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

As to PAM trucks shaking when backing up....

YES they do. It can be SO annoying.

 

I agree. I think everyone should test out on a manual.

 

the only way i can answer that is, "some states" do put a restriction.

we went through a similar thread like this some months ago. i do believe i listed some of those states. if anyone wants to know again, they will have to do some searching.

 

I may get passed by PAM truck's but atleast I'll never get to experiance what a human milkshake feel's like.

 

I can say, when I was at F.F.E, I saw lot's of people being sent home because they trained and tested in a auto, showed up for orientation and didn't have a clue on how to drive a stick so it was an "auto" pack yer bag's and don't come back until you've learned how to drive a stick.

 

Wow, you guys are continuing a thread that was posted nearly 2 yrs ago!!?? I guess things are getting little stale.

The first tk that I got had 18 speed, follow by: 13, 10, super 10, 15, 9 then back to 13. I had (have?) a heavy right foot and all my tks were "wide open".

Before buying a truck, I would first spec it out with some type of auto than later on ditch it because of 5k+ added to the final price.

My W9 has an 18 speed Auto Shift, only thing that could make it any better is if it didn't have the clutch. On the other hand, it does have the manual transmission so repair/parts cost aren't high as fully auto. I like the option to drink, eat, talk on the CB, scratch "my self"/pick my nose, talk on the cell phone texting while I'm driving, especially when I'm tired. I like to think I get decent/good fuel mileage due to my superior driving skill and that the on board electronics' perfect shift has nothing to do with it but then, I also still believe in Santa. Not being tired after a "full" day of driving is a plus. No more grinding gears weather training a rookie (don't do that anymore) or when dead beat tired. More time to keep your focus on the road or to a game on Nintendo DS /reading a book/catch up on log book/ GPS/computer /dash mounted TV - just what ever to keep yourself busy between all the other stuff one normally do behind the wheel (such as mentioned above). Multitask!

 

There's a difference between an automatic and an auto shift. So you have to have one of the auto's to do all those thing's (which most you shouldn't be doing while driving anyway). Beside's, auto's ain't truckin'. Those are just over sized car's with a bedroom pulling a trailer and has 14 more tires than a car. (most case's in mind of super singles). Auto's make it were any fool can drive and alot are starting to come out of school and haven't got the first clue on how to drive a stick.

 

Well I used to drive PAM trucks. Just my guess but I think the clutch is heating up somehow during a slow back up then it grabs causing the truck to lurch.

As for me I tested and trained on a stick but my first job placement was with PAM so my skill was never trained up and refined. I could basically drive a stick now but I'm not as quick on the downshift as I should be.

 

I guess that went "swoooosh" over your head. First, I noted the differences auto / auto shift obviously which you needn't needed to repeat. Second, I said that I have the "options" to, not that I do it/them and most importantly in a sarcastic joking manner. Hence the biggrin_2555:, , etc...) Also in case you didn't noticed a lot of those "any fool" do drive big trucks and not necessarily those that just came out of some schools either. Besides everybody got to start somewhere and not everyone knew all the right moves / skills from the get go at birth. Doing things in life ain't a big deal and everyone have their own way of doing it and driving is pretty much the same. Holding / adhering to higher standards doesn't have a lot to do with what they drive but how they go about doing it. (including point fingers at others' short comings instead of leading by example) Anyhow, I don't see how (driving a stick) has anything to do with being a better driver. All I was getting at was that if less distractions / actions are required to operate the truck, the operator has the ability to focus more of his / her attention to where they see fit. As for not being able to drive at other companies that don't have autos /auto shifts, just like those that refuses to go to NYC, CT, Boston, NJ, Chicago, NW or which ever? It's their choice.

BTW- trucks ARE just oversize cars, just w/ more storage spaces and tires.

 

I love how we beat a subject to death. Oh well, guess my 1.2 million miles in an autoshift running primarily the Rocky Mtn's counts for something. In 1.2 million miles with an autoshift, I've never once a had problem climbing/descending Vail, Eisenhower, Loveland, Monarch, Red Mtn., Coal Bank, Molass, Wolf Creek, Lizardhead, Douglass, Rabbit Ears, etc., etc., etc. Neve rburned up a brake, never loast my brakes, only once came close to a truck ramp and that was in a manual shift. OH and my typical load gross weight in the mtn's is 70,000 lbs + and normally closer to 78,000 lbs.

But, on the flip side, 5 am today, Vail fire was responding to a blue older model 379 with smoke/flames rolling off the drives and tandems. 5 hrs later when I came back through, he was on a hook with huge black marks up the side of the trailer above the dries and tandems, as I passed by, I noticed a stick shift, what does that say about stick shift drivers in the mtn's?