Automatic Or Manual

Good day Is it bad to begin my training in an automatic. I'm in orientation with MTC and just found out today that most there trucks are now automatic. Drove it today for the first time. It wasn't all that bad. Does take some time when coming off a red light to pick up speed. I can only imagine how long when I have a load. I was really amped to begin training in a manual as I know there is more to learn with it than what they taught us at school. Just wanted some insight ? Has anyone been driving an automatic and gone back to a manual? Was it hard transitioning back to manual??

Do you have your CDL? If not, you really need to be training in a manual so you don't have the automatic restriction on your license.

There are a couple people who come to mind that have transitioned from manual to auto and back. Sue and Paul W.

I have transitioned from manual/auto/manual. It takes some getting used to whenever you switch. If you had been driving a manual before going to the automated, not too bad. Never having driven a manual, that will take some getting used to if all you have driven is an automated.

You just have to remember that when you go back to the manual, you are now having to shift, not the truck.

Ernie

I prefer a manual. I feel I have much more control over the vehicle compared to an automatic. The only time I don't like them is in long traffic jams.

I trained in a manual, was issued an automatic, and now driving a manual again. As a new driver having been in an automatic it ry hurt my shifting for a little over a week. There was also a learning curve for the autonatic as they tend to surge when you go to backup but theyre wonderful in cities like Atlanta and. Chicago.

Not all autos are the same.... I have been in a volvo's ishift auto since march and it does just fine. while I was in training I had the chance to try a couple others from my company and yes they handled differently.

in the end it's down to your preference but you can't judge all autos based of of the experience of some. the volvo ishift works quite well. It would probably be even better if my company didn't neuter the trucks.

I trained on manuals in cdl school, then drove an automatic Freightliner Cascadia for a little over a month in training and then my first six months solo with Swift. So basically I only got like 10 days experience with a manual before switching to an automatic for several months. I switched back to a manual when my Cascadia broke down and I picked it up way faster than I expected. I ground a fair amount the first couple weeks and missed a few shifts, but the most part I had very little trouble shifting. I was nervous about going down grades, but I honestly had zero problems with those. As long as you downshift at the top of the hill, you can ride the jakes the whole way down.

I tend to pick up new skills pretty quick though, so YMMV.

Yes I have my CDL with no restrictions. The company I'm begging in my orientation with has been changing out all trucks wishing last few months and by end of year will be all autos freightliner again I'm not complaining but was wanting to continue my learning period with a manual. So now I'm starting to think would it be a hard transition back to manual say after driving auto for a year

Do you have your CDL? If not, you really need to be training in a manual so you don't have the automatic restriction on your license.

There are a couple people who come to mind that have transitioned from manual to auto and back. Sue and Paul W.

Thanks for your input. Appreciate that.

I have transitioned from manual/auto/manual. It takes some getting used to whenever you switch. If you had been driving a manual before going to the automated, not too bad. Never having driven a manual, that will take some getting used to if all you have driven is an automated.

You just have to remember that when you go back to the manual, you are now having to shift, not the truck.

Ernie

My wife doesn't know how to drive a manual so for that reason alone I would want an automatic myself.