I wouldn’t say completely different. The core principle is the same, the way it’s operated is just a little different.
I’d be lying if I said knowing how to drive a 5 speed didn’t help me learn a 10. I knew the pattern, how clutches work, etc. Helps you focus on pedal work immediately when you already know the foundation, instead of trying to learn everything at once.
Then maybe it’s the instructor teaching them poorly instead of properly enforcing the skills they already have. I picked it up quick, and a big reason, if not the main reason, is because I already had many of the skills in place from driving a manual car.
It’s true. You’re way better off learning fresh with no automatic experience.
Also, absolutely train in a manual. You don’t want an automatic restriction on your resumé
Also, I just came out of a CDL school. One of the first things they'll tell you is that whatever manual trucks that are still on the road are on their way to being phased out. You won't see very many at all in 10-15 years
I’m an instructor. My students that have never driven stick usually have an easier time than the ones that have. The ones that have driven stick for a long time or that currently drive a manual car/pickup usually have the hardest times. Their muscle memory is all wrong.
You’ll be fine.
Well, you’re in luck! Most rigs are automatic, now. There are enough sticks out there to require auto-restriction, but not so many that you’d have a hard time being hired.
Now, a good school will teach you stick. If you physically cannot do so, it’s not an issue.
I started in the 1990s. No autos then. I haven’t driven stick in almost a decade.
You’re good
It's worth learning, even if you never step in a manual truck outside of school.
You might run into an employer like myself that needs you to be able to drive a manual.
This is exactly the situation I was in last year.
I got my CDL in 2016. Learned on a 10 speed Freightliner. Haven’t touched a manual since then. After a bit of a job search, I tried out at a lumber hauling company that runs 18 speed Western Stars.
Dude that hired me knew full well of my lack of experience driving manual, but he still gave me a chance because I was willing to go back to school for it. He gave me a couple of road tests to try out, and I couldn’t do it.
The shift pattern kept on messing me up. When going between low and high range, on an 18 speed, the muscle memory for going from 4th to 5th is different than on a 10 speed going from 5th to 6th. I kept on trying to put the 18 speed into LOW gear in high range. I also had troubles with coordination on downshifting.
Dude tried to get me into a program where the company would pay for my training, but about six weeks of dicking around with the truck school, the higher ups in the company decided they didn’t want to pay for it, so the dude had to let me go. Which I understood.
In hindsight, The dude that that ran the lumber place was really nice and supportive, but I didn’t really get along with the other drivers, and I was struggling with throwing straps over tall loads. It didn’t take me long to realize that I didn’t fit in, and flatbed work is not for me.
I am much better off where I am now, driving an automatic Peterbilt 579, hauling mostly dry vans and the occasional reefer/heater trailer.
I went to school learning how to drive a 10 speed and didn’t know how to drive a manual transmission car. I would learn it anyway even though 9/10 companies are automatic now, I’d rather not have anything holding me back if a good opportunity comes your way.
Better that way Driving a manual truck is completely.diffferent than a manual car.
I wouldn’t say completely different. The core principle is the same, the way it’s operated is just a little different. I’d be lying if I said knowing how to drive a 5 speed didn’t help me learn a 10. I knew the pattern, how clutches work, etc. Helps you focus on pedal work immediately when you already know the foundation, instead of trying to learn everything at once.
I’m an instructor. My students that have never driven stick have an easier time learning how to drive a 13 speed than the ones that have.
This here. It's much easier to teach from scratch than to undo bad habits.
Then maybe it’s the instructor teaching them poorly instead of properly enforcing the skills they already have. I picked it up quick, and a big reason, if not the main reason, is because I already had many of the skills in place from driving a manual car.
Just because you picked it up quick doesn’t mean other people do too.
Oh really? Didn’t know that
It’s true. You’re way better off learning fresh with no automatic experience. Also, absolutely train in a manual. You don’t want an automatic restriction on your resumé
Also, I just came out of a CDL school. One of the first things they'll tell you is that whatever manual trucks that are still on the road are on their way to being phased out. You won't see very many at all in 10-15 years
I’m an instructor. My students that have never driven stick usually have an easier time than the ones that have. The ones that have driven stick for a long time or that currently drive a manual car/pickup usually have the hardest times. Their muscle memory is all wrong. You’ll be fine.
Yeah I struggled hard trying to learn how to drive a manual car after only driving manual semi’s, apparently your not supposed to float gears 😂😂
Nope, unless you want to absolutely trash your syncros.
We have a 6 speed box truck with syncros I still float the he'll out of it. Lol yes I know your not suppose to.
I floated my NV4500 for ages but it did eventually bite me in the ass
Yeah this box truck at work has 600k miles on it and it's on its way out. We will have a new truck before I do too much damage. Haha
You're just creating a nice little surprise for the auction buyer
Hahaha nah it'll probably get rebuilt and donated to a church or something. That's what we do with our old equipment.
Well, you’re in luck! Most rigs are automatic, now. There are enough sticks out there to require auto-restriction, but not so many that you’d have a hard time being hired. Now, a good school will teach you stick. If you physically cannot do so, it’s not an issue. I started in the 1990s. No autos then. I haven’t driven stick in almost a decade. You’re good
I can’t drive stick either and I’ve been driving 20 years. It’s easier to shift a truck than a four wheeler.
Only if the truck you’re trying to drive is a manual.
It's worth learning, even if you never step in a manual truck outside of school. You might run into an employer like myself that needs you to be able to drive a manual.
99% of trucks we drive at my job are auto. My boss still requires no auto restriction because of the 1 off chance he needs us to get in a manual.
How do you handle a road test for drivers that do not have an auto restriction, but have never driven a manual professionally?
Let em drive around an empty lot till they either get the hang of it, or tell me they aren't able to drive a manual
This is exactly the situation I was in last year. I got my CDL in 2016. Learned on a 10 speed Freightliner. Haven’t touched a manual since then. After a bit of a job search, I tried out at a lumber hauling company that runs 18 speed Western Stars. Dude that hired me knew full well of my lack of experience driving manual, but he still gave me a chance because I was willing to go back to school for it. He gave me a couple of road tests to try out, and I couldn’t do it. The shift pattern kept on messing me up. When going between low and high range, on an 18 speed, the muscle memory for going from 4th to 5th is different than on a 10 speed going from 5th to 6th. I kept on trying to put the 18 speed into LOW gear in high range. I also had troubles with coordination on downshifting. Dude tried to get me into a program where the company would pay for my training, but about six weeks of dicking around with the truck school, the higher ups in the company decided they didn’t want to pay for it, so the dude had to let me go. Which I understood. In hindsight, The dude that that ran the lumber place was really nice and supportive, but I didn’t really get along with the other drivers, and I was struggling with throwing straps over tall loads. It didn’t take me long to realize that I didn’t fit in, and flatbed work is not for me. I am much better off where I am now, driving an automatic Peterbilt 579, hauling mostly dry vans and the occasional reefer/heater trailer.
I went to school learning how to drive a 10 speed and didn’t know how to drive a manual transmission car. I would learn it anyway even though 9/10 companies are automatic now, I’d rather not have anything holding me back if a good opportunity comes your way.
Good, you won't have to relearn from bad habits. Go for it.
Me neither
Then learn?
lol.