When I got my license I started on stick (18 speed). Felt like a chore just to get up to speed on the highway. Don't even get me started in the mountains during the winter.... Then I got in an automatic... Holy shit! Driving was easier, the adaptive cruise control was great, and driving through those mountains was WAY easier. Have no problems yet on my baby. All I gotta do is make sure all the basic maintenance is up to date and no problems 👌
I drove both and I have a Mack anthem with automated transmission in it thought I would hate it but really it's nice and smooth but I do miss the stick sometimes juste to get that satisfaction of really driving ur truck but when its all saide and done as long as the load and urself get there safe in a reliable rig it's all good by me.I live in Canada some roads are bat shit crazy down here and if ur not careful u can hurt urself or others I feel like the automated tranissions give u that comfort that theres no issues in missing gears and so I think u can focus alot more on those little moments that are a little tricky but like I saide I drove both and don't mind either or as long as I can keep trucking that's all that counts for me.
When I was in cdl school, I learned how to drive on standard drove in one for about 3 months when I started workinf..... But when I got on an automatic... Man driving was so much easier. Even driving up in the north through the snow, it WAY easier. Love my Auto
When I first started driving I learned on a manual. When i started riding motorcycles I shifted just fine. However now I want a cdl. I think I want to learn on an automatic.
It should be illegal to not be able to drive a straight shift truck. Or at least a restriction. You test in an auto you can drive an auto. You test in a manual you can drive either.
I am a trucker and I have driven both automatic and manual and I prefer manual it makes the whole driving experience a lot funner nothing like a good ol manual
Thanks for the info. I am driving in CDL A school right now. I am learning how to drive a ten speed Manuel. I get a little bit frustrated with one of my driving instructors, because I want to downshift a little bit earlier than what he wants. I still need to look at the tachometer when I hit the accelerator, move the stick shift, and tap the clutch. I get what he is trying to teach me, but I have driven with a couple of other instructors, who let me downshift from a longer distance out. I have only been driving a ten speed Manuel for three weeks.
I started driving in 1987 I was taught to use the transmission to control the speed of the truck when you take your foot of the pedal on a manual the transmission starts slowing the trunk down right away automatics are nice and they have gotten a lot better but I'll stick to the manual where I can feel the truck
I’m a disabled vet with bad knees. The Automatic is why I can do this job I love to do. You can drive it manual no clutch. I had to sell my car with manual shift because of same issue. To me I like them. I drive a 2019 KW I can walk it down a grade and not even blink.
Not even speaking for rigs but I believe if everyone had to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission for a year or so on a daily basis wayyy more people would be driving manual. I drove a 10 speed for the first time the other day and it was definitely challenging but it’s still better then auto in my opinion
Are you referring to an Automated Manuel Transmission(AMT) or an Automatic(Allison)? Its not semantics I'm talking about here. Companies making AMT's(Volvo, Mack, Paccar, Eaton-Fuller) print that they are Automated. They're very different transmission products & people get the AMT confused w/ the Auto.
My views been, as long as you get there, the product and equipment in one piece who cares. Three types of companies out there. All manual, all auto @ the ones that have a mixture. Pick one @ hit the road safely.
Me and my dad are looking into trucking schools out here in Connecticut. One of the schools is offering to teach me automatic. So there are really truck companies that I can look for that JUST have automatic trucks? Bc that was my concern, that I would get my CDL.. and have a hard time finding a truck company who will hire me. Please get back to me . Thankyou!
I drove an 8 and a 10 speed otr. But I do alot of city now and I much prefer autos. But I agree steep mountains manaul still wins. Thats coming from someone whom dislikes manauls so no bias🤷♂️
I think automatics make drivers become complacent. Because it does drive like a honda civic... they try to drive it like one... and that is UNSAFE! You can't have truckers out here driving these 80,000lb trucks like hondas!
At the same time tho some people look at it and are no longer afraid to drive it because they just press the brake and the gas no clutch, it's good to know both never kno when you'll have to drive shift, but I'm good with an automatic it feels more comfortable
I agree with you...there needs to be a reality check in trucking, I truly believe driving manual regardless of gears separates you from the rest, and I also believe that there would be less issues with knowing that the driver is skilled and knows how to properly control this beast
Hi, am I able to study with you as a tourist? I would like to learn how to drive a truck and get a job there. In my country they consider me retired because I am 40 years old. Please answer!
Sir I’m new I’m tha business. Thinking of purchasing automatic cascadia with 300k for construction site deliveries. Do they breakdown a lot? All I hear is how much electrical issues they have. Thank you
manuals are best for adverse situations. autos just cant do it. autos make drivers lazy and stupid in the same way smart phones make you forget phone numbers if they are all on auto dial. ive driven them both. i like my auto car but prefer my manual truck. auto trucks dont shift when i want to and i can control the power range its to be in. auto trucks seem to be slower and take longer to shift. maybe its just me, i got 20 plus years at it. i can skip gears much easier, i can shift faster and slower when i want to. plus it costs so much more in buying the auto and maintaining it than you can ever save on fuel. if you know how to drive and enjoy it, you prefer manual. just like most people who drive cars for sport, on or off road, want manual. if you want to cruise, auto is the way to go. shouldnt be cruising at work. but its more than that, its knowing the job to get it done better. i couldnt believe how much slower a brand new auto semi was compared to the old manuals i was driving. the autos are ok at best and even then i still had to hit the shift down button when i wanted to pass. i didnt see that on yours, the mack ive been driving has it on the dash. dont like having to reach up there to shift. would prefer is like yous if it had shifting on it still. ive driven both and i still prefer manual even in stop and go traffic cuz thats just a small part of the job. if you need to be aggressive, auto is just going to slow you down. i can change gears faster, safer and more efficiently than any auto, so far. if the tech catches up, maybe. but even in 2020 now, they still dont have what it takes. but then i get in my auto car and go home. one other thing about manual on the stick is i dont have to look at my dash when im in the yard and wiggling into a tight spot. a stick shift is like brail, i dont need to look and i can keep my eyes on where im going and what im doing. i see a big problem is just like cars. my wife cant drive my manual transmission car but i can drive her auto car. if you ever have to jump into a manual truck, you are out of luck. when it comes to hiring and you can drive manual, of course you can drive auto also. but if you only drive auto, can you drive that manual if you needed to or is it going to grind work to a halt until someone can do it for you?
