To all experts Truck driver

Thats an easy one Bud, a manual , Auto's are for lazy people or nebee's who can't use a road ranger gear box. Get-ta-Done

 

Hooking/unhooking autos is a pain. They have to come up with something that stops the truck from slamming the pin into the fifth wheel.

 

I normally read the entire thread before I post but there's too many replies,is this job driving auto truck's?of course there's nothing wrong with autos it's what you feel most comfortable with but keep this in mind if you do go auto you'll have to get retrained if later on you go with a company that had standard ten.shifting is hard at first like most jobs are.every thing takes time to learn but once you know how you'll never forget.

 

I have been driving 12 years now with the last 10 years being at the same company. I drive slip seat, (a different truck every trip). Last June my company bought some automatics and at times I like them and at other times I HATE them.

When turning on a sharp curve such as on a clover leaf on ramp I tend to be going TOO FAST with an automatic. If I would have had a manual I would have been paying attention to my RPMs and wanting to shift before being into the curve.

On Icy slick roads a manual transmission lets me control my speed by which gear I am in, but the automatic will run at higher RPMs in a Mack and therefore not restricting my speed. In a Freightliner the transmission automatically upshifts when the RPMs get high enough.

On Icy slick mountain roads other drivers have reported that they have had to HANG IRON which they would not have had to do if they had been in a manual transmission.

 

I have driven both and honestly prefer Auto. I drive a manual now and it is fine. I think both are safe but Auto is a little easier. Honestly,with the Auto I had (Ultra shift I think it was called),it had a manual mode where you could shift but you just used a paddle instead of a stick. I rarely drove manual with it except on steep grades I would put it in manual so I could lock it in the gear I wanted.Was never a problem.

 

I can scratch my balls and shift the manual at the same time. Don't need an auto for ball scratching time. lol

 

To all you automatic lovers, that was a trick question and you failed; if you need or like automatics, you are not an expert. There was no need for you to respond with your pablum.

For those that don't know a manual is far superior because:

1) They get better fuel milage.
2) They are more reliable.
3) They are cheaper to purchase.
4) They are cheaper to operate.
5) They cost less to repair.
6) They are easier to obtain parts and repair.
7) They are less likely to get stuck.
8) They are safer and more predictable in low traction situations.
9) They are quicker.
10) They bring a higher resale to the truck.
11) They are less aggravating to drive.
12) Manual mode is more convenient.

Of course if you are limp wristed and cannot handle a manual shifter, that is OK. If you are a little light in the loafers and can't manage a clutch, or don't what to scuff your pretty shoes, that too is OK now days.

 

OP,

Here is your question

You are driving an automatic, you have an issue that causes your batteries to die. Locking the automatic in gear.

You are driving a stick same situation, you have an issue that causes your batteries to die. Press clutch in take truck out of gear.

I have driven both automatic & manual.

Just choose wisely considering a manual class a let's you drive both auto and clutch.

Auto on your cdl is. Automatic transmission trucks only.

 

Well, my first 30 minutes into driving this new to me '15 automatic and the CHECK TRANS light is on. Nice.

 

I feel for ya brother. Nothing beats a stick.