Truck Fleets With Automatics Transmissions

I am currently being recruited by Schneider, and they have stated that they are switching over to automatics and currently 1/2 their fleet is automatic. The other half is 10 speeds. I would prefer a 10 speed as that's what I learned in at school and I don't want to lose those skills.

Western Express has mostly newer automatics. I love my 2017 Freightliner Cascades Evolution. It isn't very powerful up a steep hill, but otherwise it does good. Trucks are governed at 63 or 64 MPH. Great in heavy traffic.

If it hasn't been said yet, Prime is going to autos

KLLM, WERNER and KNIGHT have automatics and sticks.

I would recommend learning how to properly drive a stick as it will help your future prospects for employment.

I love the automatics because there is less fatigue at the end of the day and you can switch it to manual shifting with your thumb. You can also downshift going down hill. It also feels safer.

Downside...

There is a lag before the power transfers to the drives and reversing with a loaded trailer can sometimes be a chore depending on where you are docking. Rapidly slowing down is also an issue with the power transfer lag. You will have to think a Lot further ahead for an automatic than a stick in my opinion.

Learn the stick first though and transition to the automatics later.

In the 1 week I was in training at Stevens they said they are switching over to freight liners auto

C.R. England is now virtually 100% automatics. They teach and test their students all in automatics. They’re road test is also in an automatic for outside new hires.

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.

Are you for real Brett? You couldn't be more wrong. Automatics are all over, and becoming more and more popular. I had a hell of a time finding a company that had a manual fleet. Every major company, especially otr is auto. And the ones that do have some manuals left will be phasing them out over the next year to have a 100% auto fleet. So if you want to drive a auto right out of school (aka steering wheel holder), you'll have no problem.

Are you for real Brett? You couldn't be more wrong.

You didn't notice that the post of mine you quoted was from 3 1/2 years ago. So I was right at the time but now most of the major fleets have either converted completely to automatics or are in the process of doing so.

From James 6 days ago:

My only driving experience is at cdl school.

Nothing like being called out by a guy who's still in school, ya know it?

Thanks for trying to correct me James. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Since we're thread-necro-ing in the first place, I might as well pitch in that Werner is largely automatic at this point.

Their schools (at least Roadmaster not sure about the other few) offer training with an automatic option, and they have a majority of auto transmission trucks these days so even having the restriction on your license at least for Werner is no longer a problem.

Honestly, I'm glad that the tide has turned and is changing regarding automatic transmission trucks. It gives a lot of people who might have not been able to do this for one reason or another a chance, and that chance is at taking a job seriously and making a life for themselves.

While I was in school there were still a few instructors and drivers who nay-sayed automatic transmissions and were all "real truckers drive stick hurr hurr hurr" but I also got to see a guy who had been driving stick for twenty plus years and finally switched to an automatic transmission singing the praises and swearing that he would never go back to a manual truck again if given a choice.

(/my (a few more than) two cents)

The automatics are great. The industry was trying to switch to those many years ago but apparently they just weren't quite ready for prime time. But it seems enough of the kinks have been worked out that the companies are moving to them in full force.

I drove a standard for over 10 years, switched to an automatic for 6 years, and then did another year back in a standard. There's really no advantage to driving a standard, really. The automatics can be put into manual mode so you still have that flexibility.