needed to be employed and survive a few months longer!

 

I know quite a few well seasoned drivers that prefer automatics. There are the obvious benefits of not having to constantly work that clutch in stop and go traffic, just set it and forget it. Personally I still prefer the illusion of having control over the shift points of a standard. Also what happens when you learn on and get used to an automatic then your suddenly thrown into a truck with a 4 speed main and a 4 speed Brown Lipe,

 

why thank you.

you wannabe my friend for life now..???

 

Pride Transport uses 10 speed stick shifts.

 

They just dont pay me enough to drive that POS!

 

i believe everyone should know how to shift
I dont understand the problem backing auto's
everything is easier in the newer auto's
and yes back in 1972 i learned on 2 sticks with no power streering
so i can keep my man card and love my auto today

driving seems to be diffuclt for some so an auto allows some to concentrate on not hitting people,fuel

 

Every time Im stuck,in a ten mile backup in Dallas...I yell out on channel 19..,Im sure glad Im driving an auto!
Laughing all the way at billy big rigger.

 

What truck was it?

 

With a castrated engine, castrated speed settings, and only grossing 80k?

Anyhow, I do commend that you want to learn in a manner which doesn't leave you with such a handicap (no matter what anyone's stance on autos is, there really isn't an argument against the notion that, with most trucks still being manuals here, only knowing how to drive an auto closes a lot of doors when you're looking for a different company), but I'm still gonna bust your balls when you make comments like that.
An auto trucks runs under the same rules and regs, grosses the same, runs at the same speeds, etc. To say that it's any less 'real' is a bit redundant.
That aside, just make sure that you find a company that's a good fit for you - there are plenty of entry level companies still running manuals, so you don't have to resort to the first one which says 'yes'. As for what's good for each drivers, it's not a universal thing - among the various woes and grievances against Swift, you'll still find those who love the company. And if it makes them happy, then it's a good company for them. I do think a universally bad company can exist, but a universally good one can't - too many variables between each driver's goals and aspirations, what they want now, what interests them about a particular company, etc.
Best of luck to you.

 

Bumping docks is the only issue with my automatic. Anybody know any tricks for creeping back slowly and steadily? When I do get it to touch without slamming it it bumps back off two or three times. It's not a real problem but it sure is annoying.