Why Not Automatic?!

After 12 yrs and 1.4 million miles in two different autoshift equipped trucks, while working for a fleet with 11 autoshifts driven daily in all weather conditions, I always find these threads amazing. It always comes back to the samething, either those who are complaining have never driven one, don't have enough time behind the wheel of one, or went into with so much bias against it, they couldn't see beyond that bias. I have a co-worker with almost 20 yrs exp., when he last worked for us, he drive a manual. When he came back in '03, the company bought 2 '04 Visions (notorious for issues) 425 engines backed with autoshifts. He complained daily about it, ran like crap, didn't pull, trans acted up, etc. etc. Finally the boss told me to drive it for a week, yep, it had problems, 50% were the nut behind the wheel, 50% were related to problems with the computer. Anyone who recalls the '03/'04 Visions knows about the various engine problems related to the emissions equpment. The computers had multiple issues, then add in the autoshift with it's computer and it compounded the problem.

Earlier this year when they ordered him a new truck (after that '04 was gone they bought 3 '04 Columbia's with manuals), they told him it would be an autoshift. He said he would quit, when the truck arrived, he wouldn't look at it for the first 3 days it was in the shop, all he did was whine. Now, two months later, he went from being the grumpiest, grouchiest, PITA on the planet, to a big ol' teddy bear. While still grouchy on occasion, he's pleasent to the rest of us, actually says pleasent things, and has a totally different demeanor. What pissed him the most, the boss threw me in the truck with him for 4 hrs the first day to advise him on some things. Now, he loves the truck, the complaint I've heard from him, we're not busy enough for him to take it on longer trips.

 

You will love the stick one day dude. You aren't driving when you have an automatic the transmission is. You just holding the wheel and pushing on the Gas. Automatics take the Yeeee out of hawww.

 

You better get use to things you don't like. Yewww's gona be a Truck Driver ya hear.

 

Edit: Nevermind. You're not worth flaming the thread up.

 

That's just fine, just be prepared to not be taken seriously or even looked at at plenty of companies. Be prepared to have limited opportunities in the industry because of an unwillingness to master a simple 9 or 10-speed transmission.

 

I've driven trucks for 30 yrs and was a truck mechanic for 15 yrs before that.Have had an automated transmission for the last 8 yrs in 3 different trucks.I find I'm more relaxed and not as tired at end of the day not to mention a lot easier on knees when in heavy traffic like GW bridge or rush hr traffic etc.

 

I bet you don't like backing either do you. That will take you about 4 or 5 months to get that down.

I remember at my company I was told to pick up this truck and the truck had a 13 speed. I didn't know how to drive one. but I learned on my way from Houston to Ft. Worth You just got to have a Getter Done spirit my friend. You have to tell that trailer to go into the hole just like you have to tell that stick how to go into the hole. Just like you have to tell some of these drivers to go....uhhh anyway.