What's with all these training schools training with auto transmissions?

I don't see much wrong with the autos, the ones that do feel that it is infringing on our rights as gear jammers.

*it opens the door to many more people who wouldlike to drive a truck, and not deal with shifting.
*its not a problem at all if the entire company uses autos, or if they have a large number of them in their fleet so that you can choose driving one of them.
*a truck driver that shifts with autos is still as much a truck driver as a stick shifter. Well...outside of the shifting.
*lots of chicks driving autos. If you can't see the good in that...youre sad.
*lots of people who say that shifting is vital, seem to have this mentality that shifting is a preqrequisite to trucking, like its the only way to go; while at the same time ignoring the companies recommendations to double clutch.
*the technology is getting better and better as time goes on.

 

My guess is for one of 2 reasons. 1) The truck driving schools are simpley buying the used equipment that is out there, and autos are part of said used equipment out there on the market. 2) They might be specificaly purchasing these trucks knowing they'll get more students (women) to enroll in their school. A quick check of these forums of newbies seeking to hire on with companies who only utilize tractors with autos is my perfect example.

I think every newbie should be given the crack at learning how to shift a 13 speed. If one can drive a 13, he can drive anything out there.

No slight to the gals (or guys) here on the board who desire automatics. Might be y'alls prefered transmision choice, and that's cool, but I'll never buy one.

 

i wouldn't mind doing the drive test in an auto but i would definitely want to learn with a stick

 

So true--I couldnt even begin to show you how to use an auto truck. Not real sure i would want one unless im stuck in traffic all the time. I learned on 8-10-13 speeds--and to put me in an auto woulda threw me right outta the loop. I love my manual and i guess auto is ok but i never drove one so i cant say either way--good, bad. or ugly! They say autos take your mind away from downshiftin for turns or w/e but i like my manual.

 

auto for school may be good for a few weeks, so the trainee gets use to handling the big truck, but after that it should be a must to learn a manual...

 

The school I went to had an agreement with one or two companies. These companies would "give" the school trucks to use(well used trucks mind you). In exchange the school allowed the companies to have lots of advertising, and the school would try to "steer" students in these companies direction. What I mean by that is they would only tell you about certain companies. You had to ask them about other companies by name to get specific info out of them.

 

Well not only that but training students in auto's save's the school money from having to have a new tranny being put in the truck every few months from all the wear and tear.

And yes if not a 13 atleast the industry standard of a straight 10.