Comments By Newbie78inpa J.

How does it work with their CDL training? Do you have money taken out of your check every week to pay for the training? Or do you simply sign a contract for 1 year of employment with them?

Also I'm in southeast PA 45 mins north of Philly. What location would i go to for training? Also is there any terminals in PA near me? thanks

I would say it's probably the most important thing to buy in my opinion and i'm not even a truck driver yet. If you get loads going to NYC or pretty much anywhere in the northeast it's a must.

I'm not a diesel mechanic but i have worked on cars and trucks for over 20 years. Anything that is "auto" will fail much quicker then a manual. Manual transmissions have been proven to be dependable and many of the manual transmissions in these trucks last 750k+ miles without problems from what i've read. Plus it's cheaper to fix them and replace them.

Well, the only thing I actually know about the autoshift, is that they are still "technically" built the same as manuals. The computer shifts for us. This is not the same as a regular 4 Wheeler automatic. So, in theory, the only extra parts are the computer chip, and the shifter mechanism.

You are a step ahead of most drivers, though, and can probably do more routine preventative maintenance then average driver. All I can do is cook up some food for the mechanics.

Not even close there are way more parts then simply a computer chip. I also know they aren't the same as a 4 wheel car or truck automatic.

I get these companies are trying these autos out to save on fuel cost but i don't see them lasting as long as a manual. More parts in a transmission = more points of failure.

Wow i hope i don't get ****ty automatic. These companies will quickly learn that automatics won't last as along as a manual transmission. The cost of repairing or replacing an automatic trans vs a manual is very expensive.

It seems that the companies never know what they are doing.

Don't you think that they have experts hired, in their shops? Deals with manufacturers to provide discounted parts? Thorough research done as to the cost vs bvenefits of auto vs manual? At first, yes there were a lot of problems, but the tecnology has improved, and In road tests, Autoshift (not automatic) transmissions hold up pretty well. A company is not going to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment if they have to turn around and fix them all the time. Wait, they already do that a anyway, with manuals. But now, if an an auto truck goes into the shop, even for a non transmission related repair, it will be blamed on the Autoshift, why? Because it's an auto.

There are some obvious advantages, and disadvantages to both, but I am sure the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I'm not a diesel mechanic but i have worked on cars and trucks for over 20 years. Anything that is "auto" will fail much quicker then a manual. Manual transmissions have been proven to be dependable and many of the manual transmissions in these trucks last 750k+ miles without problems from what i've read. Plus it's cheaper to fix them and replace them.

And yet, somehow, both Swift and Prime, , two of the biggest, most successful trucking companies around, came to the conclusion that going to these automatics makes financial sense. I wonder how they came to that conclusion?

Most likely got an excellent deal on buying automatics.

Wow i hope i don't get ****ty automatic. These companies will quickly learn that automatics won't last as along as a manual transmission. The cost of repairing or replacing an automatic trans vs a manual is very expensive.

It seems that the companies never know what they are doing.

Don't you think that they have experts hired, in their shops? Deals with manufacturers to provide discounted parts? Thorough research done as to the cost vs bvenefits of auto vs manual? At first, yes there were a lot of problems, but the tecnology has improved, and In road tests, Autoshift (not automatic) transmissions hold up pretty well. A company is not going to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment if they have to turn around and fix them all the time. Wait, they already do that a anyway, with manuals. But now, if an an auto truck goes into the shop, even for a non transmission related repair, it will be blamed on the Autoshift, why? Because it's an auto.

There are some obvious advantages, and disadvantages to both, but I am sure the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I'm not a diesel mechanic but i have worked on cars and trucks for over 20 years. Anything that is "auto" will fail much quicker then a manual. Manual transmissions have been proven to be dependable and many of the manual transmissions in these trucks last 750k+ miles without problems from what i've read. Plus it's cheaper to fix them and replace them.

Dan glad to here everything is working out for you. My advice is, swift if super short on reefer trainers. So what type of trailer you train on seems to not make much of a diffenrs. If you want reefer, when you go into upgrade tell them you want to do reefer. All the terminals have pamplets on the reefers, that we run. Of you can find one of us reefer drivers walking around the yard and ask us to show you how to pretrip the reefer. Most of us are pretty friendly . Second on truck and manual. My understanding is by the end of 2016 75 to 80 percent of the trucks swift has will be autos. Better fuel economy, and buy the end of 2017 All company trucks will be autos. The only manual you will find is O/O who got there trucks before the switch over. So I would be willing to bet that will not be taken off the truck just so you can drive a manual. Only time I have seen them take a student off of a truck is when the student can't lurn or the mentor has got them selves in truble. Best of luck Dan and keep us updated.

Wow i hope i don't get ****ty automatic. These companies will quickly learn that automatics won't last as along as a manual transmission. The cost of repairing or replacing an automatic trans vs a manual is very expensive.

Get a 5 gallon bucket, a trash bag, a bag of saw dust and a toilet seat. When you are done throw the bag in the dumpster.

lol

Good luck and relax. I'm sure it's going to be a laid back environment yet serious about the training at the same time. Its not a serious formal environment like you are in a university going for a PhD lol.

Just first day jitters like starting any job.

I thought when turning right you leave the backend closest to the curb and your tractor closest to the center line? That way you have enough space to turn without clipping the corner curb and cars can't pass on the right while you turn.

I grew up in a house with 2 sisters and my mother we all worked. The bs that women are some delicate flower and can't or shouldn't have to work a day in their lives is exactly that...bs. We need women for female dominated careers. Are you going to be a hair dresser and do womens hair to fill the void? since you want all women to stay at home lol. And it's not just female dominated jobs it's any job. My sister most likely makes more then most people on this forum she is a vp of a commercial lending bank my other sister is an RN. Women don't want to hear that **** "oh honey i don't want you to have to work at all" It offends most women.

actually from the sound of it, it offends you. To say that certain jobs are "female" jobs is a lot more sexist, than me saying if they don't want to work they shouldn't have to. My hairdresser, before I just started shaving my balding head, was a guy, and he did an excellent job. Nursing is not a "woman's" job either, my son can attest to that. He is a nurse, or will be once he graduates. I never once said that a female is a delicate flower. But for you to say that they HAVE to work, is more bs, than saying that if they don't want to they shouldn't have to. That is more insulting to females. If my wife CHOOSES to go out and find a job, she doesn't need my permission, she just goes out and gets a job. We just don't need her income to survive. In fact, when we were in Iowa, she was technically my boss. So I find it funny, that you said what you did. It was her choice not to work, not my choice for her.

Now this is another topic lets not ruin this guys thread. It's my fault i got it off topic.

I agree

Stay safe

"female dominated job" I didn't say only females do that job. Just like i would say trucking is a male dominated job am i wrong with saying that too? keyword dominated.

Yes EVERYONE has to work man or woman unless they are financial set for life. Or if the man wants to pay her way that's his choice.

Lastly nobody said anything about needing someone elses income to survive. I clearly said when a spouse loses a job normally the other helps out for at least a short time until they find a job if it comes to that. It's only natural and part of how people who love each other operate...for the most part.

Again my whole point of all this talk was it's not easy for a single person just because we are single. We have bills just like anyone else. Also married couples and married couples with children often qualify for things that single people wouldn't. They also can pay less taxes as a married couple depending on certain things. There are more then a few benefits financially for married couples.