what is better MANUAL VS AUTOMATIC?

Grow a pair and drive who cares what other people think

 

I got my CDL driving automatic in "07". I believe it was called "smartshift" on that brand new orange freightliner century. But I loved the fact that I did'nt have to learn how to shift. It was so much easier to get a CDL that way. It was easy to drive but overtime I realized that it was autoshifting every gear 1,2,3,4...and up to 10.
At traffic lights I was the slowest truck to start moving - manual guys beat me everytime.
5 years later in 2012 got a new cascadia "autoshift". What a difference- goes from 2nd to 4th to 6th and up to 12th... loved that truck. Much faster BUT did not love that company no more.

Found much better paying company to drive for and guess what? They have all manual transmissions on their trucks ... so here I was 8 year experience and can't shift a manual..got hired at that new company last year.
But it'was not an easy transition at all....
If I could do it all over again I would learn manual from the begining.

 

My post was not hatin' on new drivers. I'm just trying to keep it real, posting the real true reasons the industry is changing over to AMT's. I don't care for the BS the big companies are laying on thick to justify AMT. Now if the AMT was producing 20-25 miles per gallon, I'd be first in line to get one.

You're right the industry needs new drivers. The industry has gone through several versions of manual transmissions to accomodate the new driver. I trained on a Super 10 which had a splitter on the side. Too hard to train new drivers on, companies went with the 9 speed and currently the mass manual out there today seems to be the straight 10 speed. Still drivers are burning them up trying to take off in 2nd 3rd and 4th gear heavy loaded because their 8 month trainer told them it's OK.

I don't blame companies going to AMT. First there is less training time involved with the new driver. New driver can concentrate on looking inthe mirrors to avoid running over telephone poles and curbs rather than looking at the stick shift numbers and grinding the tranny out. Add to that, the longer the company retains this AMT trained driver, the longer (s)he will stay with the company because his/her manual driving skills from truck driving school have eroded down to rookie status and no other company will hire this 2 + years driver now who has only known AMT.

I wrote up a whole thread on my experience with the AMT a few months ago and my main contention is that new drivers should not be trained and should not be driving AMT until they have at least a year driving a manual.

 

I can only comment for myself and no one else....

It's not a hate for new drivers. New drivers, for the most part, come from a different stock than veteran drivers, at least the younger drivers in their 20s.

I don't really think is even their fault. It's a generational thing. Call them millennials or what have you, but the younger generation in this country has an entire different look on life than us older people.

Spank a kid because they misbehave. Get a "participation" trophy just because you're there, regardless if you get beat in every event and finish last. Feeling entitled to things instead of earning them. Getting your feelings hurt because you think someone looked at you wrong. Not respecting veterans for their experience and knowledge. I could go on and on.

Horse sh1t.

No one is owed a ###### thing for free. My generation and the ones before it earned everything we have thru blood, sweat, & tears.

So bring in these "kids" that have no respect for anyone including themselves, that feel entitled to things in life, and and cop attitudes when they don't get what they want, ya #### Skippy there's a level of resentment displayed by older generations.

We were taught to be respectful, to look out for our fellow driver, to communicate situations to oncoming drivers so they don't get into a bind, to be compassionate to other drivers even they are in a jam.

You don't see that anymore out on the road and the reason is this newer generation is filling up the numbers out here.

When's the last time you saw someone stop and see if a driver was OK on the side of the road or hollered on the CB (whether they drove for same company or not), actively heard of an upcoming situation for the traffic going in the opposite direction? How bout the regular practice of flashing or dimming headlights and returning the act with flashing the good buddy lights when trucks pass each other? How about grab their diesel and then pull forward or park when done?

These are things that were regularly done by a dying breed and the younger guys don't even bother with.

Prime example, last night in New Mexico on I-40 just before Moriarty going westbound. Not a single truck heading eastbound gave oncoming traffic a heads up as to the situation. Had ANYONE done that, westbound traffic (those that actually had their CB on) could have avoided that fatality accident that closed down the interstate. When did the CB come alive? As drivers came to a stop, thru flipped on their radio asking what was going on. It's kinda funny, or sad, that every 30 seconds or so, someone different was asking the same question, as they turn on their radio. Any whooo...

Common courtesy and respect is a thing of the past and a lot of us older guys resent that.

Instead of passing me and getting back over 3 feet from my bumper, wait till I flash you that you're a safe distance from me. I don't want you kicking up crap and breaking my windshield because you're ignorant.

Instead of getting fuel and then doing your 30 minute break, or worse, grab a shower, move you're ignorant ###.

Instead of keeping silent, get on the CB and let me know I'm about to come up on an accident, weather, or what ever. Don't be a silent ignoramus.

Next time you see a fellow driver on the side of the road, how bout making sure they're OK? I know that may be hard because a lot of drivers think that it's OK to simply pull of the interstate and take a break, look at a map (which is highly doubtful these days), piss or dump on the side of the road. 1st is highly unsafe to park on the shoulder unless it is an EMERGENCY. 2nd, it's illegal. Take it to the next off/on ramp.

Again, this is my perception and not trying in any way to speak for anyone else. If I hurt your feelings or made you made, then this post is directed at you!!!

Ok, I'm done.

 

You Kind Sir can take the steering wheel and eat it with my love and thanks.

You have no idea of the love and compassion I have for newbies.... That is one of the things that motivates me to get out of bed in the morning (And stay out...) to post here in my remaining life span however long that is. If I had one day left to live I will do exactly what I have been doing, post here and help others where possible.

 

Big oil might be at fault here in the US, but there are other countries with engineering expertise and even more draconian emissions regulations that don't have battery operated or even CNG trucks en masse.

The financial incentives need to be present for the truck manufacturers to make a push towards alternative power. They won't build them if the haulage industry won't buy them.

 

Wow! Was i speaking to you? From your response, I'd say, yes. Like I said you know who you are. Scottie, I definitely wasn't speaking to you, sir. I apologize if I offended you.

 

Remember, not all "new" truckers are 20 something. I'm 53 and respect those that earn it. I may not have earned respect, but I certainly haven't earned disrespect.

Just tonight, two teens were on our doorstep when we arrived home. They asked if we had jumper cables. When I asked where their vehicle was, they pointed to the end of the street. It's a dead end with no lighting.

My danger radar started beeping quietly. I didn't want to refuse help, as they might be legitimately in need of assistance. So, I told them my truck keys were in the house "they were on my pocket". I went inside and grabbed my firearm and met them at the end of the street.

Long story short, they were legit and we managed to get the vehicle started. Would I have been wrong to leave them hanging to possibly save my butt? Who knows. Here in Albuquerque, car jacking and mobbing has skyrocketed.

I'm not as skilled as most of you, however, I'm learning and grew up in the same era as you.

Lastly, if I've offended those whom I shouldn't have, my apologies.

 

You did no harm. It would be better if you named names it helps everyone involved to understand what is what.

I'll let this go. Im sorry myself for opening fire. No offense taken.

These forums have a way sometimes of cutting to the quick when words are spoken and it's not always good.