Starting out.

Its not a law or anything, but another company w/ manual will need you able to shift it without tearing it up. Its not like riding a bike, drivers do forget after some time.

 

no it means you'll be stuck at Swift forever because nobody will hire you with no manual experience.
Don't take the easy way out, learn things the right way and fully so at least you'll be working towards getting a better job.

 

Freightwipper is right... dont start out with an automatic. . It will limit your choices.... it is really important to get some good experience under your belt... a driver with experience in a manual can drive either a manual or an automatic. . But a driver with only experience in an automatic can only drive an automatic. .

As a new driver you wa t to get the most well rounded experience... that is why I changed accounts every 6 months.. i now have experience pulling, van, reefer, flatbed, intermodal.. I have driven a 9, 10 and 13.. this all helps open opportunity for me....

 

To the OP, don't even worry about it.

Just get road time and put a little money away for "additional training" on a manual truck.

If this was an issue stopping people from going to another company, then it is so trivial it is borderline dumb (no offense intended). We have a lot of other issues with poor drivers, and many of them drive manuals so this is so this isn't a big deal.

 

Many companies are switching to automatics now that most of the bugs have been worked out. The big issue is better fuel economy. Just pick a good company and don't worry about the transmission because eventually that's all that will be out there except for niche markets.

 

Plus why drive automatic if you aren't forced to. 80% joy of driving a truck is shifting lol

 

The truth is that it probably won't matter in the long run because unless you're one of the one percent of new drivers who keep doing this Satan-inspired job you'll be gone, gone, gone and it won't even matter.
Trucking sucks no matter what you drive.

 

No.Not true

 

That is true.. however, it takes time for companies to switch to all automatics... I driver for werner a d werner is going to a 2 year year old fleet.. so they are purching hundreds of trucks.. I know at the omaha terminal in the east lot you see rows of brand new trucks.. some with the werner logo and all ready to go and some with logos but still need numbers or such, and some naked and waiting to be wernerized.... while they are getting many automatics, most are still manuals, and new drivers are not being assigned automatics, also trainers are not allowed automatics...

The other thing to keep in mind.. is when it is time to be assigned a truck you are assigned a truck based on what is available at the time... rarely do you go to fleet assignments and they have so many trucks that they ask you what color you want, do you want a peterbilt, kenworth, Freightliner, international or volvo, automatic or manual. .. an to be honest, if I was that lucky i would tell them I would be right back and go buy a couple lottery tickets and go to the casino. ... collect my winnings and buy my own truck. ..

So, being able to assiigned whatever is available manual or automatic is still a factor to consider...