Truck Fleets With Automatics Transmissions
Topic 3921 | Page 1
Welcome aboard Vincent!
I've gotta tell ya - your trucking options are going to be extremely limited. I know US Xpress had a 100% automatic fleet. There has been rumors of them switching back to standards but I'm not sure if they're going that right now or not. Hopefully someone that works there can chime in.
But there are very few companies that have automatic class A trucks and most of the ones that did switched back to standards because the automatics are too expensive to install & maintain and they're too unreliable.
Brett, I want to commend you on your incredible Free Testing Prep Info, I completed all my test first in my class, including Haz mat, Tanker, Doubles and Triples. I shared your website with others in my class after they had trouble passing the exams. I hope their are companies with automatics, because I really don't like shifting gears.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
Hey, glad to hear our Training Program helped and thanks a ton for letting people know about our website!
If there were a ton of companies with automatics or the near future of automatics looked great I'd say no big deal - just find a company with automatics. But there are very few automatics out there right now and there won't be much of a change for the next several years that I can see. I would say the best thing for you personally is to simply work through any difficulties you might have with shifting and you'll be fine. After a while it becomes second nature and you really don't think about it that much.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
I think that Maverick has trucks with automatic transmissions, but they run flatbeds and reefers (which may suit you just fine).
On a personal note, the company I am now with is 100% slip seat and I had to drive a freightliner with an automatic (for one day) and hated the darn thing. It is a "booger" to back up with, or at least that truck was! When put into gear, there is a "slack" period of 2 or 3 seconds, then when the gear engages, it has a "sling shot" effect (even at idle) that suddenly accelerates you for about 3 or 4 feet. You can imagine the effect that has when you are trying to engage the fifth wheel and king pin. Also, at least on that truck, I found it nearly impossible to feather the brake in order to minimize that sudden lurch. That particular day, I had to spot several trailers to different places in the yard and docks. It must have been a comical sight to any onlookers as I lurched about the yard, slamming into trailer kingpins and making unnecessarily sudden stops for no apparent reason!
At any rate, good luck with your search, but my advice to you concurs with Brett's; work on learning to love that 10 speed Eaton Fuller! At least, you will be able to control your truck without having to humor one of those quirky automatics.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Vincent, I know that when you are learning to drive truck, shifting gears is really a struggle. But when you get out on the road, and get to float gears , you might as well be driving an auto !!! Floating gears , you will only use the clutch to start and stop...You will shift by RPM,.both up shifting and down shifting. For my personal preference, I'm not a fan of autos. I live where winter can and usually is bad with snow and ice. I can't even imagine driving an auto, headed uphill, and have it decide to shift...breaking my tenuous grip on the icy road....nope...give me a truck that I make the important decisions...when to shift, when to down shift, what gear to go downhill in, etc....I don't need electronics telling me how to do my job...I can make my mistakes all on my own, thank you.
Good luck in whatever kinda truck you decide to drive...theres something out there for everyone !!!
Floating Gears:
An expression used to describe someone who is shifting gears without using the clutch at all. Drivers are taught to "Double Clutch" or press and release the clutch twice for each gear shift. If you're floating gears it means you're simply shifting without using the clutch at all.
Float Gears:
An expression used to describe someone who is shifting gears without using the clutch at all. Drivers are taught to "Double Clutch" or press and release the clutch twice for each gear shift. If you're floating gears it means you're simply shifting without using the clutch at all.
I had heck with gears when I started. I couldn't (and still can't) feel my feet very well, or on some days, not at all. It was hard learning to shift (using double clutching) and coordinating my hand with my feet.
Nine months into this and I have no problem shifting anymore. I float up and down gears and only have problems when I am in the very low gears going down. Still haven't quite mastered those.
After a while it gets kind of fun, trying to shift the truck without grinding (first challenge), then trying to see which gear you can take off in (changes a lot based on weights), and then you can thoroughly mess with your co driver. I won't go into the details but I can make my husband sit in whichever direction I wish him to go.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Double Clutching:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Maverick Transport and Averitt Express 100% Auto fleet!
Tran am , us express, national carriers, maverick, carcom family, raider express,... There's A few more just the ones I can think of right away. Not to mention a few local companies. Finding a job with a company with automatic won't be that hard just going to take a little more research.
What fleet or fleets has primarily or all automatic transmissions? Just finished driving school and have no desire to drive a stick.
So to answer the question, so far we have:
Trans Am
US Express
National Carriers
Maverick Transportation
Car Com family
Raiders Express
Averitt Express
Anyone else have knowledge of companies with Auto transmissions?
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Automatic Transmissions Choosing A Trucking Company Tips For Shifting
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Type Of Transmissions Used By Trucking Companies
What fleet or fleets has primarily or all automatic transmissions? Just finished driving school and have no desire to drive a stick.